President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), marking a major leadership shift in the country’s electricity regulatory body.
The appointment was announced in a statement released Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The nomination, which is subject to Senate confirmation, also includes Mr. Abubakar Yusuf as Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun as Commissioner for Finance and Management Services.
To ensure a seamless transition, Engr. Ramat is expected to assume office in an acting capacity pending his confirmation by the Senate, in accordance with statutory provisions.
Read Also:
Why Kano APC Backs Ganduje, Declares Him ‘Undisputed Leader’ of the Party
President Tinubu urged the nominees to apply their expertise and experience in advancing the administration’s power sector reforms, particularly in strengthening regulatory oversight and consumer protection.
A Brief Profile of Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat
Born in 1985, Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat is a seasoned electrical engineer, technology entrepreneur, and public servant from Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.
He began his educational journey at a community primary school in his locality and continued at Government Technical College, Ungogo, for his junior secondary education. He completed his senior secondary education at Dawakin Tofa Science College before proceeding to Bayero University, Kano, where he graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in Electrical Engineering.
While still an undergraduate, Engr. Ramat demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit by founding AG Ramat Global Links in 2008, a tech-driven company focused on IT and computer-based solutions.
He later earned a Master’s degree in Telecommunications from Jodhpur International University, India, and went on to complete a PhD in Strategic Management from Lincoln University.
Engr. Ramat also acquired several executive certifications from renowned global institutions, including Harvard University (Big Data Analytics and Civic Engagement), Google (Workshop Administration), Microsoft (Azure Solutions Architect Expert), and Gonzaga University (Power Transmission and Distribution Systems).
In 2018, he ventured into partisan politics by contesting for a seat in the House of Representatives to represent Ungogo and Minjibir Constituency under the platform of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP). Though he did not win, his candidacy energized political awareness and engagement at the grassroots level.
His rise in public service is closely linked to his mentorship under the former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Recognizing Ramat’s talent and capacity, Dr. Ganduje appointed him as Managing Director of the Kano Street Light Project, a key infrastructure initiative under the state government. Later, Ganduje supported his successful bid to become Chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area (2021–2024), where he made a notable impact by introducing Nigeria’s first blockchain-based decentralized e-identity system — a reform that revolutionized local citizen registration through the issuance of tamper-proof indigene and residency ID cards.
Ramat’s tenure as local government chairman was widely praised for its innovation, transparency, and youth engagement, further cementing his reputation as one of Kano’s emerging technocrats with both administrative and digital savvy.
His recent nomination to head NERC is seen as a strategic move to inject fresh perspective, modern regulatory tools, and technical leadership into Nigeria’s electricity sector.
With his diverse academic background, international exposure, and solid track record in both private enterprise and public office, Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat is widely expected to lead the Commission into a new era of performance, reform, and consumer-centered regulation.
