Association urges Tinubu to pay attention to electricity projects, challenges

By Aderogba George

Association of Rural Electrification Contractors of Nigeria (ARECON) has urged Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, to pay extra attention to electricity projects and challenges confronting the sector.

The association made the plea in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr Rotimi Raheem, and issued to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

Raheem dismissed reports of alleged misdoings by the Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Mr Ahmad-Salihijo Ahmad, adding that allegations on conflict of interest of the MD position were not true.

He said since 2020, ARECON under its present leadership, had approached the business of electrification differently, through a five-year strategy document that had strengthened the internal working of REA.

Raheem said that ARECON had consistently been improving REA project delivery vehicles, saying that the agency was established to work in line with Federal Government’s objectives on project delivery.

According to him, ARECON has consistently delivered to REA clean and sustainable energy infrastructure nationwide under the Federal Ministry of Power.

He said that in recent weeks, allegations of fraud and conflict of interest had been recounted against Ahmad.

According to him, ARECON described these attempts as ploys by detractors to tarnish the image of the MD of REA.

He said that the REA boss had also described as untrue and defamatory a petition written against him to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by Donnington Nigeria Limited.

“The petition accused the MD/CEO of REA of holding the position of a Director in Velocity Logistics and Marine Services Ltd, while equally serving as MD/CEO of the agency.

Raheem said that in the year 2022, REA officially hit and crossed the one million connection milestone through the deployment of Standalone Solar Home System (SHS) for improved energy access across Nigeria.

He said that the objective of SHS for households and Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) component of the Nigeria Economy Power (NEP) was to help millions of household and MSMEs access to better energy services at affordable cost.

“The target beneficiaries are people in off-grid locations or undeserved customers that have inefficient and unreliable energy access.

“ARECON also believes that for the tempo to be sustained in the realisation of sustainable electricity across Nigeria, as REA continues its vision and mandate of universal access to affordable electricity, it is imperative for paid elements to abstain from false allegations against MD of REA.

Raheem also called on the MD of REA on behalf of his association, to continue efforts at improving the quality of life and economic opportunities for unserved and undeserved communities in Nigeria through his leadership role.

(NAN)