Adebayo Adelabu has officially resigned as Nigeria's Minister of Power, citing the need for comprehensive reforms amid ongoing nationwide electricity outages. In his resignation letter, he urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a Coordinating Minister for Energy to enhance coordination across the energy sector.
Resignation and Call for Energy Coordination
Adelabu submitted his resignation on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, with effect from April 30, to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu emphasized that sustaining gains in the power sector requires stronger coordination at the highest level. He proposed a unified structure to harmonize policy direction and execution across power, gas, and related sectors.
Key Achievements Highlighted
Adelabu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve. He noted that his decision complies with the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which bars serving political officeholders from contesting elections. His governorship ambition dates back to 2016, during his tenure as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In his three-page resignation letter, Adelabu highlighted achievements including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralized the power market and improved the investment climate. Peak generation rose above 6,000 megawatts, supported by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and rehabilitation of thermal plants. Transmission capacity improved through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative.
Progress in the distribution segment included improved regulatory oversight, enhanced revenue collection, and efforts to reduce aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses. Financially, tariff reforms and a N4 trillion debt restructuring program boosted market revenues from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025, restoring investor confidence.
Persistent Challenges and Recommendations
Despite progress, Adelabu acknowledged lingering challenges such as gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the need for full commercialization of the electricity value chain. He recommended cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalization of distribution companies, accelerated metering, sustained transmission investments, and stronger regulatory enforcement.
Central to his proposals is the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to ensure synergy across power, gas, water resources, and environmental sectors. This approach, he said, is vital for improving gas supply for thermal generation, optimizing hydroelectric resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.
Background on Power Outages
Nigeria continues to face persistent power challenges despite recent reforms. The resignation comes amid ongoing blackouts affecting various parts of the country. Earlier, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company announced a three-day power outage in parts of Lagos due to maintenance works.
