Abba Aliyu, Acting Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), oversees the implementation of programs expanding electricity access in rural, unserved and underserved Nigeria. This includes the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Capital Projects, and the $550 million Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) – a World Bank ($350m) and African Development Bank ($200m) initiative deploying mini-grids and solar power solutions.
He is spearheading the nationwide adoption of utility-scale renewable energy through the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, while also driving the organizational realignment of the REA’s mandate with the 2023 Electricity Act through the REA Business Plan. Additionally, he is leading the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (NESIP), which will emphasize electrification priorities and pathways whilst harnessing geospatial mapping, viable financing options, and collaboration opportunities with subnational entities, government, and international partners.
Prior to his current role, Abba Aliyu served as the Head of the NEP which has impacted over 7.5million Nigerians. Under his management, he obtained the approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance to disburse USD grants to RESCOs. Also, he led the engagement and secured the approval for the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale Up (DARES) Project, which is the successive project of the NEP, where he secured a $750m facility from the World Bank for the deployment of mini grids and SHS.
He has served as the General Manager, Corporate Services and Projects at the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and previously as the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Power on Policy. He is an energy policy and
organizational development professional with over 20 years’ experience in Nigeria and other countries which include Ghana, United Kingdom, Tanzania, and Uganda ranging across private and public sectors. He has played key leadership roles and has experience spanning in the Power, Environment, Banking, Water Resources, Infrastructure, Education and Health sectors of the Nigerian Economy.
