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Tag: Ministry of Power

  • Senior govt official charged with forging documents to obtain passport

    The federal government has charged a Director of Protocol in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maikudi Haruna, with forgery and international passport racketeering.

    Haruna appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a three-count charge brought against him by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

    He was charged with “conspiracy,” “making false statement for the purpose of procuring Nigeria passport,” and engaging in “forgery.”

    The prosecution, led by the Head of Prosecution, NIS, Collins Obilor, alleged that Haruna forged the official identity card of his ministry and signature of the Minister on a letter he issued to a friend, Abubakar Mustapha Bida, for whom he procured an official passport, after  collecting N250,000 from him.

    The accused pleaded not guilty, following which the court granted him bail at N250,000.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo commended the NIS and the Comptroller General for their diligence in the prosecution of cases.

    Read Also: Workers forging my signature, VC cries out

    He adjourned till September 27, 2019 for trial.

    The charge reads:

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: forgery, by fraudulently making official identity Card of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida and signing a letter of introduction for him, on the letter headed paper of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing purporting same to have been written and signed by the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, for the purpose of procuring Official Nigerian Passport for Abubakar Mustapha Bida supposing him to be a Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2018, at the Federal M1mst1y of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja did conspire with one Mr. Henry Canton, (now at large) to procure official Nigerian passport for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida, who you know is not a senior government official and who is not entitled to hold the Federal Government of Nigeria official passport after he paid you the sum of N250,000 only.

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May,2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: Knowingly making false statement for the purpose of procuring official Nigerian passport for for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida by introducing him to be a Special Assistant to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to: the Nigeria Immigration Service, knowing that he is not an eligible government official.”

  • FG stops payment of GenCos shortfall

    …urges evacuation of stranded 2,000mw for revenue

     

    The Federal Government on Tuesday announced its exit from the payment of the shortfall for the 4000mega watts per hour (mwh) to the Electricity Generation Companies (GenCos).

    According to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Louis Edozein, who broke the news to stakeholders at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) workshop on Eligible Customer Regulation in Abuja, the Electric Power Sector Act does not make provision for the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) to pay for the shortfall to the GenCos.

    He told the stakeholders that in line with the contractual agreements, it is the consumers, who should pay for the power they consume.

    His words: “In addition to that 2,000 MW, the 4,000mwh that is consistently being delivered is not fully paid for. Government through the nation’s insurance Programme is paying the generation companies for any shortfall payment from NBET.

    “Clearly that is not what act intends the industry to be. And ultimately government has to exit from this role.

    “So, it is this regulation that will ensure that not just stranded power but delivered power, is delivered to consumers who are contractually bound to pay for it. And if they do not pay for it they do not enjoy the service.”

    The Permanent Secretary noted that it is obvious that there is more generation than the consumers can pay for, noting that the solution is for the stakeholders to look for the customers that are not well served under the Eligible Customers Regulation to take it and pay for it for their benefits.

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    He submitted that “if we do this aggressively, that 2,000mw of so-called stranded generation will quickly evaporate.”

    He told the stakeholders to look for customers to buy the stranded power because it is inappropriate for government to continue to pay for the power.

    According to him, government cannot perpetually pay for their power consumption.

    Edozein also told the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to stop the complaint about non-increase of tariff to the NERC and work with the GenCos to get willing customers to buy the available power.

    He said that “I have a message also for TCN: stop complaining to NERC about your tariff. Your job is to satisfy your own customers that is GenCos and DisCos.

    “Work with them as you have the money to find all customers using this policy who will take the power GenCos have, contract with GenCos at a tariff that you, the GenCos and customers agreed to transmit the power close to the customers. That is the way you will raise your revenue.”

    The Permanent Secretary urged the DisCos to satisfy their customers in order to encourage them to pay for the service.

    He explained to the DisCos that the reason the customers would want to take advantage of the eligible customer regulation is when they are not satisfied with the services rendered to them by the DisCos.

    He said “So DisCos this is your opportunity to service your customers better. Listen to them when there is infrastructure challenge in getting the product to them.”

    There was however a mild drama as the Deputy Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Engr. John Ayodele counted the Permanent Secretary on stranded 2,000mw.

