By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Senate has been urged to fast-track the confirmation of Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, amid growing calls for decisive action to tackle Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.

The appeal highlights mounting concern among industry stakeholders that any delay in leadership could slow efforts to stabilise supply in a sector widely seen as critical to economic activity and daily life.

The call was made in a statement by Chief Moses Ayom, CEO of BYD Motors and Chairman of Cherrywood Conglomerate, who backed the nomination and the administration’s reform direction.

Ayom said Tegbe’s background in finance and the power sector positions him to drive the government’s agenda and deliver practical results.

“Every Nigerian knows that the power sector is one of our biggest headaches as a country. President Tinubu has been doing his best to ensure the electricity situation improves. His swift and decisive nomination of Tegbe as Minister is a reminder that the President cares deeply about this issue,” he said.

He noted that the nominee’s experience includes engagements in regulatory and institutional reforms involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), which he said would be key to addressing long-standing structural issues.

“As patriots, we must put behind us the setbacks of the past and ensure we encourage the nominee to bring his skills, experience and expertise to bear in delivering transformation in terms of delivering electricity to homes and businesses,” Ayom added.

He urged Nigerians to support ongoing efforts, expressing confidence that improvements in infrastructure would soon translate into more reliable supply.

“The President’s confidence in Mr Tegbe’s capacity is not in doubt,” he said, citing the nominee’s track record across finance and sector reforms.

Ayom also called for public goodwill and institutional backing, describing the moment as an opportunity to reset the sector and restore trust.

He congratulated Tegbe on his nomination, wishing him a successful tenure at the Ministry of Power if confirmed.