Abuja, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Shu’aib Aliyu as the new Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), while also renewing the tenure of Sule Abdulaziz as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The changes take immediate effect, according to a statement issued on Thursday, April 2, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Professor Aliyu replaces Ahmed Aminu, who stepped down from the role to pursue the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State, a northeastern state in Nigeria. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund is a federal government agency responsible for developing human capacity and technical expertise for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The presidency described Aliyu as a seasoned academic and administrator with extensive experience in research and institutional leadership. “His appointment underscores the President’s commitment to strengthening key institutions in the petroleum sector and advancing capacity development for Nigeria’s energy industry,” the statement said.
It added that the President expects the new appointee to use his experience to reposition the fund for greater impact in human capital development, innovation, and strategic support for the oil and gas sector in line with national priorities.
Okay News reports that the President also approved the renewal of Sule Abdulaziz’s appointment as head of the Transmission Company of Nigeria for a second and final term. The company is responsible for managing the country’s national electricity transmission network.
According to the presidency, the decision followed a review of Abdulaziz’s performance overseeing the power transmission system. The statement noted improvements recorded during his tenure, including progress in grid stability, expansion of transmission capacity, and modernisation of key infrastructure.
The government also highlighted Abdulaziz’s role in strengthening regional electricity cooperation through the West African Power Pool, a network aimed at integrating power systems across countries in West Africa to improve electricity supply.
President Tinubu urged both appointees to discharge their duties with diligence and integrity in line with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, a policy framework focused on economic reform, infrastructure development, and institutional strengthening.
The appointments are expected to influence Nigeria’s energy and power sectors, particularly efforts to build technical capacity in the petroleum industry and improve reliability in electricity transmission nationwide.
