By Ayomide Otitoju
The nomination of Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to attract positive reactions from stakeholders across Nigeria’s business and policy sectors, with many describing it as a strategic move to reposition the country’s electricity industry.
Tegbe, who currently serves as Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership and Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, is widely regarded as a technocrat with extensive experience in both public and private sector reform initiatives.
Industry players say Nigeria’s power sector—long affected by inadequate supply, grid instability, and structural inefficiencies—requires leadership focused on execution, coordination, and measurable outcomes.
An industrialist, Dr. Jonathan Achi, described Tegbe as a “pragmatic reformer” with a strong track record in delivering results, citing his role at NCSP where he facilitated investment engagements across agriculture, mining, steel, and energy.
Under his leadership, the partnership recorded multi-billion-dollar investment discussions aimed at strengthening industrial capacity, boosting job creation, and supporting economic diversification, including efforts linked to Nigeria’s steel value chain revival.
Stakeholders also pointed to his involvement in initiatives such as the National Integrated Poultry Project and engagements with global technology firm Huawei Technologies in support of Nigeria’s digital transformation drive.
Business leader Musa Abdullahi noted that Tegbe’s track record reflects “a rare ability to connect vision with delivery,” adding that his experience could help reposition the power sector for long-term sustainability.
Analysts further argue that the complexity of Nigeria’s electricity market requires strong coordination across key institutions such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, alongside efforts to attract private investment and improve market discipline.
They added that Tegbe’s experience in policy implementation, investment facilitation, and institutional coordination positions him as a candidate capable of addressing long-standing challenges in the sector.
