Post Views: 224

By Agatha Chitumu
Abuja

The Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) was Thursday inaugurated in Abuja by the Honourable Minister of State, Power Goddy Jedy-Agba.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the agency Director of Promotions, Information and Outreach, Ayang Ogbe, the board has Abdulazeez Musa Yar’Adua as Chairman and Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as a member, with six other members of the Board representing the six – geopolitical zones..

They are; Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi (representing the South West), Chidi Emmanuel Nwogu (representing the South East), Catherine A. Ajibike (representing the South South), Dr. Abdullahi Garba (representing the North West), Dr. Abdul Umar (representing the North East), while Mohammed Kabir Badamasuiy (represents the North Central).

In the same vein, Dr. Sanusi Ohiare has been re-appointed as the Executive Director Rural Electrification Fund (REF) for another 5-year term.

According to a statement, his reappointment will enable him continue the expansion of the REF and contribute to the continued development of the Agency in his capacity.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is one of the top performing parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry of Power and it has continued to roll out Solar off-grid power solutions and grid extension to millions of unserved and underserved Nigerians.

Some partners are also represented in the board supportive of the REA, a move which according to them stemmed from the need to synergize with critical agencies.

They are Federal Ministry of Power (Supervising Ministry), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE).

The critical Agencies who are represented on the Governing Board in Ex-Officio capacity are expected to assist REA in achieving its mandate,

REA has been successful particularly because of critical partnerships with key Government counterparts and both national and international stakeholders.

Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), under the Federal Ministry of Power.

The agency is currently administering the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and implementing the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and a number of iother initiatives like Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Grid Extension (Capital Projects), Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI), Solar Power Naija Programme, Energy for All – ‘Mass Rural Electrification’ and Research and Innovation Hub in furtherance of it’s mandate.

As a way of giving effect to some of its initiatives, REA has obtained financing to the tune of $550 million ($350 million from the World Bank and $200 million from the African Development Bank) for financing the Nigeria Electrification Projec.

It has also taken an additional $11 million for financing the Rural Electrification Fund for the deployment of Solar hybrid mini grids and solar home systems.

These funds according to the agency will ensure that millions of Nigerians have access to reliable and affordable electricity.