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10 Suspected Electricity Vandals Electrocuted

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No fewer than 10 persons suspected to be electricity installation vandals have been electrocuted within the jurisdiction of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) since January 2014, an official said.
The Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of AEDC, Mr Collins Chabuka, who made the disclosure, also said eight suspected vandals arrested within the period were facing trial in various courts.
Chabuka made the facts known at a health, safety and environment sensitisation campaign in Lafia, yesterday, saying the campaign became necessary because of the high level of fatalities recorded in the zone.
He said AEDC was concerned about its customers’ welfare and would continue to enlighten and interact with them to guarantee their safety.
He appealed to the people of Nasarawa State not to build houses under high tension cables to avoid deaths and other disasters that could arise from such acts.
He advised the people to desist from patronising unlicensed electricians, saying that AEDC would not take responsibility for disasters caused by consumers’ illegal actions.
Chabuka said the company had raised the tempo of its public awareness campaign on the safe use of electricity by consumers in its franchise area, namely Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states.
“We take it as our prime responsibility to ensure that we educate all customers and stakeholders on the safe handling of electricity because if electricity is not handled properly, it can cause injury or even death,” Chabuka said.
He said AEDC was proactive to avoid injuries or deaths from electrocution, especially during illegal practices by electricity users.
Chabuka said the company was determined to drastically reduce the rate of accidents in the electricity supply industry.
He, however, pointed out that vandalism on electricity installations attracted penalties and advised people to avoid vandalism, encroachment on installations and tampering with such installations.
Chabuka said the company had embarked on the fencing of its installations as part of measures to protect them.
He also said that the company was working in collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to curb the menace of vandalism of its installations.
Chabuka, who also visited the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai I, said the company had very high regard for the safety of its customers and the safe use of its product.
The Emir, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai I, thanked the company for the slight improvement in power supply and urged it to do more for the people.
Agwai assured the company of the emirate’s commitment to the safety of the company’s staff and installations.
As part of the campaign, the company embarked on road shows along major streets in Lafia and distributed pamphlets and fliers on how to handle electrical installations.

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Tinubu Appoints Four Nominees Into NCDMB Governing Council 

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.

The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.

Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.

“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.

“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”

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NDDC To Construct Hostels, Roads In UNIPORT – Ogbuku

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.

Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.

According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.

“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.

“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.

Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.

“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.

He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.

Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.

He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.

“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.

“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.

The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.

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Senate Rejects Motion To Rename INEC Headquarters After Humphrey Nwosu 

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The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.

Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.

The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.

Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.

Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.

He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”

Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.

On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.

Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.

“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.

Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.

“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.

After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.

They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.

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