THE NEWS

Nigeria’s Excess Crude account stands at $2.09bn – NEC

Published

8 months ago

October 19, 2018

The National Economic Council (NEC) says Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account stood at over $2.09 billion as at Oct. 16.

Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, said this while briefing State House correspondents after NEC meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Abubakar said that the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, gave the update on the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), Excess Crude Account, Stablisation Fund Account and Natural Resources Development Account.

“She presented a budget estimate for the FAAC meetings of 2018; usually these budgets estimates are prepared by the Office of Accountant General and tabled before the NEC for approval.

“A total budget of N650 million was approved for the conduct of the FAAC meetings for 2018, later on the minister gave update of the Excess Crude Account as at Oct. 16, 2018 which stood at 2.09 billion dollars.

“The Stablisation Fund Account stands at N21.9 billion and then the Natural Resources Development Fund stands at N119. 7 billion.’’

He said that there was also an update on the ad hoc committee set up by NEC to address the problem of crude oil theft and its prevention and control.

Abubakar said that the committee used to be headed by the then Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, but NEC had approved the nomination of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to head the committee.

The other governor members of this committee are governors of Akwa Ibom State, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Ondo.

He listed other members of the committee as the Ministers of Budget and Planning, Finance, Petroleum Resources, and representatives of the all the security agencies in Nigeria.

Abubakar said that the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, gave a presentation on the sporting activities that were conducted by his ministry.

He said that Dalung spoke specifically on the National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival.

“He indicated that the National Youth Games has been held successfully with 32 states participating and that the next edition of the National Sports Festival is in high preparation.

“The Minister of FCT has agreed to host the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival. He called on governors to support the process by preparing participants on time and supporting their participants to the venue.

“Giving adequate security for the participants including also kitting the participants for the festival as well as paying their participation fees to the organisers of the festival, ‘’ he said

THE NEWS

BEDC explains constraints on power distribution to Ondo South

Published

5 hours ago

June 25, 2019

Felix Onajite

The management of BEDC Electricity Plc. (BEDC) has assured residents of Ondo South that it is committed to providing power to their various communities provided the federal Government through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) addresses the present technical constraints that impede power distribution to the areas.

BEDC in its reaction to complaints by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State over lack of power supply to some parts of Ondo South, appealed to the Governor to put pressures on TCN and other federal government- related institutions to create an enabling environment for BEDC to serve its customers better by addressing these technical constraints.

These constraints according BEDC includes; the repair of the faulty breaker on the 30MVA TCN transformer which affected voltage to Ondo South axis causing very poor and none useful power ‘candle light’.

BEDC also called for the replacement of the unstable Ife/Oshogbo 132KV undersized line and the recommencing/completion of the proposed 132/33KV, 2x 60MVA at Erinje in Okitipupa which will provide capacity for up to 90megawatts of power when completed.

“In order to have a lasting and complete solution to Ondo South electricity need as well as have a lasting solution to Ondo state general power limitations, the permanent solution is for TCN to complete the proposed 132/33KV, 2x60MVA at Erinje in Okitipupa project which has been awarded by NDDC and abandoned as well as replace the unstable Ife/Oshogbo 132KV undersized line” BEDC said.

When this is completed, BEDC said it will be able to take the transmitted power and distribute same to customers in other parts of Ondo South, but noted “this will only serve an additional 25% of the power needs in this area. This is because the estimated total power supply needed is 47.6MW and only additional 11MW will be available from this TCN source, hence there would still be a shortfall of about 36.6MW”.

BEDC said that in January it collaborated with Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) using National Independent Power Project (NIPP) to restore power supply to Ode-Aye town in Okitipupa and Igbokoda in Ilaje local government area of Ondo South by rehabilitating the distribution network in a phased manner and by bypassing major load using centers.

“This was done to demonstrate to customers in Ondo South axis that the network was ready to receive and distribute power when TCN makes same available” the company added.

BEDC says since 2015, it has escalated to Ondo State Government, Federal Ministry of Power and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that the issue of power supply to major parts of Ondo South is largely and principally affected by TCN constraint.

It added: “TCN has not been able to transmit adequate power to BEDC in Ondo State and especially in part of Ondo South due to its technical constraints which has led to its existing problem of none availability of power in these locations.”

“We wish to state categorically that as a service provider, BEDC is not comfortable watching a large proportion of its customers located in Ondo state and most especially in several locations in Ondo South without supply for so many years.

The reality however is that in line with existing methodology of buying and transmitting bulk power from TCN grid, such power which is purchased by BEDC is what is distributed to our customers in all areas.” BEDC stated.

THE NEWS

We won’t recognise speakers elected through fraudulent means – Obasa warns Edo, Bauchi governors over Assembly crises

Published

2 days ago

June 23, 2019

Felix Onajite

The Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Sunday urged the governors of Edo, Godwin Obaseki, and Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, to immediately resolve the crises that have engulfed the respective Houses of Assembly in their states.

Speaker Obasa asked for the reversal of their proclamations of the Houses of Assembly in both states as well as the elections of principal officers adding that illegality should not thrive on the altar of perceived personal ego and interest.

The Speakers’ Conference Chairman warned strongly that the body would not recognise any Speaker of a state legislature that emerges through fraudulent means or violation of the Constitution and Business Rules of the affected House of Assembly as the organisation cannot condone illegality.

In a statement personally signed by the Speaker, he admonished the governors to adhere to the Nigerian constitution as well as the rules of the Houses of Assembly, which stipulate how principal officers should emerge. He also noted that no society can progress when its stakeholders are at daggers-drawn.

