The Nation Newspaper

Tag: power project

  • Buhari seeks China’s support on power project

    •Signs $340.74m ICT loan

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sought Chinese government’s speedy facilitation to complete Mambilla power p-roject in Taraba State.

    He made the appeal in Beijing, China while signing a bilateral agreement bet-ween himself and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 74th summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

    Buhari hailed the Chinese government for its support for the development of infrastructure in the country.

    With the reviewed bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China, he said citizens of both countries would benefit in terms of improvement in their living conditions.

    Buhari praised President Jinping for hosting the summit, which he noted brought together African leaders and business entrepreneurs for a win-win dialogue.

    He said: “I congratulate Your Excellency and indeed the Chinese government for hosting a successful forum on China Africa cooperation for the past two days.

    “In my earlier meeting with President Jinping, I said this historic event and its outcome have provided a platform for a prosperous future for the two billion Chinese and Africans. Nigeria and China have come a long way; our journey has been that of mutual respect and support.”

    President Buhari said China in the last two years supported Nigeria in the training of security personnel, agricultural modernisation and provision of concessional loans, which had impacted on the economy.

    Said he: “In the past 24 months, the Chinese government has provided humanitarian aids for our conflict areas, scholarships for youths, military training and security support for our personnel, agriculture modernisation training and concession army loans to fund  infrastructural projects.

    “These interventions have impacted on millions of Nigerians and will continue to do so for generations to come. Earlier today, I solicited the support of President Jinping on the Mambilla hydro project, which remains a priority to Nigeria.

    “Our wish is to fund this project with concessionaire loans from China. I will take this opportunity to appeal to you to support this project. President Jinping and I witnessed the signing of the belt and road initiative agreements by Nigeria, which I believe will set the foundation for many centuries and mutually beneficial relationship.”

    A copy of an agreement signed between Nigeria and China for the ICT sector read: “The Chinese government agrees that the Export-Import Bank of China (the creditor) provides for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (the creditor), represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance of Nigeria with a concessional loan (herein referred to as “the loan”) of Renminbi Two Billion.

    “Three Hundred Million Yuan Only (¥2,300,000,000.00), which shall be utilised to implement the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II Project. The interest subsidised for the loan shall be paid directly to the Export-Import Bank of China by the Chinese government.”

    President Buhari also met Premier Li Keqiang, who lauded Nigerian government’s willingness for a stronger partnership.

    He said as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria had a viable market good for the kind of cooperation with China.

    “I’m happy to see you again. Nigeria is an important country in Africa with the highest population on the continent. There has been a steady growth of our political relationship and our practical cooperation has been growing from strength to strength.

    “Years ago, I visited Nigeria and I was impressed by the potential of your market and your strong desire for closer cooperation with China. I am confident that your visit this time will lend new impetus to our bilateral relationship to deliver benefits to both sides,” Li added.

     

     

     

  • Osinbajo flags off market power project in Akure

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the pilot project of a special intervention in energising markets as productive clusters at Isinkan market, Akure, the Ondo State capital. The federal government project being powered by the National Rural Electrification Agency and Ondo State Government’s Office of Public Utilities, was aimed at ensuring power supply in all markets across the state.

    Osibanjo explained that the project will boost micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME-s) in the country. According to him, “We are focusing on major markets across the country to put an end to power problem. We are working at Ariria Market in Aba, likewise Sabongeri Market in Kano and we are focusing on markets in Lagos as well. We can see how excited the market women are judging by their testimonies.

    “This technology is new and it is remotely monitored from the headquarters of the service providers. If anyone attempts to tamper with the meter it would be detected from the monitoring centre immediately and necessary action would be taken.” Osinbajo who was accompanied by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, however, promised the market women that the project would be extended to all other markets.

    A team, comprising market women, state government representatives and a representative of the federal agency, was inaugurated by the Director General,  National Rural Electrification Agency,  Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Engr. Ariyomo to ensure the safety of the gadgets. The team tagged Cluster Management Unit, has five members. According to the Iyaloja of Isinkan,  Chief Bolarinwa Temidayo, the project is a solution to the main problem they have been facing for the past four years.

  • Lafarge signs N11b power project contract to build plant in Ashaka

    Lafarge Africa Plc has signed an N11 billion contract with Chinese contractor, Rughn Power Corp, to build a captive power plant at its Ashaka plant in Gombe State.

