News

MAN Laments Energy Cost As Peter Obi Knocks Tinubu Over Electricity Stability

Published

4 months ago

January 30, 2026

….Over N676.6bn spent on alternate energy cost in H1 2025 — Manufacturers

A whooping sum of N676.6 billion was spent by operators in the nation’s manufacturing sector on alternate energy in the first half of 2025, a development, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) attributed to the erratic power supply in the country.

This is just as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, said that President Bola Tinubu is yet to reddem his pledge on electricity stability.

MAN’s president, Otunba Francis Meshioye, disclosed this figure on Wednesday at the 10th Edition of the association’s Media Personality Award and 2026 Presidential Media Luncheon, held in Lagos.

According to him, the manufacturing sector grappled with familiar macroeconomic constraints, including persistent infrastructural deficits, multiple taxation, onerous regulatory requirements, weak policy coordination, elevated energy costs, and other deep-seated structural bottlenecks, in the outgone year.

The MAN boss described the development as underscoring the fragility of the operating environment the operators in the sector grapple with.

“Manufacturers entered the year with cautious optimism and a renewed commitment to proactive advocacy on issues affecting members’ operations and competitiveness. Nevertheless, prevailing macroeconomic pressures weighed heavily on business sentiment,” he stated.

Meshioye added that the Manufacturers CEOs’ Confidence Index, which tracks manufacturers’ expectations and operating impulse, declined to 53.2 percent in Q1 2025 from 56.0 percent in Q4 2024, before further easing to 50.3 percent in Q2 and only marginally recovering to 50.7 percent in Q3.

He described the ‘subdued confidence’ trajectory as reflecting the unfriendly macroeconomic environment during the period.

On inflation, the MAN president, believed the persistent double-digit inflation continued to erode consumers’ purchasing power, thereby dampening demand for manufactured goods.

He, however, argued that despite the headwinds, the manufacturing sector continued to demonstrate notable resilience, capacity utilisation improving to 61.3 percent, up from 57.6 percent in the second half of 2024.

On the suspension of the 4 percent Free-On-Board (FOB) charge by the Nigeria Customs Service, the 15 percent increase in port charges by the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the discontinued levy by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, the MAN boss noted that the manufacturers would have faced even greater burdens if the interventions had not taken place.

While expressing the hope of a positive outlook for Nigeria’s economy in 2026, Meshioye canvassed capital expenditure that supports manufacturing in the new year.

Obi, on his part, accused the present administration of failure to redeem its pledge on provision of stable electricity for Nigerians.

In a post on his X handle, @PeterObi, the former Anambra State governor recalled that the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress declared that

“If I do not provide steady electricity in my first four years, do not vote for me for a second term.”

The African Democratic Congress presidential hopeful however lamented that in 2026, the national grid has collapsed twice.

Obi called on Tinubu to stay back in the country and face the onerous task of governance.

His post read: “President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise in 2022 was clear:

“If I do not provide steady electricity in my first four years, do not vote for me for a second term.”

“Yet, in January 2026 alone, the national grid has already collapsed twice, and the month is not even over.

“Last year, it collapsed about twelve times. This reality sharply contradicts the promise and should worry every patriotic Nigerian.

“At the same time, the President is on another foreign trip, this time to Turkey, a country of about 87 million people-roughly a third of Nigeria’s population. Yet Turkey generates and distributes over 120,000 megawatts of electricity, while Nigeria struggles with less than 5% of that capacity. The contrast is both striking and painful.

“Our appeal is simple: stay at home and confront the nation’s problems. At this rate, we may soon hear of trips to Palau or Vanuatu while critical issues remain unattended at home.

“And yet, our collective preoccupation seems to be the next election, rather than how to secure good governance. We should be joining hands to demand accountability and responsible leadership, and to save Nigerians from the indignity and suffering caused by persistent bad governance.

“A New Nigeria is POssible.

-PO.”

News

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

9 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

1 day ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
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‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
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‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
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‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
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‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
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‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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