Nigerians hail Tinubu’s nomination of Joseph Tegbe as Power Minister

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power has attracted widespread praise from stakeholders across Nigeria’s business and policy communities, with many describing the decision as a strategic move to strengthen and revitalise the nation’s troubled power sector.

Tegbe, who currently serves as Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership and Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, is widely recognised as a results-oriented technocrat with extensive experience spanning both the private and public sectors.

Industry leaders say Nigeria’s power sector, which continues to grapple with supply shortages, grid instability and long-standing structural inefficiencies, requires coordinated and execution-focused leadership capable of translating policy into measurable progress.

Dr Jonathan Achi, an industrialist and major player in the energy sector, welcomed the nomination, describing Tegbe as “a pragmatic reformer with a clear understanding of how to drive results.” He highlighted Tegbe’s work at the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, where he strengthened bilateral cooperation and facilitated major investment commitments across key sectors.

Under Tegbe’s leadership, the partnership recorded significant milestones, including multi-billion-dollar investment engagements in agriculture, mining, steel and energy. His efforts to revive Nigeria’s steel value chain and expand industrial capacity have also been linked to broader national objectives such as job creation and economic diversification.

Stakeholders have further pointed to Tegbe’s role in advancing major national projects, including the National Integrated Poultry Project, as well as his engagement with global technology company Huawei Technologies in support of Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Musa Abdullahi, a business leader, said Tegbe’s participation in major economic initiatives reflects “a rare ability to connect vision with delivery,” adding that his experience could play an important role in repositioning Nigeria’s power sector for sustainable growth.

Beyond infrastructure and industrial development, Tegbe’s leadership of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee has also drawn attention, particularly for advancing implementation of Nigeria’s evolving tax framework and strengthening stakeholder confidence through structured engagement.

Analysts note that Nigeria’s electricity market remains highly complex, covering regulation, generation, transmission and distribution. They argue that the sector requires leadership capable of coordinating effectively across critical institutions such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, while also attracting private investment and restoring market discipline.