President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abba Aliyu as the new Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). This appointment, effective from January 23, 2025, is for an initial four-year term. The announcement was made in a release from the State House on Friday, issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Before this appointment, Aliyu had been serving as the acting Managing Director of the REA. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in energy and organizational development, having worked in both the private and public sectors. Aliyu has held significant leadership positions in the on-grid and off-grid power sectors, as well as in Nigeria’s water resources and transportation sectors.
President Tinubu expressed hope that Aliyu’s extensive experience would be instrumental in advancing the REA’s mission to deliver reliable electric power to rural communities. This aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on sustainable energy and power for Nigeria.
Aliyu’s previous roles include heading the Project Management Unit at the Nigeria Electrification Project, serving as General Manager for Corporate Services, Projects, and Research, and as Deputy General Manager at Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading PLC.
Aliyu’s presentation on the REA’s 2024 budget performance, along with projections for the 2025 Appropriation Bill, highlighted the provision of solar-powered energy to public institutions as a primary focus for the agency in the coming fiscal year. He pointed out that the 2025 budget proposal, which is the largest in the agency's history, includes N100bn allocated for the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative, a key project championed by President Tinubu.
Reflecting on the REA's achievements over the past year, Aliyu highlighted several key projects, such as grid extensions, mini-grid deployments in agricultural areas, and the roll-out of solar home systems, with a substantial number of systems deployed in 2024.
