The Nation Newspaper

Tag: republic of benin

  • The challenge of political stability in West Africa

    The challenge of political stability in West Africa

    In the last week, there was a failed coup d’état in the Republic of Benin after the success of a coup in Guinea Bissau. The military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are sitting tight at different levels of instability while the military regime in Guinea (Conakry) appears to be on its way out. The regime in Mali, despite its blind walking into a marriage with Russia, is daily challenged by various ethnic fissiparous tendencies in the wretched Sahelian dessert country that appears doomed to instability for the foreseeable future. Our neighbour Niger will eventually come to its senses and come back crawling to Nigeria if we stand on our democratic course. Burkina Faso, as far as I am concerned, is a basket case despite the exaggerated claims of the propagandists hired by its government of manufacturing air planes, going to space and other absurd performances by its president and government.

    I know this desert country and when I see how the world is being fooled, I laugh. The success of this propaganda can be seen in the recent inaugural speech of Madame Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of Namibia who claimed that her country would follow the glorious example of the president of Burkina Faso!

    Eventually, Africa will wake up from the dream world of the paradise of the confederation of Sahelian States. This Burkina Faso is keeping a Hercules’ C130 plane belonging to Nigeria which landed in its territory because of bad weather and issuing inflammatory statement about guarding its air space. The Federal Government of Nigeria should issue a stiff statement saying what happened and demanding the release of its plane using countries like Senegal, Guinea and even Niger as conduits for our diplomatic intervention.

    What seems to be happening in the region is a challenge to Nigeria’s security and we must rise quickly to the occasion by cranking up our diplomatic feelers to deal with all these irritants. Our government must use as agents, Nigerians knowledgeable about the affairs of these countries.

    I am surprised that we have not worked on bringing back to our embrace the Republique of Niger. This should have been a priority of this government. We must never allow any hostile governments surrounding us. We have ties of consanguinity with our neighbours; we must always exploit this for our benefit. We should always post as heads of missions to these countries, people who can talk to those in power in African languages rather than inherited colonial languages with key players in power politics of these countries. For example, a Yoruba speaker should be sent to Benin, Hausa speaker to Niger, Kanuri speaker to Chad, Fulfulde or Hausa speaker to the Cameroon and an Igbo or Ibibio- Efik speaker to Equatorial Guinea.

    I remember General Ike Nwachukwu as foreign minister discussing with the foreign minister of Benin when the two of them found out they could do without English/French interpreters in 1988 when dealing with the issue of toxic wastes dumping in our waters by Italian shippers.

    Read Also: FG launches Nigeria’s first dual active-insect LLIN plant

    The situation which deteriorates to military coups and putsches in most cases in these West African countries is economic. In the particular cases of Chad and Benin, the two countries from their exit from dependence on France had serious problems of unviability. Chad throughout its history was ruled by the French military. Benin on the other hand provided junior civil servants for the French administration of West Africa (L’Afrique Occidentale Francaise — L’AOF). Of course when the French granted independence to the separate countries, Benin inherited too many civil servants which the economy of the country could not support. The unemployment consequently caused instability in the country. After independence, Benin cities regularly witnessed placards emblazoned on roads saying “Larmee au pouvoir  (army takes power). In the past, Nigeria tried to help by joint development of cement production in Onigbolo and sugar production in Save. Unfortunately the ventures failed while the attempt to privatise them did not succeed. The economy of the country depends on trans-shipping of imports bound for Nigeria through the port of Cotonou. This was also unviable because of changing policies in Nigeria on smuggling. Smuggling is such a big deal in the country which exports cocoa grown in Nigeria as its main produce.

    The solution to all these economic problems is integration of the West African economy with Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria bearing the economic burdens as Germany seems to do in the European Union albeit with complaints and grumbling.

    The recent abortive coup d’état failed because Nigeria answered the call of “safe our souls” by the remnants of the democratic government that was about to be kicked out. But for how long can Nigeria sustain the government of Benin while its own economy is not the best it can be and the current state of ECOWAS makes it difficult for it to do anything for the serious economic problems of Guinea Bissau and Benin?

    West Africa will remain in a prostrate and pathetic position until Nigeria takes the challenge of co-prosperity of itself and its immediate neighbours more seriously. In the meantime, Nigeria has to provide a grant or loan secured by Benin-Nigerian production of the oil found in the Benin waters. Nigeria also must press Benin to privatize the sugar production in Save (Sabe) and Cement industry in Onigbolo. If possible, the Dangote group should be encouraged to make a distress bid for the two factories. The political future of Benin should be negotiated because as it stands today, the economy of Benin will continue to be in dire strait and a drag on the economy of Nigeria which currently provides a safety net for Benin’s galloping population and its hopelessly resourced economy.

