The decision was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. The presidency said the appointment takes immediate effect.

In the same statement, the President renewed the tenure of Engineer Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz as Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for a second and final term.

Aliyu comes into the role from the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, where he served as Executive Secretary.

The presidency described him as a “distinguished academic and seasoned administrator” with experience across research, education and institutional leadership.

“The President expects him to leverage his wealth of experience to reposition the PTDF for greater impact in human capital development, innovation, and strategic support for the oil and gas sector in line with national priorities,” the statement read.

His appointment points to a goal to strengthen institutions in the petroleum sector, especially around training and capacity building.

For Abdulaziz, the renewal follows what the presidency called a review of his first term in office. It said the transmission company recorded gains in grid stability, expansion of capacity and system upgrades under his leadership.

Officials also linked his work to regional electricity cooperation through the West African Power Pool.

President Tinubu urged both Shu’aibu Aliyu of PTDF and Engineer Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz of TCN to carry out their duties with diligence and integrity, aligning their work with the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Still, Abdulaziz’s reappointment comes with questions. Over the past year, a series of reports alleging procurement breaches during his first term.

The reports noted documents from the Bureau of Public Procurement, which reviewed contracts awarded under emergency procedures.

According to one of the documents, 33 out of 285 contracts did not meet the requirements for emergency procurement under the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

“The Bureau observed that out of the 285 projects executed through the Emergency Procurement Method, 252 projects met the requirements for the adoption of the special method, while 33 projects should have been procured through other methods of procurement as indicated in the Table above.”

The reports also led to concerns about alleged contract splitting and the award of jobs said not to qualify as emergencies. Sources quoted in the reports claimed some contracts were linked to associates, though the company denied wrongdoing when contacted.

Another report alleged that a 2023 Lexus LX 600 SUV, valued at N298.4 million, was procured for the Minister of Power. Documents seen in that report showed payment records and contract details tied to the purchase.

The allegation noted the vehicle was meant to influence decisions on Abdulaziz’s position, a claim not confirmed by the authorities involved.

Despite the controversy, the government has stood by its decision, pointing to performance improvements in the transmission network.

The transformers comprise ten (10) number 60MVA 132/33kV and five (5) number 150MVA 330/132kV capacity transformers delivered to TCN Central Store in Ojo, Lagos State, for onward delivery to various TCN project sites nationwide.

According to Engr. Dr. Sule Abdulaziz, the Acting MD/CEO, TCN, the contract for the supply of the power transformers under the Nigerian Electricity Transmission Project (NETAP) was funded by the World Bank, however, TCN decides on the project site the transformers will be installed.

He informed that on installation and connection to the grid, the 10 number 60MVA 132/33kV power transformers and the five (5) 150MVA 330/132kV transformers will add 637MW and 850MW respectively to the transmission network, consequently increasing the total capacity of the transmission system by 1487MW while ensuring N-1 reliability criteria in the substations, which is strategic in enhancing grid stability.

Engr. Abdulaziz noted that earlier in August last year, the World Bank also funded power transformer supply contracts which brought in ten (10) number 60MVA132/33kV transformers and twenty-five (25 number) earthing transformers.

Out of the ten (10) 60MVA transformers, five (5) were installed in Karu and Gombe Substations, two (2No) are currently being installed in Kano, and one in Lagos State.

“This is the first time in the history of TCN that it took delivery of large numbers of transformers within a short period. These are milestone achievements for TCN, as it strives to implement its short-term development plan under the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion, and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP). The World Bank-sponsored NETAP project is only one of the TCN donor-funded projects aimed at expanding the transmission grid, while also prioritizing maintenance of the existing transmission infrastructures” he said.

TCN is equally executing several projects funded by the Agence Français de Développement (AFD).