🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Outgoing Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu proposes coordinating energy minister's office
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Outgoing Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy's office to integrate reforms across Nigeria's power, gas, and related sectors. This proposal was made as he formally tendered his resignation, effective April 30, 2026, to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State. Adelabu emphasized that stronger coordination at the highest level is needed to sustain gains in the power sector. His decision to resign aligns with the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which precludes serving political officeholders from contesting elections. He highlighted achievements during his tenure, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralized the electricity market, and an increase in peak power generation to over 6,000 megawatts. Other improvements cited include strengthened transmission capacity, enhanced regulatory oversight in distribution, and progress in reducing technical, commercial, and collection losses. Financial reforms, including a N4tn debt restructuring program, increased market revenues from N1tn in 2023 to N2.3tn in 2025. Despite these gains, Adelabu acknowledged challenges such as gas supply constraints and infrastructure vandalism. He recommended measures like cost-reflective tariffs, recapitalization of distribution companies, and accelerated nationwide metering. The proposed coordinating minister for energy would provide strategic oversight and ensure synergy across power, gas, water resourc
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An article addresses criticisms by Mobolaji Sanusi, a former head of the Lagos State Advertising Agency, regarding the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The author argues that Sanusi's attempt to diminish Sanwo-Olu's record while promoting his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, disregards visible developments in Lagos. The article highlights significant achievements over the past seven years, including the operationalization of the Blue and Red Rail Lines, expansion and rehabilitation of road networks, housing projects, improved healthcare infrastructure, and digital governance initiatives. The redevelopment of the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle is cited as a major transformation in public education facilities. Lagos was also ranked as Nigeria’s highest-performing state with a five-star rating in the 2025 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, based on indicators like governance, infrastructure, healthcare, education, economic management, and service delivery. The author points out the contradiction in Sanusi's argument, as Hamzat has been a central participant in the administration's policy formulation and implementation, making it inconsistent to praise Hamzat while condemning the government he helped lead. The piece suggests that such rhetoric is politically reckless, especially given the current economic challenges and public discontent facing the All Progressives Congress APC nationally. It emphasizes that Sanwo-Olu's administration provides strong evidence
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Must ReadBenson Upah, spokesman for the Nigeria Labour Congress, argues that Nigerian workers deserve a minimum wage of N1m, citing the dramatic decline in purchasing power due to fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate liberalization, tariff hikes, increased taxation, and a growing debt burden. He highlights that fuel prices have risen over 600 percent and electricity tariffs by more than 260 percent in less than three years, while the naira has depreciated sharply. Upah contends that government revenues have substantially increased, demonstrating the capacity to pay higher wages. He states that the N1m figure reflects the amount needed for a basic standard of living, as workers now face prices comparable to advanced economies. Upah criticizes state governments that claim inability to pay, attributing it to poor governance choices and excessive reliance on federal allocations rather than developing internal economic capacity. He asserts that workers should not be victims of official inefficiency, especially since many states received higher allocations after recent reforms. Upah believes there is a deliberate failure to translate higher revenues into improved worker welfare, noting that Nigeria's reward system is skewed against workers. He rates President Bola Tinubu's administration at 40 percent on workers' welfare, cost of living, employment, and economic management, stating that while reforms may have been necessary, their rapid and simultaneous implementation caused unprecedented ha