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  • BREAKING: Tinubu writes Reps, sends 2023 supplementary budget, MEET/FSP for consideration

    BREAKING: Tinubu writes Reps, sends 2023 supplementary budget, MEET/FSP for consideration

    President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, October 31, wrote the House of Representatives seeking the approval of the lawmakers for a supplementary appropriation bill of N2,176,791,286,033.

    In a letter read at plenary, the speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the supplementary budget is aimed at addressing labour wage adjustments, security, and other matters.

    Read Also: Tinubu promises positive changes for investors in Nigeria’s mining sector

    In addition to the supplementary budget, the president also sent the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework & Fiscal Strategy Paper to the House of Representatives for consideration.

    The Nation reported that the 2023 supplementary budget of N2.1 trillion was considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting on Monday.

    Details shortly…

  • U.S. court declines request seeking release of ‘Tinubu’s FBI record’

    U.S. court declines request seeking release of ‘Tinubu’s FBI record’

    The United States (U.S.) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has foreclosed the possibility of making public any documents or information relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The FBI stated its position on the issue in a suit it filed before the United States District Court of Columbia by one Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking to compel U.S. security agencies, including the FBI to release some purported documents and information about Tinubu and “Mueez Adegboyega Akande (deceased as of 11/16/2022).”

    The response, dated October 30 is in relation to Greenspan’s application for the court to reconsider its ruling of October 23, rejecting his emergency motion for the release of the documents and information he is seeking in the substantive suit he filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

    In the  court document, titled: “Defendants’ response to plaintiff’s for reconsideration,” it was “in plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, he argues that the court is wrong because FOIA exemptions had already been largely, or at least partially, overcome according to the representations by defendants in their September 11, 2023 Joint Status Repost.

    “Plaintiff entirely misapprehends the Joint Status Report. None of the parties has conceded any FOIA exemptions.

    “As to the actions that certain defendants agreed to take by the end of October, the FBI stated that it will release records relating to the two FOIA requests that sought records involving other individuals, not Tinubu.

    “As to the Tinubu requests, the FBI asserted Exemptions (b)(6) and (b)(7)(C) Glomar response and neither confirmed nor denied the existence of records sought in those requests.

    “State and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) stated that they anticipate sending initial responses – not necessarily documents.

    “Absent any unforeseen circumstances, FBI, State, and EOUSA will comply with their representations made in the Joint Status Report.

    “As to irreparable injury, plaintiff now concedes that ‘it is likely that this injury has already transpired’ and does not even contend – let alone establish – that the public interest outweighs the privacy interests, or that the equities favour his position.

    “Defendants reiterate that they oppose plaintiff’s characterization of the Joint Status Report filed September 11, 2023.

    “Plaintiff states, ‘defendants acknowledged that plaintiff’s FOIA requests were valid and waived and/or reversed many of their prior erroneous denials and objections.’

    “Plaintiff contends that the defendants made ‘existing promises to produce documents.’

    “The only party that has acknowledged responsive documents that are not subject to an exemption and will be produced is the FBI, who will produce records not related to Tinubu. No exemptions have been waived.

    “For these reasons, the court should deny plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration.”

    In June, Greenspan filed the civil suit, marked 23 – 1816 under the FOIA, against the EOUSA, Department of State (DOS), FBI, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

    He alleged that the defendants – EOUSA, DOS, FBI, IRS, DEA and the CIA violated the FOIA by “failing to issue determinations within the statutory deadline,” “failing] to conduct reasonable searches for records,” and “failing to produce records responsive to” his FOIA requests.

    Greenspan had, in an FOIA request to the EOUSA, sought for “records from the Northern District of Illinois and/or Northern District of Indiana involving charging decisions for the following individuals – Bola Ahmed Tinubu (President of Nigeria as of 2/2023” and “Mueez Adegboyega Akande (deceased as of 11/16/2022.”

    He told the court, among others, that his request for prompt release of the documents, even before the hearing scheduled for October 31 was because “the Nigerian Supreme Court will hear an appeal of a judicial tribunal’s decision confirming Mr. Tinubu as President of Nigeria on Monday, October 23, 2023.”

