Connect with us

News

Power supply will improve in two weeks, Minister assures

Published

on

 Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power  has  assured Nigerians that the prolonged and severe electricity outages recorded in recent weeks will soon be over.

He apologised to the citizens acknowledging the strain the situation has placed on households and key sectors of the economy.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister admitted that the ongoing blackout has worsened living conditions, particularly during the intense dry-season heat.

“I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, coming from me as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced, especially during this dry season, where there is so much heat everywhere,” Adelabu said.

“Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but it is due to some factors that are actually beyond our control.”

Despite the disruptions, Adelabu assured citizens that the situation would soon improve, offering a clear timeline for restoration of better power supply.

“I can tell you, with the committee that we have set up, and commitments from gas suppliers, and the timeline for repair of the gas pipelines, two weeks from now, we should start seeing improvements in supply. Two weeks,” Adelabu said.

He explained that authorities already have projections for the completion of critical repairs, including those involving facilities operated by Seplat Energy, which are expected to restore gas supply to electricity-generating plants.

According to the minister, a dedicated committee has been set up to ensure gas producers meet their domestic supply commitments—an issue that has long limited power generation in the country.

“We already have a committee that is working on this to track compliance with the domestic supply obligations of these gas companies to our power plants,” he said, noting that improved payment structures would also encourage suppliers to deliver more gas.

Nigeria’s electricity sector, which relies heavily on gas-powered plants, has faced setbacks due to supply disruptions, pipeline maintenance issues, and financial constraints affecting operators.

Adelabu acknowledged these systemic challenges but stressed that efforts are ongoing to stabilise the grid and restore consistent supply.

“We are working on it 24/7 to make sure that we go back to the trajectory of 2025, when Nigerians commended us for a good job well done,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s target to increase electricity output to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current crisis as a temporary setback in a broader reform plan.

“Power generation will improve, transmission will improve, distribution will improve, and that 6,000 megawatts will be achieved before the end of this year, and Nigerians will be better for it,” he assured.

Adelabu added that the government aims not only to recover lost ground but to exceed previous performance levels.

 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Bullet sounds boom as election approaches

Published

on

Tension gripped Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Tuesday following violent clashes between supporters of the ruling Accord Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which left one person dead and two others injured.
The incident, which occurred in several parts of the city, also triggered heavy gunfire that sent residents fleeing for safety in panic as security operatives and political supporters allegedly exchanged shots in different locations.
The injured victims were rushed to the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital and other private medical facilities in the state capital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses said the violence began around 1:30pm when a convoy allegedly conveying APC supporters moved through parts of the city, including Akoda and Aisu junction. The movement was said to have sparked a confrontation with some Accord Party supporters, escalating into shooting.
Gunshots were later reported in areas including Owode, Aisu, Olaiya, Oke-Fia, Government House axis, and Old Garage, throwing the state capital into confusion as residents scampered for safety.
It was further gathered that security operatives attached to the convoy allegedly fired shots sporadically in an attempt to disperse attackers at Aisu junction and other flashpoints, further heightening tension across the city.
Reacting to the violence, Governor Ademola Adeleke described the attacks as “unprovoked and outrageous,” alleging attempts to destabilise the state. He called on the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security heads to intervene urgently, especially after visiting victims at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital and other health facilities.
Adeleke also accused unnamed political actors of sponsoring violence, claiming that recent months had seen repeated attacks targeting members of the Accord Party across the state. He further alleged that security agencies had not acted decisively to arrest perpetrators.
According to him, earlier reports of violence also emerged from Ile-Ife, particularly the Sabo area, before spreading to Osogbo and Ede.
“The attackers in a 15-vehicle convoy branded with AMBO pictures further launched attacks at Owode. They then proceeded to Olaiya, Old Garage, Oke-Fia and even around Government House,” the governor alleged.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution political actors allegedly linked to the unrest, insisting that elections must be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the Accord Party chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, also condemned the violence, calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the incident and alleging the involvement of the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji.