    According to the Chairman of the Board of Ashakacem, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, the agreement is for erection of 16 megawatts lignite-fire plant for the firm.

    Mallam Yahyah, who said this at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Friday, added that the power plant would supply consistent energy to boost the plant in order to increase the firm’s production capacity to 1million metric tonnes annually.

    According to him, the power supply transformation was the first step in the development of the cement plant to recover cost leadership in the north east.

    Yahyah said: “The north east region is a strategic region where Ashaka is supporting the construction programme of government. This project will further strengthen the relationship with Gombe State as well as the communities and reinforce the importance of Ashaka as the major manufacturing company in that part of the country.

    In his response, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) represented by Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, stated that the federal government has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with 15 companies to improve power supply using solar technology.

    He added that with the PPA agreement, government is targeting over 1,500 megawatts to add to what Nigeria currently generates.

  • Lack of funds stifles power project

    Lack of funds stifles power project

    In its bid to boost power supply in Nigeria, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration approved 10 additional electricity transmission sub-stations early in 2011. Ondo State was one of the states where the projects were sited. LEKE AKEREDOLU, who visited the site recently, reports that lack of funds may impede the realisation of this all-important project

    The administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had the intention to improve socio-economic activities in the country by genuine development of the power sector. This, it reasoned, would help the country’s economy to grow.

    To realise this vision, his government, early in 2011, approved the construction of 10 additional electricity transmission sub-stations in various states in order to increase power supply.

    Ondo State is one of the states where a 2x150MVA, 330/132/33KVA electricity sub-station was located. The project is located at Owode community along Akure/Owo Expressway and would cost N6 billion.

    When the project took off, many, especially those travellers who usually ply the road thought it was being executed by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led government of Ondo State.

    Only few knew it is one of the 10 electricity transmission sub-stations being constructed by the Federal Government.

    The multi-billion Naira project was attracted to the state by a former member of the House of Representatives, Prince Abiodun Derin Adesida who represented Akure South/North Federal Constituency when he was a member of the Ad-doc Committee on Power of the sixth National Assembly.

    The ongoing project, if completed, will relieve the state and others contiguous to it from sourcing electricity from the Osogbo Power transmission station in Osun State.

    However, this dream may not be realised as work at the project site has completely stopped.

    The N6 billion project, which began late in 2013 and being handled by a Lebanese construction company, Matelec S.A.L Engineering and Contracting Division, was expected to have been completed within one-and-half or two years if the necessary funds were made available.

    Southwest Report gathered that construction work which had reached 70 per cent completion stage stopped due to non-availability of fund.

    When our correspondent visited the site, he met only four Nigerians and two Lebanese who are members of staff of the company handling the project.

    •Rassi
    •Rassi

    The chairman of the company was absent from the site, but the storekeeper, Mr Simeon Rassi took this on facility tour of the project.

    Rassi said the project was in three phases and began with civil work.

    He noted that the largest phase is the 330KVA, followed by 150KVA which are about 70 per cent completion stage while the 33KVA phase also has reached 70 per cent completion stage.

    “The government need to release money for us to complete this job. As you can see, all the needed materials have been procured. But we need money to get this job done.

    “You will discover that no engineer is on site because there is no money. We are aware that a new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has taken over and we hope he will soon get in touch with us for the completion of the job,” Rassi said.

    On how much the firm needed for the completion of the project, he said: “I don’t know, but I know the amount of money needed is huge. This is a large project and the materials are very expensive.

    “When completed, power supply to Ondo and other neighbouring states will improve. Not only this, Ondo State will stop depending on Osogbo power transmission for electricity supply. You know a state that has stable power supply will attract industries, which in turn, makes jobs available for the unemployed.

    “We have done this type of project in Algeria and some Asian countries and they are working perfectly for them. We hope to get good signal from your new government soon. My boss has been in touch with the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel, but you know there is no minister as at this moment and we hope when a new minister is appointed, he or she will always be in touch with us,” he said.

    A resident of Akure, Mr. Ayobami Olasupo, appealed to the Federal Government to release funds for the completion of the power project.

    Olasupo said he was sure ýthat the Buhari administration would want to complete the project but since he has not appointed his ministers, he can only do little about the project for now.

    “By next month when the new ministers would have been appointed, I pray work on the project would begin again,” he said.