    Greenspan claimed that the Supreme Court deliberately moved the hearing of the appeals by Atiku and Obi to yesterday to render his suit before the U.S court nugatory, contending that the documents he requested for “would likely be directly relevant to the foreign proceedings in Nigeria.”

    In his October 23 ruling, Judge Beryl A. Howell of the US District Court of the District of Columbia, held among others that Greenspan failed to satisfy the relevant conditions for the grant of his prayer for a temporary relief, as contained in the emergency hearing motion he filed on October 20.

    Judge Howell further held that Greenspan failed to establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits; that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm if the preliminary relief he sought was not granted; that the balance of equities tips in his favour, and that the relief he seeks is in the public interest.

    Read Also: UPDATED: FBI rules out release of documents on Tinubu

    The judge, who also noted that Greenspan has not established that the purported documents and information he wants the court to compel the defendants to produce actually exist, further held that “neither a preliminary injunction nor a temporary restraining order is appropriate in this case.

    “Given that the FOIA request is for records that, if any exist, may be of a highly sensitive and private nature, and that the subject of those documents – Bola A. Tinubu – has had no opportunity to protect his privacy interests in any such records, the balance of equities militates strongly in favour of denying this emergency motion.”

    He held that the position of the law is that, in such a case, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that he/she is likely to succeed on the merits of the case.

     Judge Howell added: “In plaintiff’s underlying FOIA request and complaint, he seeks documents relating to purported federal investigations into President Tinubu.

    “As previously noted, EOUSA originally denied plaintiff’s FOIA request, invoking FOIA Exemptions 6 and 7(c), which protect information that would constitute unwarranted invasions of personal privacy and information compiled for law enforcement purposes that may constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of a third party.

    “Plaintiff has failed even to attempt to argue how his request may overcome those exemptions and achieve a likelihood of success on the merits. This failure to address this important factor in his emergency motion weighs strongly in favour of denying his motion.”

    The judge also found that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that he was going to suffer actual and real irreparable injury if the relief he sought was not granted, rather than a mere possibility or theoretical injury.

    He added that the “plaintiff falls far short of satisfying this standard. He (plaintiff) has not supplied the court with any indication of a concrete, actual threat that he will suffer in the absence of an injunction. While his emergency motion states that a Nigerian Supreme Court hearing is scheduled to occur in the coming days, plaintiff cites no injury he will suffer that is in any way traceable to the relief requested in this motion.

    “Granting plaintiff’s emergency motion would essentially allow him to jump the line ahead of other requests deemed similarly time-sensitive under FOIA’s expedition standards. The inherent tradeoffs implicated in ordering an agency to produce records in a specific FOIA request ahead of others by granting a preliminary injunction thus, must be considered in evaluating the balance of the equities, and weigh heavily in favour of denying such injunctive relief.

    “Plaintiff has not made any representation to the court that the balance of equities tips in his favour or that the granting of his motion would further the public interest. For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ordered that plaintiff’s emergency motion for a hearing to compel immediate document production is denied,” the judge said.

    President Tinubu’s lawyers have filed a motion before the court, seeking to be made a party to enable hem defend their client.

  • Tinubu gets kudos on win

    Tinubu gets kudos on win

    Abuja analyst, Godwin Korieocha, has hailed President Bola Tinubu on his electoral victory.

    In his message, Korieocha said: “I congratulate President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters on the Supreme Court affirmation of his mandate.” 

    Read Also: UPDATED: FBI rules out release of documents on Tinubu

    He added: “Now the cases are over, Nigerians should support our President.

    “ I join Nigerians in felicitating you on this occasion of your affirmation as President  by the Supreme Court.” 

  • UPDATED: FBI rules out release of documents on Tinubu

    UPDATED: FBI rules out release of documents on Tinubu

    The United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has foreclosed the possibility of making public any documents or information relating to President Bola Tinubu.

    The FBI stated its position on the issue in a response filed in a suit filed before the United States District Court of the District of Columbia by one Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking to compel US security agencies, including the FBI to release some purported documents and information about Tinubu and “Mueez Adegboyega Akande (deceased as of 11/16/2022).”

