Nigeria’s electricity gen eration, yesterday, dropped Week-on-Week, by 16.4 per cent to 3,501.20 megawatts, MW, from 4,187.6 MW recorded Thursday, last week.
Checks by Vanguard indicated the situation occurred because of many factors, including the poor state of plants and low gas supply to thermal plants.
The development has pushed the Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, to embark on load shedding in order to spread the limited electricity to many at different times.
This is coming as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says eleven electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, have filed an application for rate review with the commission.
The request for rate review, according to NERC, is premised on the need to incorporate changes in macroeconomic parameters and other factors affecting the quality of service, operations and sustainability of the companies.
Meanwhile, Powercom Smart Grid Nigeria (PSGN) has announced its acquisition of Kano Electricity Distribution
Plc(KEDCO).
PSGN is a subsidiary of Powercom and specializes in delivering an “end-to end” Smart Grid/Smart Metering turnkey solution.
In a statement made available to Vanguard yesterday, PSGN said the acquisition presents a significant opportunity for KEDCO to implement a comprehensive turnaround plan aimed at improving performance and efficiency.
It stated: “PSGN Turnaround Plan encompasses a strategic approach to address the challenges faced by KEDCO and transform it into a highly efficient and financially viable electricity distribution company supporting 5 million customers.
“The plan focuses on revenue enhancement, operational performance optimization, revenue collection, customer service, and overall system reliability.PSGN will supply KEDCO smart electricity endpoints including the full backbone infrastructure to manage the grid.
“The project is meant to upgrade the existing distribution grid into a modern platform, addressing services such as: Revenue Enhancement, Reduction of Energy Losses, Debt Recovery, Reduction of Outages, Grid Optimization, Asset Recording, Asset Protection, Peak Load Management; Workforce Automation, reducing operational expenditure and improving customer service. PSGN ‘turnkey’ solution includes the Vending Platform and a Control Room with GIS visualization for grid management.”
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to Nigerians to be patient to ensure they reap the long-term gains of the current economic policies of the Bola Tinubu administration.
The group’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
“The deregulation of the oil sector of the Nigerian economy which has been hailed by experts as a wise step must come with a price.
“It has necessitated the determination of prices of petroleum products by global market forces.
“This implies that even the Nigerian government can no longer fix the prices of petroleum products and it was not responsible for the latest increase from N488 to N617.
“The good news is that we have a sensitive administration which has shown concern for the plight of the common man,” he said.
He added that the president had declared that the poor must not be strangulated by the current hardship.
“Palliatives are, therefore, being prepared to ease the pain without which there can be no gain.
“We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians to patiently wait for the palliatives. This hard time is the test of our faith, our patriotism and our resolve to reengineer our destiny as a people.
“Therefore, endurance is our best option now, not demonstrations or willful destruction of public properties, looting of shops and businesses belonging to innocent Nigerians,” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians to rally behind the Tinubu administration.
“We have seen the concrete and pragmatic steps which he has taken as he squarely confronts Nigeria’s economic woes.
“Comments made by experts since the beginning of this administration prove that the man on the driving seat knows his onions and he is well prepared for the job of turning our economy round.
“All we need to do now is to endure, to have faith in the leadership and to patiently forbear for Nigeria,” he pleaded.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said the vessel caught with stolen crude was destroyed instantly as required by standard procedure.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, at a briefing in Abuja, said the procedure stipulates instant destruction of any vehicle, vessel or equipment linked with crude oil theft.
The vessel MT TURA II was intercepted on July 7 while conveying 150,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil from Nigeria to Cameroon at a location offshore of Ondo State, with 11 Nigerians and one Ghanaian onboard.
The vessel was set ablaze on July 11 at a creek near Bennett Island in Warri South-West Local Government of Delta State.
Buba said: “The vessel, MT TURA II…has a tank capacity of 800,000 litres.
“It was previously named ALI RITA BEY and an inspection revealed that only two compartments were partially filled with about 150 metric tonnes which is approximately 178,000 litres.
“This quantity is less than a quarter of the vessel. The vessel, upon arrest, was moved to Oporoza in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The voyage of the vessel revealed that it originated from Lagos and was heading to the Republic of Cameroon as its destination.
“The captain admitted to having been engaged in the same illegal activities for over four years.
