The suspension of the immediate past Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Damilola Ogunbiyi has been reversed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman had, in December, ordered the indefinite suspension of Ogunbiyi.
Mamman also ordered an investigation into alleged infractions by the agency under her.
Before her suspension, Ogunbiyi, the first female MD of the REA, had tendered her resignation to take up a job as the United Nations, UN special representative for sustainable energy and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll).
Although the president reversed her suspension, he accepted her resignation.
A letter directed to Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, conveyed the directive of the president to the international organisation.
The letter read, “Following the recent developments in the Nigerian power sector, I write to inform you that His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari has reviewed the situation and directed that the suspension of Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Managing Director (Rural Electrification Agency) be reversed for lack of due process.”
Ogunbiyi as REA MD was said to be responsible for negotiating within 18 months the Nigerian electrification project, which is a $550m facility (World Bank $350m and AfDB $200m) to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria.
She was also said to be responsible for the Energising Education Programme, which will provide uninterrupted electricity to 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals through off-grid captive power.
Meanwhile, Ogunbiyi has resumed at the UN as Secretary-General António Guterres’ Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Co-Chairperson of United Nations-Energy.
She will also be working as the Chief Executive Officer of SEforALL.