Obasa frowned at the drama that happened recently in the Edo state Assembly where nine members would elect the principal officers in a 24-member House in an inauguration that allegedly held at 9.30 pm.

In Bauchi, recall that 11 out of the 31 elected members of the ninth House of Assembly also elected principal officers in what Speaker Obasa described as “questionable manner.”

The crisis in Bauchi has led to the emergence of two speakers in the state as well as issues about litigations.

“A situation where a minority number in a State House of Assembly takes control of its activities over the majority is condemnable.

“No lover of democracy in the country should support the charade that happened recently at both Houses of Assembly. If we must make progress, we must work in an atmosphere of peace, love and unity.

“We must also all call on the governors to do the needful by reversing their actions and acting in accordance with the laws backing up the legislative arms of the affected states,” the Speaker said.

Obasa argued that even though Section 92(1), Chapter V of the 1999 Constitution simply states that there shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly who shall be elected by the members of the House from among themselves, Section 98(1 and 2) clearly stipulates that voting must be by simple majority.

Specifically, Section 98(2) states expressly: “Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the required majority for the purpose of determining any question shall be a simple majority.”

While reacting to the injunction secured by the 11 members of the Bauchi House of Assembly stopping the majority in the House from parading their elected Speaker and Deputy, Obasa cautioned the Judiciary against unnecessarily meddling in the affairs of the State Legislatures.

Obasa said the injunction from the Bauchi State High Court was frivolous and must be stopped.

“Why should any reasonable court grant injunction in favour of 11 against 20? Why should the Judiciary interfere in the business of the Legislature which is supposed to operate on the principle of separation of powers?” Obasa queried stressing that this was part of the discussions recently at a two-day conference on the implementation of autonomy for State Legislatures and Judiciary in Abuja.

THE NEWS

EKEDC warns against assault on staff

Published

3 days ago

June 22, 2019

Felix Onajite

The management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has warned residents in the area to desist from assaulting its staff.

In a statement by the management of the company, the EKEDC said individuals who assault staff of the company must be brought to book as legal action against some of the offenders have yielded some fruits.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

The management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC’s tussle to ensure that individuals who assault staff of the company are brought to book, has yielded some fruits.

The company’s legal representatives have been inundated with reports of assault, public incitement and threat to life against personnel of EKEDC in recent time.

While we consider this very unfortunate, as a law abiding company, we sought the assistance of security agents in helping in the arrest and prosecution of these troublemakers. Sadly, some of them claim to be community leaders. This set of people have often made the company’s efforts to maintain a peaceful coexistence with customers very difficult.

EKEDC’s Double Victory

In one of the cases of assault on our staff, on the 24th of May, 2019, one Mr. Moses Ogunleye, a resident of Mushin, led some group of people to House No.29 Omowunmi Street under Idi-Araba Undertaking of Mushin Business District to obstruct, restrict and assault the Eko Field Representatives (EFRs) of EKEDC during the May Cash drive activities. Mr. Ogunleye assaulted Mrs. Abejide and damaged her phone in the process. This act was caught on camera.

The EFR however, reported the case at Olosan Police Station that same day, being the Divisional Police station having jurisdiction over the area of the incident. The culprit was arrested by the policemen from Olosan Divisional Police Station and the other group fled only to resurface with two police officers from (PANTI SCID) to arrest the ZDM (Engr.Yahyah Abdulrafiu) at Olosan Police Station as they alleged that there was a petition against him. The Divisional Police Officer and DCO stopped the police officers from panti SCID and asked them to do it in a proper way by sending police invitation to his organization (EKEDC) to release him for appropriate investigation.

Mr. Ogunleye was granted bail at the police station at about 7pm on the same day.

The case was however charged to court on the 31st of May and Mr.Moses Ogunleye was arraigned at court 1 Mushin Magistrate Court Ogba. He pleaded not guilty to the three counts charge and was subsequently granted bail with one surety in like sum of N80,000. The surety must be gainfully employed and the address be verified by the prosecutor.

The case was adjourned to, Monday, 24th of June, 2019 for mention.

Also, one Mr. Israel Olayinka, 52, of No. 115, Gaskiya Road, Ijora Badia, Apapa Lagos and some others, now at large attacked our staff, obstructed the EKEDC’s vehicle and incited the public against them as they tried to discharge their duties. This happened in 2018 with Mr. Olayinka fleeing at the time too.

Olayinka conspired with his cronies to inflict beatings and injuries on Ajibola Matthew and Segun Ogunyemi, both staff of the EKEDC.

Nemesis however soon caught up with Olayinka as he was arrested and charged to the Samuel Ilori Magistrate Court, Ogba on the 21st of June, 2019. He however, pleaded not guilty to the 3-count allegation levelled against him. The court session was presided over by Mrs Y.O Ajiafunwa.

The suspect has however been granted bail in the sum of N600,000 with two sureties and evidence of Lagos State Tax Payment and verifiable property address.

However, latest information reaching the EKEDC confirms that he is still in Kirikiri Prisons as his bail terms are yet to be perfected.

EKEDC will like to reiterate that it is committed to the provision of unrivalled service to its networks and customers but will not condone any act of violence and intimidation against its personnel as they try to discharge their lawful duties. The company also calls on community leaders to work in unison with EKEDC as we work assiduously hard to ensure better service provision to our teeming customers.

We implore customers to use the numerous avenues we have opened to lodge complaints as well as suggestions.

We also assure of our readiness to work with community leaders and their followers in the discharge of our duties to ensure a better and more peaceful coexistence.