“On July 11, the vessel was destroyed in accordance with the extant operating procedure that stipulates instant destruction of any vehicle, vessel or equipment linked with crude oil theft.”
The Defence spokesperson also said that troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 23 illegal refining sites, 15 wooden boats, 34 storage tanks, and 96 ovens in the past two weeks.
They also recovered 367,200 litres of crude oil and 150 litres of Automotive Gas Oil.
Buba said: “On July 10, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE with Pilgrims Security Service personnel responded to criminal activities around Chinese Camp in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
“Troops pursued the criminals and arrested five suspects as well as recovered four motorcycles, stolen cables and casted steel conveyor bearing balls.”
In the Southeast, he said troops of Operation UDO KA on July 10 killed one Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) fighter during a gunfight at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and arrested 12 suspects.
He said: “On July 11, troops of OPERATION UDO KA raided a suspected IPOB/ESN criminals’ hideout at Udoma Community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
“Following the raid, troops arrested two suspected IPOB/ESNcriminals.
“On July 13, troops raided a suspected criminals’ hideout within Umoh Orok Street in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State and arrested 10 suspected criminals.
“On July 14, troops with DSS operators raided suspected high profile ESN criminals’ hideout/shrine at Nsukka in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.
“Suspects on sighting troops fled while troops searched the hideout and recovered three pump action rifles, one dane gun and 75 live cartridges.
“On July 14, following a tip-off, troops raided IPOB/ESN hideout at Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State but the criminals fled on sighting troops.
“Troops searched the general area and recovered one AK47 rifle.”
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has earned public accolades over the measure taken to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
Naija News reports that Umo, in a post via Twitter page, announced that his administration is partnering with Innoson Motors to provide palliatives, especially on transportation, due to the economic hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.
He wrote: “I’m excited to partner with @innosonvehicles, Nigeria’s first indigenous auto manufacturing company led by Chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, CON. Our collaboration aims to provide palliatives, especially in transportation, for our citizens affected by the removal of fuel subsidy.
“I am grateful to Chief Chukwuma for his support and commend his indomitable spirit in establishing the first indigenous auto manufacturing company.
“Together, we will work to alleviate the plight of our people and foster growth and pride in our nation”
Reacting to the post, many Nigerian commended the governor for taking a good measure towards alleviating the difficult situation of the masses.
A video showing the terminal ‘C’ managed by Port and Cargo Limited at the Tin-Can Island of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) up in flames, with cargoes worth millions of Naira being destroyed, has surfaced on the internet.
Naija News reports that the incident occurred on Thursday, July 20th.
Although, details on the cause of the fire mishap are still sketchy, it was gathered that emergency responders appeared at the scene to battle with the fire.
Meanwhile, every attempt made to speak with the management of Port and Cargoproved abortive as of the time this report was filed.
Watch video below;
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A non-governmental organisation, Face Of Waziri-Nigeria (FOWN), has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was making frantic effort to frustrate at least two of the Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to resign, so as to make mess of the judicial panel.
The Director General of the group, Comrade Bukky Adeniyi, made the allegation in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, July 21, 2023.
Adeniyi stated that given the existing legal proviso, which necessitated a replacement and retrieval in case any Judge resigns and consequently translates to buying time beyond the stipulated time by the Supreme Court, was a ploy to make the case statute barred and of no effect.
FOWN noted that the alleged surreptitious move made by President Tinubu was to make the Justices resign and the target was at ensuring the time frame of 180 days elapsed before the case is concluded by the panel.
The statement reads, “the Justice has not resigned at the moment but we have it on good authority that Mr. Tinubu and his team are seriously working hard to threaten and frustrate one or two of them to resign so that the panel will be bereft of jurisdiction at this stage.
“This will lead to replacement and retrieval de novo. In which case, it will be statute barred once outside the 180 days stipulated by the constitution and attendant of which ends the matter, because Supreme Court cannot extend time.
“At the moment Tinubu is pressuring the tribunal. He wants two judges to withdraw or resign from the panel,” FOWN stated.
The group also cited a former PDP Governor from the South-South turned “APC lackey having allegedly helped to rig elections in Tinubu’s favour within the zone” is now being used to hoodwink the Justices to give favourable decision.
