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Reps Set to Investigates $2bn Renewable Energy Grants, Investments

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By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has indicated its preparedness to commence investigative hearings on the $2bn renewable energy grants and investments meant for the development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria, which has not made a commensurate impact on the energy security challenges in the nation.

The Committee said the hearing which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed the mandate given to the IT by the House of Representatives on Thursday June 6 to investigate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with dealings in investment, procurement, and receipt of grants for the development of the renewable energy sector.

According to a statement by the chairman of the committee, Hon. Victor Afam Victor, on Sunday in Abuja, the probe will cover the period from 2015 to 2024.

Ogene said that the House was miffed that “Despite the government attracting over $2 billion in renewable energy investments in the past decade, as reported by the Rural Electrification Agency in 2023, there has been no noticeable improvement in the sector.

“The House of Reps was alarmed that the dysfunctional electricity generation and supply system persists, contrary to the objectives behind government investments and grants aimed at developing the renewable energy sector, hence the resolution to probe these investments in order to determine the integrity of the procurement and execution processes.”

He said the investigation is not to witch-hunt but to discourage opaqueness and promote transparency and objectivity in handling government or public resources.

He thanked the European Union and other donor agencies for their useful submissions, insights and cooperation in sharing information with the committee.

The resolutions of the House were sequel to the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Investigate Investments in Renewable Energy Sector and Foreign Grants received from 2015 till date”, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi.

Leading the debate, the lawmaker had said the parliament was aware that poor electricity generation, transmission and distribution constituted a huge threat to the nation’s quest for industrial and technological development.

According to the lawmakers, successive governments since 2015 have made substantial investments and attracted multimillion-dollar foreign grants to the renewable energy subsector of Nigeria’s power industry to create a viable and sustainable alternative energy supply.

They noted that in December 2023, the World Bank approved a $750m facility to boost renewable energy in Nigeria, with the goal of providing over 17.5 million Nigerians with improved access to electricity through distributed renewable energy solutions.

They also noted that in 2020, the federal government launched a $200m renewable energy project, tagged ‘Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP),’ aimed at providing off-grid energy to over 500,000 people across 105,000 households in rural communities, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The invited agencies and stakeholders include, but are not limited to Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), NASENI Solar Energy Ltd, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Country Representative European Union, Union Bank Plc (Compliance Department), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federal Ministry of Power, Energy Commission of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Finance.

Others are, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, Federal Ministry of Petroleum (Gas Resources), Niger Delta Development Commission, United States Agency for International Development, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Accountant General of the Federation, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations (Alliance) REEEA-A and Other Concerned Stakeholders.

POLITICS

There Was Never a Peace Accord Between Gov Fubara, Wike – Former APC Chieftain Jackson Ojo

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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

A former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo, has dispelled speculations that there is a peace deal between Rivers State Governor Simi Fubara and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.Jackson Ojo declared on Sunday that instead of a peace accord, what is presently on ground is akin to a political surrender agreement that will render the governor totally impotent politically.

According to him, all items on the agreement are one sided in favour of Wike who was on the negotiation table with his team whereas Governor Fubara was there without any supporter.
He declared that Governor Fubara was overwhelmed and tired of the whole issue and simply surrendered to Wike.
”I wonder why some people say there was a peace accord between Governor Simi Fubara and Nyesom Wike. There was never a peace accord between Wike and Simi. What we saw was Simi surrendered. “When you are talking about peace accord, let me go this way. Two communities are fighting and people say we want to settle it. What do you expect. You expect the King and the Council of Chiefs from community A and the King and Council of Chiefs from community B, they will talk and arrive at conclusion. “They will now work on that conclusion when they must have struck a balance.”But what happened between these people (Wike and Fubara)? It was Wike and his people. Fubara went there alone without any of his supporters. At the end of the day what happened?”Part of the condition is that out of 23 local government Chairmen we are going to select all 23; the already had members of the State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff to the Governor could no longer come closer to the government again, your Secretary to the State Government can no longer come to the government again, there are some selected local government Chairmen that must not come to the government again. At the end of the day somebody agreed that you not run for another election again. They say that is a peace accord.”When they finished it they went to Mr President in the Villa for Mr President to affirm it. Is that a peace accord? That was not a peace accord.”I think Simi was tired of it and he surrendered without the consent of the people.”He chided Governor Simi for succumbing to all the demands of Wike, including the unceremonious dissolution of his grassroot support team, the Simplified Movement.”At the end of the day when they returned what did Simi say? He gathered his Simplified Movement and discouraged them. Those that printed solidarity caps, and other materials for 2027 he warned them that he didn’t send anybody.”Again, he dissolved the Simplified Movement, his political movement whereas the Zikist Movement of the early 1960s is still alive. The Awoist is still alive; the Ahmadu Bello is still alive; the People’s Redemption Movement is still alive. What are we talking about?”Wike’s Grassroot Movement is still alive but you went and dissolved your own movement. Today Governor Simi does not have any alternative political platform. “Today if he comes back he may not have any commissioner nominated by him, he might not have a single councillor loyal to him, today if he comes back he won’t have a single member of the State House of Assembly loyal to him.”Is that what you call peace accord? No.”Somebody has submitted to superior political firepower. “If a sitting governor was conquered with all the paraphernalia of office, with all the economic power, with all the financial and political muscles, and other things; if somebody outside the power in the State is able to suppress the governor who is there to challenge that authority?”It will remain like that till thy kingdom comes. That is my prediction.”

