— GMTNewsng Reports
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), pending Senate confirmation. The President also nominated Abubakar Yusuf as Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun as Commissioner for Finance and Management Services. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
According to Onanuga, the appointment aligns with President Tinubu’s vision to strengthen electricity regulation and drive sustainable reforms in Nigeria’s power sector. “The President is confident that Engr. Ramat’s technical experience and leadership capacity will help deliver greater transparency, reliability, and growth in the electricity industry,” he stated.
Engr. Ramat, 39, is an electrical engineer with a robust record of service in energy policy and infrastructure development. Reacting to his nomination, he thanked President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and promised to “work tirelessly with all stakeholders to reposition NERC as a forward-looking and accountable regulatory body.” He also assured electricity consumers of better responsiveness and improved services under his watch.
The Commissioner-designate for Consumer Affairs, Abubakar Yusuf, is known for his advocacy on consumer rights and fair billing practices, while Dr. Animashun brings deep expertise in public sector finance and regulatory economics. Their appointments are seen by analysts as strategic, especially at a time when the country is implementing critical electricity market reforms and devolving regulatory powers to states.
Industry experts have lauded the new appointments as timely and capable of restoring investor confidence. “It is a new dawn for electricity governance in Nigeria,” said Dr. Chike Umeh, a power sector consultant. “The energy sector is complex, but with competent regulators like Ramat and his team, there is hope for long-term stability and improved electricity access for Nigerians.” GMTNewsng
