President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, as well as three Executive Directors of the Agency.
The suspended officials are Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, in charge of Corporate Services; Barka Sajou, overseeing Technical Services; and Sa’adatu Balgore, responsible for the Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
In an official statement, it was disclosed, “President Tinubu has directed a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of the mentioned officials, relating to fraudulent misexpenditure totaling over N1.2 billion over the past two years. Some of these funds have already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.”
Subsequent to the suspension, President Tinubu appointed five qualified Nigerians to serve in the agency’s new management team in an acting capacity.
The appointees include Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the new Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega as the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar as the Executive Director of Technical Services, Doris Uboh as the Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund (REF), and Olufemi Akinyelure as the Head of Project Management Unit for the Nigeria Electrification Project.
Emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability, President Tinubu urged the newly appointed officials to uphold the highest standards in the discharge of their duties. He reiterated his commitment to prioritizing the aspirations of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery, transcending the narrow interests of individuals entrusted with crucial responsibilities for the Nigerian people.