  • Reps probe alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Republic of Benin

    Reps probe alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Republic of Benin

    The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, and Diaspora, to investigate the allegations of incessant mistreatment of Nigerians living in the Republic of Benin.

    The committees are to report within two weeks for further legislative action.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Illegal Incarceration of Okumah Chika and Discriminatory Arrests of Nigerians in the Republic of Benin.”

    It was sponsored by Hon. O. K Chinda, Hon. Fred Agbedi, Hon. Bitrus Laon, Hon.Abdulsalam Dasuki, Hon. Felix Nwaeke, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, Hon. Guger Onwusibe Hon. Mark Esset Hon. Rodney A., Hon. Nkewonta and Hon. Patrick Umoh.

    The House noted that Okumah Chika, a Nigerian, who legitimately and legally resides and works in the Republic of Benin is alleged to have been arrested by the country’s Police Service – the Republican Police (DGPR) on April 18, 2023.

    Read Also: NLC protests: Many stranded at Abuja airport

    The House was concerned that Okumah Chika, who after his undergraduate academic programme in the Republic of Benin, worked as an Administrative Staff at ESFAM University in Port Novo, has been incarcerated at the Akpro-Missérété Prison since April 26, 2023, over allegations of internet fraud.

    The House was also concerned that after a series of investigations which confirmed that Okumah Chika is legally employed by ESFAM University and that his job schedule includes processing admissions, facilitating transcripts, academic guidance and similar duties, he is still being held in detention by the Republican Police authorities.

    It worried that many Nigerians in the Republic of Benin who are legal residents, engaging in lawful enterprises are victims of unlawful and discriminatory arrests and detention by the Republican Police.

    The House also worried that the unlawful and illegal detention of Okumah Chika and other patriotic Nigerians are mostly orchestrated and influenced by their Beninese colleagues, work-mates and acquaintances who are envious of the hardworking, resilient, and enterprising spirit of Nigerians.

    The House was disturbed that the incessant arrests and hounding of Nigerians living and working in the Republic of Benin has made their life hellish as they are perpetually living in fear, worry, and confusion if urgent and immediate steps are not taken to address this issue, it may affect the age-long diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

    The House said it was cognizant that, considering the economic benefits that the Republic gains from Nigeria, the mistreatment of Nigerians living over there is not a reflection of appreciation for Nigeria’s benevolence.

  • Looming infamy in Republic of Benin

    The Republic of Benin formerly known as Dahomey is an important country to us in Nigeria. The country is our immediate western neighbour with whom our country shares 800 kilometres of land border from the southern part to mid-northern part of our country. In addition, the two countries have some ethnic groups in common. In the south, the Yoruba people in Egbado and Badagry divisions have their kith and kin in the Republic of Benin, while in the northern part of the country, the Baribas in Borgu division are the same people with the Baribas in the Republic of Benin. The separation of people with the same cultural and linguistic affinities into two or three countries in Africa unfortunately came about as a result of the infamous partition of Africa by the European colonial powers at the Berlin conference of 1884. In view of the close proximity of Republic of Benin to Nigeria, a lot of trade goes on between the two countries, majority of which are predicated on unwholesome smuggling of goods between the two countries at the porous border between the two countries. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that the vibrancy of the economy of the republic depends mainly on its trade with Nigeria.

    As a big neighbour, Nigeria should feel concerned at the developing unsavoury political situation in the country which started when the present president of the country, Patrice Talon took over power in 2016. Patrice Talon took over power from the cool and calm, Thomas Boni Yayi who ruled the country from 2006 to 2016. While Boni Yayi during his tenure had friendly relationship with Nigeria and showed appreciation for the contributions of Nigeria to his country’s development, Patrice Talon has so far been indifferent to Nigeria.

