The outgoing Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, has proposed the establishment of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to oversee and harmonise reforms across Nigeria’s power, gas and allied sectors, as he formally submitted his resignation.

The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.

In his resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Adelabu said his exit will take effect from April 30, 2026, to allow him pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

He noted that sustaining and deepening the gains in the power sector would require stronger coordination at the highest level, including the establishment of a central authority to align policy direction with execution.

Confirming the development, Tunji said the minister expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.

Adelabu said his decision is in line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits serving political officeholders from contesting elections.

He added that his governorship ambition dates back to 2016, when he served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In his three-page letter, the minister outlined key achievements recorded during his tenure, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the electricity market and improved the investment climate. He noted that peak power generation increased to over 6,000 megawatts, supported by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal power stations, while transmission capacity was enhanced through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative.

He also pointed to notable gains in the distribution segment, including strengthened regulatory oversight, improved revenue collection, and progress in reducing aggregate technical, commercial and collection losses. He added that efforts to bridge the metering gap were advanced through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

On the financial front, 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 and place the sector on a more sustainable trajectory.

Despite these gains, the minister acknowledged persistent challenges, including gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the need to fully commercialise the electricity value chain.

He therefore recommended key measures to sustain progress, such as cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated nationwide metering, sustained investment in transmission infrastructure, and stronger regulatory enforcement.