The former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has formally handed over the ministry to the Permanent Secretary in Abuja.

Adelabu urged sustained commitment to ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, stressing the need for continuity and consistency in policies designed to reposition the industry.

He noted that while some of the reforms may appear unpopular, they are necessary to guarantee stable, efficient, and affordable electricity supply for Nigerians.

Adelabu charged top civil servants to ensure that the incoming minister builds on the existing foundation, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of delivering reliable power as a critical component of his administration’s agenda.

According to him, years of inadequate attention by successive governments contributed to the sector’s challenges, and addressing them required deliberate and strategic planning, efforts he said were pursued during his two years and eight months in office.

He emphasised that sustaining the reforms would require courage from both technocrats and political leaders to firmly establish the power sector value chain on a sound footing.

Adelabu likened the reform process to laying a foundation on swampy terrain, explaining that while initial efforts may not be visible, they are critical to long-term success.

He highlighted key milestones, including the signing of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised and liberalised the sector, enabling sub-national participation.

Adelabu disclosed that 16 states have already keyed into the evolving power market, with increased private sector involvement through Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos).