News
Epileptic Power Supply Paralyses FESTAC Town

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo , in a handshake with the National President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Arc. Tonye Oliver Braide, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, recently
Some residents and
business operators in FESTAC Town in Lagos on Thursday expressed worry on the epileptic power supply to the area by Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP).
They alleged that the poor power supply had paralyzed their domestic and commercial activities.
The consumers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, said the situation had brought untold hardship to the entire community.
Mrs Josephine Okoro, who manages a business centre, said the epileptic power supply coupled with scarcity of petrol in the area had thrown her out of business.
“We have been experiencing power outage in FESTAC town for more than two months.
“The most unfortunate thing is that EKEDP used to restore electricity supply in the middle of the night when it is of no use to my business.
“The scarcity of petrol has compounded the situation. I am always idle because I don’t have electricity to operate.
“Currently, I cannot afford two meals a day because EKEDP has rendered me jobless.
“I am appealing to the distribution company to restore power so that life can bubble again,” she said.
Mr Jide Johnson, a resident of 23 Road, accused the company of being insensitive to the genuine complaints of consumers.
Johnson said that the bills they received every month were outrageous in spite of the epileptic power supply to the community.
“We have complained to the head office of EKEDP on many occasions, but nothing has been done about it,’’ he alleged.
According to him, the poor power supply had crippled their businesses, making artisans in the community to take to commercial motorcycle business.
Mrs Jacob Ipadeola, a landlord at 22 Road, said that the residents subscribed to the installation of pre-paid meters, but only few consumers were lucky to have them.
“Since 2012 and 2013, when some houses were given free pre-paid meters, other houses have been under the bondage of estimated billing which has resulted to ‘crazy billing.
“This extortion is unacceptable to the community, especially when EKEDP refuses to use meter for billings,’’ he said.
Ipadeola, therefore, appealed to the management of the company to improve electricity supply to the community and also provide pre-paid meters.
Mr Godwin Idemudia, the spokesman for EKEDP, told NAN that the company was doing everything possible to improve power supply in the town.
Idemudia said the drop in supply to some of the areas was as a result of drop in the supply from the national grid and subsequent bulk energy load to the company.
He said the situation was usually beyond the company.
Idemudia appealed to both residents and business operators to remain calm, saying power supply would improve whenever there was increased allocation to the company.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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