    The response, dated October 30 is in relation the application by Greenspan for the court to reconsider its ruling on October 23 rejecting his emergency motion for the release of the documents and information he is seeking in the substantive suit he filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

    In the court document, titled: “Defendants’ response to plaintiff’s for reconsideration,” it was : “in plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, he argues that the court is wrong because FOIA exemptions had already been largely, or at least partially, overcome according to the representations by defendants in their September 11, 2023 Joint Status Repost.

    “Plaintiff entirely misapprehends the Joint Status Report. None of the parties have conceded any FOIA exemptions.

    “As to the actions that certain defendants agreed to take by the end of October, the FBI stated that it will release records relating to the two FOIA requests that sought records involving other individuals, not Tinubu.

    “As to the Tinubu requests, the FBI asserted Exemptions (b)(6) and (b)(7)(C) Glomar response and neither confirmed nor denied the existence of records sought in those requests.

    “State and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) stated that they anticipate sending initial responses – not necessarily documents.

    “Absent any unforeseen circumstances, FBI, State, and EOUSA will comply with their representations made in the Joint Status Report.

    “As to irreparable injury, plaintiff now concedes that ‘it is likely that this injury has already transpired’ and does not even contend – let alone establish – that the public interest outweighs the privacy interests or that the equities favour his position.

    “Defendants reiterate that they oppose plaintiff’s characterization of the Joint Status Report filed September 11, 2023.

    “Plaintiff states, ‘defendants acknowledged that plaintiff’s FOIA requests were valid and waived and/or reversed many of their prior erroneous denials and objections.’

    “Plaintiff contends that D
    defendants made ‘existing promises to produce documents.’

    “The only party that has acknowledged responsive documents that are not subject to an exemption and will be produced is the FBI, who will produce records not related to Tinubu. No exemptions have been waived.

    “For these reasons, the court should deny plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration.”

    Greenspan had, in June this year. filed the civil suit, with number: 23 – 1816 under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), against the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), Department of State (DOS), Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

    Read Also: JUST IN: FBI rejects request to release documents on Tinubu

    He alleged that the defendants – EOUSA, DOS, FBI, IRS, DEA and the CIA violated the FOIA by “failing to issue determinations within the statutory deadline,” “failing] to conduct reasonable searches for records,” and “failing to produce records responsive to” his FOIA requests.

    Greenspan had, in an FOIA request to the EOUSA, sought for “records from the Northern District of Illinois and/or Northern District of Indiana involving charging decisions for the following individuals – Bola Ahmed Tinubu (President of Nigeria as of 2/2023” and “Mueez Adegboyega Akande (deceased as of 11/16/2022.”

    Tinubu’s victory in the last presidential election and dismissed the petitions by Atiku and Obi.

    He told the court, among others, that his request for prompt release of the documents, even before the hearing scheduled for October 31 was because “the Nigerian Supreme Court will hear an appeal of a judicial tribunal’s decision confirming Mr. Tinubu as President of Nigeria on Monday, October 23, 2023.”

    Greenspan claimed that the Nigerian Supreme Court deliberately moved the hearing of the appeals by Atiku and Obi to yesterday to render his suit before the U.S court nugatory, contending that the documents he requested for “would likely be directly relevant to the foreign proceedings in Nigeria.”

    In his October 23 ruling, Judge Beryl A. Howell of the US District Court of the District of Columbia, held among others that Greenspan failed to satisfy the relevant conditions for the grant of his prayer for a temporary relief, as contained in the emergency hearing motion he filed on October 20.

    Judge Howell further held that Greenspan failed to establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits; that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm if the preliminary relief he sought was not granted; that the balance of equities tips in his favour, and that the relief he seeks is in the public interest.

    The judge, who also noted that Greenspan has not established that the purported documents and information he wants the court to compel the defendants to produce actually exist, further held that “neither a preliminary injunction nor a temporary restraining order is appropriate in this case.

    “Given that the FOIA request is for records that, if any exist, may be of a highly sensitive and private nature, and that the subject of those documents – Bola A. Tinubu – has had no opportunity to protect his privacy interests in any such records, the balance of equities militates strongly in favour of denying this emergency motion.”

