Author: The Nation

Mega Transformers ordered by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) have successfully undergone factory acceptance test at Siemens’ transformers factory in Trento Italy.

First batch of the transformers are expected to start arriving Nigeria in September 2022.

The Managing Director of Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company (FGN-Power) Mr. Kenny Anuwe, who led a delegation that includes engineers from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) witnessed the factory acceptance test conducted on 28 July 2022 in Trento Italy.

The Minister of Power Engr Abubakar Aliyu, made this known through a statement that his Special Adviser on Media Malam Isa Sunusi issued at the weekend.

The statement noted the factory acceptance test paves the way for Siemens Energy to start delivering the transformers to Nigeria.

According to him, this came after Aliyu lead a delegation to Germany in April where he paid visits to Siemens Energy factories in Berlin and Frankfurt, and held meetings with the senior leadership of Siemens Energy on the need to fast-track the delivery of the early orders that will kick start the transformation of Nigeria’s electricity.

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“The successful factory acceptance test shows Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens Energy is on track. It also shows federal government’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges,” the Minister said.

In December 2021, the Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed and Aliyu secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council of €63 million (Euro) for the procurement of equipment to boost power supply under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) — whose first phase will provide 10 mobile power sub-stations and 10 mega transformers that will be deployed across the country to boost and stabilize electricity supply.

In 2018 President Muhammadu Buhari initiated the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) that will enable Siemens Energy to upgrade Nigeria’s electricity systems.

The first phase of the PPI seeks to modernise, rehabilitate and expand the national grid by investing in the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission and distribution systems.

Niger Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has sacked the Director General of the Sustainable Development Goals SDG, Alhaji Arah and Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr Isah Adamu.

The NSUBEB chairman was sacked over alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the Board while the DG SDG was sacked due to the non-implementation of reforms in the sector.

It was also learnt chairman of NSUBEB has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.

Although the letter from the government signed by the Secretary to Niger Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, stated that the chairman was suspended, sources in government circles claimed he was sacked.

Read Also:Siemens: Nigeria’s mega transformers pass factory test

The letter signed by Matane reads: “The suspension of the chairman is for some suspected observed anomalies in the operations of the board”.

On the part of the SDG, the letter reads: “The removal of the Director General is to facilitate accelerated implementation of the reforms being initiated by the government towards the attainment of the SDGs in the State”.

The Nation learnt that Adamu was arrested in Minna by the EFCC following reports and complaints of extravagant spending on acquiring assets within and outside the state capital as well as conversion of contracts worth millions to himself.

An acting chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Nafuntua, has been appointed for the NSUBEB board.

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Senator Magnus Abe has emerged the 2023 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State.

A primary election that produced Abe was conducted in Port Harcourt and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC’s senior officer, Pastor Emmanuel Isong and other monitors from the Department of State Security (DSS) as well as the Nigeria Police force were on ground throughout the exercise described by observers as the fairest primary poll ever held in the state.

Princess Patricia Ogbonna, a retired Permanent Secretary from the Rivers Civil Service, was also elected as the running mate to Abe.

The Chairman of SDP Substitution Electoral Committee, Alhaji Muhammed Ibrahim, declared Abe, who scored 30 votes, the winner of the election and advised members of the party to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He said: “Today, we have elected a credible candidate for the governorship election in Rivers state. Let me thank all of you for conducting yourselves peacefully and for electing a very popular candidate in the person of distinguished Senator Magnus Abe as the governorship candidate of the party for Rivers state.

“For those of you who are yet to register and collect your PVCs, please ensure that you do so before the expiration of the deadline as slated by INEC. I am very confident that with a quality candidate like Senator Magnus Abe, SDP will become the ruling party in Rivers state come 2023”.

A former member of the House of Representatives and a leader of Rivers state chapter of SDP, Elder Chidi Wihioka, commended INEC for its efforts in ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

He said the Osun state governorship experience was an indication that people could cast their votes with confidence.

Read Also:Vote out PDP, Dafinone charges Deltans

He said: “I was INEC Electoral Commissioner some years ago. I can tell you that INEC is doing a good work right now.

“INEC has now given Nigerians a high hope that their votes will count going forward. Thuggery during elections will now become a thing of the past. With Magnus Abe as the governorship candidate of our great party, SDP, there is no doubt that we will have a nice outing in 2023”.

A former Commissioner for Power in the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and now member of Federal Character Commission, Augustine Wokocha thanked the delegates and promised that Rivers people would witness a new era in the government of Magnus Abe.

He said: “Abe is a model. SDP will now become a state party. With Abe as a governor in 2023, Rivers state will be free from despots. As you can see, the process was very transparent and free. Abe has a solid structure from the state to local government and even the ward levels. He is a man that is loved by the people”.

The Rivers state chairman of SDP, Solsuema Osaro expressed confidence that the candidature of Abe would make SDP a party to beat in the state in 2023 saying: “I am very confident that with Abe as our candidate, Rivers state belongs to SDP”.