    On taking over power in 2016, Talon promised constitutional reforms but unfortunately from recent events in his country, some of the reforms especially those related to elections were designed to bring back the Republic of Benin to the past political infamy in the country, which was characterised by the discredited one-party system. In the preparation for the parliamentary elections that took place in that country on April 28, only two parties, the Progressive Union and the Republican parties linked to President Talon were registered.  The other five parties linked to the opposition were not registered by the election commission controlled by the president. This undemocratic action led to massive protests led by two former Presidents, Nicephore Soglo and Boni Yayi. Despite these protests, the election commission did not relent and went ahead to conduct the parliamentary elections with two registered ‘government parties’. In this election, only 23% of the electorates voted compared with 65% in the previous elections and this turnout, showed clearly that the majority of the people of the republic rejected President Talon’s plan to surreptitiously foist his favoured parties on them.

    After the parliamentary election in which the Progressive Union won 47 seats to Republican Party’s 36 seats, there were riots in many towns in the republic especially in Cotonou, the country’s capital. At present, Yayi Boni the immediate past president of the country is more or less under house arrest,  as security forces have blocked access to his residence in Cotonou. The president of Ivory Coast, Alhassan Quattara has tried to broker a peace deal by having talks with President Talon and the opposition groups. The UN and ECOWAS have also waded in to solve the political crisis, but there is no solution in sight because of the intransigence of Talon. The Republic of Benin should not be allowed to descend to the political infamy of the past. Before the present political dispensation in the country,  which started in 1991 with the election of Nicephore Soglo as president, the country acquired for itself  the notoriety of having the highest number of coup d’état in Africa then. The country after its independence in 1960 had military incursions into its governance in 1963, 1965, 1967 and 1972. The last one was staged by the mercurial and despotic Mathieu Kerekou, who banned all the political parties and later imposed one party rule with ill-digested and little understood Marxism-Leninism as the country’s ideology. Kerekou ruled his hapless country till 1991, and he was one of the brutal dictators that littered the  political landscape of Africa in the seventies and eighties.  He was swept out of power by the democratic wave that later swept over Africa. Incidentally, Kerekou also benefitted from the democratic dispensation in his country by becoming democratically elected president from 1996 to 2006. His first election in 1996, was massively supported financially  by Sani  Abacha, the fiendish dictator in Nigeria at that time, who found the progressive Nicephore  Soglo  as an irritant because he helped the NADECO people from Nigeria to escape his draconian rule.

    The people of the Republic of Benin like their Nigerian counterparts are lovers of freedom and democracy. Although it is one the poorest country in the world, the Beninese are the most articulate people among the people of the former Francophone countries in Africa. The country has many highly educated people spread all over the former Francophone countries,  and from the recent events in their country, it is obvious that they detest dictatorship and they do not want to go back to the dark era of one-party system first foisted on them by Mathieu Kerekou.  Patrice Talon should not be allowed to bring back this ugly past,

    I will like to end this piece with a little digression. For the past few months, the people of Mozambique in the Southern part of our continent had been having harrowing and devastating experience with massive flooding of their country. The pictures of the sordid situations beamed on international television networks are pathetic, and these had caught as usual, the attention of international donors from America and Europe who had rushed down to help the unfortunate people of Mozambique. Red Cross and UNICEF are also doing their bits to bring relief to the people.  Unfortunately, I missed African Union and designated agencies for disaster relief in Africa in action in the Mozambique debacle. It seems we Africans are not our ‘brothers’ keepers’ when it comes to disaster management in Africa, as in most situations we leave this humanitarian aspect to foreigners to help our brothers in need. I know most countries in Africa are facing acute self-inflicted economic problems and Nigeria which has been in forefront  of helping in the past to bring peace through his military to many parts of Africa is  itself facing horrendous humanitarian disasters at home. However, despite our problems at home, it is my considered opinion that our presence should be felt in Mozambique even if it is in a small way. After all, recently our country gave a whopping $500,000 to Guinea Bissau to ‘strengthen its democracy’ which has been truncated many times by the ambitious military men. Any help given to Mozambique at this time, to alleviate the tremendous humanitarian problems facing the country to me would have been better appreciated than the help recently given to Guinea Bissau which has no culture of democracy. It is not too late for Nigeria to help Mozambique in this hour of need as this is a way  for our country to exercise its  leadership in Africa.

     

    • Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.

     

  • Tension rises in Benin Republic over parliamentary election

    The coalition of opposition political parties in Republic of Benin on Thursday raised the alarm over alleged growing political tension in the country.

    The opposition parties claimed persecution of politicians opposed to the ruling government in the country.

    A statement by one of the leaders of the coalition, Mr. Jean Adèkambi, claimed President Patrice Talon has dissolved all political parties and created only two new parties.

