From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The Delta State Government has commenced reforms aimed at liberalising the state’s power sector, attracting private investment and boosting electricity generation and distribution across the state.

The State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this on Friday in Asaba while addressing journalists at a press conference.

Aniagwu said the reforms were designed to deepen private-sector participation in the power sector through liberalisation and public-private partnerships (PPPs), stressing that the government could no longer shoulder the responsibility of running businesses alone.

He said the state was exploring its abundant gas resources as a major source of fuel for power generation, particularly at the Kwale Free Trade Zone, which is part of the state’s special economic zone.

According to him, potential investors were taken to the zone during the recent Delta State Economic and Investment Summit to enable them assess first-hand the availability of gas for electricity generation.

The commissioner explained that increased power generation within the state would reduce pressure on the national grid and free up electricity for other consumers.

Aniagwu cited the 8.5-megawatt Independent Power Plant located behind the state Secretariat in Asaba as an example of the government’s efforts, noting that the facility had enabled the Secretariat complex to operate independently of the national grid.

The commissioner also revealed that the state government had entered into a partnership with Supply Power for the generation of an additional 120 megawatts of electricity for the national grid.

He said the initiative was intended to strengthen electricity supply and provide a more reliable power base for small and medium-scale businesses, many of which depend on electricity for their operations.

Aniagwu said the state government had also intervened in areas traditionally regarded as the responsibility of electricity distribution companies, explaining that the administration was determined to prevent inadequate power supply from stifling economic development.

He identified the extension of the electricity grid from Abraka towards the Ndokwa axis as one of the interventions, saying the project was aimed at bringing more communities into the electricity network.

The commissioner, however, criticised the practice whereby communities are compelled to provide transformers and other electricity infrastructure, only for distribution companies to take over the facilities and subsequently collect electricity bills without adequately recognising the investments made by the communities.

He said the state would continue to support initiatives aimed at energising communities because reliable electricity would stimulate businesses, create jobs and provide opportunities for young people.

According to him, reducing unemployment and idleness could also contribute to addressing some security challenges across the state.

Aniagwu further disclosed that the government was working with the Ministry of Energy and a committee established to develop an appropriate regulatory framework for the state’s emerging power sector.

He said the proposed energy commission would be responsible for regulating new power producers, determining appropriate tariffs and overseeing electricity distribution networks.

The commissioner explained that effective electricity distribution required careful planning, including determining the most suitable infrastructure for each location, whether overhead, underground or other forms of power lines.

He stressed that proper regulation was essential to protect residents from electrocution and other dangers while ensuring fair pricing and safeguarding electricity infrastructure from vandalism and other abuses.

Aniagwu said the ultimate goal of the reforms was to establish a more efficient, sustainable and investment-friendly power sector that would provide reliable electricity to businesses, communities and households across Delta State.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has charged the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to leverage its mineral and intellectual resources to develop a world-class centre of mining excellence.

Alake made the call while addressing a high-powered delegation of the University’s Governing Council, led by Prof.

This is according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara-Owoeye-Wise on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister said the centre should bridge academic knowledge with exploration, extraction and processing, while strengthening the university’s role in the mining value chain.

“The gap between intellectualism and application must be closed. Universities should not only generate knowledge, they should translate that knowledge into solutions, enterprises and economic value for society,” he said.

He said the commercial value of the minerals available to the institution was sufficient to reduce the share of government subvention in its total budgetary allocation.

He urged the university to explore private-sector partnerships to unlock the commercial potential of its mineral assets, noting that its technical expertise was a significant advantage in attracting investors.

“You have the resource endowment underground and you have the intellectual capacity. You can bring in investors through a joint venture and they can provide the capital and machinery,” he said.

The minister also said that the Federal Government had restructured the development of Nigeria’s bitumen resources by opening designated bitumen blocks to competitive bidding by qualified investors.

According to him, ownership of land does not automatically confer ownership of the mineral resources beneath it.

“Ownership of mineral resources is vested in the Federal Government under the Constitution and relevant mining laws.

“The University owns the land, but where there are mineral resources, their exploration and exploitation must still be undertaken in accordance with the law.

“We must find a win-win situation that protects legitimate interests while upholding the Federal Government’s regulatory responsibility,” he said.

Alake commended OAU for its longstanding contribution to the training of geologists and other professionals in Nigeria’s mining industry, urging the institution to deepen its role in mineral exploration, research, innovation and commercialisation.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to a transparent, predictable and investment-friendly regulatory environment that promotes responsible mining, value addition and sustainable economic benefits for Nigerians.(NAN)

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has begun examining Uber’s exit from Nigeria, particularly whether the ride-hailing company left behind unfulfilled services and obligations to customers.

Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Tunji Bello, disclosed this in a text message to Bloomberg, which reported on Sunday that the regulator was examining the manner of Uber’s departure from the Nigerian market.

FCCPC officials “are looking into the manner of their exit, particularly in respect of unfulfilled services to the customers,” Bello said.

The development comes four days after Uber announced that it would wind down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026.

The decision brought an end to Uber’s operations in Nigeria, where it launched in Lagos in 2014, and reportedly caught some riders and drivers off guard.

Uber did not give a specific reason for its exit from Nigeria in its notice to drivers, saying only that it had made the “tough decision” to wind down its operations.

“We have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective September 2, 2026.

“From this date, you will no longer be able to receive rider trip requests through the Uber app,” the company said.

Uber said its Help Centre would remain available to assist drivers with questions about the development until September 24, 2026.

The exit followed growing competition in Nigeria’s ride-hailing market, including from Bolt and InDrive, as well as economic pressures affecting consumers and the cost of operating mobility services.

The development also followed a recent disagreement between Uber and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria over the regulation of e-hailing operations at airports.

FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, said the authority had no role in Uber’s decision to leave Nigeria, adding that its interventions were driven by passenger safety, accountability and concerns over touting at airports.

Kuku said FAAN had been seeking liability provisions from e-hailing companies over the conduct and safety of drivers operating on their platforms.

One of the issues we were struggling with the e-hailing companies over was largely around liability clauses.

“But we also wanted them to take responsibility for the drivers. However, we were told that those drivers are not Uber’s drivers; rather, they are independent drivers.

“So, with regard to any safety concerns we raised, they wanted passengers to use the safety features available on their platforms. They did not want to take on that responsibility, and we had a major issue with that,” she said.