A boy has been confirmed dead in an early morning flood caused by heavy downpour at Bajoga in Funakaye Local Government area of Gombe State.

Houses around Dadinkowa river became flooded on Saturday following an early morning downpour that lasted for more than six hours.

The Director General, Press Affairs to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Malam Uba Misili, who confirmed the death of the boy in a statement said the Governor has already sent a condolence message to the family.

He said Yahaya has also directed the Ministry of Environment, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant agencies to provide assistance to affected persons.

“Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has sympathised with the victims of flood disaster that wreaked havoc on some areas at Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government area of the state following a heavy downpour.

“The Governor who expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of a boy who lost his life as a result of the flood, also sympathized with all those who sustained injuries or lost their properties and other material resources,” he said.

He assured of his administration’s commitment towards the wellbeing of the citizenry, adding that government will offer assistance to minimize the suffering of the affected persons.

The Governor however urged the people to heed to flash flood warnings, and avoid flood-prone areas as a preventive measure.

Delta Central All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate Chief Ede Dafinone has tasked Deltans to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he claimed has run Delta State for over 20 years without visible and tangible development.

The chartered accountant and industrialist, charged Deltans when the Ede Dafinone Campaign Organisation consulted some prominent Urhobo leaders and stakeholders to seek their support and prayers for the success of his senatorial ambition.

Dafinone said when a team performs poorly like in the case of PDP in Delta State on alleged mismanagement of resource in the oil-rich state, it is natural to change such team, assuring that their votes will count following the new amended electoral act that has introduced the use of technology in the transmission of electoral result.

Read Also:Rivers PDP wants to be sole contestant in 2023 – Falana

According to him: “I believe Delta State needs a new team because, in terms of development, Delta State is lagging behind. It is time, for Deltans to take over Delta State and vote out PDP for poor performance, you don’t promote a student who has consistently failed exams, let’s vote APC come 2023 so that we can attract visible and viable development.”

While calling on Deltans to vote for Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege as Governor, he added: “In the 2023 elections, every vote will count, so my appeal to those who have not gotten their permanent voter card PVC, to seize the opportunity of the two days left to go and get their voting power.

At the palace of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (retd), Orhue 1, who was celebrating his 16th year coronation anniversary, prayed for the APC senatorial candidate.

Dafinone, who also visited Bishop Philip Orovwudje of the Garden of Life Assembly, former Secretary General of Urhobo Progress Union and Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Chief (Barr.) Victor Otomewo, Chief Austin Uloho and Olorogun Felix Edore Kupa to seek their support on his ambition.

Residents of Iwaro Oka Akoko in Akoko Southwest local government, on Saturday trooped out in different attires and masquerades to celebrate the new yam festival.

It was also a day they celebrated the second year anniversary of their monarch, Oba Pius Akande, the Asin of Okaland.

The residents brought out drums and marched to the hill where their Okunre gods is situated to perform sacrifices and offered thanksgiving for bountiful harvest as well as pray for blessing ahead of next planting season.

Read Also:Ondo will deliver 80% votes for Tinubu, says ex-Speaker

Oba Akande led his chiefs to the shrine and only indigenous of the town were allowed in.

There was firing of gunshots as the monarch stepped out of the shrine.

Shops and markets were shut in the town as the residents joined different dance groups.

Osadare Del esaid they had to thank the Okunre gods to prevent loss in their next harvest.

He said they recorded bountiful harvest this year.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Saturday denied sitting on letters allegedly written by some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators seeking to formally defect to opposition parties.

His Special Adviser (Media) Ola Awoniyi, in a statement in Abuja, described reports pertaining to such a development as utter falsehood.

The statement reads: “We have seen a story on social media and some online newspapers purporting that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, is sitting on letters from some Senators allegedly intimating him of their defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The story insinuated that Lawan is sitting on the purported letters to protect his position as the President of the Senate.

“We hereby state categorically that the story is utter falsehood as there is no such letter before the Senate President.

“The report mentioned only Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa as one of the affected Senators.

“Obviously, the purveyors of the syndicated lies had not even bothered to confirm from the Distinguished Senator if and when he submitted any such letter to the Senate President.

Read Also:No stratification of Northern Christians or Muslims in APC – Keyamo

“It is public knowledge that the Senate President has always promptly read out at plenaries letters by Senators defecting from one party to another.

“The Senate President is sufficiently knowledgeable about the rules and workings of the Senate and has been discharging his responsibilities within the ambit of those rules.

“That is why he has continued to enjoy the confidence and full cooperation of his fellow Distinguished Senators irrespective of party affiliations.

“Apparently, some vested interests want to magnify challenges to sow seeds of discord in Parliament in promotion of their selfish agenda.

“We wish to reiterate that the Senate President is not withholding or sitting on any letter of whatever content from any of his Distinguished Senator colleagues.

“Therefore, any story purporting such exists only in the imagination of the mischief makers circulating it.”
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