Minister Of Power Saleh Mamman Speaks On Appointment Of Ex-level 12 Official To Head REA

The Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman has reacted to the controversy that trailed the appointment of Salihijo Ahmad, a former mid-level civil servant as the managing director and Chief Executive Officer of a crucial electrification agency, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Insiders claimed there was an alleged cover-up of Salihijo Ahmad's job experience in announcement of his appointment, as he was reportedly described as an expert with “vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.”

Premium Times reported that the son of late Salihijo Mohammed Ahmed (a former managing director of Afri-Project Consortium), exited the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) as a Level 12 public official in 2018. 

The late father of the new REA boss was said to be a project consultant of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which was headed by President Buhari during the regime of Sani Abacha. Major players in the power sector queried the appointment as they wondered how a mid-level public official just over a year ago could be appointed head of such a crucial agency if not for his family links. It was further gathered that claims of him having a “vast knowledge and experience in power sector development” may have been exaggerated.