The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has issued a two-day ultimatum to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, and the Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme, Olufemi Akinyelure, to appear before it in connection with its ongoing investigation into grants, loans and investments in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector from 2015 to 2024.
The committee, chaired by Anambra lawmaker Afam Ogene, is examining fund disbursement, project implementation and compliance with statutory and financial regulations in the sector.
At the resumed investigative hearing in Abuja on Tuesday, Ogene expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as repeated failure by the agencies’ leadership to honour invitations extended by the panel.
Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency, warned that failure by the two officials to appear before the committee on Thursday, March 5, 2026, would compel the lawmakers to exercise their constitutional powers to enforce attendance.
“The MD of the Rural Electrification Agency, despite his subterfuge to avoid appearing before this committee, will not get away with it lightly.
“The Constitution is quite clear that this Committee of the House of Representatives has the power to compel appearance. However, in the spirit of magnanimity, we are issuing a last and final invitation for them to appear on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 2 p.m., failing which, this committee will have no other option but to issue a warrant of arrest,” he said.
He described the probe as part of the National Assembly’s constitutional responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public and donor funds, particularly in a sector considered vital to economic growth and rural development.
Meanwhile, signs of a jurisdictional dispute have emerged within the House over which committee holds primary oversight responsibility for the REA.
In a letter dated February 27, 2026, addressed to the REA Managing Director, Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Electrification, Muhammad Bukar, stated that his panel is “the duly constituted Standing Committee of the House of Representatives vested with primary oversight over the REA, including its financial operations, utilisation of grants and loans, project implementation activities, and institutional performance.”
According to the letter, the adoption of a motion on the floor of the House or general references to agencies involved in renewable energy do not override the express allocation of responsibilities among standing committees.
The correspondence explained that while the Committee on Renewable Energy has a broad mandate over sector-wide policies, specific operational, financial and administrative matters of the REA, including project domiciliation, grant utilisation and deployment of renewable energy projects, fall within the Rural Electrification Committee’s jurisdiction.
Bukar directed the agency to “channel all matters relating to legislative oversight, inquiries, documentation requests and appearances concerning its operations strictly through the House Committee on Rural Electrification.
“Refrain from responding to or engaging in parallel correspondence with any other Committee of the House on matters that fall squarely within his committee’s oversight jurisdiction, particularly where such matters are already under review.
“Refer any communications received from other committees touching on REA-specific issues to his committee for appropriate coordination and guidance.”
The letter warned that parallel inquiries without formal coordination could undermine institutional order and create avoidable tension, noting that the current structure of over 120 specialised House committees was designed to prevent overlapping mandates.
The investigation forms part of a broader review by the House of Representatives into disbursements, concessional loans and international grants deployed for rural electrification projects over nearly a decade.
Between 2015 and 2024, Nigeria secured significant funding from multilateral development partners and other sources to expand electricity access in underserved communities through solar mini-grids, standalone systems and grid extension projects.
The Nigeria Electrification Programme, implemented by the REA, has been central to these efforts.
However, concerns have been raised in recent months over the pace of project execution, the transparency of fund utilisation and compliance with procurement and financial regulations.
Lawmakers say the probe is intended to ascertain how funds were allocated, the status of completed and ongoing projects, and whether contractual and statutory obligations were met.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to shape future legislative and policy decisions on renewable energy financing and rural electrification initiatives across the country.