“A particular Governor formerly with the PDP but now in APC sequel Tinubu’s blessing from South-South is delegated to use document of money exchange between the government of that state and one or two of the justices in the past for judgement favour then, as a proof to harass and intimidate the justices to shift the judgement of the Tribunal in their favour.
The group, however, raised some poser on the matter: “How do you explain if at all such money exchange occurred in the past, to now want to use such to blackmail the Justice?
“Did the Justice or Justices demand for money the governor gave then or was given as thank you? In whatever case, the Tribunal matter is different from whatever transaction they had together in the past,” he added.
In its resolve to ensure justice is served without undue interference, the group also explained how Tinubu has tried again to shroud in secrecy his Chicago State University saga having known that the truth, if revealed, will further worsen his plight.
“He faulted the recent move by the counsel to the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to subpoena the institution on the need to ascertain authenticity of documents relating to his attendance at Chicago State University.
Recall that Atiku had in a petition dated July 11, 2023, by and through his attorneys, requested the court to “issue subpoena commanding a corporate representative of Resident Chicago State University (Respondent) to appear for deposition upon oral examination of the topics set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto at the offices of Dechert LLP at 35 West Wacker Drive, Suite 3400, Chicago, Illinois 60601 on July 21, 2023 at 9.00am.”
The respondent is expected, amongst other things to, “testify and give evidences and in support thereof states as follows: “That non-party Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently the President of Nigeria and is facing various court proceedings concerning his election and the authenticity of documents relating to his attendance at Chicago State University; “That Mr. Tinubu had previously asserted that he attended various educational institutions located in the Chicago area, including but not limited to Chicago State University;
“To test the truth and veracity of Mr. Tinubu’s assertions, Petitioner must depose a corporate representative of Respondent Chicago State University (Respondent) regarding educational record or lack thereof, from respondent;
“To identify and determine if Mr. Tinubu attended above-mentioned institution, petitioner needs deposition testimony regarding the following information, as outlined in Exhibit A, including but not limited to admission information pertaining to Mr. Tinubu, proof of enrolment and attendance of Mr. Tinubu, and any degrees Mr. Tinubu attained from the Respondent.”
The Kano State Police Command, on Thursday, disclosed plans to begin a clampdown on blacksmiths in the state engaged in the fabrication of weapons for criminals.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Gumel, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the efforts of the police toward dislodging hoodlums from Dala Hills in the Dala Local Government Area of the state.
“You can see the various types of knives on display and anybody, who looks at these knives would know that they were not fabricated for domestic use but rather for committing violence on human beings.
“From the edges of the knives, they have the semblance of jackknives, only be used by officers of conventional services, comprising the military and the police.
“Currently, our artisans, blacksmiths are now producing these weapons without minding the consequences but all they know is to produce and sell them to criminals at give-away prices. Thereafter, the criminals arm themselves with the weapons, which they use to attack innocent citizens and kill if they refuse to surrender their property.”
The CP disclosed that he had sent an invitation to blacksmiths for dialogue, during which they would be educated on the dangers of fabricating weapons for members of the public.
“If a customer comes to you, it is mandatory for you to confirm his trade, whether he is a butcher and what he intends to do with the weapons that he is ordering to be fabricated for him,” the CP said.
Tinubu has presented a motion to dismiss a subpoena filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chicago, in response to a fresh petition from the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
On July 11, Abubakar filed a petition seeking more information on Tinubu’s academic history at Chicago State University.
The documents requested by Abubakar and his lawyer, Angela M. Liu, include Tinubu’s university admission record, attendance dates, degrees, awards, and other honours. Abubakar stated the goal of the subpoena was to “test the truth and veracity of Mr. Tinubu’s assertions.”
However, in response, Tinubu’s lawyer, Victor P. Henderson, on July 19, requested the court to reject the petition, arguing that no judge had heard and approved the subpoena from Atiku.
Henderson also criticized the timeline given for compliance only six days which he pointed out was shorter than the 14 days stipulated under Rules 219 and 137 of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.
Furthermore, Henderson criticized Abubakar for engaging in an “improper fishing expedition about a foreign public official utilizing the Illinois court’s subpoena power.”
