Connect with us

News

FG Hands Off Power Sector Next Year

Published

on

President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday, in Abuja that the Federal Government would terminate investment in power generation and distribution as from 2011.

The President who made this known at the Presidential Retreat for power investors, said government also planned to concession the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

He assured that the processes for the initiated hydro power projects would be completed before then.

The President said the decision was informed by government’s resolve to fully involve and attract the private sector in the business of power.

“With a population of more than 140 million people and the seventh largest deposits of natural gas, and a major fuel for power in the world, we are ready for business,” the President declared.

He noted that the ever-increasing budget on power would better be used to improve education and healthcare

The President said government was determined to attract high quality and world class investors with proven record to the evolving power supply industry.

“We need firms that can grow quickly. Our national interest dictates that we encourage investors who are willing to stand with us for the long term, not those without the requisite pedigree in the sector,” he said.

He assured the gathering that Nigeria “is a country with tens of millions of potential new power consumers.

“An opinion poll sponsored by the World Bank has confirmed that Nigerians are willing to pay for cost reflective tariffs for electricity.

“This is due to the fact that even some of the poorest Nigerians including artisans and small business people spend considerable amounts on petro-powered generators,” he said.

Jonathan noted that the situation where Nigeria “spends about $13billion every year, providing power from diesel generators, is unacceptable.

“Generating power from generators adds more than 40 percent to the cost of goods and services in Nigeria and this we can ill-afford.

“This administration is determined to implement the reform of Nigeria’s power sector in a way that Nigerians shall be proud of,” he said.

Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya who also spoke at the event noted that Nigeria required about $10 billion yearly in investment over the next few years to develop the generation, distribution and transmission capacities.

In his presentation, the Special Adviser on Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had established a N300 billion fund that could be assessed by prospective investors in the power sector.

The Special Adviser said with the unbundling of PHCN, establishment of NERC and the launch of the roadmap to power sector reform, the coast was clear for private sector involvement.

He told prospective investors that fully cost-reflective tariffs would be introduced.

Continue Reading

News

Retirement: Ignore PSC’s Directive, Remain In Office, IGP Tells Officers 

Published

on

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed all police officers affected by the recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to disregard the order.

The PSC had directed officers who have served 35 years or reached 60 years of age to retire immediately.

A wireless message from the office of the Force Secretary, dated February 11, 2025, stated that the IGP “strongly directs all officers affected by the PSC’s directive to stay action, pending further instruction.” Officers were told to comply strictly with this order.

Last week, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani, explained that the commission’s order followed a review of its previous stance from the 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, allowing force entrants to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date.

The commission cited inconsistencies with Public Service Rule No. 020908, which mandates retirement after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.

However, the PSC clarified that it does not have the constitutional authority to determine the appointment or retirement of IGP Egbetokun.

 

Continue Reading

News

Be Consoled, God Who Gives, Also Takes, Fubara Tells Principal Secretary 

Published

on

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has extolled the sterling motherly virtues of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta, and urged the children not to deviate from those valuable lessons she had taught them.

 

Late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta (79 years) is the mother of Dr Ayebaesin Jacob Beredugo, the Principal Secretary to Governor Fubara.

 

The Rivers State Governor, who described Dr Beredugo as a brother,  trusted ally and key stakeholder of his administration, urged him to be consoled in God and bear the loss with fortitude.

 

Governor Fubara gave the advise at the funeral service in honour of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta at the Cathedral Church of St Luke, Anglican Communion in Nembe City, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday.

 

The Rivers State Governor said: “We are here as a government to show that in this difficult time, we stand with him. We know that there is no consolation here that can fill the gap of this loss, more especially the loss of a mother.

 

“But, we want to draw his mind to the good Book: that it is the Lord that giveth, and it is also the Lord that taketh. And he takes for a reason.

 

“We live in a corrupt world, and when you are a saint in the world, when it pleases the Almighty and He believes that He doesn’t want you to be corrupted, He takes away the soul to a better place where death is no more, where you don’t have to look for food again, where you have peace.”

 

Governor Fubara expressed strong belief that given the way Mama had lived and the good virtues that had been read out and said about her, there is no doubt that she will be in a good side in heaven.

 

The Governor decried the current condition of the cathedral where the funeral service held and committed the support of the Rivers State Government to ensure the completion of the building in memory of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta

 

“We have been made to understand that the Cathedral needs strong support. We are willing to support the completion of the Cathedral. We will support the building in memory of Mama with the sum of N50million”

 

Delivering the sermon on the topic; “Hope in the face of death”, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Izon, Rt. Rev. Victor Okporu, said those who are confidently expecting positive future must also believe in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and be prepared to spend eternity with Him.

 

Reading the biography of the late Madam Ayebadieye Edward-Igbeta, brother of the decreased, Mr Godwin Ekine, said his late sister was an embodiment of love, care, peaceful and kind-hearted, and touched lives through her generosity and compassion.

 

Friends and well-wishers from Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states, some of whom shared fun memories of the late matriarch, were later hosted to a funeral reception at King Koko’s Square in Nembe Town.

 

Also at the burial were the State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo; member representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Boniface Emerengwa; and Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie.

 

Others are Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, Dr Tamunosis Gogo-Jaja; Chief Hanny Woko; Amaopusenibo Fubara Hart; Chief Theodore Georgewill; members of the State Executive Council; Special Advisers; top politicians, leaders and stakeholders in the State; among others.

 

Continue Reading

News

Old Boys Plan Rehabilitation Of GSS, Okehi

Published

on

The Chairman of the Old Boys Association of Government Secondary School (GSS), Okehi Etche, Rivers State, Prof. Sir, Umunna Offor, has stated that the association would soon visit their alma-mater and rehabilitate decayed infrastructure and facilities in the compound.
The chairman made this assertion while speaking with some newsmen after an extensive meeting of the Old Boys in Port Harcourt, recently.
Sir Offor stated that since they left the secondary school, some years ago, most of the facilities and infrastructure built by then Rivers State Government had decayed and worn out.
“ However, being responsible ambassadors and Old Boys of the college, we would not fold our arms and expect government to rebuild everything in the school compound, hence, we have decided to come together and graciously assist our alma mater’, he said.
“The meeting was basically for like-minds to gather to find a way to help the school, it is a thing of joy to see and receive old school friends and comrades who have gone far in life and have excelled in their respective chosen fields”.
Speaking in the same vein, Engr, Lasbrey Amadi; (FNSE), who is also an old boy and former member of the House of Representatives, said the association would be working in synergy with the administrators of the school to ensure that in no distant time; there would be a massive face-lift in the physical infrastructure in the school compound.
Veering into politics in Nigeria of today, Engr, Amadi, said that god-fatherism in politics had seriously killed the gains and beauty of democracy in Nigeria and quickly urged politicians to always play-down the issue of god-fatherism in politics and ensure good governance in the country.
In his comment, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association, Mr Goodluck Nwaobilor, said the door of the association is still wide open for new members who finished from the school to join and work towards taking the association to higher level.

Continue Reading

Trending