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NLC SLAMS MINISTER OVER CLAIMS OF 150M NIGERIANS ENJOYING ADEQUATE ELECTRICITY

CapitalTimesNews / 2 days

2 min read

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, for claiming that 150 million Nigerians now enjoy “adequate electricity” with 5,500MW of power generation. The NLC described the assertion as “a bad joke” and “insulting the intelligence of the people with fabrications and false hope.” In a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, the NLC said the claim was “pretentious” and did not reflect the reality of the country’s power situation. “Millions of Nigerians, from urban slums to rural communities, continue to live without access to electricity,” the statement read. The NLC questioned the minister’s claim, asking where the power plants were that made such a level of supply possible and where the upgraded transmission infrastructure was to support such output. “Why are our homes still shrouded in darkness and our factories shutting down daily?” the statement asked. The labour union also criticized the privatization of the power sector, saying it had led to no improvement in service delivery despite trillions of naira spent. “The crisis we face today is the direct result of the grand betrayal that was the 2013 power sector privatization,” the statement said. The NLC urged the minister to stop feeding the public with lies and instead focus on fixing the power sector. “Cease from insulting the intelligence of the people with fabrications and false hope,” the statement said. “Nigerians deserve more respect. If you generate, transmit and distribute more power, we will see it in our homes and factories; not on the pages of newspapers and on television.”

CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA POLITICAL PARTIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION DEMAND MINISTER OF POWER’S RESIGNATION OVER INCOMPETENCE AND ELECTRICITY CRISIS

CapitalTimesNews / 4 weeks

2 min read

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have demanded the immediate resignation of Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo, over alleged incompetence and failure to resolve the country’s prolonged electricity crisis. In a joint statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of CNCSOs, the groups described Adebayo as “a typical example of a round peg in a square hole,” accusing him of lacking the capacity to address systemic failures in the power sector. Ezema and Abacha, in the statement issued on Thursday, lamented that over 40% of Nigerians lack access to electricity, while the national grid struggles to deliver between 2,000MW and 4,000MW daily—a situation unchanged since the 1980s. They noted that the crisis has fueled economic stagnation, job losses, and the collapse of small businesses, stressing that Nigeria lags behind other African nations in electrification despite its resources. The coalition criticized Adebayo for failing to utilize the Nigerian Electricity Act of 2023, which promotes decentralized power supply and public-private partnerships. “His inability to market these opportunities to attract local and international investors has exacerbated the nation’s power crisis,” the statement read. Ezema and Abacha also cited a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) report revealing three total grid collapses and two partial collapses in the fourth quarter of 2024, despite consumers paying N509.84 billion to distribution companies—a rise from N466.69 billion in the previous quarter. The groups questioned Adebayo’s expertise, noting his background in finance, hospitality, and agriculture rather than the power sector. “His appointment appears to be political patronage rather than merit,” they stated, urging President Bola Tinubu to redeploy him within seven days. “His continued tenure is untenable,” Ezema and Abacha declared, warning that the minister’s failures undermine economic recovery and public trust. They further criticized the Tinubu administration’s policies for worsening poverty and called for urgent action. “The power sector is too critical to be left in incompetent hands,” the duo emphasized, vowing to continue assessing the performance of government agencies. “Minister Adelabu must resign or be redeployed immediately to prevent further damage,” they concluded. The statement was signed by Comrade James Ezema and Alhaji Ali Abacha, who reiterated their commitment to holding leaders accountable to “the suffering masses yearning for good governance.”

NATIONAL GRID COLLAPSES AGAIN, LEAVING PARTS OF COUNTRY IN DARKNESS

Nicolas Adekeye / 2 months

1 min read

The nation’s electricity grid collapsed on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 11:34 am, leaving parts of the country in darkness. The collapse was announced by the National Grid on its official X handle, @NationalGridNg. “There was a ‘GRID DISTURBANCE’ before noon today. Parts of the country experienced outage. Further information shortly,” the post read. Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company also confirmed the system outage on X, stating that “we experienced a system outage today 12th February, 2025 at 11:34hrs affecting all our feeders.” The company added that “restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders.” Abuja Electricity Distribution Company also reported the incident on X, saying “a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 11:34 am today causing a power outage across our franchise areas.” The company assured its customers that “while gradual restoration of power supply has commenced, please be assured that we are working closely with relevant stakeholders to fully restore electricity as soon as the grid is stabilised.” This is the first collapse of the grid in 2025, after experiencing line tripping in January. Last year, the grid collapsed a total of 12 times.