    Adekambi said that the move was aimed at preventing opposition parties from participating in the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the country.

    He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari “as the chairman of ECOWAS and a big brother in Africa cannot fold his arms and watch Benin Republic throw the sub-region into a possible endless political crisis that might cause the loss of thousands of lives and resources.”

    Adèkambi said: “Let this be clear. Nigeria has over 800 kilometers land border with Benin Republic and principally stands to suffer the consequences of any political instability in Benin Republic.

    “Therefore, on behalf of all opposition parties in Benin Republic, we call on the Government and good people of Nigeria to prevail on President Patrice Talon to revert to status quo by allowing all the political parties to participate in the forthcoming election and if possibly, postpone the election to give room for equal participation.

    “And also, to caution the president against the militarisation on Benin politics by rolling out hundreds of war equipment on the streets and every site in Benin to intimidate the public.”

    Read Also: Oyo, Benin Republic partner on trade

    He added: “The latest development is that President Patrice Talon has dissolved all political parties and single-handedly created two new parties to pave way for his relatives and his loyalist and to prevent the opposition from taking part in the forthcoming parliamentary election.

    “The ECOWAS protocol agreement forbids any government from organising any non-consensual electoral process six months to election date.

    “Benin Republic has commenced full campaign for the Parliamentary Election, scheduled to take place on the 28th April, 2019. That is to say, in two weeks’ time.

    “In view of this development, we fear that Nigeria may recall its citizens from Benin Republic ahead of the election and may close its border to Benin Republic as to avert any possible security breach and inflow of displaced persons. This will then bring hardship to the ordinary man of Benin Republic.”

    The Beninese Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Aurelian Agbenonci, contacted described the claims as fake news.

    Agbenonci said that the accusation is, no doubt, the handiwork of opposition leaders.

    He noted that there are procedures to establish political parties in Benin Republic.

    The international community, he said, to ignore the allegation especially when the country is peaceful.

    Agbenonci said: “The story in question is fake news. It is the handiwork of opposition leaders in the country.

    “As I speak to you, I am just from a rally in my country and I didn’t go with a policeman.

    “The country is peaceful and those saying that they are being persecuted are lying.

    “There is a procedure in establishing political parties in our country and they need to follow the guidelines.”

  • Buhari: Nigeria, Benin to work closely on joint border facility  

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Seme pledged that Nigeria will work closely with the Republic of Benin to ensure the success of the newly inaugurated Seme-Krake joint border post between both countries.

    Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of the joint border post, President Buhari described the project, aimed at enhancing the free movement of persons and goods in the region, as “a symbol of integration that brings together the peoples of Nigeria and Benin.”

    Read Also:PDP queries Buhari’s alleged protection of Yusuf

    ”Indeed, the Seme-Krake joint border is one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services.

    ”Permit me therefore to congratulate my brother, President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin on the successful completion of this magnificent project.

    ”As we all know, Nigeria and Benin share many things in common. Hence, the establishment of the Joint Border Post will certainly promote our brotherliness and emphasize our common interest, ” he said.

    On the benefits of the joint border post, which sits on 17 hectares of land, the President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that it would enhance trade facilitation by combining border clearance activities in a single location, increase cooperation and coordination of controls, in addition to fostering data and intelligence sharing between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    ”The Border Post is strategically important and lies on the Lagos-Cotonou-Lome-Accra-Abidjan corridor, which accounts for about 70% of the entire transit traffic in the sub-region.

    ”The corridor is also part of the Trans-African Highway network.  This Joint Border Post with modern enabling facilities is a flagship project in ECOWAS and a good example of regional public assets with a spill-over range of benefits,’’ he said.

    He also expressed optimism that the facilities at the border post will improve the working conditions of border officials and make them more efficient and effective in carrying out their duties.

    He, therefore, urged border officials of both countries to ensure that their operations are carried out within the guiding principles of ECOWAS.

    ”I am aware that a Joint Committee with membership from Nigeria and Benin has been established for the coordination and management of this facility.  I would like to call on the members of the committee to note the complex task ahead of them.

    ”The committee must ensure that border officials are sensitized on the mode of operation of the Joint Border Post concept which is a big departure from the traditional mode of operation. I call on the ECOWAS Commission to continue to provide the needed support to this Committee, ”he said.

    Appreciating the financial commitment of the European Union Commission to the project and the contributions of the ECOWAS Commission towards its successful completion, President Buhari noted that inadequate transport infrastructure and inefficient services were some of the major bottlenecks to the attainment of socio-economic development and integration in the region.

