Connect with us

News

Power: Experts Want Review Of Privatisation

Published

on

Some experts in the power sector have urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency review privatisation of the power sector.
The experts, who spoke to the newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, said that privatisation of the power sector was a good idea, but however, added that it was not working.
They said that a comprehensive auditing and review of the sector would form part of efforts to addressing the challenges in the industry.
It will be recalled that privatisation of the sector in November 2013, was an initiative of the Federal Government to transfer ownership and management of power assets to private entities.
The move was to improve efficiency, attract more investments, and enhance overall electricity supply.
Eleven Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) and six Generation Companies (GenCos) were formed after the sector was privatised.
However, the transmission arm of the sector was retained by the Federal Government.
Mr Princewill Okorie, the National President, Association for Public Policy Analysis (APPA), said that government should carry out a national audit of the privatisation.
According to him, there should be a national committee to audit the
privatisation and to also review it.
Okorie said that the auditing should be carried out on investments made in infrastructure and the revenue collected from electricity consumers since privatisation began in 2013.
‘’The auditing should also entail investments by consumers, local government councils, state government, Federal Government and the international community.
“Government should carry out a thorough auditing of the privatisation process including investments in infrastructure and how much has been extorted from electricity consumers from inception to date.
Look at how much consumers have paid as tariff from inception till date and how much the investors have invested in the power sector,” he said.
Okorie said that based on the auditing of the sector, discussion on reversing the privatisation policy would be considered.
According to him, when the privatisation of the sector took off, the conditions or criteria that are to be met by investors have not been met.
“ It was not even done on a sincere note and the data used was not correct.`
‘` How can you privatise without adequate investment and it was done in a way to make the citizens become cash cow.
“ Now, the citizens are the ones that are being exploited. What they call privatisation in my opinion is extortion from citizens,” he said.
Okorie said that the audit of the privatisation process would precede the reversal.
Mr Uket Obonga, the National Secretary, Nigeria Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN), also called for a review of the privatisation.
Obonga said that when the issue of privatisation came on board, Nigerians were happy that investors were coming to invest in the sector.
He said that privatisation was supposed to bring massive improvement and more infrastructure into the power sector but nothing seems to have improved.
“ So where do we go from here? What are we really doing?. The privatisation that was well conceived has not really worked.
“So let there be a deliberate review of the entire privatisation, ‘’ he said.
Obonga also urged the government to set up a technical forensic audit team to audit the power sector infrastructure.
According to him, Generation Companies (GenCos) have invested so much and their capacity has scaled up to about 14,000 megawatts.
“ Government should ensure that any Electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) that does not have certain amount of money to invest in infrastructure should not be allowed to continue to operate , “he said

Continue Reading

News

Kano Gov Congratulates NUJ At 70

Published

on

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has congratulated the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on its 70th anniversary.
The governor acknowledged the NUJ’s vital role in strengthening democracy and promoting accountability in governance.
This is contained in a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa in Kano, yesterday.
The governor lauded the NUJ for its unwavering commitment to ethical journalism and nation building.
He commended the union’s leadership, led by Mr Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, for advancing press freedom and advocating for journalists’ welfare.
“The NUJ has been instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s narrative, promoting democracy and ensuring accountability in governance.
”The Kano state government recognises the critical role of the media in our democracy and will continue to support and collaborate with the NUJ to uphold a free and independent press,” he stated.
Yusuf urged journalists to continue to uphold professionalism, integrity and objectivity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering a strong partnership with the union, while ensuring that the media remained a pillar of democracy in the state and the country at large.
“Once again, congratulations to the NUJ on this remarkable achievement. May the next 70 years bring even greater successes and accomplishments for the union and its members,” he stated.

Continue Reading

News

Monarch Lauds Fubara On Enduring Peace, Installs Three Chiefs In Ngo

Published

on

The Village Head of Ngo in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, King Dogood Ngere, has commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his peaceful disposition and leadership qualities in the State.
King Ngere has also appealed to the governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to resolve their differences and work together for the interest of peace and development of the State.
The monarch stressed the need for the two leaders to put Rivers State interest above personal interest and reconcile their differences.
He said Fubara’s decision to implement the Supreme Court judgement shows that he is a man of peace and appealed to the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Rt Martin Amaewhule to work with the Executive to move the State forward.
The traditional ruler stated this shortly after he installed three chiefs at his palace in Ngo Town.
The three chiefs are Chief Daniel Dimkpa Nelson of Ebirien Ngere family, Chief John Biboh John of Ngor Egbesi family, and Awajimotumu Ukot Idawaji as chief of Ida Awaji family.
Addressing the new chiefs after their installation, King Ngere charged them to see themselves as role models for their individual families, stressing that as chiefs, it behoves them to be exemplary in their conducts.
According to the traditional ruler, the new chiefs must not only work for the peace of their families but Ngo community in general.
King Ngere also advised members of the three families to give their chiefs the desired respect while also supporting them to succeed.
He commended Governor Fubara for his numerous developmental projects in Andoni, particularly the ongoing Ngo/Oyorokoto Road, saying that when completed, the road will open up economic opportunities in the area.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Secretary of the Egweoke Council of Chiefs, Chief Awajiokan Mbosowo Ukumor, described the installation ceremony as a big success.
He said the three chiefs fulfilled all the conditions for their installation and are therefore admitted as members of the Ngo Council of Chiefs.
The ceremony was attended by people from various walks of life.

Continue Reading

News

NDLEA Seizes Large Consignments Of Skunk, Heroin Across Six States, FCT

Published

on

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized large consignments of skunk, heroin, and other opioids in raids across Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
Babafemi said that in Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect.
According to him, the suspect was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Chalawa area of the state on March 12.
He added that no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were also intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi, in a commercial bus coming from Lagos, enroute Abuja on March 11.
He added that raid operations in Kachia, in Kaduna on March 13, led to the arrest of a 21 year-old suspect, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him.
Babafemi said that a similar exercise in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North Local Government Area (LGA) on March 14, also resulted in the arrest of another 25-year-old suspect.
According to Babafemi, 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg was also recovered from him.
“A total of 40,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara, on Friday, March 14.
“The NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect, along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday, March 13.
“Also, in Taraba, NDLEA officers on Friday, March 14, another 30-year-old suspect, at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77kg of skunk,” he stated.
Speaking further, he noted that agency operatives had also on March 13 in Osun, intercepted a commercial bus with registration number, SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island.
According to him, the NDLEA operatives recovered a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis.
“Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.
“A 58-year-old suspect was on March 11, arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg.
“Another 26 year old suspect sold was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.
“In Abia, NDLEA operatives had also on March 15, raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect was arrested.
“Operatives recovered from him, 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, four grams of cocaine and N753,015 monetary exhibit,” he said.

Continue Reading

Trending