President-elect, Tinubu urged to pay extra attention to rural electricity

 President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to pay extra attention to the challenges in Nigeria’s rural electricity sector.

This was the position of the Association of Rural Electrification Contractors of Nigeria, ARECON.

In a statement made available to DAILY POST by ARECON on Wednesday, they opined that since 2020, the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, led by Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad had used a different and professional approach in carrying out its job.

The group revealed that this was made possible through a 5-year strategy document that had given the agency a fresh lift, and transformed it in terms of project delivery.

The statement signed by Mr Rotimi Raheem, the National Public Relations Officer of the group, said the REA was established to work in accordance with the Federal Government’s target to deliver clean, sustainable and affordable energy infrastructure across the country.

It will be recalled that recently, a petition had accused the MD, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad of holding the position of a Director in another company while also serving as the MD/CEO of the agency.

But the MD had debunked the report, saying the claim was untrue and attempt to defame him.

According to him, “For the sake of clarity, I want to emphasize that my employment history had been thoroughly vetted and approved by the appropriate authorities, upon my assumption to the role of MD/CEO at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on the 29th of December, 2019.”

He, however, admitted being in the private sector prior to taking up the job at the agency, but declared that he relinquished his position as a Director as far back as 25th of April, 2019, long before he was appointed MD/CEO of the REA.

According to him, whoever doubts his clarifications should check with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“Furthermore, as an administrator committed to serve while upholding the mandate of the Agency, I have acted with the highest ethical standards and have never engaged in any behavior in conflict with the interest of my position as the MD/ CEO of REA,” he said.