    He held that the position of the law is that, in such a case, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that he/she is likely to succeed on the merits of the case.

    Judge Howell added: “In plaintiff’s underlying FOIA request and complaint, he seeks documents relating to purported federal investigations into the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “As previously noted, EOUSA originally denied plaintiff’s FOIA request, invoking FOIA Exemptions 6 and 7(c), which protect information that would constitute unwarranted invasions of personal privacy and information compiled for law enforcement purposes that may constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of a third party.

    “Plaintiff has failed even to attempt to argue how his request may overcome those exemptions and achieve a likelihood of success on the merits. This failure to address this important factor in his emergency motion weighs strongly in favour of denying his motion.”

    The judge also found that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that he was going to suffer actual and real irreparable injury if the relief he sought was not granted, rather than a mere possibility or theoretical injury.

    He added that the “plaintiff falls far short of satisfying this standard. He (plaintiff) has not supplied the court with any indication of a concrete, actual threat that he will suffer in the absence of an injunction. While his emergency motion states that a Nigerian Supreme Court hearing is scheduled to occur in the coming days, plaintiff cites no injury he will suffer that is in any way traceable to the relief requested in this motion.

    “Granting plaintiff’s emergency motion would essentially allow him to jump the line ahead of other requests deemed similarly time-sensitive under FOIA’s expedition standards. The inherent tradeoffs implicated in ordering an agency to produce records in a specific FOIA request ahead of others by granting a preliminary injunction thus, must be considered in evaluating the balance of the equities, and weigh heavily in favour of denying such injunctive relief.

    “Plaintiff has not made any representation to the court that the balance of equities tips in his favour or that the granting of his motion would further the public interest. For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ordered that plaintiff’s emergency motion for a hearing to compel immediate document production is denied,” the judge said.

    Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s lawyers have filed a motion before the court, seeking to be made a party to enable them defend the President in the suit.

  • JUST IN: FBI rejects request to release documents on Tinubu

    JUST IN: FBI rejects request to release documents on Tinubu

    The United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said it will not make public any documents or information relating to President Bola Tinubu.

    The FBI stated its position on the issue in a response filed in a suit filed before the United States District Court of the District of Columbia by one Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking to compel US security agencies, including the FBI to release some purported documents and information about Tinubu and “Mueez Adegboyega Akande (deceased as of 11/16/2022).”

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Afe Babalola at 92

    In a court document, titled: “Defendants’ response to plaintiff’s for reconsideration,” it was stated: “None of the parties have conceded any FOIA exemptions.

    “As to the actions that certain defendants agreed to take by the end of October, the FBI stated that it will not release records relating to the two FOIA requests that sought records involving other individuals, not Tinubu.

    “As to the Tinubu requests, the FBI asserted Exemptions (b)(6) and (b)(7)(C) Glomar response and neither confirmed nor denied the existence of records sought in those requests.”

    Details shortly…

  • Tinubu celebrates Afe Babalola at 92

    Tinubu celebrates Afe Babalola at 92

    President Bola Tinubu has celebrated legal luminary and educationist, Chief Afe Babalola, as he clocks 92 years of age.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu noted that Chief Babalola’s versatility, visionary leadership and courage have positively impacted generations within and outside Nigeria.

    He said: “President Bola Tinubu joins friends and family in the celebration of Chief Afe Babalola, Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, who clocked 92 on October 30.

    “The President felicitates the legal luminary, businessman, educationist, and philanthropist, whose visionary leadership, courage, and versatility have impacted generations, inspiring and growing many leaders within and outside the country.

    Read Also: Afe Babalola varsity raises workers’ salary by 35%

    “President Tinubu notes, with deep appreciation, the large-heartedness of Aare Babalola as he provides opportunities for many to find and fulfill their dreams in different areas of life, especially in education, as well as his contributions to raising the standards of medicare by sponsoring research and providing medical facilities. 

    “The President wishes Aare Babalola many more years in good health and in the service of humanity.”

  • Safeguard our democracy, President Tinubu charges Police

    Safeguard our democracy, President Tinubu charges Police

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged the Nigeria Police Force to safeguard the nation’s security and make its wellbeing their priority.

