NEWS
TCN Restores Electricity in Bayelsa after 4-month Blackout
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Port Harcourt Region, has announced the restoration of electricity to most parts of Bayelsa following a four-month blackout.
The region covers Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers states.
The General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Anyaegbulem, made this known during a news conference on Monday in Port Harcourt, while outlining the company’s achievements in 2024.
He explained that the blackout was caused by criminals who vandalised about 20 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132 Kilovolt (KV) electricity lines on July 29.
“The 132KV line is the only transmission line that supply electricity to Bayelsa state.
“The repairs of the collapsed towers presented a significant challenge for us, considering that the blackout lasted from July 29 until November 30, when we restored the lines,” Anyaegbulem said.
He further noted that it cost about N13 million to construct a single transmission tower.
“Once vandals cut off the brackets that holds a tower, the structure becomes vulnerable to the slightest breeze.
“After the criminals vandalised the tower, it collapsed and caused the failure of about 20 other transmission towers between Ahoada in Rivers state and Yenagoa in Bayelsa state.
“We are delighted to have erected and restrung the 20 damaged 132KV towers after four months of hardship endured by the residents,” he added.
Anyaegbulam also disclosed that police officers attached to TCN had arrested about 10 suspects caught vandalising the company’s facilities in the region in 2024.
He said that out of the 10 suspects arrested, four had already been convicted by the courts, while six remained in police custody.
In spite of these challenges, the general manager stated that the company achieved significant milestones during the outgoing year.
“This includes the installation of a 100 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) power transmission transformer at the Port Harcourt main transmission substation, as well as the rehabilitation of the 132/33KV switch yard.
“We also took delivery of a 150MVA 330/33KV power transformer at TCN’s Adjabo transmission substation within the Port Harcourt main transmission substation.
“Other achievements include the upgrade of the Itu 132/33KV transmission substation with the addition of a 60MVA transformer, three outgoing feeders, digital control panels, circuit breakers, isolators among others, he said.
Anyaegbulem reiterated the company’s commitment to providing electricity to Distribution Companies (DisCos) to enable them to ensure uninterrupted power supply to customers. (NAN)
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led by Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called on the Nigerian government to completely ban the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).The group staged a walk around Calabar on Tuesday and presented a petition to the Cross River State House of Assembly, highlighting concerns about GMOs’ impact on human health, the environment, and food sovereignty.
GMOs are plants, animals, or microorganisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering. The long-term health impacts of GMOs remain subjects of ongoing scientific research and debate.Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh, Executive Director of PPDF, spoke on behalf of the coalition, demanding immediate action from both the federal government and Cross River State to ban GMOs for planting and food production.Isua-Ikoh further called for the removal of bioengineered food products from Nigerian and Cross River markets.He also urged the annulment of all GMO permits granted without adequate risk assessments.He also advocated for increased investment in sustainable farming practices like agroecology and organic farming to ensure food sovereignty.Mr Augustine Ukukong, Assistant Director of Legislative Matters, received the petition on behalf of Mr Agbor Ovat, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and Sanitation.Ukukong assured the group that their petition would be delivered to the House, and if necessary, the committee would address the issue, including introducing a bill for consideration.He reiterated the 10th Assembly’s commitment to collaborating with CSOs on issues related to environmental protection and public health.Report says that the petition is part of a nationwide campaign led by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) to protect Nigeria’s food system from the perceived risks of GMOs. (NAN)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said that the Federal Government’s reforms, if sustained, have the potentials to pull through critical deliverables for the economy to return to a growth path.This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by the Director General, LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona, in reaction to the November inflation rate figure of 34.
60 per cent The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) pegged November core inflation at 28. 75 per cent, food inflation at 39.93 per cent as against the October figures of 28.37 per cent and 39.16 per cent respectively.Almona said that while the country witnessed weak impact of interest rates curbing inflation, a better performance of the reform measures implemented was expected to boost production.She, however, noted that the persistent rise in inflation, reaching a 28 year record high of 34.60 per cent, fuelled a tense business environment as elevated prices constrained various business operations.The D-G said that the LCCI was concerned because with the persistent and unabated rise in inflation, businesses should prepare to experience more stress from the burden of higher interest rates in the new year.“With the raging inflation rate, the unsuccessful attempt of the Central Bank to reduce the currency in circulation, and approaching a high-spending festive period, we are set to contend with even higher interest rates.“The high inflation rate has far-reaching implications; one of its primary effects is reduced consumer spending.“High food and core inflation erode disposable income, reducing demand for non-essential goods and services and businesses also face increased business costs and shrinking profit margins.“While we are all confronted with a weak impact of interest rates on curbing inflation, we see a better performance of the reform measures implemented to boost production,” Almona said.The LCCI D-G said that there was hope that the country would witness more impact of the reforms on fundamental indicators like inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates.She also said that a coordinated effort was required to drive oil production to earn more foreign exchange needed to defend naira in the short term.Almona further advised that the new investments recently entering the oil fields should be well supported with sound regulatory environment to sustain and attract more.“The renewed fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and all other vices that make our farms unsafe must be sustained with more funding.“Nigeria must engage the use of intelligence and surveillance technology, and the constitutional amendment to enable multi-level policing,” she said.(NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has appointed eight new permanent secretaries in the federal civil service to fill existing and upcoming vacancies across various states and geopolitical zones.
This marks the second set of eight permanent secretaries appointed by President Tinubu.
The new appointments follow those made last June, which included individuals from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Jigawa, Ondo, Zamfara, the South East, and the South-South regions.
The information was provided by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, in a statement regarding the latest appointments.
“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recommended the new appointments after a thorough selection process,” the statement said.
The new appointees are: Onwusoro Ihemelandu (Abia), Ndiomu Philip (Bayelsa), Anuma Nlia (Ebonyi), Ogbodo Nnam (Enugu), Kalba Usman (Gombe), Usman Aminu (Kebbi), Oyekunle Nwakuso (Rivers), and Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna).
President Tinubu urged the new permanent secretaries to demonstrate increased commitment, diligence, and innovation in their service to the nation. (NAN)
CSOs Call for Ban on GMOs in Nigeria
Share A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led by Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called on the Nigerian...
Inflation: LCCI Advises Govt to Sustain Reforms to Return Economy to Growth
ShareThe Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said that the Federal Government’s reforms, if sustained, have the potentials...
Tinubu Appoints 8 New Permanent Secretaries
Share President Bola Tinubu has appointed eight new permanent secretaries in the federal civil service to fill existing and upcoming...
Why Nigerian Women Die During Child Birth – Borno Health Commissioner
Share The Borno Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof. Baba Mallam, has blamed the rate at which Nigerian women...
Tinubu Congratulates Lookman, Nnadozie, Super Falcons on CAF Awards
Share President Bola Tinubu, has congratulated Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles forward, on winning the 2024 CAF Men’s African Footballer of...
CAF Award, Night of Glory for Nigeria -Gov Mbah
Share Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has described the wins at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards as a...
TCN Restores Electricity in Bayelsa after 4-month Blackout
Share The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Port Harcourt Region, has announced the restoration of electricity to most parts of...
Sani Signs Budget of Sustaining Rural Transformation
Share Gov. Uba Sani has signed the 2025 budget of ‘Sustaining Transformation and Inclusive Development’, ten days after he presented...
Transforming Education: UNICEF, ABU Zaria Partner to Promote Digital Learning
Share UNICEF has entered into a long-term collaboration with the Department of Science Education, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, to...
A Reflection on Daily Trust’s Tension with Tinubu
ShareBy Farooq Kperogi As a media scholar who engages with Nigeria’s media landscape from the safe yet impassioned perch of...