News

NASS Moves To Review BPE Act …As Senate Shuts Down For Late Bukar

Published

8 years ago

April 11, 2018

The National Assembly says it may present a motion to amend some of the clauses in the share purchase agreement in the Privatization and Commercialization of Public Enterprises under the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Act of the Federal Government.
The Chairman, House Committee on Privatization and Commercialization of Public Enterprises in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Yarima, who stated this when members of the committee visited the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), in Port Harcourt, yesterday, as part of its oversight function, said the committee was determined to ensure that the right steps were taken towards resolving all challenges.
Yarima, who noted that the committee was saddled with the mandate on all matters concerning privatization and commercialization of public enterprises under the Act, said it would send all findings to the National Council on Privatization (NCP) to ensure that the right steps were taken and challenges resolved.
The lawmaker assured that the committee was determined to take necessary steps and find a common ground towards resolving all the challenges faced by the electricity distribution company.
According to him, ’’The committee has resolved to embark on this visit to interact with the investors and find out exactly the reasons why the public privatization and commercialization of public enterprise performance is low.
‘’The National Assembly is determined to send their findings to NCP and ensure that the right steps are taken towards resolving all the challenges, including amendment of some of the affected clauses in the share purchase agreement’’, he said.
He noted that there was need to overhaul the share purchase agreement and create mechanism between the consumers and the distribution company to work together and achieve one goal.
The chairman condemned the restiveness and violence attitude in the Niger Delta region, stating that it does not tell well for the country.
According to him, ’’their attitude is one of the factors that are preventing foreign investors from coming into the region and country to invest.”
Yerima also condemned the killings and kidnapping of workers of PHED who were working to ensure that electricity was distributed to the public, and assured that the committee has noted some of the challenges and will take action on them.
He said the committee would see how to resolve the challenges faced by the company but warned that electricity cannot be free.
Meanwhile, the Senate on resumption from its two-week Easter break suspended plenary in honour of its member, the late Mustapha Bukar who died on April 4.
Until his death, Bukar, 63, represented Katsina-North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber and was Chairman Committee on Capital Market.
Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, moved a motion for suspension of plenary.
A minute silence led by the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki was observed for the deceased.
Saraki, thereafter, said a valedictory service would be held today in honour of their deceased colleague who served the country immensely.
“It is a great loss,” Saraki said.
In separate interview, Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katina South) said every life will test dead.
“We are in this world as actors on stage: we come and do our action and leave.
“He was a prominent politician, a well known person, he was my in-law, my son is married to his daughter, he was a highly respected person,” he said.
Similarly, Sen. Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra) prayed God to “spare the National Assembly of these deaths.”
“We carry a lot of stress, a lot of problems of Nigerians here.
“These sudden deaths are signs that those who are in the National Assembly to take things easy.
“Nigerians should pray for the members of the National Assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate dated April 4, 2018, said “I was saddened to receive the news of the deaths of Senators Ali Wakili and Mustapha Bukar”.
He said their various contributions to the Senate deliberations and the wider democratic process in the country had been of immense values.
“Please accept Mr Senate President, the expression of my deepest sympathy,” Buhari said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives suspended all legislative activities, yesterday, just within hours of reconvening after the Easter break.
The action was taken to honour its late Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Buba Jibril.
A formal valedictory session would also be held for Jibril, today.
The Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, made the announcement as soon as members re-entered the chambers after the break.
Jibril had died in a Turkish hospital in Abuja on March 30, of an undisclosed illness, aged 58.
The Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) politician represented Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency.
Jibril died a day after the House adjourned for Easter on March 29.
The convention of the House is that members will suspend legislative activities for a day in honour of a deceased colleague.
Before shutting the plenary, yesterday, Dogara had called for prayers to be offered for the repose of Jibril’s soul.
Mohammed Sani-Abdu and Mr. Karimi Sunday said the prayers before all proceedings were suspended.
An architect by training, Jibril first won election to the National Assembly in 2007.
The late deputy leader had formerly been a member of the Kogi State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007 and also served as the speaker of the state’ legislature..
The 1990 graduate of the University of Jos, was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003 to 2015 before he defected to the APC ahead of the general elections.
He was elected the deputy leader of the House on June 9, 2015.

News

Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has sued for patience on the ongoing installation of the state’s new independent power project.

The Tide gathered that the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, which installation commenced in October this year, was earlier scheduled to be completed by December but suffered logistics related delays.

The governor called on people of the state to have an open mind about the project, which he said now requires a new completion date due to unforeseen challenges.

?The Tide further reports that the State’s Chief Executive who undertook an on-the-spot-assessment of the project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area on Wednesday, said like other citizens of the state, he was also disappointed that the December completion deadline could not be met.

However, he stated that his reaction to the delay had been that of understanding rather than being angry as had been noticed, particularly on the social media.

?”You can see I’ve gone round the whole facility. It was based on the working agreement and information available at my disposal that I gave the December date. But as it is with every human endeavor, we must all have an open mind, when it comes to issues, particularly technical matters like this.

?”I am as disappointed as any other Bayelsan because I believed that we were going to celebrate the 2025 Christmas with our own independent power, but it turned out not to be so.

?”I call on Bayelsans to have an open mind. These technical experts are working virtually 24 hours, but delays like this will certainly come”, he said.

He implored the people 9f the state to appreciate the work of the engineers, stressing that a minor mistake was capable of jeopardising the millions of dollars expended on the project.

?”For 29 years Bayelsa has been in darkness or has endured epileptic power supply. Now that we are getting close to the day of liberation, some people have become impatient.

“Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise in the prison for years that asked to be released immediately as the place was smelling the moment he knew it would regain freedom the next day”, the governor added.

?The Bayelss Governor gave a thumps up to the technical partners, Jampur Group, and its team on ground as well as the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the job was completed.

?”Those who have been following me on this inspection would know that work has not stopped even for one day since it started. I am sure the job is more than 90 per cent complete. So let us hold our fire.

“Engineer Olice, I am not putting you under any pressure. From the reports I have, Olice is one of the best electrical engineers in Nigeria”, governor Diri said.

The governor, however, hinted that the government was looking at inaugurating the project during its sixth anniversary in February.

The MD of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Kemenanabo, who also spoke, said the state was on the right track towards actualising the project and assured that the alignment of the entire system, including the gas generator and alternator were on course.

He also stated that the remaining two turbines would be delivered to the project site in a few days.

?Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, Mr. Sherrif Abu-Anif said the company was in good position to meet its own end of the bargain and appreciated the state government for playing its part very well.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

News

Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits After Priest’s Sermon

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.

Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.

In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.

Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.

Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.

The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.

With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.

News

‘Best Way To Show Gratitude Is To Deliver Tinubu in 2027’

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.

Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.

“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”

Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.

He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.

“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.

Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.

In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.

She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.

Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.

“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.

In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.

He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.

The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.

Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.

Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.

Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.

By: Taneh Beemene