    Tinubu, represented by the Minister for Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam, made the call during the opening ceremony of a National Security Conference and Retreat for senior police officers in Owerri.

    Tinubu, who stated that internal security was the responsibility of the police, urged them to protect the rights of citizens.

    He commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for the theme of the conference, “Fostering economic prosperity, social integration and political development through enhanced security mechanism.”

    According to him, economic prosperity, social integration, political development and national stability thrives when security and public order are pursued and guaranteed.

    He added that as the nation prepared new national security strategies, his administration would push through significant reforms to make the force better positioned to perform its mandate.

    The president also restated his pledge to continue to invest resources to improve the quality of police personnel as well as upgrade their equipment to make policing easier.

    He also promised to review the allowances, living wages and working conditions of officers, in addition to providing more firepower to enhance police efficiency.

    He also urged them to foster social integration by being fair, just and firm to both complainant and accused.

    In his speech, the Imo Governor,  Sen. Hope Uzodimma, noted that enhancing internal security to foster national unity should not be left to the government alone.

    Uzodimma called for high profile corporate bodies such as oil companies and banks to be made to mandatorily contribute a specified percentage of their annual returns to police fund.

    He equally called for more ways to capacitate the police and make them more efficient in fostering national unity and internal security.

    He called for more trainings and improved equipment such as weapons, vehicles, communication gadgets and protective gear for the police.

    The governor also urged the National Assembly to come up with a bill for a special police fund where national and subnational governments must agree on a percentage of the federation account to be reserved for sufficient police funding.

    The IGP, Kayode Agbetokun said the focus of the police under his watch was standardising service delivery, driving transformative agenda and embracing principles of accountability and professionalism.

    He added that the force would also engage in robust synergy with other security agencies to confront the menace of violent crimes in the country.

    He added that this would restore calm to troubled areas and engender an atmosphere of peace, safety and security which would promote national economic growth and prosperity.

    The IGP also announced the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) which would be deployed to every command to deal with state salient security challenges.

    He added that concrete steps had been taken to facilitate the smooth take-off of the SIS in 10 pilot states already identified based on recent violent crime assessment.

    He expressed gratitude to the president for approving the specialised training of the initial SIS team which will commence next month.

    He reiterated that the police were determined to further refine the perception of its officers to the essential concepts of human rights, rule of law and citizen focused policing.

     The President of the Interpol, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said Nigeria had played a key role in tackling regional and international crime since joining INTERPOL.

    He added that this year alone, the joint INTERPOL-AFRIPOL operation, targeted human traffickers and migrant smugglers, resulting in over 1,000 arrests worldwide, thanks to the support of Nigeria and several other countries.

    Read Also: Rivers Impeachment crisis: Clark urges Tinubu to caution Wike

    “Nigeria has played a vital role in several INTERPOL operations and initiatives over the years, demonstrating its commitment to tackling transnational crime.

    “The Nigerian Police Force has also supported in the fight against cybercrime.

    “In another joint INTERPL-AFRIPOL initiative, Nigeria worked alongside 24 other countries across Africa,” he said.

    He also said the INTERPOL’s role would not be possible without the support of its member countries, including its 54-member countries across Africa.

    “Your continued assistance will ensure that innocent victims are protected from some of the most common crime trends facing Africa, ” he said.

    (NAN)

  • UPDATED: I have absolute confidence in my Chief of Staff – Tinubu

    UPDATED: I have absolute confidence in my Chief of Staff – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, expressed his unreserved faith in his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    President Tinubu, who spoke just before the commencement of the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting inside the Council Chambers, State House, also set the ground rules for the attendance of the meeting.

    President Tinubu passed his confidence vote on Gbajabiamila about 48 hours after some interests, whom the President has identified as those waging a campaign of calumny, insinuated that the Chief of Staff might have fallen out of favour with his boss.

    A group had gone to the media to claim that the Chief of Staff had been involved in appointments’ racketeering, saying he had been “trading off appointments in the government of President Tinubu to the highest bidder”.