N-HYPADEC AS A PERFECT SYNONYM FOR AN INTERVENTIONIST AGENCY

CapitalTimesNews / 2 months
0
7 min read

By Lydia Ochapa The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) is a constitutional body charged with the responsibilities of addressing ecological challenges from the operations of Hydroelectric Dams. The law establishing it was first signed into law in 2010, but later amended in 2013 to take care certain inadequacies, especially the inclusion of Benue and Plateau States and also the addition of a 30 percent revenue derived from the total revenue accruing to the companies or authorities operating in the host communities with 10% revenue derived from concessioning of the hydro plants and royalties paid to the Federal Government. However, in 2016, the law was aging amendment effectively reducing the percentage from 30%to 10% on the total revenue deductible from revenue generated by any company or authority from the operations of any hydroelectric dam, in any member state of the Commission In 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, constituted the first Governing Council for the Commission which was inaugurated in December, 2020. The main quest of the Commission is to harness resources in the most transparent, acceptable and cost-efficient manner towards ameliorating the negative effects of hydroelectric dam operations in HYPPADEC member states. This includes the formulation of strategic policies and guidelines for the development of hydroelectric power producing areas and managing ecological menace due to operations of dams and other hydroelectric power activities. Ever since its inauguration, the Commission has been doing outstandingly well, raising bars and defeating the hope of traducers. In a significant, effective and efficient display of commendable commitment and equanimity, the Commission has over the years helped to define what an interventionist agency means in the current world especially for a country like Nigeria. An Agency that can promptly respond and mitigate against various environment and social challenges with a view to positively modifying their outcomes, thereby preventing harm or/and improving proper functioning of society. Promote the rapid development of what the agency has achieved so far. And make a case for proper funding of the agency to make more impact on the lives of our constituents all over and across the country. In a deliberate commitment towards ensuring that various catchment communities of the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas derive benefits from the work of the Commission, it conducted several specific ‘Needs Assessment and Community Mapping’. This Assessments was used to generate information which was later utilized to improve the policy and programs decisions of the government, as well as redirect its focus in the areas of citizen’s needs, education, trainings, and organizational needs of the catchment areas, communities, and ensuring long-term success. In a further bid to re-write the narratives, re-invent strategies and redeem the infrastructural image of the country, the Commission embarked upon the construction of various drainage channels, in erosion and flood endemic areas, to contain the menace of erosion threatening some of the affected communities. Two of these areas are the Idye drainage in Benue State and Patigi in Kwara State. The Commission also constructed several classroom blocks and rehabilitated several others, provided about one hundred and fifty solar powered boreholes and installed thousands of solar street lights across the various political wards in the country. Also the Commission ensured the provision of portable, accessible and clean drinking water on a daily basis to over 2.1 billion people nationwide, appreciating the uniqueness of water and its essence of it as a necessary factor to life and living. In a demonstration of patriotism and foresight, the Commission constructed solar powered motorized boreholes in all the affected communities of Tse-Sor Community in Gwer East Local Government area of Benue State, Yauri in Kebbi State and New Bussa in Niger State to enhance access to potable water and ease the communities from the burden diseases occasioned by unhygienic water. These communities are all ancient settlements that were relocated to their present locations as a result of the construction of Kainji Dam and as a result are facing incessant water scarcity unbefitting of their status as headquarters of the historic emirates. The Commission also provided water to Yauri and New Bussa to alleviate the problems of acute water scarcity in those communities, rehabilitated the Yauri and New Bussa waterworks and also cleared the water logs in various communities to enhance water transportation, commerce and economic development and growth. The Commission also distributed over ten thousand life jackets to the boat operators in the communities, enhancing water transportation safety. And also distributed over two thousand motorcycles to members of the vigilante groups and other security operatives to contain the menace of insecurity in the affected communities. In order to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims of flood disaster in Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau States, relief materials worth more than millions of naira was distributed to the affected communities.by the Commission. In consolidation of its Educational Support Programme, the Commission sponsored 4000 students to re-sit their Senior School Certificate Examinations with the National Examination Council and provided scholarship for students in tertiary institution. Also the Commission carried out medical outreaches, including surgeries, across the six HYPPADEC States impacting on over 20,000 patients were attended to. The Commission gas overtime rescued several villages from marauding herdsmen and various forms of attacks, granting Security Supports through the provision of over 2,500 motorcycles to security operatives in host communities, thereby emphasizing and reiterating the imperatives of security as the paramount importance in the development of any society, and a precondition for proper articulation, formulation and implementation of developmental agenda by those at the helm of affairs in every society. The Commission has enhanced the training of her staff through attendance to various workshops, courses and seminars so as to enhance capacity building and the production of and efficient, effective, competent and productive workforce. Through its Youth Transformation Programme, the Commission also empowered over five thousand youths in various skills for self-reliance. Indeed the various projects of the Commission is highly demanding of both financial and material provision, making it necessary for the upward review of