Security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.
Continue Reading

News

Criminals, not bandit killed army officer- Police 

Published

on

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that five persons, including a soldier and a local hunter, died during a violent attack in Magbon Etido, Mowe, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

 

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the incident was an “isolated criminal attack” and not a bandit operation as speculated in some quarters.

 

According to the command, the attackers struck the community, killing a soldier who was on security duty and injuring another military personnel, who is currently receiving treatment.

 

The assailants also abducted four residents during the raid. Babaseyi said police operatives, working alongside the military and other security agencies, immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

 

He added that one of the abducted victims was rescued alive, while the remains of the other three were later recovered during the operation.

 

During the subsequent bush-combing exercise, a local hunter assisting security operatives was reportedly killed in an encounter with the fleeing suspects.

 

“The Command extends its condolences to his family,” the statement said, while assuring that efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.

Continue Reading

News

2027: North rules out Tinubu, says policies on economy highly disappointing

Published

on

The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, has said President Bola Tinubu has lost considerable political goodwill in Northern Nigeria since the 2023 general election, citing worsening economic conditions and insecurity.
Mohammed-Baba made the remarks during an interview on PrimeTime on Arise Television on Monday, where he criticised the country’s political leadership and expressed disappointment over the lack of clear policy direction from major political actors ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the North has become increasingly disillusioned with the political class, which he accused of prioritising personal ambitions over the welfare of citizens.
“I have not seen a party that articulates a clear policy ambition or an ideological standard. The average northern voter is disillusioned and has been for a long time,” he said.
“We have tried all kinds of permutations—northern candidates, Muslim-Muslim tickets, and so on. It seems to the average northerner that all this politics is about personalities and personal interests. It is not about people.”
Assessing Tinubu’s administration, Mohammed-Baba said the impact of government policies had been difficult for many Nigerians.
“The impact of his policies on the economy and especially on individual lives has been highly disappointing, if not disturbing,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the security situation across parts of the country, arguing that the government’s response had fallen short of expectations.
“Furthermore, the insecurity thing, no matter what the government says, is getting worse,” he said, noting that discussions around the deployment of forest guards had come only after renewed attacks in parts of the country.
Mohammed-Baba warned that communities increasingly resorting to self-help in the face of insecurity posed a threat to the authority of the state.
“We are gradually normalising self-help—that unless you do something, the government will not be there to protect you. That undermines the essence of the role of the state,” he stated.
The ACF spokesman also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing him as a “recurring decimal” in Nigeria’s presidential politics.
“I don’t see anything from him that presents an alternative apart from saying this government has failed,” Mohammed-Baba said. “Where is the beef?”
On Peter Obi, he argued that the former Anambra State governor had failed to sustain whatever political goodwill he enjoyed in the North before the 2023 elections.
“He has moved to two or three parties. The question we ask is: what does he want?” he said.
Mohammed-Baba further criticised Obi’s running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over comments he said appeared to compare himself with revered northern figures such as Ahmadu Bello and Aminu Kano.
“In the North, that is very irreverent. It would be highly delusional for him to go that far and say he presents an alternative,” he said.
“An alternative in terms of what? Has he articulated anything on the economy, security, or infrastructure? When you keep talking about things in abstract terms that run counter-intuitive to what the people have held on to, you will run into trouble.”
Asked to identify a potential presidential aspirant capable of winning northern support ahead of 2027, Mohammed-Baba declined to endorse anyone.
“We are waiting to see,” he said.
He also cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against complacency, warning that attempts to weaken opposition parties through defections and legal battles could backfire.
“Nothing fails like success. Be very careful, because sometimes complacency can spring surprises,” he said.
Mohammed-Baba rejected suggestions that the North remained a unified voting bloc capable of determining election outcomes on its own.
“No one region can determine on its own the outcome of a presidential election, and the North has never been able to do so alone, outside of military rule,” he said.
With rising fuel prices, increasing numbers of out-of-school children and persistent attacks by bandits in parts of the North-West, Mohammed-Baba maintained that Nigerians were searching for leaders with practical solutions to the country’s challenges.
“Is there anybody offering an alternative now?” he asked. “I don’t see anything.”
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.