    Those behind the said campaigns had cited the recent discrepancies that arose in the process of naming new Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming some names replaced were as a result of some shady plays.

    However, responding to the development in a brief speech before the commencement of the week’s Council meeting, President Tinubu expressed his confidence in Gbajabiamila, just as he noted that making mistake, referring to the reason why names had to be changed and replaced, is human and he already notified Nigerians that he is bound to make mistakes, which he will always be bold enough to correct.

    “First of all, let me reiterate to all of you the fact that a lot of stories are going around about what is happening. I’ve told everyone in this country that I can make mistakes, they’re bound to air them out and correct them.

    “Perfection is that of God almighty. I have absolute confidence on the integrity of my Chief of Staff. All campaigns of calumny and insinuations should stop, the buck stops here.

    “If I make mistake I’m ready to own up to it and we’re all joining hands to fight corruption and we want to enforce the law along with you”, he said.

    Read Also: UK court adjourns hearing on Diezani’s case to 2025

    The President further spoke to issues he had observed and had not been comfortable with, including unauthorized persons gaining access into the Council Chambers of the State House.

    To the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Head of Civil Service, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, he said: “Last week, I noticed the undue access of people sneaking in and out of this Council. I will announce to you those people who are supposed to be here.

    The President mentioned his Special Advisers on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola and Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi.

    “Those are people who are granted exception to be here when we’re conducting the business of the nation. Unless I sent for you, don’t come, make it clear. Secretary to the Government and Head of Service, please take note.

    “Unless your staff that are included, no one is privileged to have access sitting in this (Council Chambers), except those four that I’ve announced to you”, the President warned.

    Also, President Tinubu rated the bilateral and business meetings held on Sunday with visiting German government and business officials, led by the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, very highly.

    The President thanked his ministers for availing themselves at the meeting, charging them to think outside the box to hasten the reforms required to attract investors.

    “Yesterday, we had a very good showing and I thank all of you for sparing your Sunday to attend the national event. The visit of the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany was, to me, a success.

    “We needed more time, but we were able to cover a lot of ground and must take our reforms seriously; the investors are interested in us…As I said, investors and investment are cowardly; they don’t follow conflicts. Think outside the box, how we can do things better,” Tinubu said.

    Also, the Council, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), toasted to President Tinubu’s recent victory at the Supreme Court, lauding his contributions to leadership in the country, particularly highlighting his time as governor of Lagos State.

    Meanwhile, the Council gave a minute of silence for a former member of FEC and one-time Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Adamu Fika, who died last week at the age of 90 years.

  • Tinubu: DisCos undercapitalized by N2tr, calls for recapitalization

    Tinubu: DisCos undercapitalized by N2tr, calls for recapitalization

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday, October 30, disclosed that preliminary analysis has indicated that the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) are undercapitalized to the tune of N2 trillion.

    He noted that the federal government must facilitate the recapitalization process to bring in new partners and capital to jumpstart performance in distribution that is so critical to the entire power sector value chain.

    He said: “Poor performance must not continue to drag the sector down. All licensees must not only have the technical capacity to deliver on their license but must also have the financial muscles to invest to improve their operations.

    “Preliminary analysis shows that DisCos today, are undercapitalized to the tune of at least N2 trillion. We must facilitate for the reorganization of the sector, the subsector and the recapitalization process that brings new partners and capital to jumpstart performance in this critical sector of the value chain,” he said.

    The president, who was represented by the Office of the Vice President, Special Adviser to the President on Energy and Power Infrastructure, Mr Sodiq Wanka, spoke at the 10th Year anniversary of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Market Participants and Stakeholder Roundtable in Abuja.

    The President insisted that “All licensees must not only have the technical capacity to deliver on their license but must also have the financial muscle to invest and grow their operations.”

    According to Tinubu, the reasons for the underperformance of the sector in the last decade are well-known to be governance and operation issues that have bedevilled the sector.

    He noted that as of Q2 2023, for every kWh of electricity sent to the grid, only 60% of it is paid for.

    Insisting that the present tariff is not cost-reflective, the President added that the recent devaluation of naira has worsened the situation.

    He noted: “But as we know, even the tariff paid for that unit of electricity is far from being cost-reflective, especially in light of the recent devaluation of the Naira.”

