Headline
Power Ministry Provides Update On Electricity Supply After Grid Restoration
The Ministry of Power has given an update on the progress so far made to address the recent challenges in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
During the week, Minister Abubakar Aliyu met with stakeholders following the grid collapse which affected some states.
In a statement on Saturday, Aliyu revealed efforts on the restoration of electricity and the development of a framework for sustainable improvement of supply.
He recalled that the national grid lost about 1,100MW generation capacity due to simultaneous disruptions in gas supply to the Okpai, Calabar and the Afam VI power plants.
Aliyu said the available generation capacity was exacerbated by the ongoing water management regime at the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro power plants.
On the progress, he confirmed that the gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism have been restored and the Okpai power plant has resumed power generation and currently contributing an average of 300MW.
Also, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Pl has been directed to negotiate with NAOC on an interim energy sales agreement to bring the new Okpai Il power plant on the grid to contribute an additional 400MW of generation capacity.
“The “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is scheduled for completion on March 21 st 2022 thus ramping up generation by about 400MW”, he disclosed.
To optimise the utilisation of the plants owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved special pricing for emergency contracting of gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: National Grid Suffers Second System Collapse In 2 Days
The government said it expects an on-grid improvement of about 800MW generation capacity from the NDPHC plants.
Aliyu announced an agreement with NGPIC (an NNPC subsidiary) on the framework to overhaul the Okoloma gas processing plant thereby restoring the full capacity of the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant.
The minister who regretted the recent spate of system collapse said it was a direct consequence of a snap on a 330kV transmission line.
He assured that the mitigation measures for avoiding such incidence of blackouts are being implemented through several interventions including the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
Aliyu told electricity consumers that all relevant agencies involved in the restoration of normality in power supply have been charged to act in the context of the emergency state of the industry.
Headline
Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges
A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.
Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.
Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.
READ ALSO:Indian National Arraigned In Lagos Over Alleged N22m Supermarket Fraud
He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.
According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.
The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.
READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts Indian Lady With 72 Parcels Of Heroin ON n Chocolate Wraps
“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.
Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.
The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.
Headline
Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran
The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.
READ ALSO:Strait Of Hormuz: Pakistan Thanks Trump For Pausing ‘Project Freedom’
“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.
“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.
Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.
Headline
US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran
The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.
The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.
A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.
READ ALSO:US Restricts Entry Routes For Travellers From DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Over Ebola Outbreak
The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.
Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.
Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
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