The plan by the Nigerian government for additional capacity of 3,863 megawatts of electricity to boost power supply to customers across the country in the next 24 months is one of the leading stories in Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday.
The Punch reports that the Federal Government says that an additional capacity of 3,863 megawatts of electricity is to be made available to boost power supply to customers across the country in the next 24 months.
It also stated that it had identified solutions with the Transmission Company of Nigeria and electricity distribution companies on addressing key interface challenges confronting the different power firms.
The government disclosed this through its Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in a June 2022 document on the current state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry obtained by our correspondent from the Federal Ministry of Power.
Nigeria’s peak power generation as of Monday, July 11, 2022, was 4,022.2MW, while off-peak generation on the same day was put at 3,521.3MW. Power generation on the national grid as at 6am on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, was 3,941.1MW.
Data contained in the June 2022 report on the current state of the sector, seen in Abuja on Tuesday, indicated that the country’s transmission infrastructure could evacuate about 7,000MW, while distribution companies could distribute about 5,800MW.
Available generation capacity was put at +/- 8,000MW, while gas constrained availability stood at +/- 5,500MW, as fuel availability and infrastructure could support between 4,000MW to 6,000MW.
On the quantum of electricity to be added in the next two years, the industry regulator said, “NERC has identified remedial plan with TCN and Discos on addressing key interface challenges in short, medium and long terms.
The newspaper says that the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers says it will not hesitate to join in the proposed nationwide strike, following the prolonged ASUU, NASU and SSANU industrial actions that have left activities in tertiary institutions paralyzed for the past eight months.
In a statement signed by its National President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union joined others to condemn the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
“We are deeply worried that the strike has left thousands of university students stranded and idle, making some of them susceptible to go into various social vices and crimes, thus truncating what otherwise should have been wonderful assets and blessings to our great nation and humanity.”
The union described the strike as “unfortunate and a sad” commentary on the level of governance and sensitivity of the political leaders, adding that it showed the insensitivity of the current administration towards promoting and projecting good and quality education.
“We are seriously concerned that instead of addressing the nagging issues in the educational sector, the unscrupulous politicians are busy campaigning and wasting resources over 2023 general elections.
“It is against this background that NUPENG demands together with other trade unions, that the Federal Government must immediately address and resolve all demands of ASUU, NASU and SSANU without any further delay to avert national solidarity actions from our members across the country,” the statement said.
The statement further said that the rank-and-file members of NUPENG aligned with the NLC’s position on protest against the unfortunate situations in the tertiary education sector and would not hesitate to join in the proposed nationwide strike on the matter.
The Guardian reports that the cacophony of voices, for and against, the all-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continued to heat up the polity yesterday ahead of September 28, when presidential campaigns are expected to begin, officially for the 2023 general elections.
Expectedly, the Muslim-Muslim ticket has attracted a barrage of outcry, leading to the exit of key members from the APC.
In sharp opposition to the selection of former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, as running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governorship candidate of the party in Rivers State and close ally of the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Prince Tonye Princewill, yesterday, dumped the party, to compound the woes that have befallen the party in Rivers, which has seen more chieftains continue to exit.
Tonye, in his resignation letter addressed to the Chairman of APC, Ward 3 (Royal Ward) in Buguma city of Asari Toru Council, said he could not defend the decision of his party to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket against public outcry by well-meaning Nigerians.
“I can’t argue for equity in my state and defend inequity in my country,” Tonye said, adding that under such a situation that the country finds itself presently, he could not continue to remain in a party that is “totally insensitive”, adding that even if APC wins next year’s election, it “will prove bad for good governance.”
This is coming a day after another chieftain of the party, Daniel Bwala, joined the league of members who announced their resignation after the party’s presidential candidate, Tinubu, announced his running mate.
Bwala, in a post on his Twitter account on Monday, noted that he is dumping the ruling party on principles and convictions that he holds dear.
He further stated that at this point, “what Nigeria needs is for us to work towards uniting the country.”
The newspaper says that Yoruba elders, under the auspices of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and an elder statesman, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he is tired.
The Secretary-General of YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide and Farounbi, stated this while speaking with The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
They said leadership is a serious business, which deserves optimum energy and strength.
Faroubi said that whoever occupies the office of the President could resign if he is tired to allow someone else with enough energy and strength to carry on with the onerous task
The former Ambassador to the Philippines said: “The constitution does not force anyone to continue in office if he is tired. If he is tired, he has the right to resign and go back home.”
Olajide, who urged the President to resign honourably if he is tired, said: “He is only human. The ideal thing to do in a civilised society is for anyone in leadership who is tired to leave. Leadership is a serious business, especially when you are leading 200 million people. If he cannot give his best, he should bow out honourably.”
The Nation reports that the Government of Dubai has merged its tourism department with the department of economy, in an intentional move to position tourism as a huge starter in the economy of Dubai.
This was disclosed by Regional Director International Operations, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Stella Fabura, during the recent annual Dubai Roadshow in Lagos.
The event, which featured 33 partners across hospitality, medical and entertainment sectors, also held across key cities. Fabura pointed out that the event aimed at creating interactive sessions between Dubai tourism stakeholders and its Nigerian counterparts.
According to her, “We spent the last two years during the pandemic improving the attraction in the hotels and in the offerings. We have so many African restaurants now in Dubai and Nigerians when they travel, they love to eat their food and now we have that. We have also opened quite a few new attractions Dubai, Ain Dubai, Madame Tussauds Dubai, and Museum of the Future, these are all new things probably happened in the last six months and some of the hotels took their time off to refurbish and new hotels opened.”
Describing the extent of transformation, Fubara said, “Dubai literally rebrands frequently. Every three to six months there is something new to see.”
With these redecoration on hotels and newly opened restaurants among other facilities across Dubai, DET firmly believes that Dubai would provide favourable time for Nigerians who aspire to travel to Dubai for tourism and business adventures; considering that new resorts and museums have also opened to give tourists and travellers that touch of home-away-from-home.
GIK/APA