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Edo CSO Speaks on Ossiomo Power Imbroglio

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Edo Leaders of Thought, a civil society organisation, has lent its voice to what it called circulation of a faceless, unsigned, and poorly conceived document purportedly from Ossiomo Power Company.

In a statement in Benin City on Thursday under the signature of Coordinator, Edo Leaders of Thought, Momodu Adams, the CSO noted that ‘No credible organisation issues unsigned press releases.’

It asserted that ‘following the development, and in the spirit of transparency, our organisation undertook a private, independent investigation into the imbroglio between Ossiomo Power Plant and the Edo State Government. Our findings reveal troubling patterns of opacity, inflated costs, and questionable practices that demand answers.

‘From our investigations, it is clear that the Edo State Government has zero stake in Ossiomo Power Company Limited. The company is 100% privately owned. The challenges facing Ossiomo are purely internal and have also affected government and private subscribers alike, with the Edo State Government itself often being a victim of these disruptions.’

The group observed that ‘The arrangement between the State and Ossiomo was inherited by the present administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo. Though hailed by the immediate past government of Mr. Godwin Obaseki as an innovation, in reality, it was riddled with inflated bills, fluctuating tariffs, and deliberate opacity.

‘For the entirety of Mr. Obaseki’s tenure, Edo State Government facilities were never metered. Instead, they operated on post-paid estimated billing, under which millions of naira were paid monthly without verifiable evidence of actual consumption. Meters were only hurriedly installed in September 2024, immediately after the electoral defeat of his party and barely two months before he left office.

‘Between January and November 2024 alone, over ₦5 billion was paid to Ossiomo by the Obaseki administration for government establishments. Monthly charges ranged from ₦308 million to as high as ₦718 million. The highest bills, ₦673 million in September, ₦718 million in October, and ₦474 million in November, were incurred immediately after Obaseki’s party electoral defeat and just before his exit.

‘The tariffs were not only exorbitant but unstable. Records show that Ossiomo charged wildly fluctuating rates between ₦99.97/kWh and ₦236.78/kWh, with no consistency from month to month. By contrast, BEDC, a regulated distribution company, maintained predictable tariffs: ₦68/kWh until April 2024, later adjusted to ₦225/kWh.’

On the current state of affairs, the CSO stated that, ‘In contrast, Governor Okpebholo introduced reforms that changed the narrative. He ordered the installation of prepaid meters across government establishments, ending the opaque billing system. Today, government facilities pay Ossiomo an average of ₦199 million for every 45-day cycle, a drastic reduction from as high as ₦700 million monthly outflows under Obaseki. With prepaid metering now in place, consumption is verifiable, billing is transparent, and payments are reduced by over 75 percent.

‘Between January and November 2024 alone, the Obaseki administration paid Ossiomo over ₦5 billion. In contrast, within the first nine months of Governor Okpebholo’s tenure (December 2024 to August 2025), the State has spent only ₦1.55 billion on electricity providers; ₦1.2 billion to Ossiomo and ₦345 million to BEDC.

‘This disparity raises troubling questions. Why did the Obaseki administration deliberately refuse to meter government establishments for years? Why was Edo State locked into a billing regime where billions were paid without accountability? What was Obaseki’s true interest in Ossiomo, a private company, that justified such extraordinary state patronage? And why was the entire electricity supply of the State surrendered to one company in a manner that suppressed competition and transparency?

ALSO READ: Okpebholo Champions Transparency, Probity

‘Our independent investigation has also brought to light another poser: if, as Mr. Obaseki consistently claimed, his administration invested heavily in Ossiomo and offered the company an open hand of fellowship, why then were his government’s electricity bills 75% higher than what Governor Okpebholo now pays to the same company for the same service? This inconsistency suggests the existence of shadowy deals that the public is yet to be told.

‘As a civic organisation committed to accountability, we are compelled to insist that these issues be brought to light. Edo people deserve full disclosure. Transparency is not optional. It is the cornerstone of democracy and good governance.

‘The unsigned release currently in circulation only reflects the evasiveness that characterised Ossiomo’s dealings under the previous administration. Civil society and Edo citizens will not be distracted by such antics. What Edo needs, and what we must continue to demand is full transparency, prudent resource management, and the protection of public interest above private profiteering.’

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FAAN Clears Air on Bolt, Uber Suspension, Says Services Will Resume

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Chaos at Lagos Airport, Flights Diverted Over Runway Closure

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has clarified its decision to suspend the commercial operations of ride-hailing platforms Bolt and Uber at airports under its management, saying the services will resume once their licence agreements are finalised.

FAAN said the suspension was driven by safety, security and operational concerns and was not intended to prevent passengers from accessing convenient transportation options.

The clarification followed public reactions to an internal memo dated July 30, 2026, and signed by the General Manager, Commercial Services, U.R. Liman.

SEE MORE: FAAN Bans Cash Payments At Airports Nationwide

The memo directed Regional General Managers and Airport Managers to ensure that Bolt and Uber ceased commercial operations at all FAAN-managed airports pending the finalisation and execution of their licence agreements.

The memo read: “Please be informed that pending the finalisation and execution of the License Agreement with Bolt and Uber, the authority has directed Messrs Bolt and Messrs Uber to cease all commercial operations at all FAAN-managed airports immediately. Consequently, you are to ensure that all operations of both Bolt and Uber are suspended until their License Agreements have been finalised and concluded.”

However, FAAN, in a statement issued in response to the public outcry, said its position was not aimed at limiting passengers’ access to transportation services.

“FAAN wishes to clarify that its position is not, and has never been, directed at limiting passengers’ access to transportation options or undermining the important role that e-hailing services play in providing convenient mobility to air travellers,” the authority said.