    Tinubu stressed that the sector has suffered from chronic underinvestment, especially in transmission and distribution. Many of the successor utilities of the PHCN, according to him, have failed to meet their performance improvement targets due to technical and financial capacity issues.

    He lamented that “We are in a vicious cycle of under-performance and under-investment, and everyone has a different view of which value chain player should be blamed for continued sector malaise.”

    Tinubu described the 10th anniversary as a perfect opportunity to reflect as a sector and as a government on the progress achieved and the challenges faced since the unbundling and privatization of the integrated national utility.

    He recalled that the key objectives of the privatization effort were to improve the efficiency of the power sector, unlock private sector investments and unleash the potential of the nation through an energized economy.

    The president, however, insisted that the sector has not met its privatization objectives 10 years later.

    Buttressing the submission that the sector has not met its objectives of privatization, he said, “10 years on, I believe it is fair to say that the objectives of sector privatization have by and large, not been met.

    He stated: “Over 90 million Nigerians lack access to electricity. The national grid only serves about 15% of the country’s demand.

    “This has left households and factories to rely on expensive self-generation, which supplies a staggering 40% of the country’s demand.

    “What is worse, is that the total amount of electricity that can be wheeled through the national grid has remained relatively flat in the last 10 years. The grid capacity has increased from just over 3000MW to typically just over 4,000MW today. Versus a 40,000MW target by 2020 that the Federal Government had set pre-privatization.”

    Read Also; Governor Otu suspends SEMA DG Odey

    The President noted that the reasons for the underperformance of the sector in the last decade are well known.

    He added that there are deep commercial, governance and operational issues that have beleaguered the sector.

    Tinubu urged the stakeholders to intensify efforts to address commercial issues and improve the investment attractiveness of the sector.

    He said only around 45% of NESI customers are metered today, with wide variations across DISCOS.

    The President noted that the scale of investment needed to meter current and new customers and replace obsolete meters is not trivial.

    The government, he said, is “committed to supporting the metering drive through the World Bank DISREP programme which should add at least 1.25 million metres, while activating the Meter Acquisition Fund to procure another 4 million meters.

    “But we must also realize that long-term sustainable metering should be within the remit of DISCOS and their partners.”

    Stressing the issue of tariffs, Tinubu insisted, “We need to have a clear plan to re-base tariffs, so we recognize the real costs and loss levels of the entire value chain, and we allow for adequate cost recovery for investments.

    “We need to be clear on what shortfalls are and how we will finance them. And there must be a clear path to extinguishing historic sector debts to various value chain stakeholders. A reconciliation exercise in this regard is already underway.”

    He disclosed that the sector needs to quickly develop and execute a clear roadmap for serving profitable pools of customers.

    According to him, this includes industrial and agricultural clusters and strengthened participation in the West African Power Pool in the immediate term.

    He revealed that the government and sector must deepen engagement with the Nigerian public on power – including communicating sector strategy and key milestones and curbing energy theft through community engagement and penalties.

    Operationally, he said there are a number of key imperatives that the sector must pursue: He also disclosed that since 80% of grid generation today is from gas, the government intends to convene all relevant stakeholders to develop a gas policy for the power sector delineating where the power sector will get gas from and how it will pay for it.

    He noted: “We cannot build a sector on best endeavour arrangements. We need to have a single source of truth in terms of data in the sector, a national electrification plan that highlights the energy gaps, supported by clear investment plans on how to close the gaps.

    “We need to institute a Presidential Taskforce that will monitor and unblock the progress of deployment of key projects in the sector. This includes projects that will help un-constrain the grid and deliver the full available generation capacity to our homes and factories.

    “We have to accelerate the pace of deployment of renewables and solar in places where it makes sense. There is a real opportunity to accelerate the deployment of inter-connected and isolated mini-grids to deliver power close to the point of use.

    “And will support the rollout out of initiatives aimed at diesel displacement to reduce the carbon intensity of embedded power plants, while supporting innovative financing schemes for solar solutions in the home.”

    The president said the government will announce its transformation roadmap by the end of 2023.

