By Ghazali Ibrahim
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from the Federal Executive Council, bringing his tenure in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to a close.
In a letter dated April 22, 2026, addressed to the President, Adelabu said his resignation would take effect from April 30, 2026, as he prepares to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
His decision follows an earlier meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he presented a report on his stewardship of the power sector over the past two and a half years.
The resignation letter, submitted through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, also proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to oversee reforms across the power, gas and related sectors. Adelabu argued that consolidating recent gains in the electricity industry requires stronger policy coordination and a central authority to drive implementation.
Confirming the development, his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, said the minister expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege.
Adelabu noted that his resignation is in line with the provisions of the amended Electoral Act 2026, which bars serving political office holders from contesting elections. He added that his ambition to govern Oyo State dates back to 2016, during his time as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Reviewing his time in office, Adelabu highlighted the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the power market and improved the investment climate. He said peak electricity generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, supported by the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal plants, while transmission capacity improved through upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative.
He also pointed to progress in the distribution segment, including stronger regulatory oversight, improved revenue collection and reductions in Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses. Efforts to bridge the metering gap, he said, were boosted by the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
On the financial side, Adelabu said tariff reforms and a N4 trillion debt restructuring plan increased market revenues from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025, helping to restore investor confidence.
Despite these gains, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism and the need to fully commercialise the electricity value chain. He recommended measures including cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated metering, sustained transmission investments and stricter regulatory enforcement.
Adelabu said the proposed coordinating minister for energy would ensure synergy across power, gas, water resources and environmental sectors, improving gas supply for thermal generation, optimising hydropower and accelerating renewable energy development.
He added that he remains committed to ensuring a smooth handover process while thanking the President for his support throughout his tenure.
