Abba Abubakar Aliyu


Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Nigeria

Abba Abubakar Aliyu

Abba was appointed managing director of the REA in March 2024.  He previously served as the head of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) at the REA, overseeing the implementation of a $550m facility from the World Bank ($350m) and AfDB ($200m).

With over 20 years of experience in energy policy and organisational development, he also served as general manager at the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and as senior special assistant to the Minister of Power on policy.

Abba has played pivotal roles in various sectors, including power, environment, banking, water resources, infrastructure, education, and health. His leadership resulted in securing approval for the $750m DARES (Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scaleup) facility from the World Bank, building on the success of the NEP.