Naija News understands that the former Vice President is challenging Tinubu’s declaration as the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).a
The Anambra State Government says it has handed over 19-year-old Mmesoma Ejikeme, who forged her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination result, to a psychotherapist for a three-month guidance and counselling
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, disclosed this at a press briefing in her office in Awka, on Thursday.
Chuma-Udeh said Mmesoma would undergo a therapy class for three months as recommended by the state panel, which probed the UTME forgery case.
Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, recently made the headlines after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board called her out for fraudulently manipulating her UTME score from 249 to 362, thereby falsely parading herself as UTME top scorer for 2023.
Before admitting the forgery, Mmesoma had engaged JAMB in accusation and counter-accusation, with the exam body slamming a three-year ban on her.
On Wednesday, she appeared before a panel of the House of Representatives in Abuja, where she tendered an apology to the exam body and pleaded for leniency.
While briefing journalists on Thursday, the Anambra State Commissioner for Education recalled that a panel set up by the state to investigate the matter recommended that the teenager should be made to undergo a psychological counselling and therapy.
Chuma-Udeh said, “We considered what Mmesoma did as ‘juvenile delinquency’ to which any child could fall victim. So, we are not going to throw the baby away with the bath water. She is now under a psychotherapist counsellor who will take her on therapy for three months after which the state government will appeal to JAMB management on behalf of her to reconsider one or two things.”
The commissioner commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for approving the psychotherapy class for Mmesoma.
Monarchs in Ondo State, under the auspices of De 130 Krown Obas, on Thursday, organised a prayer session for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who has been sick for some months and has gone abroad for treatment.
The group, which comprises some first-class and second-class Obas in the state, also condemned the way some people in the state were allegedly playing politics with the health of the governor, saying such must stop.
The chairman of the group and Molokun of Atijere in the Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, Oba Samuel Adeoye, while speaking at the end of the session held in Akure, said, “The purpose of today’s meeting is to organise a special prayer for our governor because we are all aware that our governor has health challenges.
“As traditional rulers, we believe that there is a need for us to organise this special prayer, we can jointly pray for our governor to have a quick recovery so that he can join us as soon as possible.
“Our governor is a good person and he had done so much for us. Since he came down with some health issues some months ago, we have not been happy. We feel it is necessary as kings to pray for him so that God would grant him quick peace.”
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association and Olupe of Ipe Akoko, Oba Francis, Apata, in his remarks, said, “Several bodies have been praying for his (Akeredolu’s) quick recovery, the council of the Obas in Ondo State has also prayed for his recovery, we believe as a constituted body, there is need for us to pray for his quick recovery and that is why we decided today to pray for his quick recovery.”
The PUNCH reported that Akeredolu had last month transmitted power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to stand in as acting governor, while he took a three-week medical leave.
He later wrote the state House of Assembly to ask for an extension of the sick leave.
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Ekiti Assembly on Thursday confirmed all the 21 Commissioner-Nominees by Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
When Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye sought to confirm the nominees by voice vote one after the other, the legislators present at the plenary answered in the affirmative.
Aribasoye explained with the confirmation of their nomination, the nominees have become commissioners-designate.
He said the executives can proceed to swear them into office and hand them portfolios.
The commissioners-designate are Dr. Kofoworola Aderiye; Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo; Mr. Seun Fakuade; Chief Folorunso Olabode; Mr. Gold Adesola; Dr. Kareem Akande and Prof. Patrick Tedela.
Others are Prof. Ojo Bakare; Mr. Kolawole Ajobiewe; Mr. Kayode Fasae; Mrs. Tayo Adeola; Prof. Bolaji Aluko; Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade and Otunba Dolamu Adeniyi
Others include: Karonwi Oladapo, Mrs. Olapeju Babafemi, Mr. Ojo Atibioke, Mrs. Tosin Aluko, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, Mr. Adesola Adebayo and Mr. Oluwafemi Awe.
The motion that the Governor be empowered to appoint ten Special Advisers was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tolu Ige (Ekiti Southwest 2) and seconded by Hon. Oluwayomi Ayorinde (Ido/Osi 2).
Nigeria’s Political Parties Increase As INEC Complies With Supreme Court Order Recognizing Youth Party (YP)
AdminThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has complied with a Supreme Court order to recognize the Youth Party (YP) as a registered political party in Nigeria.
The YP was deregistered among others by INEC in 2020 for “failing to meet the criteria provided for by section 225(a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended)”.