FAAN explained that airports were highly regulated environments and that commercial transportation providers operating within airport premises were required to operate under an appropriate framework that would provide adequate visibility over their vehicles and drivers.

The authority said this was necessary to ensure that transportation providers were identifiable, accountable and properly integrated into the airport’s operational and security framework.

FAAN also clarified that its ACHRAMS platform was not an e-hailing application and was not designed to compete with Uber, Bolt or other ride-hailing platforms.

“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and is not intended to compete with or replicate the services provided by Uber, Bolt or any other e-hailing platform,” it stated.

According to FAAN, it had received complaints and observed operational challenges linked to commercial transportation activities within and around airport premises, including passenger solicitation and touting.

The authority said it had therefore been engaging Bolt and Uber to establish a workable operational framework that would address safety, security, accountability and passenger-experience concerns while allowing the platforms to continue serving travellers.

“The current situation should therefore not be misconstrued as FAAN declaring a blanket prohibition on e-hailing services,” FAAN said.

The authority added that it recognised the convenience and additional transportation choices provided by Bolt and Uber and appreciated concerns from passengers who might experience inconvenience while the issues were being resolved.

FAAN said it was keen to conclude the discussions with the affected operators expeditiously.

“The authority and the affected operators are currently engaged in constructive discussions towards resolving the outstanding issues, particularly those relating to passenger safety and security, operational visibility, accountability and the appropriate management of pick-up activities within the airport environment.”

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Adeleke Campaign Spokesman Makes U-Turn, Withdraws Remarks Against Okpebholo

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The spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Governorship Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has withdrawn remarks he made against Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over the governor’s conduct during the Osun State governorship election campaign.

Olajengbesi, in a statement on Thursday, said he was withdrawing comments that may have appeared disrespectful to Okpebholo, who was in Osun State campaigning for the All Progressives Congress during the August 15 governorship election.

ALSO READ: Why Adeleke Defeated APC in Osun, Wike Explains

“I personally withdraw my earlier remarks that may have appeared disrespectful to the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo,” he said.

The withdrawal followed a series of exchanges involving Okpebholo and supporters of Adeleke during and after the election.

The controversy followed comments by Okpebholo mocking Adeleke’s dancing during an APC campaign rally in Osun.

The Edo governor had questioned whether voters were tired of Adeleke’s dancing, saying the governor danced before signing documents, before breakfast and before drinking tea.

Reacting to the development, Olajengbesi said although he considered Okpebholo’s conduct during the campaign uncharitable, the election was over and political disagreements should not undermine respect for public institutions.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo was in Osun State for the election and, in my view, conducted himself in a very uncharitable manner. But the election is now over,” he said.

Olajengbesi also advised the Edo governor to communicate more through his media aides and reduce the activities of what he described as “two overzealous cheerleaders” around him.

He noted that several prominent Nigerians and APC members participated in the Osun election campaign without publicly disrespecting Adeleke or diminishing the dignity of his office.

“I therefore withdraw any statement that may have appeared unduly insulting or disrespectful. Political disagreements should never prevent us from respecting public institutions and the offices people occupy,” he said.

The development comes amid continued political exchanges following the Osun governorship election, which Adeleke won to secure a second term in office.

Olajengbesi, however, urged residents of Edo State to continue holding Okpebholo accountable, saying such scrutiny remained part of citizens’ responsibility in a democracy.

“I equally encourage the good people of Edo State to continue to hold their Governor accountable. That is the responsibility of citizens in every democracy,” he added.

The statement came days after singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, rejected calls for him to apologise to Okpebholo over an Instagram post concerning the governor’s academic credentials.

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FG, NADDC Empower NYSC Members in South-East with CNG Conversion Skills

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NYSC extends service year of 20 corps members in Gombe, Abia

The Federal Government has commenced a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle retrofitting training programme for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the South-East zone.

The programme, organised under the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), was flagged off in Enugu on Tuesday.

Earlier, similar training had taken place last week in Abuja and in Lagos on Monday, where corps members were empowered through the training programme.

The training is designed to equip corps members with practical skills in CNG vehicle conversion and create opportunities for them to become self-reliant after their service year.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titi Gbadamosi making her speech in Enugu during the training.

READ ALSO: Shell Reinforces Safety Commitment at CEO Contractors Forum

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titi Gbadamosi, said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prepare young Nigerians for the opportunities emerging from the country’s transition to alternative energy.

Gbadamosi described the NYSC programme as a critical transition between formal education and the wider world, stressing that the government had a responsibility to ensure that corps members were equipped with relevant skills before completing their service.

“It gives me pleasure to be among you today. The Enugu State camp is one of the most coordinated camps I have visited.

“The NYSC is a transition phase between school and the real world. It is our duty to make sure that the transition is not just smooth but perfect. That is why we keep improving on the SAED programme,” she said.

She urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, saying the CNG sector offered significant employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

According to her, following the removal of the fuel subsidy, President Tinubu decided to encourage the use of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources as an alternative fuel source.

She said the Federal Government had set a target of converting 100,000 vehicles to CNG annually, adding that the target would create opportunities for trained technicians and entrepreneurs in the sector.

Representative of the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin and Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, NADDC, Ikechukwu Okoha making a speech during the training in Enugu on Tuesday.

“That is why we thought that we should also introduce CNG conversion into the SAED programme. These young Nigerians were selected from different fields of engineering.

“If you take this seriously, you are the future of the energy space in Nigeria. Your training will continue all year long so that, as you end your service, you will be a certified CNG converter,” Gbadamosi said.

She added that the initiative reflected the President’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians with practical skills that could translate into sustainable livelihoods.

Representing the Director-General of the NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, at the event, Ikechukwu Okoha, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, said the Council was fully committed to the success of the programme.

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