The Ede Elders Council has commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration, describing the move as a positive step toward reviving Nigeria’s struggling electricity sector.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Council’s President, Sulaimon Ademola Adebayo, said the appointment offers renewed optimism for addressing long-standing challenges in the power sector.
“This is a great appointment for a worthy son of Edeland. Lanre is one of the most respected power experts in Nigeria,” Adebayo said. “His earlier role as Minister for Power reflected his technocratic competence and deep understanding of the sector.”
The statement, signed by the Council’s Director of Publicity, Ayodele Adeyemo, noted that Babalola’s previous tenure as Minister brought a measure of seriousness to power sector reforms, although many efforts were hindered by systemic challenges.
The elders specifically highlighted the abandoned 132KVA step-down substation project in Ede, undertaken by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), expressing hope that such projects would be revisited under the new task force.
“We believe that ongoing and abandoned power projects across the country will now receive the attention they deserve, leading to improved transmission and distribution,” the statement added.
The Council also welcomed the Presidency’s description of Babalola as a professional with “deep sectoral expertise and a proven understanding of the structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain,” expressing confidence in his ability to deliver meaningful reforms.
President Tinubu had recently announced Babalola’s appointment with a mandate to drive “a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector,” emphasizing the need for urgency, discipline, and effective execution.
Commending the President’s decision, the elders described it as a bold move toward addressing Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.
“Nigerians are yearning for sustainable solutions in the power sector. This appointment signals a willingness to confront both human and technical constraints affecting electricity supply,” the statement said.
The Council further expressed optimism that the newly inaugurated Presidential Task Force would achieve tangible results and reposition the sector for improved performance.
They also offered prayers for the success of Babalola and his team in what they described as the “onerous task” of revitalising Nigeria’s power sector.
