President Bola Tinubu has appointed Engr. Umar Abdullahi Umar, son of the former Governor of Kano state and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the Executive Director, Technical Services of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

His appointment comes after the indefinite suspension of the agency’s team led by Ahmad Salihijo who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Salihijo was suspended alongside three other executive directors of the agency over alleged N1.2 billion fraud as announced by Tinubu’s Spokesperson and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

Names of the three suspended directors include; Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Barka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services; and Sa’adatu Balgore, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF).

Umar Abdullahi Umar reportedly won the APC ticket for Dawakin Tofa/Tofa /Rimin Gado constituency. However, he lost the election to New Nigerian Peoples Party’s Hon Tijjani Jobe.