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Corporation Plans 250mw Power Plant In A’Ibom

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12 years ago

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The Chairman, Akwa-
Ibom Investment Corporation, Chief Senas Ukpanah, says the corporation will facilitate the establishment of a 250-megawatt private power plant in the state.
Ukpanah told newsmen that the power plant would be known as Ikot Abasi Power Project and would be located in Ikot Abasi local government area.
Meanwhile, the state independent power plant which generates 191 megawatts of electricity is already located at the coastal town of Ikot Abasi.
Ukpanah, who spoke on the activities of the corporation since 2011, said the corporation received and appraised 100 business proposals from the public.
He said only 23 out of the number met the requirements for funding by Bank of Industry.
The Akwa-Ibom Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last September with Bank of Industry for funding of small businesses in the state to the tune of five billion naira.
The state government was expected to contribute N2.5 billion in the agreement, while bank would pay the balance of N2.5 billion.
Ukpanah, who was a former Minister of Commerce and Tourism, said the proposals were appraised on the basis of market viability, infrastructure, support services, finances, information and technology availability.
He said that the approved plans were investments in toiletries, exercise books, bottled water, carbonated drinks, vegetable oil and water purification chemicals.
Others were production of fertiliser, processing of cassava into starch, plantain, yams and cassava flour.
Ukpanah said that another private investor would commence assembling of television sets in the state in nine months time.
He said the corporation had received many proposals on seafood production and appealed to the Federal Government to lease the abandoned Ebughu fishing terminal to the state.
Ebughu Fishing Terminal in Mbo Local Government Area was conceptualised during the second republic by the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, but became moribund after few years.
“We are inculcating in our people, investment culture, we are transiting from agro-based economy to industrial economy.
“Akwa-Ibom Investment Corporation is to serve as the special purpose vehicle for the implementation of government industrialisation policy and programme.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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