By Anayo Akwitti
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Joseph Tegbe and Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of Power and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs respectively, marking a key step in the expansion of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Their confirmation followed a thorough screening session at the National Assembly, where lawmakers evaluated the nominees’ professional backgrounds, policy priorities, and proposed approaches to governance in their respective ministries.
During the exercise, Tegbe outlined an ambitious reform agenda for the power sector, describing it as the “backbone of Nigeria’s economy.”
He assured senators of his readiness to drive bold interventions aimed at improving electricity generation, strengthening transmission infrastructure, and enhancing distribution efficiency across the country.
Lawmakers questioned him on persistent challenges in the sector, including grid instability and investment gaps, with Tegbe reaffirming his commitment to delivering practical, results-driven solutions.
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Enikanolaiye pledged to work closely with the substantive minister, Bianca Ojukwu, to advance Nigeria’s diplomatic interests on the global stage.
He stressed the importance of a citizen-centred foreign policy, noting that Nigeria’s international engagements must ultimately reflect the welfare and aspirations of its people.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships while improving Nigeria’s global image through more strategic diplomacy.
Commending the appointments, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed confidence in the capacity of both nominees to deliver on their mandates.
He noted that their professional experience and exposure would be instrumental in driving performance improvements in the ministries.
With the confirmations concluded, attention now shifts to implementation, as expectations rise over potential reforms in the power sector and a more assertive diplomatic posture for Nigeria under the current administration led by Bola Tinubu.
The appointments are widely seen as part of ongoing efforts to reposition key sectors of the economy and strengthen governance outcomes across strategic ministries.
