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Minister Lists Factors Limiting Power Sector Growth In Nigeria

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The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Wednesday, pointed at the refusal of electricity consumers to pay their bills and energy theft as some of the factors limiting the growth of the power sector in the country.

The Minister who spoke in Abuja when he received members of the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO), Civil Committee on Energy, also blamed the current challenges facing the sector on “past actions or inactions of past administrations”.

He however noted that steps taken by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the past one year have placed the sector on the path of growth, stressing that transiting to a cost reflective tariff would lead to stable power supply.

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According to him, “What we have seen in the power sector today is the reflection of the actions and inactions of past administrations. Over 60 years of our existence since independence, we have not done the right thing for the power sector.

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“Which is why as a nation of 220 million people, we are still running around 5,000 megawatts of power. It is shameful. South Korea, 49 million people, has 130,000 megawatts of power.”

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Chief Adelabu noted that “three things that I feel that frustrate the modest achievements that we have today are, one, refusal of electricity consumers to pay their bills. There is nobody that wants to do a business and is not paid for the business. They will close shop.

“We hit 5,155 megawatts of power on the 9th of August. The highest in three years. We met around 4,000MW, even less than 4,000MW when we resumed. This is just a year. That’s about 27% increase.

“It’s quite commendable. But the only way is that it must be sustainable. Yes, so to sustain it, consumers must be ready to pay.

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“Number two, power theft should be discouraged. And civil societies need to be sensitized that when you see something, you say something.

READ ALSO: Women Protest Half-Naked Over Incessant Killings In Ondo Community
“A lot of welders work over night. They just hang their wires at 12 midnight when everbody is sleeping. A lot of people bypass meters. All these will not serve the sector.

“And lastly is vandalization. We need to desist from it. Transmission lines, transformers and other power infrastructures are being vandalised daily. The police and other security agencies are trying but it is the people themselves that can protect these facilities. Yes. So we need to keep sensitizing them so that our assets will be protected”.

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Earlier, the Leader Civil Military Cooperation (CIMICO) Civil Committee on Energy, Mr. Adams Otakwu harped on the need to protect power sector infrastructures as one of the ways to ensure energy security for the country.

He pointed out that Nigeria’s economic growth was dependent on adequate power supply.

He therefore pledged the groups support for the Federal Government’s effort to end power sector infrastructure vandalism and energy theft.

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

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.

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

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

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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.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

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.”

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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

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

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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.

‎ 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.”

‎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

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.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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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.

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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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