Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • TCN takes measures to stabilise national electricity grid, improve power supply

    Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says attainment of required  frequency control, availability of spinning reserve and expansion of transmission networks are key to stabilising the national grid and improving electricity supply in the country.

    The Managing Director of TCN, Mr Usman Mohammed said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    According to Mohammed, effort is on-going to stabilise the grid and improve electricity supply via its Transmission Rehabilitation Expansion Plan (TREP).

    “Since we came in February 2017, we inherited a Transmission Company of Nigeria which was managed by Manitoba Hydro Company.

    “For four years, what Nigeria paid Manitoba hydro for the contract for three years was 23 million dollars plus.

    “But Manitoba hydro mismanaged TCN to the  extent  that  the  company  was  at the point of total collapse, so when we came, we had to come  up with a programme on how to move TCN forward.

    “We need to archive frequency control and by the Grace of God, since June 2017, we have archived frequency control of 49.5 and 50.5 and this has not been archived in the last 20 years.

    “However, the grid code requirement for frequency control is suppose  to  be  49.75 and 50.25, the West African Power Pool (WAPP)  code is suppose to be  49.80 and 50. 2.

    “And we have established a plan to archive 49.80 and 50 .2 but we are waiting for the appropriate time to implement it.

    “The second  thing  we  need  to archive is what we call `Spinning Reserve’ , if you check our daily broadcast, you will see the spinning reserve is either  0 or 40 Mega Watts (MW),” he said.

    According to  him, spinning reserve is  putting  the generators  on a  mood  in such a way that  if there is  great instability, the  generators will  start up , it is an auxiliary service that is  needed  to be  paid for.

    “When we came last year, we established a committee to review why we don’t get spinning reserve from the generators that we have signed contract with.

    “The outcome of that committee indicated that the tariff we are paying for spinning reserve is not good enough.

    “So we wrote to the Nigeria Electricity and Regulatory Commission (NERC) and recommended the appropriate tariff that is good and NERC approved it in July that we should go for competitive procurement of spinning reserve.

    “We have advertised for the procurement of 300MWs of spinning reserve, and this is the first time in the history of power sector that we have done such.

    “Now we are procuring 300MWs, but the ultimate is supposed to be 450MWs, so when we get to 300MW, we are going to see how we can further increase it by another 150MWs.

    “Because the  spinning  reserve is supposed to be 10 per cent  of  the total generation capacity, so with the generation capacity of 4,500 MWs  to 5,000MWs, we are supposed to have  a spinning reserve of 450MWs,” he said.

    He also identified procurement of a functional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) as veritable instrument to attain the desired result in the power sector.

    The SCADA systems are essential modern tools for effective systems operations that provide real time data and voice exchange between remote power stations and the National Control Centre (NCC).

    It is required for display of operation, control and management of the power system network.

    Mohammed said that Nigeria had attempted to procure a functional SCADA three times and was not successful.

    “The last one took place between 2006 and 2007, when the World Bank financed the SCADA.

    “Nigeria spent about 46 million dollars on the project but the SCADA that was completed had significant deficiency that it cannot see more than 40 per cent of the network.

    “So when we came,  we established  a committee to see why Nigeria has attempted to procure a SCADA and had not been successful.

    “The findings of the committee indicated that there were deficiencies, so we brought in power grid of India, Ghana and Italy to take further look at the findings of the committee.

    “We also brought original SCADA equipment manufactures and all the experts of SCADA to scrutinise the report of the committee and the experts came up with their findings.

    “Their findings have significantly improved the report of the committee. Now  it has become very clear from the SCADA experts reports that we cannot even  start the procurement of the  SECDA  until we fix our network communication backbone.’’

    He said that the execution of critical investments in transmission lines and substations was inevitable to further improve the grid, and ultimately power supply in the country.

    “The most important thing we need to do to stabilise the grid so that it become very modern is that we need to have critical investment in lines and substations.

    “We need to expand the grid and put what is called N-1, it means anywhere you have a need for 60MWs transformer, you install 60x2MWs.

    “Anywhere you have a need for a line, you either construct two lines or you build the line in loop.’’

    According to him, TCN has raised 1.7 billion dollars from multilateral donors for the expansion of the grid as well as installed 29 transformers between 2017 and August 2018.