    He stated: “To announce what the transformation roadmap will be by the end of this year.”

    He made some clarifications about the role of states in a new national electricity framework of the Electricity Act 2023 which he signed.

    According to him, the Electricity Act has also given the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission the power to advise on the transition of the market away from a single bulk trader and on the unbundling and concession of the country’s transmission network.

    He sought the prioritization of access to electricity, stressing that his challenge has been universal electricity access to electricity by the end of this decade.

    “In this context, we must understand that customers have differing abilities to pay and must be protected through the operationalization of the power consumer assistance fund and other cross-subsidization schemes.

    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made strong commitments in terms of building a leveraging the national grid and how they build out their electricity markets.

    “We need to understand that private sector investments are what will move the sector forward and we must work hard to align all decision-making to attract serious equity and debt investors.”

    He said that there is a need to realize the complex stakeholder map of the sector and the need for closer inter-ministerial and cross-sector regulatory coordination.

    He noted that the reconstitution of the inter-ministerial power working group is a priority.

    Speaking to the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu noted that the renewal of the licenses of the DisCos and GenCos will be a factor in their performance and not automatic.

    According to him, the government will not renew the license of any of the firms that have underperformed.

    He noted that the roundtable will discuss whether the companies have complied with their agreement to reduce commercial and technical losses.

    Adelabu said: “10 years down the line the licenses are expiring and it is high time for renewal. Renewal is not automatic.

    “Any of the privatized company that has not lived up to expectations will not have the license renewed. We have to consider whether you have complied with the terms and conditions of the licence you were given.

    “We will look at the technical capacity of the GenCo and I’d the DisCo. We will look at the financial credibility of the DisCos, and how much investments made since you got this license.

    “How much improvement have you made in addition to it? How much of the ATC&C losses have you reduced based on the agreement when you were given this licence? “These are the serious conversations we need to have with the private sector of the generation and distribution companies.”

    Responding, NERC General Manager, Market Competition and Rates, Shamsudeen Mammud noted that the licenses of the DisCos will expire in 2028 and not in 2023.

    According to him, the commission extended their 10-year licenses by five years.

    He said: “However, I want to make a clarification on the trending issue about the license of the DisCos. It is all over, people are saying the license will expire this year. The DisCos were given a 10-year license.

    “But as they took over, the commission extended their license by five years. So the DisCos have 15 years license. So their license will expire five years from now which is 2028.”

    He said the commission has always sanctioned the licenses when they err.

    According to him, the industry has been making slow progress.

    House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas represented by House Committee on Power chairman, Hon. Victor Nwokolo was opposed to the idea of holding only the private investors accountable for the challenges in the industry.

    He said the government which holds only 40% of the equity of the DisCos has the upper hand in the board meetings instead of the private sector which has 60%.

    He wondered how many government ministries, department, and agencies pay their bills.

  • Don’t come to FEC meeting unless invited, Tinubu warns

    Don’t come to FEC meeting unless invited, Tinubu warns

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday warned government officials and family members against attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting without invitation.

    Tinubu issued the warning before the commencement of FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “Last week, I noticed people sneaking in and out of this council. People had access to this place when they should not. That is not acceptable.

    “I will announce to you here, people who are supposed to be here.

    “Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Principal Private Secretary and Damilotun Aderemi, Private Secretary.

    “These are the people who are granted the exception to be here when we are conducting the business of the nation. Unless I sent for you, don’t come.”

    The president directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Folashade Yemi-Esan, to take note of his directive.

    “Unless they are your staff that are included, no one should have access to the FEC meeting, except I have announced their names to you.

    Read Also: Rivers Impeachment crisis: Clark urges Tinubu to caution Wike

    “Let me also say that the planning of an event about the government must be well articulated and followed accurately,” he said.

    Tinubu, however, expressed absolute confidence in the integrity of his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila

    “There are a lot of stories going around about what is happening. I’ve told everyone in this country that I can make mistakes.

    “I have had to hear them out and correct them. Perfection is that of God Almighty. I have absolute confidence in the integrity of my Chief of Staff.

    “All the campaign of calumny and insinuation should stop.”

    (NAN)