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POLITICS

There Was Never a Peace Accord Between Gov Fubara, Wike – Former APC Chieftain Jackson Ojo

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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

A former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo, has dispelled speculations that there is a peace deal between Rivers State Governor Simi Fubara and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Jackson Ojo declared on Sunday that instead of a peace accord, what is presently on ground is akin to a political surrender agreement that will render the governor totally impotent politically.

According to him, all items on the agreement are one sided in favour of Wike who was on the negotiation table with his team whereas Governor Fubara was there without any supporter.

He declared that Governor Fubara was overwhelmed and tired of the whole issue and simply surrendered to Wike.

“I wonder why some people say there was a peace accord between Governor Simi Fubara and Nyesom Wike. There was never a peace accord between Wike and Simi. What we saw was Simi surrendered.

“When you are talking about peace accord, let me go this way. Two communities are fighting and people say we want to settle it. What do you expect. You expect the King and the Council of Chiefs from community A and the King and Council of Chiefs from community B, they will talk and arrive at conclusion.

“They will now work on that conclusion when they must have struck a balance.

“But what happened between these people (Wike and Fubara)? It was Wike and his people. Fubara went there alone without any of his supporters. At the end of the day what happened?

“Part of the condition is that out of 23 local government Chairmen we are going to select all 23; the already had members of the State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff to the Governor could no longer come closer to the government again, your Secretary to the State Government can no longer come to the government again, there are some selected local government Chairmen that must not come to the government again. At the end of the day somebody agreed that you not run for another election again. They say that is a peace accord.

“When they finished it they went to Mr President in the Villa for Mr President to affirm it. Is that a peace accord? That was not a peace accord.

“I think Simi was tired of it and he surrendered without the consent of the people.”

He chided Governor Simi for succumbing to all the demands of Wike, including the unceremonious dissolution of his grassroot support team, the Simplified Movement.

“At the end of the day when they returned what did Simi say? He gathered his Simplified Movement and discouraged them. Those that printed solidarity caps, and other materials for 2027 he warned them that he didn’t send anybody.

“Again, he dissolved the Simplified Movement, his political movement whereas the Zikist Movement of the early 1960s is still alive. The Awoist is still alive; the Ahmadu Bello is still alive; the People’s Redemption Movement is still alive. What are we talking about?

“Wike’s Grassroot Movement is still alive but you went and dissolved your own movement. Today Governor Simi does not have any alternative political platform.

“Today if he comes back he may not have any commissioner nominated by him, he might not have a single councillor loyal to him, today if he comes back he won’t have a single member of the State House of Assembly loyal to him.

“Is that what you call peace accord? No.

“Somebody has submitted to superior political firepower.

“If a sitting governor was conquered with all the paraphernalia of office, with all the economic power, with all the financial and political muscles, and other things; if somebody outside the power in the State is able to suppress the governor who is there to challenge that authority?

“It will remain like that till thy kingdom comes. That is my prediction.”
End

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POLITICS

Obi Personally Funded His 2023 Presidential Campaign — Ex-LP Treasurer

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The former National Treasurer of the Labour Party LP), Oluchi Oparah, dismissed allegations that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, misused party funds during his 2023 presidential campaign.

Oparah stated that Peter Obi personally funded his campaign activities and also made financial contributions to the party.

She stated that Obi not only financed his own campaign activities but also played a key role in stabilising the party’s finances upon joining.

“There was nothing of such. Mr. Obi never spent any money meant for the party,” Oparah said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, when asked to react to the allegation by a chieftain of the LP, Abayomi Arabambi, that Obi spent party funds on his campaign.

“In fact, he lifted the party from zero level to where it is today,” she added.

She disclosed that before Obi joined the Labour Party, it was deeply in debt and struggled to pay its staff salaries.

She noted that Obi fulfilled all the financial obligations expected of him and went further to donate to the party from his personal resources.

“Mr. Obi fulfilled every righteousness financially towards the Labour Party. There was never a time he asked for a dime from the party, unlike other political parties will do,” she stated.

She also explained the campaign financing structure, stating that each candidate was permitted to operate a separate campaign account, independent of the party’s official accounts.

She explained that the Labour Party also maintained its financial accounts for party activities.

“He spent a lot of money on the Labour Party. We have programmes that Mr. Obi solely financed by himself. Obi spent from his money because the Labour Party did not have a dime,” Oparah said during the interview.

She also condemned what she termed the lack of accountability in the current APC-led administration and called on Nigerians to concentrate on holding the ruling party accountable instead of targeting Peter Obi.

She also challenged those accusing Obi of financial misconduct to come forward with proof of the payments they claim to have made to the Labour Party.

“As far as I am concerned, Mr. Obi was the only person who showed interest in contesting on the platform of the Labour Party.

“So, anyone claiming whatsoever should come out to show us the particular account to which they paid whatever thing they say they paid to the Labour Party,” she maintained.

Oparah praised Obi’s charitable nature, describing his charitable activities as a consistent trait long before his time as a presidential candidate, adding, “Anyone that knows Mr. Obi very well knows that his act of charity is five and six, like the air he breathes.”

End

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