Abubakar Garba Iliya
Abubakar Garba Iliya is a Nigerian hydrogeologist, geophysicist, and public administrator. He serves as the Executive Director of Administration and Finance at the North East Development Commission, a Nigerian federal agency focused on reconstruction and development in the North East region. Iliya has held various leadership roles in water resources management, disaster response, and environmental sciences, and is a fellow of several professional bodies in geosciences.
Early life and education
Iliya was born on 2 October 1962 in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area, Yobe State, Nigeria. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Maiduguri in 1985. He obtained a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Calabar in 1989, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Geophysics from the Rivers State University in 1996. In 2003, he completed a Professional Diploma in Integrated Water Resources Management from the Water Resources Research and Documentation Centre at the University for Foreigners in Perugia, Italy.Career
Iliya began his career in academia, serving as Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Federal University of Technology, Yola branch from 1990 to 1991, and as Deputy Dean of the School of Environmental Sciences at the same institution from 1990 to 1992.He transitioned to public service in water management, holding positions as General Manager and CEO of the Yobe State Water Board, Yobe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, and Yobe State Water Corporation. From 2006 to 2015, he was Managing Director and CEO of the Chad Basin Development Authority in Maiduguri. Since 2004, he has served as Nigeria's Technical Expert to the Lake Chad Basin Commission in N'Djamena, Chad.
Iliya has also contributed to policy and consulting, including as Secretary of the Ministerial Policy Advisory Committee at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, a member of the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, and a consultant to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc on wheat value chains.
In humanitarian and disaster management, he was Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs to the Governor of Yobe State and later Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Yobe State from December 2019 to May 2023. In this role, he coordinated interventions with organizations such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNOCHA, Save the Children, IOM, and others for post-conflict reconstruction and disaster response.
In 2023, Iliya was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as Executive Director of Administration and Finance at the North East Development Commission. He has represented the NEDC in various engagements, including collaborations with state governors and international partners.
Beyond government, Iliya was reelected as National President of the Government Secondary School Damaturu Old Students Association in October 2025.
Professional affiliations and achievements
Iliya is a two-time President of the Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists. He holds fellowships in the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists, Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering, and an honorary fellowship in the International Association of Hydrogeologists.He has authored over 20 publications in geosciences, water resources, and environmental management from 1985 onward, including co-editing The Impact of Climate Change on Sokoto State, Nigeria: Evidence and Challenges. Iliya has attended numerous national and international conferences, seminars, and workshops.
In 2025, he received an Award of Excellence from the National Water Resources Capacity Building Network.