However, the party challenged the deregistration in court and the Supreme Court ruled in its favour in December 2022.
The Supreme Court’s ruling ordered INEC to reinstate the YP as a registered political party and to allow it to participate in future elections. INEC has now complied with the court order, making Nigeria’s political parties increase to 19.
The YP is a relatively new political party, having been founded in 2018.
The party’s objective includes to “encourage the Nigerian youth to be organized politically to determine the Nigeria of their future” and its participation in future elections could help increase the number of young people in elected office and to bring about more progressive policies.
Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, announced YP’s reinstatement on Thursday after a meeting of the commission’s management in Abuja.
“Following the Commission’s decision to deregister some parties in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the Commission from deregistering it.
“On appeal by the Commission, the Court of Appeal set aside the Order of the Federal High Court and on further appeal by the party, the Supreme Court set aside the deregistration of the party.
“Based on the judgement of the Supreme Court, the Commission interfaced with officials of the Youth Party on the modalities for its operation based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.
“Consequently, the Commission has recognised the Youth Party (YP) as the 19th Political Party in Nigeria with all the rights and privileges accorded political parties in Nigeria,” said Okoye.
Mr. Yunana Barde, Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has called for calm over the outbreak of a yet to be confirmed disease in Kafanchan on Wednesday night.
Barde made the call on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen at the General Hospital in Kafanchan.
He urged the people not to panic as all hands were on deck to contain further spread of the disease.
The council boss commended the General Hospital for its prompt response in providing a temporary isolation centre for suspected cases of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Medical Director of the General Hospital, Dr Isaac Nathaniel, said that resuscitative measures were being carried out on 10 suspected victims on admission, adding that their samples had since been collected for investigation.
“Last night I was notified of the outbreak of what looks like a respiratory tract infection at Ward B community in Kafanchan.
“I quickly dispatched a team of medical and laboratory personnel who got in touch with three of the suspected cases.
“We counselled them to come to the hospital for proper evaluation and treatment, after seven more victims were brought in today.
“We are doing all we can, to stabilise them and give them treatment while we carry out investigation,’’ he added.
He said the victims were children between ages three and 13 who displayed symptoms ranging from sore throat, headache, fever, difficulty in swallowing and breathing amongst others.
According to him, the state epidemiologist and his team were on their way to Kafanchan from Kaduna to ascertain the epidemiologic basis of the outbreak and its spread.
On the alleged death of about 10 people from the ailment, Nathaniel said it was ‘hearsay’ as none of the purported dead bodies had been brought to the mortuary.
“We were notified of some deaths last night but none of the so-called dead bodies has been brought to us. So, it’s all hearsay for now,” he said.
He called on residents of Kafanchan to be on the look out, as measures are put in place to prevent further spread of the disease.
The outbreak has forced many primary and secondary schools in Kafanchan to shutdown pending the conclusion of medical investigation. (NAN)
Four persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Anambra State police command in connection with a lady who was killed and dumped in abandoned swimming pool of a hotel in Awka, the state capital.
The state commissioner for culture, tourism and entertainment, Hon Don Onyenji, has said the hotel had been sealed off by the state government pending the outcome of the police investigation of the incident.
The police public relations officer in the state, DSP, Ikenga Tochukwu told LEADERSHIP Friday yesterday that those now in the police custody over the matter wasa celebrant who was marking his birthday in the club located in the hotel where the lady, aged about 30 years.
One Miss Chinyere Awuda was killed and her body dumped in the hotel’s abandoned swimming pool.
The police spokesman however did not disclose the name of the celebrant and the three other suspects, he said the others were staff members of the club which name he gave as “The Same”.
Not a few persons were shocked as tongue wagged in Awka as the video of the floating body of the lady in a swimming pool became viral yesterday.
Sources said that Miss Chinyere who was a popular clubber in the capital city was beaten to death by friends of the birthday celebrant in the club on Saturday for allegedly stealing money being sprayed on the celebrant.
It was learnt that while the celebrant was being sprayed money, Chinyere was caught picking up the money and pocketing it, a development that was said to have infuriated some of the celebrant’s friends who after beating her to death, dumped her lifeless body in the abandoned swimming pool in the hotel in Awka.
The police image-maker said the other suspects were being trailed.