    He said that the on-going TREP was designed to expand the grid to 20,000MWs by 2021.

    Mohammed said that TCN in-house engineers were completing projects abandoned 10 years ago by contractors at less that 10 per cent of the initial cost.

    “TCN is building a substation on an Island, when I came and asked for the cost estimate for the construction of that substation, it was about one billion naira.

    “I can tell you the job is about 95 per cent complete now and what we have spent is less  than N100 million, why because we are using  in house capacity, we are  bringing innovation.’’

    On DisCos, faulting implementation of N72 billion distribution network projects, Mohammed said “it is not the DisCos that said they don’t know about TCN managing the fund, it is association of DisCos.

    “We don’t deal with the association of DisCos, because we deal with the people that we have agreement with.

    “This N72 billion is an intervention by the Federal Government because of lack of investment in the DisCos.

    “It is actually the failure of the Discos to perform that is creating a lot of issue in the system that compelled the government with 40 per cent share in the DisCos to provide the fund.

    “The N72billion is small money compared to what we need to expand the network of the DisCos.

    “But we are working with the DisCos that are actually interested in the project, and TCN is not solely managing the N72 billion, the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is situated in TCN.

    “It is TCN, ministry of power, and interested DisCos that are doing the procurement and all the evaluation that are involved.’’

    The TCN managing director, who is also the Chairman of WAPP executive board said what was required for the DisCos to improve distribution network was innovation and investment. (NAN)

  • INEC Budget: CSO cautions against playing politics with 2019 general elections

    INEC Budget: CSO cautions against playing politics with 2019 general elections

    Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has cautioned the executive and legislative arms of government against playing politics with the 2019 election budget.

    Mr Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of CSJ said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the 2019 general elections were too important to the nation’s existence to be toyed with in the name of seeking approval for election budget.

    “The elections in 2019 are too precious to be tied to this game of musical chairs between the two arms of government.

    “The President should have presented the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) budget to the National Assembly (NASS) early in the first quarter of the year.

    “However, considering that it is coming late and the poor relations between the executive and legislature, the president should not have asked for virement.

    “Rather, he should have looked for fresh money for the conduct of the elections.’’

    He, however, said that NASS was not bound to approve the request as presented, adding that even if it did, it may direct that the money be derived from another source.

    NAN recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had requested Senate’s approval of N242.45 billion for the 2019 General Elections.

    Part of the funds, according to his request, will be given to the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies for the same purpose.

    The request was contained in a letter dated July 11, which was personally signed by Buhari and addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Buhari requested that out of the needed figure, N164.10 billion should be provided through virement or supplementation of the 2018 Budget.

    It also requested that the balance of N78.34 billion, mostly related to personnel allowances, fuelling and other costs not required until election proper, be provided for in the 2019 budget.

    The sum of N189.21 billion was earmarked for INEC, N4.3 billion for Office of the Security Adviser, N12.21 billion for DSS and N3.6 billion for Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    The Nigeria Police Force got a proposal of N30.5 billion while N2.6 billion was earmarked for Nigeria Immigration Service.

    Specifically, the president requested that N164.10 billion of the total funds proposed for the elections should be funded from the N578.31 billion inserted in the 2018 Budget by NASS.

    There have been concerns by various groups, individuals and election monitors that the amount proposed for the general elections was too much for the exercise.

    Some others are of the opinion that the delay in the passage of the election budget could jeopardise adequate preparations for the poll.

    NAN also recalls that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, however, said that the 2019 general elections would not be postponed because of the delay in the passage of its budget.

    According to him, there is no provision under the law for postponement of elections. (NAN)

