By Amina Iro Abba
Nigeria’s power supply dropped by 93.5 per cent to 273 megawatts, MW in the early hours of today, from 4,182MW recorded on Monday, this week, following a complete system collapse, due to equipment failure or grid disturbance in the sector.
Data obtained by Vanguard from Nigeria Electricity System Operator, the semi-autonomous arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, showed that Afam VI, Dadinkowa, Ibom Power, Jebba, Olorunsogo generated 0.70MW, 0.00MW, 32.90MW, 240MW and zero respectively.
Managing Director/CEO of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, did not respond to calls and text messages, but a top industry leader, who confirmed the development, said: “The grid has been very unstable for days before the latest system collapse. As we speak, there is blackout.”
Checks by Vanguard showed that Nigeria’s electricity generation dropped, Tuesday, by 59 per cent to 1,705 megawatts, MW, from 4,182 MW recorded the previous day at 06:00hours, due to grid disturbance.
It indicated that many households and businesses are currently generating their independent power at higher costs because of the high price of diesel currently hovering at over N600 per litre, but also the high cost of petrol that shot up by about 169 per cent to over N500 per litre since June 2023, from N186 per litre (major marketers) in the preceding month of May 2023.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had promised Nigerians that they will witness improved power supply across the nation soon.
Speaking at a recent reception organized for him, he said: “We know it’s not something that is achievable overnight but we believe that once the foundation is laid, others can also build on it. I can tell you that between six months and one year, we will start seeing improvement in the power sector.”
KANO SHARIA COURT REMANDS MAN FOR CAUSING GRIEVOUS HARM
By Uche Joan Chinonso
A 22 year-old man, Halifa Sani, has been arraigned before a Kano State Sharia Court for allegedly causing grievous harm.
The defendant, who lives in Gadon Kaya Quarters, Kano, is facing a one-count charge of criminally causing grievous harm.
The prosecutor, Inspector Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the complainant, one Ismail Nuhu, reported the matter on September on 12 at Mandawari Police Station in Kano.
He alleged that on the said day at about 8:00 p.m., the defendant had an argument with the complainant which led to insults.
Wada said the defendant got angry, took a knife and stabbed the complainant on his hand, injuring him.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 120 and 158 of the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.
The Judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubakar, ordered his remand in a correctional centre.
FOOD SECURITY WFP PLEDGES $2.5bn TO FIGHT HUNGER IN NIGERIA
By Okwe Janet Fatima
The World Food Programme, WFP, has pledged to support President Tinubu’s Zero Hunger Programme under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Country Director of WFP, David Stevesson, made the pledge when he led a team of the United Nations, UN agency to visit the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu in her office.
Stevesson disclosed that 2.1 million Nigerians have already been captured as beneficiaries of the program with the hope to expand working with the minister of humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
He pledged WFP’s support to the Federal Government’s humanitarian and poverty intervention efforts including the food security agenda and the Zero Hunger Programme among others.
According to him, the organization was excited by the robust drive of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s government to eradicate poverty and reduce humanitarian crises in Nigeria and the new energy which the Monoater Dr Betta Edu is bringing into the space. The hope to accomplish a lot together.
Stevesson described Dr. Edu’s appointment as Minister as a well-deserved, noting that she has immediately hit the ground running with her humanitarian and poverty response Programmes which he is committed to give full support.
“I’ve been very impressed in such a short time to hear about the Minister’s leadership, putting together the strategy for the Ministry.
“We talked about zero hunger, we talked about the humanitarian hubs in every local government area in the country, we talked about the world food programs, the potential to support those hubs through buying food locally and also assisting in the cash transfer and food. These are very impressive”
“Let me announce here that the World Food Programme is committed to spending $2.5Billion To Fight Hunger in Nigeria in the next five years”, the WFP boss said.
The Minister informed Stevesson that there are over 133 million people in Nigeria affected by multidimensional poverty, stressing that WFP’s intervention of $2.5Billion for five years “will go a long way to address some of the biggest challenges the country is facing, which is hunger”
According to the Minister, “Zero Hunger” is one of the projects her Ministry has initiated as part of poverty and humanitarian response efforts, and appealed to the WFP to key into it by working with the Ministry to achieve results.
POLICE ARREST WOMAN OVER ALLEGED KILLING OF HUSBAND IN DELTA
By Jessica Onuigbo Njideka
The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a woman for allegedly killing of her husband in Mosogar Community, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri, on Wednesday.
Edafe stated that the lady pulled the testicles of the deceased during a quarrel.
“She did not cut the testicles; she drew it, and you know that part is delicate.
“The man died in the process and the suspect has been arrested,” Edafe said.
A reliable source, who did not want his name mentioned, said that the elder brother of the deceased reported the matter on Tuesday at the Mosogar Police Station.
