By Duchess Ifeoluwa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.
The appointment, announced in a State House press release on Thursday, places Babalola at the centre of a high-level intervention designed to reposition the power sector for improved efficiency, discipline, and commercial viability.
Babalola, a former Minister of Power, is expected to leverage his extensive experience and familiarity with the structural and operational complexities of the electricity value chain to drive the administration’s reform agenda.
His dual role as adviser and taskforce chairman underscores the urgency attached to the initiative and the need for coordinated, results-oriented execution.
As part of the restructuring within the energy governance framework, the President also approved the redesignation of the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) to Special Adviser (Oil & Gas), a move aimed at clarifying responsibilities and eliminating overlaps in policy coordination.
According to the presidency, the newly established Presidential Task Force will operate under a direct mandate, serving as a central delivery mechanism to restore order and strengthen performance across the sector.
The body is expected to work closely with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure alignment and effective implementation of reforms.
Its mandate includes driving a comprehensive reset of the electricity system, enforcing a “performance before expansion” framework, and addressing inefficiencies across the value chain, particularly in the areas of technical, commercial, and collection losses.
The taskforce is also charged with improving revenue assurance, enhancing sector liquidity, and restoring discipline within the national grid and electricity market.
In addition, it is expected to promote the productive use of electricity across key sectors of the economy, develop Electricity Growth Zones, and reduce the fiscal burden associated with the power sector.
A 90-day implementation blueprint is to be developed as part of its initial deliverables.
The President expressed confidence that Babalola would bring the required urgency, discipline, and execution focus to the assignment, with a view to delivering measurable improvements in power supply and overall sector performance in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