    ”ECOWAS is a region where ports, roads, railways and airports still remain a constraint despite significant recent progress made.

    ”Nigeria has embarked on major investment programmes covering these sectors to improve the competitiveness of our economies and accelerate growth.  We are therefore delighted to welcome such initiatives aimed at boosting the economic integration of our member States in West Africa,’’ he said.

    In his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Buhari also thanked the EU for supporting two other joint borders at Malanville (between Benin/Niger) and Noepe-Akanu (between Ghana/Togo).

     

  • TCN to DisCos: Copy stable network from Togo, Benin

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has asked Nigerians and the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to take a cue of stable power network from the Republic of Benin and Togo that get 80% of their power supply from the Nigeria.

    Citing how a stable network should be, its Managing Director, Mohammed Gur Usman, said that “the reality is that we need investments in the DisCos. We need to change the distribution network. Some of you may not know. Any of you who has the opportunity of entering Republic of Benin, 80% of the electricity that is consumed in Benin and Togo is coming from Nigeria. ”

    Read Also:Fashola to DisCos: Deliver power or quit

    The Chief Executive Officer, who addressed reporters Monday night in Abuja, said “Go to Benin, you will have a stable power, but why is there no stable power in Nigeria?  Why is it that they have stable power and we don’t have, it is because our distribution network is weak. Go to Togo or just Benin here, and see how a distribution network is supposed to be.”

    He urged Nigerians to pray for investments in the DisCos for them to have stable power supply.

    He revealed that the TCN is working through its functional planning system with several DisCos to build their distribution models for them.

    According to him, the TCN redefined the issue of load rejection since April 2017 when it started referring to the situation as load unutilized.

    He explained that rejection presupposes deliberate intention not to take load but in some cases the unutilised load is not intentional.

    Continuing, he noted that “the DisCos have no capacity , investments have not entered the DisCos,” stressing that the at TCN has upgraded and boosted capacity in several cities such as Apo, Suleja, Keffi, Katampe, but “how many of the injection substations have the DisCos built”, he asked.

    Owing to lack of distribution injection substations, some of the distribution lines are connected directly to TCN transformers, an anomaly, which he claimed to have burnt two transformers in Abuja recently.

    The TCN boss said that “That is why we are begging to the government and whoever wishes to listen to us that investments need to enter the distribution companies…we are actually working with the government to see that the last mile which is now the weakest link in the power value chain, which is distribution, investments enter into that sector.”

    He noted that although the federal government had not shown interest in investing in the distribution, the Ministry of Power recently approved N72billion investment in the DisCos.

    He however noted that in order to improve power stability from the distribution value chain, the Federal Government has mandated the TCN to manage its N72billion investments in the DisCos.

    He noted that as at last week the company recovered 693 containers of transmission equipment out of 800 containers from the port with the support of President Muhammed Buhari and the  Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

    His words: “We have been able to recover 693 containers out of the 800 containers that had been at the port. Some of them have been there for 15 years. Some of them have been auctioned. We have to follow the auctioneers to get it.”

    He disclosed that the TCN has secured €25million from the European Union for the implementation of projects.

    Usman revealed that because the TCN is underfunded the company made a case for extraordinary tariff review presented a case of tariff review to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    The commission, he said, has responded that it would commission a regulatory asset consultant to review TCN asset for a cost reflective tariff.

    He noted that the TCN biggest problem is that of liquidity, which it is waiting for the government to also solve.

    The Managing Director disclosed that the company has commenced the procurement process for 300mw spinning reserves.

  • Ending HIV, AIDS by 2030: NACA extends strategic outreach programme

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says it has further extended its Strategic Travelers’ Outreach Programme (STOP) to some West African states as one of the approaches aimed at ending HIV and AIDS in 2030.

    Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, NACA, said in Abuja on Friday that the agency would conduct sensitisation programme as part of STOP on the platform of Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO).

    He said the success of the previous STOP programme in 2013 along key transport corridors in Kano (Wudil), Kogi (Obajana), Enugu (Obollo-Afor) and Ogun (Shagamu), informed the choice of ALCO as a veritable platform for sensitising more people to the need for fighting HIV and AIDS.

    According to him, NACA engages a reputable AIDS service organisation and through a collaborative and community-driven process, designs STOP which has been useful as one of the approaches to stopping HIV and AIDS.