    He told the stakeholders that there is no stranded 2,000mw anywhere in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) but the Executive Director, Mainstream Energy Solution Limited, Mr. Siraj Abdullahi, insisted that his company, Kainji Power Hydro habours some stranded power.

    He challenged the stakeholders to come visiting the plant to observe the stranded power.

  • SERAP: ministry held no records of failed power project contractors

    THE Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has allegedly said it does not have records of names of contractors and companies that collected money for electricity projects and failed to executive them.

    The ministry, according to Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP), stated this in its response to a suit seeking “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), “to provide specific details on the names and whereabouts of the contractors, who collected public funds meant for electricity projects, but disappeared with the money without executing any projects.”

    However, in its letter dated January 27, 2019, the ministry said: “We have searched the ministry’s record and the information you applied for is not held by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Power Sector).”

    The letter signed by Director (Legal Services), Mrs. A.A. Shoetan, on behalf of the minister, read in part: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated January 4, 2019, in which you applied for request to disclose details of alleged corrupt contractors and companies that collected money for electricity projects but failed to execute any projects. The request has been handled under the FOI Act.”

    Responding to the development, SERAP, in a letter dated February 8, 2019 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said public expectation was that government information, when in the hands of any public institutions and agencies, would be available to the public, as prescribed by the FOI Act.

    “The FOI Act should always be used as an authority for disclosing information rather than withholding it.”

    “Indiscriminate attempts to limit disclosure of information of public interest such as the details of the names of alleged corrupt contractors and companies that SERAP is seeking, will undermine the government’s expressed commitment to transparency and accountability.

    “We believe that the predisposition by all public institutions and agencies, including the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, should be to grant access to public information and not to implicitly deny it. Indeed, disclosure, not secrecy, is the dominant objective of the FOI Act.

    “This objective would be defeated if there is public perception that public institutions and agencies attempt to shield information of public interest from disclosure or abdicate statutory responsibilities”.

    SERAP reminded the minister of the suit it had filed in “court for remedial action and seeking an order to compel you and your ministry to release the information requested”.

    “We urge you to take proactive steps to obtain the information from any other public institution or agency that may be holding the requested information, and to send to us the information without further delay.

    It advised the minister not to wait until the court makes it decision to compel you to disclose the requested information.

  • Reps, Fashola trade words over N35b Housing budget implementation 

    Reps, Fashola trade words over N35b Housing budget implementation 

    House of Representatives Committee on Housing Tuesday accused Babatunde Fashola – led Ministry of Power, Works and Housing of incompetence over the implementation of the 2016 N35b budget for the Housing component of the Ministry.

    This is as Fashola expressed concern over poor response from States for provision of land for the National Housing project with 17 out of 36 States responding to the request so far.

    Chairman of the Committee, Mustapha Bala (APC, Kano) during an interactive session with the Ministry on the status of the implementation of the budget doubted the competence the Ministry to implement the National Housing project, six months into the fiscal year 2016.

    The Committee became agitated when the Minister, Babatunde Fashola in his presentation said the Ministry was still in the process of sorting out the designs for the project.

    Fashola, who said he inherited a 2012 Housing plan that had no blueprint on how to implement it, disclosed that the public private partnership (PPP) agreements entered into by previous administrations could not solve the country’s housing challenges.

    With a target of 21,008 units, the previous PPPs could only deliver 2750 units over the years.

    He regretted that most of the PPPs that claimed to have delivered their targets had no evidence to show for it, while the delivered houses were inaccessible and out of the reach of most Nigerians.

    In view of the failure of the previous PPPs, he said the Ministry had to look at a sustainable and affordable housing project for Nigerians.

    Besides going into partnership with a German firm for the provision of energy efficient housing units to be incorporated into the National Housing code, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry has commissioned Shelter Afrique for a $5,000 housing unit for low income earners.

    He said the Ministry is looking at either mortgage financing or rent-to-own option as modes of payment for the prospective house owners.

    According to the Minister, the Ministry was yet to advertise for the project because it has just was in the pruned down the unit designs from 480 to 12 but had to further reduce it to six.

    He also disclosed that letter have been written to States for provision of suitable land in the capitals and Local governments headquarters for the project but only 17  have so far given commitments from the 19 that responded.
    He said the Ministry can only commence with just four States that have completed the process from 17 that have given their commitment.

