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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.

READ ALSO: Protest: I Mean Well For President Tinubu – Says Bauchi Governor

“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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Tinubu Unveils Plan To Restart Oil Production In Ogoniland

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President Bola Tinubu has moved to restart oil production in Ogoniland in Rivers State.

The president disclosed this on Wednesday when he conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, on the late Ogoni four; Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage.

Conferring the honours at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu urged the Ogoni people to embrace reconciliation and unity after decades of division.

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READ ALSO:Teacher In Police Net For Tying, Beating Pupil In Bauchi

He assured them of his administration’s support for peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival in the land.

“I am encouraged by the overwhelming consensus of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production.

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“The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity,” he said.

READ ALSO:Nigeria Ready, Willing To Host Commonwealth Games — Tinubu

The president directed the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to begin engagements between Ogoni communities, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations.

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Earlier in his report, the NSA stated that the consultations engaged all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, capturing demands for structured participation in oil production, accelerated cleanup, and sustainable development.

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Former Oyo Police Commissioner Is Dead

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A Former Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abiodun Odude is dead.

The shocking news of his death was shared by the Chairman, Ibadan branch of Government College, GCI Old Boys Association, Akin Orowale on the Association’s platform.

Abiodun Odude, an old boy of GCI, served as Oyo CP between 2017 and 2019.

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In the meantime, reactions have continued to trail the death of Odude.

READ ALSO:Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Is Dead

A former Director General, Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), and GCI OBA stalwart, Dr Yinka Adepoju posted this on platform.

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Hmmm, another deep cut in the GCI Old Boys Association and Boys of 71 Set in particular!

“May the Soul of Biodun rest in peace as l pray that the Lord comforts all members of this Great 71Set and his entire family members, ‘Yinka Adepoju @71, 2356# Grierson”

So sad to lose such a personality NOW. But what can we do? Nothing absolutely than to wish him eternal rest and divine consolation to the loved ones left behind, particularly his immediate family and GCIOBA,” another old boy, who is an Ibadan based politician, Mr Adeniyi Adeoti said.

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The late Odude served in the Intelligence Department, Zone 2, Lagos State as Deputy Commissioner of Police, CID, Panti, Yaba; he was Commissioner of Police, Administration; Department of Finance and Admin., Force Headquarters, Abuja.

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Lagos Govt Gives Computer Village Traders Ultimatum To Relocate To Katangowa

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The Lagos State Government has given traders at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja an 18-month deadline to move to a new permanent site at Katangowa, in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement with market leaders and traders on Tuesday.

According to him, the state government has provided the necessary infrastructure and facilities at the Katangowa site to ensure a conducive business environment once the relocation takes effect.

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READ ALSO:Lagos Begins Monitoring As Schools Resume

The government wants your cooperation to ensure the relocation comes to pass. The time is now. We have to make the project a reality. The relocation period is 18 months,” Oki said.

He explained that Computer Village currently sits on land originally designated as a residential area, which over time was converted into a bustling commercial hub without formal approval from the government.

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Oki also revealed that plans to move traders from Ikeja to Katangowa have been in the works since 2006 but were stalled due to delays in completing the new site.

READ ALSO:Police Reveal Cause Of Death Of Bodies Found On Lagos Riverbank

Emphasizing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to inclusive governance, he noted that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to carry traders along in the government’s plans.

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“The governor is passionate about infrastructure development and the welfare of Lagosians. Katangowa has been designated as the permanent site for this market. It sits on 15 hectares of land, well-planned and strategically located near essential resources for your businesses.

“The present location in Ikeja was never meant to serve as a trading hub. What we are offering at Katangowa is a structured market environment that supports growth while addressing environmental and urban planning concerns. We want to work with you and jointly plan this relocation,” Oki said.

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