NEWS
Hope For Nigerians As Tinubu Approves ₦3.3tn To Fix Electricity Crisis
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦3.3 trillion payment plan aimed at addressing Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges, raising fresh hopes for improved power supply across the country.
The approval, announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is part of the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme designed to settle outstanding debts owed to stakeholders in the electricity value chain.
According to the presidency, the debts—accumulated between 2015 and 2025—have been a major obstacle to efficient power generation and distribution.
SEE ALSO: Asiwaju @74 – Adeleke Lauds Tinubu as One-for-All
After a comprehensive review and verification process, the government pegged ₦3.3 trillion as the final settlement figure.
The statement revealed that implementation of the plan is already underway, with 15 power generation companies signing agreements valued at ₦2.3 trillion.
So far, the Federal Government has raised ₦501 billion to fund the initiative, with ₦223 billion already disbursed, while additional payments are ongoing.
Nigeria has struggled with persistent electricity shortages for years, with frequent national grid collapses leaving millions of homes and businesses in darkness.
As a result, many Nigerians rely heavily on petrol and diesel generators, significantly increasing the cost of living and doing business.
Officials say the intervention will improve liquidity within the power sector, ensure prompt payment to gas suppliers, and enable generation companies to operate more efficiently.
Special Adviser on Energy to the President, Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, noted that the initiative goes beyond debt repayment, describing it as a critical step toward restoring confidence in the sector and ensuring more reliable electricity supply.
She added that the government is also pursuing broader reforms, including improved metering and service-based tariffs tied to power supply quality, while prioritising electricity for industries and small businesses to drive economic growth.
However, the move has drawn criticism from the Nigeria Labour Congress, which previously opposed large-scale financial interventions in the sector.
The union, led by Joe Ajaero, argued that such bailouts may not translate into improved electricity supply, citing concerns over the performance of the privatised power companies.
Despite the concerns, the Federal Government insists the programme will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s power sector, with the next phase of the reform expected to commence later this year.
The administration expressed optimism that the initiative will ultimately deliver more stable electricity to homes and businesses, easing economic pressures and improving living conditions for Nigerians.
NEWS
Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.
Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.
He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.
SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time
“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.
The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.
He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.
According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.
He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.
As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.
He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.
Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.
Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
NEWS
Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.
The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.
ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road
“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.
The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.
“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.
LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.
“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.
NEWS
‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria
Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.
Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.
RELATED NEWS: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case
“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.
“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.
Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.
“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.
He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.
“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.
His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.
Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.
Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.
NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.
The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.





