Connect with us

Business

Senate Queries Nebo Over Rural Electrification Projects

Published

12 years ago

on

The Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy has queried the Ministry of Power over its alleged failure to deploy the N16 billion approved for rural electrification projects.
The committee issued the query in Abuja at the meeting with the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo.
The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Philip Aduda, said that the amount was approved for the Rural Electrification Agency for the electrification of rural communities across the country.
Aduda threatened to recommend the sack of the REA Managing Director, Kenneth Achugbu, over the non-implementation of the rural electrification projects.
Reports say that the REA helmsman was absent at the meeting.
“We will not hesitate to begin calls for sack of the Managing Director of REA because he is foot dragging on the implementation of these critical projects.
“These projects are taking too long. Rural electrification is a critical factor for the transformation of our rural communities.
“We cannot afford to let these projects drag on for too long because our people’s expectations are very high,” he said.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, told the committee that only N6.6 billion had so far been released to the REA, out of N16 billion appropriated for the projects.
Nebo said that the ministry intended to mobliise contractors to return to site by December 15, as the balance was expected to be released soon.
He said the 1.7 billion dollars expected to be realised from the sale of National Integrated Power Plants, would be used to enhance electricity transmission capacity in the country.
He added that although the ministry encountered some problems during the power sector privatisation, the process was transparent in line with best global practice.
Nebo said: “We have encountered some teething problems along the way and those problems are not unexpected but the exercise has been described as the largest in Africa.”
The committee had begun investigations into the N3.85 billion management contract entered between the Federal Government and Canadian firm, Manitoba Hydroelectric.
Manitoba was contracted to run the electricity Transmission Company of Nigeria, one of the successor companies of the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Aduda directed the Chief Executive Officer of Manitoba Hydroelectric, Mr Don Priestman, to provide it with a comprehensive list of Nigerian counterpart firms.
Aduda said: “We (Senate) need to know how you signed the agreement and what you signed.”

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Business

Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

Published

2 days ago

on

September 22, 2025

By

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.

 

Continue Reading

Business

NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

Published

2 days ago

on

September 22, 2025

By

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.
Continue Reading

Business

FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

Published

2 days ago

on

September 22, 2025

By

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.
Continue Reading

Trending