    He said the previous survey revealed several social structures indicative of high levels of transactional sex.

    “The associated knowledge, attitude and practice survey showed that a majority of respondents were sexually active transport workers and over a third of them had between two and five sex partners within a year.

    He also said 62 per cent of transport workers reported more than one regular sexual partner, observing that only 7 per cent of the respondents reported mean sex with their spouses.

    “Majority of respondents knew a location where they could get tested but only about half of the respondents had ever been tested for HIV.

    “Knowledge about condoms was high, with 93 per cent having heard about condoms at all the survey sites but only 70 per cent of all the respondents reported having ever used a condom.

    “The assessment also showed that there are still gaps between the knowledge of HIV and sexual behavior necessary to curb the spread of HIV as well as high risk behavior along the transport corridors of Nigeria.

    Read Also: NACA to check high prevalence of HIV among key populations

    He said the findings would enable NACA and other stakeholders plan and pilot interventions to identify and address policy issues and develop relevant strategies for effective interventions.

    According to him, the goal of NACA is to address all HIV and AIDS challenge prevalent in Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire corridors through the support of ALCO.

    Speaking on the importance of transport workers in the programme, Dr Anthonia Ekpa, a director in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, said it was imperative to stimulate them for the purpose of getting them to know what their responsibilities ought to be in that regard.

    “We have an overriding responsibility to bring them together in the ministry and advise them on what to do as they constitute sections of the society

    In his remark, Dr Erasmus Morah, Country Director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), applauded ALCO initiative.

    He said transport workers and those who could identify themselves as sex workers were involved in the programme because their activities affected the economy and social life that needed collaboration.

    ALCO is a sub-regional organisation that supports policies for development, health and free movement in its member states Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo.

    ALCO is an actor in the coalition’s health to identify and validate currently known key drivers in the management of the epidemic in the corridors.

    NAN

     

  • Benin, Togo electricity debts unsettle Nigeria

    Benin, Togo electricity debts unsettle Nigeria

    …FG opts for power purchase agreement

     

    The Federal Government of Nigeria Friday raised concerns over continuous electricity supply to the Republic of Benin and Togo in the face of outstanding bills while Nigerians need the same power.

    Speaking during the opening meeting of the route and environmental and social impact assessment study on the Nigeria-Benin 330 KV reinforcement project, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Power) Dr. Louis Edozien, urged the company in charge of the bilateral power deal: Communaute Electricique  du Benin (CEB) and Togo to pay up the mounting debts.

    He said that the ministry’s primary responsibility is to satisfy the electricity needs of Nigerians, although the federal government is committed to integrating ECOWAS electricity market.

    He told the West African Power Pool (WAPP) delegates that “currently Nigerians are not satisfied. I will explain why it makes sense to do this even in the context of the current dissatisfaction but it is very difficult to make that argument very persuasively when the electricity we have already supplied is not paid for.

    “So, I want to use this platform to emphasis to CEB that the debt that has accumulated for electricity already supplied needs to be settled as quickly as possible. It helps us explain to Nigerians why we should and must sign the supply by doing projects like this one.

    “Now, not only must the debt be paid but a mechanism must also be put in place to make sure the debt doesn’t ballon again and those are paid for as and when due.”

    According to him, the essence of the commitment to supply power to the West Africa CEB and Niger Link arose out of a government/government multi-lateral understanding about optimizing the use of the River Niger as a resource.

    Edozien however informed the delegates that the Nigerian electricity industry has moved from a vertically integrated government monopoly to an industry with private investors hence the need for a power purchase agreement.

    He said it is “necessary to move the arrangement into a proper contract and I believe that that discussion is already on the way to move CEB contract from basically a government to government multi-lateral agreement to a proper purchase agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company for the existing supply.

    “Now as your needs grow and as projects like this one are completed, you sign the amount of energy you are buying from Nigeria. Our expectation is that you will look to individual generation operators two of whom are here to contract the supply you need. The regulator is here and he is putting in place regulatory framework so that that is possible so that you should contract directly with the people who want to supply you and I believe you have one such contracts already.”

    Speaking, the Interim Managing Director and WAPP chairman, Mr, Usman Gur Mohammed, explained that the project which is the second Ikeja West (Nigeria) to Sakete (Benin Republic) transmission line will be due for commissioning in 2021.

    The project, he said, is expected to take 24 months after six months of feasibility studies and the procurement process.

