The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has faulted the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for allegedly misleading the public over power outages in Benin district.
A statement by the TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, yesterday, in Benin said TCN’s maintenance work had nothing to do with the blackout experienced by BEDC’s 33kV customers.
It would be recalled that on March 14, BEDC had claimed that TCN’s maintenance activities were the cause of power outages in Sapele, Abraka, Ugelli/Shell and industrial areas through its social media platform.
Mbah explained that TCN only requested a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed the same day and power was restored.
Mbah emphasised that TCN’s maintenance had nothing to do with power delivery to BEDC customers.
“TCN wishes to address the publication by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on its social media platform, dated March 14, that TCN was responsible for the blackout, which was not true
“The announcement by BEDC’s inability to deliver power to its 33kV customers to TCN’s maintenance activities was not true.
“For clarification purposes, TCN only applied for a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed on the same day, and bulk power supply was restored.
“Contrary to BEDC’s claims, TCN’s maintenance activities did not cause the power delivery issues experienced by BEDC’s customers”, Mbah said.
The General Manager stated that the only valid statement in BEDC’s publication was regarding the Ughelli/Shell 33kV feeder T1 60MVA, which tripped off due to a fault on March 14.
Mbah disclosed that TCN was currently working to restore bulk power supply to the affected feeder.
She emphasised that all other areas mentioned by BEDC in their release, experiencing power delivery issues, were due to a fault on BEDC’s 33kV feeders.
She urged BEDC to provide accurate information to its customers and avoid misrepresentations, stressing that facts should be made clear for the benefit of stakeholders.

Mbah reiterated that TCN remained committed to maintaining efficient and reliable electricity transmission across the country for all consumers.

The Chairman, Board of Management of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele, has commended the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the centre, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, along with his team for the medical innovations, infrastructural projects, and efficient operational system at the centre.
Dr. Alile-Idele also called for more funding by the Federal Government to complete several ongoing projects in the next two years.
She used the opportunity to encourage all government institutions across the country to emulate the monthly biometric capturing of staff at the centre, to detect cases of staff receiving salary after traveling overseas for better welfare packages.
She stated this in Asaba while speaking to newsmen shortly after taking a tour on facilities and operations at the centre weeks after her appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
Doctor Alile-Idele, who observed that there was no shortage of medical and health personnel at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, over jakpa syndrome, hinted that there is replacement for noticeable  manpower vacuum.
“The jakpa syndrome has not really affected FMC, Asaba, much. One of the things they have been able to do here as an organization, is that within a month, they are able to identify if staff have moved out of the system, so that they can be replaced.
“I have seen organisation where people have jakpared two years, and they are still on salary. It’s something that I can not even understand how that is possible.
“But without mentioning names, I have heard some horrible stories of somebody living in England, and still collecting salary in Nigeria for the next two years. Such a thing should not even be encouraged.
“In FMC, Asaba, that is even one of the things we looked at, and I was in the administration department, and I saw that they have a system in place that all staff in this organization do biometrics on a monthly basis.
“So, if you are not available to do your biometrics, oh well, we take it that you have moved out. So, you didn’t do biometrics the first month, second month and third month, and we can’t find you, then why should we pay you”, Dr. queried.
She restated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to the actualization of the renewed hope agenda in all sectors.
She said Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, was “well equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and experienced personnel to provide top notch healthcare to residents of the state and neighbouring states”.
While commending the Chief Medical Director of the centre, Doctor Victor Osiatuma, along with his team for the medical innovations, infrastructural projects, and efficient operational system at the centre, Doctor Alile-Idele called for more funding by the Federal Government to complete several ongoing projects in the next two years.

She said, “We must understand that the renewed hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu cuts across healthcare as well, and like the saying goes, health is wealth.

‘’I have just been on a tour round some facilities, interacting with some of the staff on ground, looking at the patients care, and I really want to personally applaud the management staff of this centre, doctors, the nurses, up to the junior staff in this place.

“They provide top notch healthcare here. This afternoon, I just visited the neonatal and maternity ward: fantastic. They have the equipment, they have the manpower. My vision and my dream for this centre is to be at the top front of all the medical centres in this country.”

The Conservator of Park at Okomu National Park, Edo State, Lawrence Osaze, says the partnership with the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation has helped in reducing illegal activities at the park.
Osaze made the assertion on Saturday, while speaking with journalists after a tour of facilities at the park situated in Okomu, Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to him, the collaboration has significantly curtailed illegal logging, poaching, and other harmful practices, thereby making the park more secure.
“The park is relatively peaceful, and logging activities are at the barest minimum”, he said.
He noted that when he took over as conservator in November 2022, illegal logging was a major challenge, adding that ANI’s intervention, including ranger training and recruitment, had improved security.
He said the foundation had played a vital role in hiring volunteer rangers to support the National Park Service.
“We joined forces together, and the story today is entirely different”, Osaze told journalists.
Beyond security, he said the focus was now on community education, enlightenment, and empowerment.
“ANI Foundation is driving initiatives to provide alternative livelihoods for communities surrounding the park.
“We have had series of engagements with communities to gain their support. We are working to ensure they do not rely solely on forest resources for survival”,  he explained.
He said the foundation was invited to the partnership due to its success in the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Taraba and Adamawa States.
Peter Abanyam, ANI Foundation’s Project Manager for Okomu, highlighted the park’s biodiversity, calling it a “hotspot” for species like the endangered African Forest Elephant and White-Throated Monkey.
“Okomu is the primary home of the White-Throated Monkey.
“Aside from a small population in southwestern Nigeria, this park is where you find them in the world,” Abanyam disclosed.
According to him, the foundation’s goal is to make Africa’s wildlife a source of pride, proving that conservation can be sustainable and beneficial to local communities through private sector investment.
He said the foundation supported park protection, community engagement, and youth recruitment into the National Park Service.
He added that it also connected donors to development initiatives for communities near conservation areas.
Earlier at the palace of the Iyase of Udo, Patrick Igbinidu, the traditional chief, pledged the continued support of the host community to the foundation and the national park.
He lauded the commitment of the partners to develop the area and empower the people through savings and loan initiatives.