The source identified the deceased as Jakpor Efemini, adding that he was aged 32.
He added that the incident occured on Tuesday at about 1:20 pm following a misunderstanding between the deceased and his wife.
“My younger brother’s wife (name withheld) held and drew the testicles of her husband, Efemini, aged 32 while they were fighting in Mosogar.
“In the process, my brother slumped and was rushed to the hospital where he was later certified dead.
“The corpse has been deposited at a mortuary in Mosogar,” the source quoted the deceased’s brother as saying.
Meanwhile, the suspect who was reported to have escaped to an unknown destination after commiting the crime, has been nabbed by the police.
KATSINA GOVT EARMARK N1.8bn FOR LGASKATSINA GOVT EARMARK N1.8bn FOR L.G.A.’S
By Okwe Janet Fatima
The Katsina State Government has earmarked the sum of N1.8 billion to enable the 34 local government councils to execute developmental projects that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.
Professor Badamasi Lawal Charanchi, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosed this when he received the Directors of Work Forum on a courtesy visit in his office on Monday.
Charanchi who noted that Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, the governor of the state m, was once a local government area chairman and feels the pulse of the LGAs, has good intentions to assist in developing the local councils to avert rural urban drift.
He assured the directors of the commitment of the present administration in the state to their worrisome plight, urging them to rededicate themselves to serve and ensure that the people reap the dividend of democracy.
The commissioner said very soon the funds would be disbursed to enable them commence work on initiated projects, adding that such projects must be monitored, supervised and delivered timely to enable the people reap its benefits.
He advised them to be prudent and ensure accountability in all their dealings, as any council found wanting would have itself to blame.
CHOICE OF KING: TENSION IN DELTA COMMUNITY OVER ALLEGED KILLING OF YOUTH
By Uche Joan Chinonso
There is palpable tension in Ewu community in Delta State over the death of one August Joseph Obiuwevwi in the violence that broke out over who becomes the Ovie of Ewu kingdom in defiance of the choice of HRM.
Bernard Awarieta, who came first at the election organised by the Ahavwa Kingmakers family in May 2021, and was subsequently sworn in traditionally.
Trouble started, according to one of the community leaders, who craved anonymity due to fear of the attack, when one individual (names withheld), was alleged to be the choice of the state government.
Subsequent upon the emergence of Awarieta, the source stated, the Kingmakers’’ family performed the traditional rites confirming him the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom while they awaited the issuance of the staff of office by the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration.
Another community leader and member Ewu Urhobo Clan Development Union, who doesn’t want his name in print, said the community leadership and the Ahavwa Kingmakers family wrote to the immediate past government to intimate them and exchanged ‘assuring correspondences,’ until forces within and outside “chose to promote the man who came third in the contest.”
One of the eyewitnesses held that the “government candidate” on Saturday, September 9, 2023 had led a group of men in police uniform and thugs to storm the Kingdom to coerce the kingmakers into signing a memorandum against the position of the entire clan.
“It was in the process of resistance from the youths of the community, who questioned the rationale behind forcing the kingmakers to endorse the candidate of the governor in writing that caused the anarchy occasioned by sporadic shooting and harassment of residents who gathered in disbelief and before long August Joseph Obiuwevwi was killed in cold blood.”
However, when Vanguard contacted ASP Bright Edafe, spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, he said “The Command was contacted over the unrest in the community and on getting there some miscreants attacked the police team with weapons destroying Police vehicles.
SANWO-OLU SWEAR IN COMMISSIONERS, SPECIAL ADVISERS
By Okwe Janet Fatima
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in 38 commissioners and special advisers, with a charge for the new cabinet members to ensure delivery of THEMES’ developmental agenda.
The governor, who also charged the cabinet members to reflect excellence in the discharge of their duties, expressed optimism on a better society, saying, “I see a bigger Lagos rising.”
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge after the swearing-in and administration of oath ceremony on the 38 newly inaugurated commissioners and special advisers at Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
The state House of Assembly had earlier confirmed the nominees sent by Sanwo-Olu for confirmation.
The venue of the ceremony was filled to the brim with Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Kazeem Alogba; Secretary to State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, present.
Family members, friends, traditional rulers, top government functionaries, members of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, led by the Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains; former Senators, led by Senator representing Lagos West and former Deputy Governor in the state, Dr. Idiat Adebule; chairmen of local governments, ex-commissioners, religious leaders, bodies of permanent secretaries, among others, were also present.
Also in attendance was the Minister for Solid Minerals and former Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dele Alake.
Addressing the gathering, Sanwo-Olu stressed that his administration must deliver on its promises of greater Lagos.
The governor also said that as the new cabinet members prepare for the challenges ahead, they must see their appointment as a unique privilege and a call to service.