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FG To Boost Transmission By 1,000MW Within 2022

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By Edozie Obasi-Eze

The Federal Government is focused on enhancing electricity power transmission by over 1,000 megawatts, within the year, with the construction of six power substations, at the verge of completion in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sule Abdulaziz; and officials Federal Ministry of Power and TCN, made the disclosure over the weekend during an inspection tour of the substations ahead of the proposed inauguration of some of them next month.

It was gathered that but for security challenges, the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydropower Project in Niger State would have been completed since January.

According to Aliyu, the projects would grow the wheeling capacity of TCN by over 1,000MW.

He said, “This is a TCN project and is called the Abuja Ring Project. This project, combining lines and substations, has a brand new substation in Gwarimpa that will be completed this month or in December.

“Once completed, it will increase the capacity of TCN. In all, we have six of these projects, and they’ll increase the wheeling capacity of the transmission company by over 1,000MW.”

He named some of the power projects to include the Dawaki, Old Apo, New Apo and Kuje transmission substations, among others.

He revealed that one of the mega transformers acquired by the Government from Siemens had been cleared at the ports and would be installed at the Old Apo substation.

He said the facility would have been installed if not for the floods that delayed the movement of heavy duty trucks recently, noting that the New Apo substation was funded through a $170 loan from the French Development Agency.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the project sites and assured Nigerians that some of the substations would be ready next month.

“The work is going on very well and the quality is also good. We will have staggered completion because they are different projects. Some have certain challenges and we will look at them critically to see how we can solve them.

“The challenges mostly involve the clearance of the goods at the ports, which is delaying the completion of some of them. But, in fact, the Dawaki project is over 90 per cent completed, as well as others.”

The minister called for patience among Nigerians with regard to power supply, stressing that the various electricity projects across the country would take time to complete.

On the 700MW Zungeru Hydropower Project, Aliyu said he was at the facility last week but stated that the power plant had suffered undue delay due to the level of insecurity in Niger State.

When asked whether insecurity was disrupting some power projects, including Zungeru, Abubakar replied, “Are you not a Nigerian?

“Sure, of course, but we are working round the clock to ensure that we face it head on. The military and others are helping in that regard. We would have completed Zungeru since January, but the insecurity there stalled the progress of the project.

“But now, everything is resolved, the military and other security agencies have brought in men to assist in securing that area.”

He said work had resumed at the project site, adding that the plant, when completed, would further grow the country’s output in terms of power generation.

NEWS

N1.7trn Loan: Atiku Blames NASS For Worsening Nigeria’s Debt Burden

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.

In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.

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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.

“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.

He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.

“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.

Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.

“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said

He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.

“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”

Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.

He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.

“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.

“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.

He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.

 

 

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International News

ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.

In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”

READ MORE: Osun Govt Decries Attempted Murder Of Park Mgt  Chairman By Police

The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.

Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.

The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.

With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.

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NEWS

Edo State Governor Sets Up Committee To Recover Missing Gov’t Vehicles

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Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.

The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.

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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.

He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.

In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.

“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.

“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”

The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.

“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”

He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.

“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.

The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.

 

 

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