    Another resident, James Ekpo, said when the project is completed, it will strengthen and stabilise power transmission and distribution to most states around Ondo State.

    He said: “We cannot wait for this project to be completed. I am a businessman and I know how much I spend from my little gains to power my ýgenerating set. Only few areas enjoy light in Akure and I believe when this project is completed, power supply will improve in Akure and other parts of the state.”

  • Community threatens power project over compensation

    The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) power line project from Enugu to Akwa Ibom states which is expected to provide constant power in almost three states is under threat by the protest of the Nnono Oboro community where the line is expected to pass.

    Nnono Oboro community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State is claiming that the contractor handling the project has not paid them adequate compensation to those whose houses are on the right of way of the project and marked for demolition.

    The members of the community, including men, women and youths who carried  placards to protest the situation by the NIPP contractor, called on the Federal Government to intervene to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

    The spokesman of the community who doubles as the youth leader, Anthony Chinedu, told our correspondent at Nnono that: “Our protest was not against the project, which he said was borne out of government’s good intention and for development.

    Chinedu said though the project is expected to bring even development, “which we are not against but against the nonchalant attitude of the NIPP contractor who has ordered the helpless villagers to vacate their homes within two weeks”.

    He said the contractor created fear among the people by intimidating them with army personnel who they alleged patrol the community every day to ensure that the people do not ask for their rights.

    In his speech, the chairman of Oboro Clan Council of Traditional Rulers, King Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu, corroborated Chinedu’s views; that they were not against the project, noting that if the contractor did not have enough money to pay compensation, he should have diverted the transmission line away from people’s homes.

    King Agwu lamented that rather than direct the power transmission line through the forest, he decided to run it through the community where he would collect money for compensation and not pay same to the affected families.

    The traditional rulers said: “What do they want these old people to do, to go and live in the bush? Are we going to enjoy the light in our graves, and instead they are using army to intimidate us.”

    However, the traditional ruler called on the Federal Government to come to their rescue by reviewing the contract so that adequate compensation would be paid to members of the community to enable them to get alternative accommodation.

    Some of the people, whose houses are affected by the project said the funds they are being given are not enough to buy a piece of land, let alone build a house. Others said they are being given two weeks to vacate from their ancestral homes.

    A 76-year-old Madam Nwegeruo Chimbuo said they were given two weeks to vacate their homes even when compensation had not been paid. Elder Ukanna Ogbonna and Peter Ekpemiro said the money they were paid as compensation was too small to buy a piece of land let alone build a house.

    At the work camp of the NIPP, some military personnel said they were there on official duty to provide security for the workers. But the workers refused to talk to the press, saying they do not have the authority to speak to the press on the matter.

    Some of the placards the protesting community members carried read: “We are homeless, settle us”, “Stop using the military to intimidate us”, and “Demolition without compensation”.

  • Heritage Bank funds 8.5MW power project

    The management of Heritage Bank has announced that the recently completed 8.5 Megawatts (Mw) Peninsula Independent Power Project (PIPP) financed by the bank will be inaugurated this month.

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, said the bank is proud to be part of the project activated by the Lagos State Government to provide power supply for businesses and industries around Lekki Peninsula.

    He added that the bank’s involvement in the project was borne out of its business objective of continuously offering ingenious financial support and advisory services on investment, project finance, business expansion, modernisation, production process and capacity improvement and restructurings that would create multiple economic advantages for the benefits of majority of its stakeholders.

    According to him, “the Project Finance facility granted to the Peninsula Independent Power Project was to set up a 8.5 Megawatts Captive Power Generating Plant with a 22km Distribution Network which has the potential of upgrading to a 25 Mw power generating plant that will run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The PIPP will provide power for the Lagos State Government water works and public lighting within Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi.”

    He added that facilities to be connected to the project include Lekki Phase 1 Waterworks, Ligali Ayorinde Waterworks, Victoria Island, Saka Tinubu Waterworks, three boreholes located at Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island and Alexander Road Waterworks Ikoyi. Others include 10 km of New Public Lighting within Lekki Phase 1, 15 km of New Public Lighting within Victoria Island and Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge.

    Sekibo noted further that with the recent acquisition of Enterprise Bank, Heritage Bank is set to play more active role in sustainable economic initiatives as well as the CBN efforts to promote financial inclusion and all national banking operational standards.

  • Commissioning of Zungeru power plant

    Commissioning of Zungeru power plant