  • 1004 Apartments landlords petition IGP over unlawful arrest of residents

    Landlords of 1004 Apartments in Victoria Island, Lagos have decried unlawful arrest and detention of some residents by policemen claiming to be from Special Tactical Squad of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
    In a petition sent to IGP, Ibrahim Idris, the residents alleged that five officials of 1004 Home Owners and Residents Association (HORA) were unlawfully assaulted and detained for two days.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition, titled “Illegal Use of Police to Harass Innocent Citizens”, was copied to Commissioner of Police in Lagos State and Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police.
    The association, comprising about 6000 residents, alleged that the unlawful harassment was instigated by a tenant, Mr Akinlosi Oyelokun, whose apartment was disconnected over two years unpaid service charge and electricity theft.
    According to 1004 residents, armed policemen from Force Headquarters, led by Insp. Danladi Idah Yusuf, invaded the association’s secretariat and whisked away three staff to Bar Beach Police Station saying  I was “order from above”.
    Also,  two executives of the association who attempted to secure their bails were also arrested and ended up behind bars for two days along with the staff, the petition said.
    The residents expressed anger that a tenant owing service charge arrears and facing allegations of hacking and electricity theft involving bypass of smart meter could simply use his connection with police to harass Innocent citizens.
    In an interview with NAN, Capt. Shina Akinfemwa, Chairman of 1004 HORA, wondered if the IGP could have indeed ordered the use of police for the execution of assaults on 1004 residents.
    “Should the police officers be used as tools to harass, intimidate, threaten and assault innocent, law abiding citizens? ,” he said.
    Akinfenwa then appealed to the IGP to urgently address the matter in order to save his high office from dishonour and the residents from continued harassment.
    Several calls and text messages sent to Mr Oyelokun seeking his comment on the allegations were unanswered.
    When contacted, spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Chike Oti, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter and promised to contact officers handling the case.

  • EFCC boss urges Nigerians to support fight against corruption

    The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has urged Nigerians across the globe to continue supporting the EFCC to win the war against the “hydra-headed” monster called corruption.

    Mr Nkem Lafia, National Publicity Secretary, Change Agents for Positive Transformation (CAPT), a Non-Governmental organisation (NGO), made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Lafia quoted Magu as making the call for the support and continuous fight against corruption when members of CAPT paid him a visit in Abuja.

    The EFCC boss said that there was no how the Commission or himself would achieve the target of fighting corruption in Nigeria without the help of all and sundry.

    Magu further called for the cooperation of all Nigerians and institutions, including Non-State entities, to do all in their powers to fight every act of corruption around them.

    Magu said, “the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria, has elevated a few citizens to the position of ‘Super Lords’ that are even richer than the States of their origin.

    “These few individuals have continued to use their ill-gotten wealth to thwart the good job the EFCC is doing.

    “There was no how the EFCC or myself alone would achieve the target the Buhari Administration has set in the crusade against corruption without the buy-in of all parts of the Nigerian society.

    “Even the international community showed that the activities of the Commission and the anti-corruption stance of the Buhari Administration were already yielding fruits that are worthy of commendation.”

    Magu called for the constant advice and prayers from Nigerians, who believe that corruption, can actually be defeated.

    Mr Austin Nwanya, CAPT National Coordinator, who led the delegation, had earlier congratulated Magu on his recent promotion as Commissioner of Police and applauded him for his good job.

    Nwanya described Magu’s new position as a reward and motivation for his selfless and patriotic services to Nigeria.

    Nwanya promised that CAPT, as an NGO, would continue to support the Commission by bringing its activities and achievements to the attention of the public.

    Nwanya advised Magu not be deterred by the antics of some Nigerians, who had something to hide and were, therefore, determined to continue to throw spanners in the works of the Commission. (NAN)

  • Rohr inspects Kaduna’s Ahmadu Bello Stadium ahead of Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifiers

    Rohr inspects Kaduna’s Ahmadu Bello Stadium ahead of Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifiers

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Wednesday inspected the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna as part of preparations for the team’s qualifiers for the 2019 AFCON, an official has said.

    Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said in a statement on Wednesday the inspection was an indication preparations have begun in earnest.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senior men’s national football team have five matches remaining in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series.

    Nigeria play away to Seychelles in Victoria on Match Day 2 on Sept. 7 and then host Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Nigeria on Match Day 3 on Oct. 10.

    “The Technical Adviser checked out the facilities at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in company of NFF’s Second Vice President Shehu Dikko and Super Eagles’ Team Administrator Dayo Achor,’’ Olajire said in the statement.

    He added that the former Germany defender Rohr would on Friday release his list of invited players for the away clash with Seychelles.

    NAN reports that, after hosting Libya, the Super Eagles will visit the Knights three days later, before heading to South Africa for the return tie against the Bafana Bafana on Nov. 17.

