REA Says It Requested ICPC Operational Review

Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency says it asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to conduct a system study and operational review, a process the agency’s managing director described as a way to identify gaps and strengthen accountability. The available accounts do not establish that the review is a criminal investigation or that wrongdoing has been alleged. REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu said the agency initiated the request and welcomed scrutiny of its operations. He said REA’s growing programmes, partnerships and investments increased its responsibility to maintain transparent and accountable internal processes. The agency said the review would examine its systems and help identify areas for improvement. Aliyu also called for continuing cooperation between the ICPC and REA’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, rather than limiting their engagement to a single review. He described the collaboration as a framework for ongoing evaluation and strengthening of the systems supporting the agency’s rural electrification work.