Following President Bola Tinubu’s request on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate officially confirmed Joseph Tegbe as the new Minister of Power and Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
The confirmations took place during a plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, marking a significant shift in the cabinet as the administration pivots toward critical infrastructure and diplomatic reforms.
Joseph Tegbe: The Three-Month Milestone
Joseph Tegbe, a fiscal expert and former KPMG Senior Partner, replaces Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned recently to pursue his 2027 governorship ambitions in Oyo State. During his screening, Tegbe was candid about the “chronic” nature of the power sector but set a bold timeline for accountability:
- The Promise: Tegbe pledged that if “visible results” are not seen within three months, they likely won’t be seen in six. He promised measurable improvements to the national grid within a 3 to 6-month window.
- The Strategy: He identified aging transmission lines as a “national asset” crisis and vowed to prioritize independent diagnostics, metering transparency, and sub-national (state-level) electricity generation.
- The Warning: Senate President Akpabio warned Tegbe to avoid the “generator cartel” and bureaucratic traps that have stalled previous ministers, urging him to focus on a maintenance culture rather than just new contracts.
Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye: Diplomatic Priorities
Ambassador Enikanolaiye, a seasoned diplomat, steps into the Foreign Affairs ministry with a focus on protecting Nigerians in the diaspora and streamlining economic diplomacy.
- Mission Revamp: His immediate mandate includes addressing the “dilapidated condition” of Nigerian missions abroad and ensuring timely fund releases.
- Investor Relations: He pledged to simplify Nigeria’s visa processes to make the country more attractive for foreign direct investment.
- Diaspora Safety: Following recent tensions in South Africa and Ghana, Enikanolaiye promised to pursue justice for Nigerians murdered or mistreated abroad.
Other Appointments
In the same session, the Senate referred the nomination of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the relevant committee for further screening.
