President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), signaling a renewed push to stabilize and reform Nigeria’s struggling power sector.
The announcement, made via an official statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also included the nomination of Mr. Abubakar Yusuf as Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun as Commissioner for Finance and Management Services. These appointments are pending Senate confirmation.
However, to avoid a leadership vacuum, President Tinubu directed Engr. Ramat to assume office in acting capacity pending his screening and formal confirmation by the Senate.
At just 39 years old, Ramat represents a younger, technocratic generation of public administrators. He is an accomplished electrical engineer with a PhD in Strategic Management, blending deep technical expertise with forward-thinking leadership capabilities.
Ramat has served in various roles within the national energy and infrastructure sectors, earning a reputation for transparency, policy innovation, and results-oriented management. His nomination is seen as part of Tinubu’s broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s power infrastructure for long-term sustainability and investor confidence.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) plays a critical role in overseeing and regulating Nigeria’s electricity market, ensuring fair pricing, protecting consumers, and enforcing standards for Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Companies (GenCos and DisCos).
With Nigeria still grappling with chronic power shortages, underinvestment, and inefficient grid performance, the appointment of new leadership is viewed as a strategic move in the government’s plan to realize the goals outlined in its Power Sector Reform Roadmap 2023–2030.
In his statement, President Tinubu emphasized the need for the new leadership team to “work assiduously to advance the administration’s power sector vision.” He charged them with leveraging their expertise, integrity, and innovation to deliver lasting results.
Nigerians have long endured unreliable electricity supply, with national grid collapses and power rationing becoming the norm across urban and rural communities. Analysts estimate that Nigeria loses over $26 billion annually in productivity due to power inefficiencies, making reform urgent.
With a clear mandate, Ramat and his team are expected to:
Tackle tariff controversies and improve cost-reflective pricing mechanisms.
Increase transparency in regulatory practices.
Enhance consumer protection through enforcement of rights and service standards.
Drive investments in renewable energy and off-grid solutions.
Collaborate with stakeholders to improve national grid reliability.
Energy policy experts have welcomed the appointments, calling it a “fresh opportunity to realign regulatory frameworks and rebuild trust.”
Speaking our correspondent, Dr. Elizabeth Odu, an energy governance analyst, said:
“NERC has a massive role in balancing investor confidence with public welfare. These new appointees must modernize operations and restore transparency, especially around consumer tariffs and licensing.”
Similarly, Ayo Obaseki, Executive Director of the Centre for Electricity Reform, noted:
“Ramat’s background in both engineering and strategic management is the kind of dual competence we need in regulatory oversight. We hope to see more consumer-focused outcomes going forward.”
Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat: A licensed engineer with over 15 years of experience in electrical infrastructure and public policy. Holds a PhD in Strategic Management.
Mr. Abubakar Yusuf: Known advocate for energy justice, with expertise in consumer affairs and regulatory mediation.
Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun: Financial analyst and economist with a strong record in public sector budget optimization and revenue generation.
The Nigerian Senate is expected to commence screening of the nominees in the coming days. If confirmed, the trio will oversee the regulation of a power sector that affects over 200 million Nigerians and drives the engine of Africa’s largest economy.
Their success could be pivotal in realizing the $1 trillion economy target by 2030, as power supply remains the backbone of industrialization, job creation, and foreign investment attraction.
President Tinubu’s nominations to NERC represent a bold step toward resetting the narrative in Nigeria’s electricity sector. With capable leadership now in place — and assuming swift Senate confirmation — Nigerians can look forward to a more accountable, transparent, and consumer-responsive regulatory framework.
But the road ahead will require more than just new appointments. It demands strategic implementation, consistent political will, and collaboration across all stakeholders to finally deliver stable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for all.