Minister of State Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba on Thursday has inaugurated the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to be chaired by Abdulazeez Yar’Adua while the Managing Director/CEO of REA Engr. Salihijo Ahmad together with six others as members.
This is coming as the Federal Government also approved the reappointment of Executive Director Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Rural Electrification Agency, Dr Sanusi Ohiare for another 5-year term in a bid to continue the expansion of the REF and contribute to the continuous development of the Agency.
Other members of the Board representing the six – geopolitical zones include, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi (representing the South West), Chidi Nwogu (representing the South East), Catherine Ajibike (representing the South South), Dr. Abdullahi Garba (representing the North West), Dr. Abdul Umar (representing the North East), while Mohammed Badamasuiy (represents the North Central). Also, to enhance partnerships and improve the synergy with critical Agencies which are supportive of the REA in achieving its mandate, the following Government organizations are represented on the Governing Board with Ex-Officio capacity; Federal Ministry of Power (Supervising Ministry), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE).
Speaking during the inaugural ceremony, Minister Goddy said the agency through its interventions has provided electricity for at least one community in the Six geopolitical zones across the country while urging the board to support the Management in achieving more milestones.
He added that both the board and management should work in harmony, synergy toward actualizing the agency’s goal.
According to him, “There is a system in place in the Ministry, we have performance target, from time to time, I will come to see what you are doing and what you have done. There is need for synergy, harmony between the Board and Management for efficiency and progress”.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Power, Mr Nebeolisa Anako also urged the newly inaugurated members to work assiduously towards achieving the energy mix and renewables inline with the conference of parties on Climate Change.
In his remarks, the Board Chairman, Yar’Adua expressed gratitudes on behalf of the members to the President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve.
He assured of the Board’s absolute support to ensure that the agency succeeds.
Meanwhile, during a chat with Nigerian NewsDirect on his reappointment, Dr Sanusi pledged to work harder for the good of Nigeria.
He noted that REF model is to partner with big players both in public and private sector to achieve its goals.
According him, “I can assure the President and Nigerians for the confidence repose in me, I will continue to work harder and redouble my efforts to ensure that we deliver the goals as much as possible to quickly achieve the vision and mission of the agency so that by 2030 we can achieve electricity for all.”
Stating what lies ahead, Ohiare stated that, “We will continue to partner and explore opportunities with big players, hopefully in the next few years we will be able to achieve our objectives.”
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is one of the top performing parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry of Power as it has continued to roll out Solar off-grid power solutions and grid extension to millions of unserved and underserved Nigerians. REA has been successful particularly because of critical partnerships with key Government counterparts and both national and international stakeholders.