TINUBU UNVEILS PLAN TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS IN PUBLIC HIGHER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS NIGERIA

Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months

2 min read

President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to install solar panels in public higher institutions across Nigeria, aiming to mitigate the financial strain caused by high electricity tariffs imposed by power distribution companies. This move is part of the administration’s efforts to prioritize education and address the long-standing concerns of universities over escalating power costs. Speaking at the 55th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education. “My administration recognizes that education is the cornerstone of national development. It is the bedrock upon which a prosperous society is built. This understanding is reflected in our policies and investments in the education sector,” he stated. The proposed 2025 budget allocates ₦3.52 trillion to education, the third-highest allocation, underscoring efforts to revitalize the sector. Tinubu noted, “The ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’ reflects our determination to stabilize the economy, improve lives, and position Nigeria for a brighter future.” The administration has also introduced key reforms, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has expanded access to higher education by easing financial barriers for students. Thousands have already benefited, with plans to extend the initiative to reach more students. Furthermore, Tinubu has approved N100 billion to provide solar-powered energy to public institutions as part of the 2025 fiscal year agenda. This initiative is expected to reduce the cost of governance and provide a sustainable source of energy for public institutions.

GRID TRIPPING, NOT SYSTEM COLLAPSE, SAYS TRANSMISSION COMPANY OF NIGERIA

Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months

1 min read

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has clarified that the nation’s grid did not experience a collapse, contrary to widely published misinformation in the media. In a statement, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated that the grid tripping was caused by the Osogbo – Ihovour line tripping, followed by the Benin – Omotosho line tripping, which affected bulk supply to the Lagos axis alone. Mbah explained that at about 13:00 hours, just before the tripping, total generation on the grid was 4,335.63 megawatts. After the trippings, however, generation was 2,573.23 megawatts, showing clearly that the grid did not experience a collapse. Mbah further stated that the transmission line tripping affected Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu, and Paras power plants, with 12 units affected, but these have all been restored except the Benin – Omotoso 330kV line. The GM, Public Affairs emphasized that as TCN continues to work hard to put in place a robust transmission grid, despite prevailing challenges, it is imperative that the public understands the negative impact of deliberately misinforming the public and the value of disseminating true and verifiable facts.

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NLC SLAMS MINISTER OVER CLAIMS OF 150M NIGERIANS ENJOYING ADEQUATE ELECTRICITY

CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA POLITICAL PARTIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION DEMAND MINISTER OF POWER’S RESIGNATION OVER INCOMPETENCE AND ELECTRICITY CRISIS

NATIONAL GRID COLLAPSES AGAIN, LEAVING PARTS OF COUNTRY IN DARKNESS

N-HYPADEC AS A PERFECT SYNONYM FOR AN INTERVENTIONIST AGENCY

TINUBU UNVEILS PLAN TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS IN PUBLIC HIGHER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS NIGERIA

GRID TRIPPING, NOT SYSTEM COLLAPSE, SAYS TRANSMISSION COMPANY OF NIGERIA

MILWAUKEE JUDGE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY HELPING.

NUC TO INTRODUCE 12 NEW COURSES.

HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETS WITH RIVERS STATE.

SENATE PRESIDENT AKPABIO LEADS NIGERIA’S DELEGATION.

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