Experts in Nigeria’s Energy Sector have said that the confirmation of Abba Aliyu Abubakar as the substantive Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has laid the foundation for massive transformation of the country’s off-grid electricity sector
The reaction trails President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement of Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the substantive Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The appointment, effective from January 23, 2025, is for an initial term of four years, according to Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga.
“Watching Abba Aliyu Abubakar speaks on the ideals , concepts and cardinal objectives of The Rural Electrification Agency..You can’t but be mesmerised by his grasps and indepts knowledge.
Most importantly, The young leader is a good listener that doesn’t go around the body language of I know it all..Abba Abubakar Aliyu is so uncommonly humbly goat getter and exceptionally a prudent manager of resources.” says
President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Kola Olubiyo.
Ollubiyo, who was former member Presidential Adhoc Committee on Review of Electricity Tariff in Nigeria, went further to say that the new Managing Director is a most uniquely a grassroots generational leader,adding, “He is a team leader that carries his team and staff along from bottom to top. Without fear of contradiction, Abba Aliyu Abubakar is a transformational leader. He has within a short span brought the Rural Electrification Agency back on Track ..
He said Nigerians have no doubt that his appointment will bring about Nigeria ‘s quest to de escalates increasing wave energy poverty and by the same token upscaled universal access to energy reaching out to the unreached and underserved Rural and Semi Urban Areas.
Aliyu has been acting as the agency’s managing director since March 2024 until his appointment.
He has over 20 years of experience in energy and organisational development in the private and public sectors.
He has played key leadership roles in the on-grid and off-grid power sectors, as well as the water resources and transportation sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
Previously, he was head of the Project Management Unit at the Nigeria Electrification Project; General Manager of Corporate Services, Projects, and Research, and Deputy General Manager at Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET).
President Tinubu anticipates that Aliyu will leverage his extensive expertise to further the REA’s mission of providing rural communities with reliable electric power and contributing to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda on sustainable energy and power.