By Seun Ibiyemi
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr Abba Aliyu, to appear before it and account for the agency’s loans and grant expenditures.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Rep. Paul Kalejaiye (APC–Lagos) at a public hearing held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee also urged the Nigeria Police Force to arrest the managing director should he fail to honour the ultimatum.NCDMB hosts midstream stakeholders workshop in Port Harcourt
Speaking during the session, Rep. Shina Oyedeji (PDP–Oyo) said the action became necessary after several invitations extended to the REA boss were allegedly ignored.
He noted that Tuesday’s hearing was another opportunity for Aliyu to appear before the committee but that he neither attended nor sent a representative.
Oyedeji disclosed that between 2015 and 2024, the agency received about N151 billion from government appropriations for solar hybrid mini-grid projects, solar home systems and street lighting initiatives.
He further stated that the agency received 550 million dollars in grants from the World Bank and the African Development Bank between 2018 and 2024 for solar hybrid mini-grids, energy efficiency equipment and productive appliances aimed at powering universities and teaching hospitals nationwide.
According to him, about N13 billion was also contributed to the Rural Electrification Fund between 2015 and 2024 to support rural electrification projects.
The lawmaker added that an additional eight million dollars grant was received in 2022 from the German government and the European Union to provide reliable electricity services to millions of Nigerians.
“Today, we have given them an opportunity to defend how they have managed these funds and let us know who benefited from the grants and what has been achieved,” Oyedeji said.
He stressed that many of the projects were expected to boost productivity, agriculture, investment and electricity access across the country, adding that failure to account for the funds could damage Nigeria’s integrity before international donors.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Afam Ogene (LP–Anambra), ruled that the managing director must appear before the committee by 11 a.m. on Wednesday or risk arrest to compel his appearance.
Ogene revealed that no fewer than five letters of invitation had been written to the agency, duly delivered and acknowledged, but were not honoured.
He maintained that as the lead agency in rural electrification and a key beneficiary of foreign grants in the power sector, the REA owed Nigerians a duty to provide detailed accounts of how the funds were utilised and who benefited from the projects.
The committee vowed to take further legislative action should the managing director fail to comply with the directive.
