Nation
FCT Residents Decry Inequitable Power Distribution, Urges Fairness
Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the inequitable distribution of power to their homes and business premises.
The residents appealed to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to ensure that the current load shedding was done fairly.
They told The Tide source in Abuja yesterday that they have not had electricity for almost five consecutive days.
The poor power supply or blackouts in some parts of the territory had lingered for almost two months.
AEDC had attributed the poor supply to its franchise areas to low power generation from the national grid.
The AEDC Chief Marketing Officer, Mr Donald Etim, had said this in a statement issued in Abuja on March 4.
“The AEDC wishes to inform our customers in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa States and the FCT that the current low and unstable supply of electricity to homes and businesses is as a result of low power generated to the national grid.
“In recent weeks, the level of power generated and served to the national grid for onward delivery to customers has been abysmally low,” Etim said.
This, according to AEDC has led to load shedding currently being experienced in the territory.
Electricity consumers residing in Nyanya, Lugbe, Kubwa , Prince and Princess Estate, Area 3, Gaduwa and environs told The Tide source that they have not had light for days.
According to them, inspite of the load-shedding, some areas have constant power supply, while other areas do not have at all.
A Pharmacist residing in Gaduwa Estate Mr Peter Otabor, said, “we know AEDC is load-shedding light but they should ensure that it is equitably distributed to all”.
Otabor said that for close to two days, there was no light in the estate but other areas had light.
“I know there is low power supply currently on in the country, so if they want to give us light for two hours, so be it, I do not like a situation where some will have and others do not have,” he said.
Mrs Juliet Okojie, who resides at Prince and Princess Estate, Gudu, also coroborated what Otabor said.
Okojie said that the little power available should go round everybody.
Mr Eramus Okon, a banker who resides at Area 3, decried the poor power supply to the area, saying it had worsened in the last two months.
Okon said “we have only had light four times for few hours in the last three weeks”, a situation he said had affected his daily routine.
“You know I am a banker and I close late from work, I only cook once a week every Saturday but with this light situation, I cannot do that.
“I am appealing to AEDC to give us light even for two or three hours a day,” he said.
Mr Smart Okeke, who owns a cold room at Lugbe told newsmen that he had to put on his generator every day for close to 10 hours to preserve his goods.
“Cold room business is not easy to manage without light, so I have to look for diesel for my generator to power my cold room.
“I know about the low power supply and load-shedding but I will be happy if AEDC can give us light for five hours a day, “he said.
In Kubwa, Mrs Ese Williams, who reside in Phase 2, Kubwa Extension said there had been no stable light in the area for close to three weeks.
According to Williams, even when the light comes, it is so low that it cannot carry fridge or even fan.
“I have thrown away the perishable food stuff I stored in my freezer as they had all gone bad.
“I am appealing to AEDC to rectify the fault and give us light even if it for five hours a day, “ she said.
A fashion designer also in Kubwa, Mrs Shola Akinremi said lack of stable electricity supply in the area had continued to affect her business, saying that she could not meet up her customers’ needs.
Akinremi said that it was very difficult for her to sew at night as her generator was faulty.
When contacted, Mr Donald Etim, AEDC’s Chief Marketing Officer told newsmen that parts of Lugbe, Kubwa, Area 3 and environs were experiencing poor power supply due to faults.
Etim said that AEDC team were working assiduously to ensure that those faults were quickly resolved to ensure consumers get steady power supply.
“We are not happy about this and our team are working to ensure these faults are rectified quickly, “he said .
The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, has called on Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to uphold moral standard and integrity.
Oko-Jaja said this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at Saint Paul Anglican Church in Opobo Town, Rivers yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Cookey was the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in 1982.
Oko-Jaja advised political leaders to always be self-aware and avoid actions that could damage their reputation.
“In today’s Nigeria, hardship has changed how the people behave, as lies have become more popular than the truth.
“We now live in a country where injustice is now celebrated and lowering moral and social standard have become the new normal.
“Leaders must follow the exemplary legacies set by our forebears by becoming upright and live a life that would not bring shame to their family and community,” he said.
He attributed the country’s current economic challenges and declining living standards to leaders failing to prioritise the well-being of citizens.
“The younger generation should emulate the virtues of our predecessors like Prof. Cookey, who prioritised integrity over material gain.
“Good reputation was the norm back then, and I hope that God will restore it to Nigeria, where leaders’ goal will be to have good names.
“If anyone wants to commit evil, they should remember that their actions can bring a bad name to their family and community,” he cautioned.
Addressing the celebrant, the King of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandason Jaja, praised Cookey for his impact on society and described him as a mentor and philanthropist.
He said that the celebrant was a distinguished academic, who had impacted numerous youths through vocational training, leading to their successful employment in different sectors.
Speaking earlier, Cookey expressed gratitude to God for attaining 90 years and acknowledged the support of his family and friends.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he encouraged leaders to leave behind positive legacies for future generations to celebrate.
Nineteen months after federal lawmakers movement to temporary chambers, the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives would finally resume sittings in their newly remodelled main hallowed chambers tomorrow
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, and the Clerk to the Senate, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze confirmed the planned movement to the main chambers in separate written announcements made penultimate week on the change in resumption date by lawmakers from their ongoing recess.
Hon. Rotimi, who is the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in the official announcement dated April 4, 2024 to the honourable members, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber, as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the lawmakers.
“The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth,” he stated.
Two days after, the Clerk to the Senate also issued a statement, postponing resumption of plenary by the Senate from April 16 to 23, 2024.
Akubueze ‘s statement reads in part: “Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April, 2024”
It would be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery, the Site Engineer of Visible Construction, Tajudeen Olanipekun, had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate, that the two main chambers, would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year.
Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured hallowed chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones.
In carrying out the subtle marching order, the construction firm in the last five weeks has carried out the required finishings on
the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipments, appliances and extended sitting terraces.
Physically, the entire ambience of the space in and around the hallowed chambers have been transformed, just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer have been removed.
The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2021 awarded a N30billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.
The law makers had in September 2022 vacated the main chambers to enable the Contractors; handle the renovation work of both chambers
Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the senators and honourable members, watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Zone 13 of the Nige- rian Police Force, comprising Anambra and Enugu States, has announced the venue and time for both General Duty and Specialist Constable recruitment medical screening in the two States.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo, yesterday in Enugu.
Ihunwo said that prospective candidates from Zone 13 should note that the exercise would take place at Police Hospital, Awka.
She said that the medical screening would commence simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday, April 16, and end on April 30, 2024.
“Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to know their status, specific time, date and other mandatory requirements.
“So also, qualified applicants are to appear in clean white T-shirt and short with the following requirements;
“National Identity Card/Slip; Print Out of Medical Examination Slip and all necessary documents.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 13 Command, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, wishes all prospective candidates success as they embark on this exercise,” he said.
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