    The last match of the series will see the three-time African champions hosting Seychelles on March 22.

    The Eagles had, in their opening game of the qualifying series in June 2017, lost 0-2 to the Bafana Bafana in Uyo.

    NAN reports that the finals of the 2019 AFCON, which is the 32nd edition, are scheduled to be staged in Cameroon in June.(NAN)

  • PDP will win Presidential election next year, says Sen Saraki

    PDP will win Presidential election next year, says Sen Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday boasted that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the 2019 presidential elections.

    Saraki said this in Ilorin at a meeting with PDP members who came from the 16 local government areas of the state.

    He also expressed his confidence that his new party would emerge victorious in all the local government areas of Kwara State.

    Saraki said that the victory of PDP at both federal and state levels would be beneficial to all the members in the state.

    The Senate President said that the future of PDP was now brighter than it used to be.

    “If we emerge victorious at the federal level, all of us will be the beneficiaries. In the state, with your support we will win the state for PDP.

    “All of you here are the key players in Kwara politics. With unity of purpose, no party can contest with you.

    “We are here to unite all of us under the party we belong to today. I am assuring all members that there will be equity, internal democracy and justice.

    “It is not going to be winners take all. As far as I am concerned, everybody here today belong to our political structure.

    “There is nothing like old or new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have all become one PDP.

    “I want all of us to be united for the progress and development of Kwara State.

    “As par the politics of the state, nobody can wrest the power from us I if we are united. By the grace of God we  will emerge victorious both at the federal and state levels.

    “We will ensure that we work as one party because we have always worked together before.

    “We will see that all the wards and local governments’ popular candidates emerge based on their popularity and acceptability,” Saraki said.

    He assured PDP members that there would be no anointed candidates in all the elective positions.

    “I don’t have any anointed candidate at all levels. I don’t have candidates for the state Assembly, National Assembly. It is the person you want in your constituency that I will okay.

    “Don’t allow anybody to deceive you that I have endorsed any candidate,” he said.

    The Senate President implored party leaders and elders not to drop his name to impose unpopular candidates.

    “All of us will collectively choose who becomes the next governor. We will ensure that there is no faction, but one PDP.

    “We will ensure that meetings in the local government areas take place in one venue. And we will all work together for the interest of the party,” he said.

    Saraki appealed to all party members to start work for the party to emerge victorious next year.

    “I am sure many more will come back and join us because those that left left under the wrong assumption that it will be different from what it used to be.

    “They were misled that those coming are out to move them away. Nobody is moving you away because this place belongs to you too

    “Let us go back and start work closely together and by the grace of God we will all be victorious,” the Senate President said. (NAN)

  • Edwin Clark condemns Rivers by-election violence, wants severe punishment for electoral offenders

    Edwin Clark condemns Rivers by-election violence, wants severe punishment for electoral offenders

    A former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, on Wednesday called for severe sanctions for perpetrators of electoral offences in the country.

    Clark made the call in a telephone interview with a political correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos.

    He was reacting to the suspension of Saturday’s by-election in Rivers State by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) owing to widespread violence.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Obo Effanga, who announced the suspension, said that INEC also stopped the election owing to high cases of ballot snatching and attacks on its officials.

    NAN reports that the election was meant to fill the Port Harcourt Constituency 3 state assembly seat left by Mr Victor Ihunwo, now the Chairman, Port Harcourt Local Government.

    Clark, while condemning the violence, said the the situation was a recurring feature of elections in the country.

    He said there was a compelling need for government to come hard on electoral offenders, as they were a dent on the country’s democracy.

    “You see, what happened in Rivers has been going on in many places;  and people perpetrate violence in elections and we have it over and over because there are no sanctions.

    “That is why Uwais report suggested that there should be special courts so that anybody who misbehaves during elections is arrested and dealt with.

    “We are yet to have that. But I learnt there is a bill on that at the National Assembly, and I believe once this bill is passed into law, it would reduce cases of violence in elections.

    “I mean when you send people to 10 years imprisonment for perpetrating violence in elections, they will not repeat it again and others will learn.

    “Severe punishment for offenders. That is what I believe will end the cycle of election violence in the country,” he said.

    Clark said the heavy security deployed during elections would have been needless if people obeyed electoral laws.