    He said the Ministry will not provide single design nationwide but different House types that include one, two and three bedroom bungalows and duplexes taking into consideration  the peculiarities, culture and  environment of each State.

    The Committee Chairman was not however impressed by the Minister’s presentation saying it appears the Ministry is incompetent to implement the budget.

    He said: “What has the Ministry been doing since November last year when the budget was presented till now that appropriate designs are not ready, you have not even advertised for it?

    “Are you not competent or what, because you ought to have competed the design by February so that once the budget was passed you commence. Design should not take more than 15 days because your experts in the Ministry have been doing it for years.

    “By the time you start this project, you will have just about three months left in the year, even if the budget is extended to March 2017 that will be just six months”.

    The Committee also wondered why the Ministry could not dispense with redundant and non-performing PPPs while wondering if there was a framework and criteria for qualification.

    Fashola, in his response said the blame for the late implementation of the budget should not be heaped on the Ministry

    He said: “That is a strange question because a bulk sum was proposed in the budget for the National Housing project and we asked States in need to access it willingly but the House insisted that it must go round.

    “The result is what we are seeing now; many did not respond because housing needs of each State differs, taking into cognizance the role migratory factor plays here”.

    He also said the Ministry should be commended rather than criticized for the work it has done on the project, adding, “The Ministry should be commended and not condemned because the budget is inadequate.

    “As a result of that, we are focusing on sustainable housing plan that works rather than rushing the budget, affordability and slum prevention is key to this design.

    “Other countries that had housing program decades ago did not even have 100 percent home owners but they have a near uniformity of designs. By the time we go full circle, we won’t be talking of N35b but hundreds of billions

    “Why it took so long for the design to be ready, infrastructures-roads, sewage disposal, water and others   have to be planned into the housing and that’s what the Ministry is doing.

    “To say all these should be done in three months is difficult because we need a plan that will accommodate cultures and other peculiarities of each State. Our designs are based on feedback.

    “I appeal to the Honourable House that we look at the larger picture, even if you are not impressed with my staff, I have a different opinion.”

  • Photo: Ministry of power meets with the President

    Photo: Ministry of power meets with the President

    Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi and Managing Director Niger Delta Power Project, Engr. James Olotu during Ministry of Power meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja yesterday.
    Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi and Managing Director Niger Delta Power Project, Engr. James Olotu during Ministry of Power meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja yesterday.
    President Muhammadu Buhari centre, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chairman Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi and Managing Director Niger Delta Power Project, Engr. James Olotu and others in a Group Photograph during Ministry of Power meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja yesterday.
    President Muhammadu Buhari centre, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chairman Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi and Managing Director Niger Delta Power Project, Engr. James Olotu and others in a Group Photograph during Ministry of Power meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja yesterday
  • Firms to add 1000Mw into national grid

    Firms to add 1000Mw into national grid

    Three renewable energy companies, Solius  NGPC, Peoples Home Association and Solar Force Nigeria Limited, yesterday said they would inject 1000Megawatts (Mw) of electricity into the national grid but would begin with 100Mw in any location recommended by the Ministry of Power.

    Federal Government had signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the companies for the production of solar power across the country.

    Aside power generation, the companies would also provide training for the indigenous workers.

    Chairman of Solius Solution, Mr. Onu Eluwa promised to establish a training school in the country as part of its commitment to the Federal Government.

    Assistant Director (Press), Federal Ministry of Power,  Deworitshe Patricia in a statement explained that the Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Home Association, Rasaki Porbeni, said his company will provide 500MW solar power.  This would be done in tranches of 100MW to five different locations in Nigeria just as it intends to establish Solar Research Centres in universities across Nigeria and generate 10,000 jobs for Nigeria.

    Solar Force Company on its part will produce one MW each of Solar Energy to 200 different villages in six different states of the Federation.  These entire projects by these companies would be self funded, the statement added.

    The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, commended the three chief executive officers for their readiness in partnering the Federal Government in providing electricity using renewable energy.

    He assured them of government’s commitment to power delivery to Nigerians most especially the rural communities which are denied electricity supply due to the demographic nature of the country.