    The TCN boss noted that African Development Bank is committed to financing the project, adding that it was the ones that funded the line from Ikeja West to Sekete and would still use the same funding corridor.

    The ECOWAS representative said that the 330KV Nigeria/Togo Interconnection Reinforcement Project shall aim to augment the power exhange capacity of its predecessor that was actually the very one commissioned by WAPP in 2006.

    He added that the project shall stabilize the WAPP coastal transmission backbone spanning from Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire through Benin, Togo and Ghana, and to increase the power potential of ECOWAS countries like Niger, Burkina and Mali.

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Vice Chairman, Sanusi Garba noted that government will not under the arrangement compromise power supply to Nigeria.

  • Badminton: 11 countries for 3rd Lagos Badminton Classics – Chairman

    Badminton: 11 countries for 3rd Lagos Badminton Classics – Chairman

    The Lagos State Badminton Association (LSBA) has said that 11 countries would feature in the 3rd Lagos International Badminton classics from July 26 to July 29 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

    The association’s chairman, Francis Orbih, told a news conference on Thursday that the Gov. Akinwunmi ambode has also increased the tournament’s prize money to 20,000 dollars.

    With the increase, the competition becomes biggest ever to be staged in Lagos and in Africa.

    “A total of 20,000 dollars have been set aside as the total prize money for the entire competition.

    “The competition will also have Nigeria’s best players compete among quality international ranked players and get a chance to be ranked as well,’’ Orbih said.

    According to Orbih, the international athletes will Israel’s Misha Zilberman who is ranked 68 in the world.

    Others will come from Sri Lanka, Portugal, Republic of Benin, Egypt, Italy, Cameroon, Uganda, India and Ghana.

    He said that Nigeria’s Habib Temitope ranked number 512 in the world will lead the challenge by the national players.

    Meanwhile, Deji Tinubu, the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, has extolled the brilliance and the dedication of the LBSA as one of the best associations working hard.

    Tinubu said the association would always get the backing of the sports commission to carry out their objectives because over the years, it had shown commitment in developing youths through badminton.

    “It is good to know that the classics are back and I want to agree that it is indeed back for good.

    “We at the sports commission are happy about how the LSBA has carried itself and the sport’s fans,’’ he said adding that the governor remained an ardent fan of the game.

    “This is why we have once again partnered this edition and also gone ahead to raise the prize money.

    “We hope at the end of the tournament that Nigerian youths can gain from the international players in the areas of mentoring and maintaining a good relationship,’’ Tinubu said.

    The winner of the Men and Women’s Singles will earn 2,000 dollars each, while the second place winners get 1,500 dollars and the second runners-up 650 dollars each.

    The doubles and mixed doubles winners will get 725 dollars each, while the runners-up and the second runners-up take 400 dollars and 175 dollars respectively.

    He noted that the prize monies would be given as directed by the International BVadminton Federation.

  • Why Nigeria supplies power to Niger, Republic of Benin

    The Managing Director of Ibom Power Company Limited,  Meyen Etukudo, has explained why Nigeria supplies electricity to  Niger, Republic of Benin and Togo despite acute power shortages.

    He spoke at the monthly meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Uyo chapter, where he presented a paper on “Ibom Power Plant and the future of electricity in Akwa Ibom Sate and Nigeria”.

    Etukudo said: “The decision is both economic and political but more of economic.”

    The MD, who until his appointment was the Assistant General Manager (330kV lines) Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and a member of International Lines, explained that it is economical because Nigeria receives payment from Niger and Republic of Benin/Togo for the electricity supplied in foreign currency.

    Etukudo, who is also a member of West African Power Pool (WAPP), a cooperation of the national electricity companies in Western Africa under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said two major power plants in Nigeria; Kainji and Jebba are hydroelectric plants fed by River Niger.

    “If Niger is allowed to dam the River Niger at Fouta Djallon  for their power supply needs, the two hydro power plants in Nigeria with a combined capacity of over 1,200Megawatts (MW) will be adversely affected and Nigeria will lose more than the present power being supplied to Niger and Republic of Benin/Togo” he expatiated.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, according to a communiqué at the end of the 15th monthly power sector meeting, said N48billion was received by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) from Niger and Republic of Benin/Togo.

    He said the payment was for electricity charges to the countries with a combined balance of $92million to be paid to NBET. The minister stated the payments were made through the power companies, NIGELEC of the Republic of Niger and Community Electric du Benin of the Republic of Benin (CEB).