    The elder statesman said the high security vote for the 2019 elections by INEC could be better used for infrastructure, if violence was not part of elections.

    Clark urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all relevant laws to check electoral offences are ready ahead of 2019, to ensure the elections are free and fair.(NAN)

  • NTDC says collaboration with Entertainment Coy to create awareness for `Tour Nigeria’ brand

    Mr Folorunsho Coker, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) says collaboration with an Entertainment Company to organise a picnic is aimed at creating awareness for `Tour Nigeria’ and `Nigeria Flavour’ brands.

    Coker made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Entertainment Company Delphino Picnic usually organises picnics in August, and it is an annual event hosted in Abuja.

    It records large number of fun seekers who throng the venue to catch fun.

    “The Picnic is to create awareness to the master brand, `Tour Nigeria’ which means tour around Nigeria and the sub-brand, `Nigerian Flavour’.

    “Let me explain, we are NTDC, we have a master brand called Tour Nigeria, like Truly Asia, Incredible India, Magical Kenya etc.

    “As you are going around Nigeria, you are encouraged to enjoy the different flavour of Nigeria in our Music, culture, heritage, food, religion, fashion, sport and even our politics,’’ Coker said.

    According to the NTDC boss, Delphino event is a local Abuja picnic that has been going on for some years now.

    He said that in 2017, the corporation decided to help them organise, arrange, produce and interact by using its knowledge of some segment of the industry.

    Coker also said aside creating awareness for the brands, local food vendors and others had the opportunity of making brisk businesses.

    “It shows that there are many things in this local economy that you can bring, aggregate together to produce one beautiful product that people can enjoy while creating value in a domestic economy.

    “The people who brought the stage, the light, sound, instrument, foods, chairs, canopies and the goods that were sold commercially benefited from the picnic.

    “That is the way forward, it is in that partnership between private and public sector that such things can continue to occur and reoccur in Abuja.

    “We have documented those sort of festival culture and we want to bring it to the attention of various stakeholders in the tourism eco-system.

    “So, if you go online and do hash tag Tour Nigeria, you will see reference photographs and images on a lot of things that Tour Nigeria through NTDC has partnered with,’’ he said.

    Coker urged Nigerians to get more information on the activities of the corporation on tournigeria.gov.ng and tournigeria.com. (NAN)

  • NCC takes proactive steps to actualise 30? broadband penetration by 2018

    The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) says Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC)’s licensing of more infrastructure companies (InfraCos) is a proactive step toward achieving the 30 per cent broadband penetration target.

    The National President of NATCOMS, Mr Adeola Ogunbanjo, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

    NAN reports that Nigeria developed a five-year strategy (2013-2018) in 2013, through the Presidential Committee on Broadband.

    The aim is to drive internet and broadband penetration in the country and to scale up NCC’s broadband growth by 30 per cent in 2018.

    According to him, we have only four months to go, and actually, the target cannot be met and that is what is worrying the NCC, which is leading to the licensing of more InfraCos.

    “Honestly, NCC is taking a good step in the right direction by ensuring licensing of more InfraCos, because it will lead to more expectations and more robust broadband penetration.

    “There is also the need for private sector’s participation to help government to achieve this target,” Ogunbanjo said.

    He decried many obstacles hindering the actualisation of the broadband’s target such as the Right Of Way (ROW), many taxes and levies, saying that they should be looked into.

    Ogunbanjo said that as regards some of the hinderances to broadband penetration like ROW and also security of base stations, it behooves on the executives, State and Federal Governments to do their parts.

    He urged some state governors to emulate the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to reduce their charges the right of ways.

    “For broadband penetration that will ensure better and standard network, all hands must be on deck.

    “The number charges and multiple taxes on telecommunications operators and the environment that is tightened, not conducive at all, do not allow them to operate fairly.

    “State Governments are not making the telecommunications industry user-friendly at all with their policies and taxes; they should look at how to make the industry work considering their contributions to the Gross Domestic Products.

    “Aside from petroleum, the agriculture and telecommunications industry should be the main focus to build the nation’s economy.

    “Currently, the Gross Domestic Products is a double digit one that the telecommunications industry is contributing, so it should be given the adequate attention it deserves,” Ogunbanjo said. (NAN)