₦airaland Forum

ilugunboy: naptu2....

When are you taking up the offer.....you seem to be avoiding that thread.

[size=14pt]Gumi is right, no compulsion in religion[/size]

Published on Saturday, 18 August 2012 06:00

Written by Bello Sa’id

Recent comments by prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, condemning the incessant attacks by terrorists claiming to be Muslims has once again thrown light on the issue of suicide bombings and other acts of violence, as well as the position of Islam on them. The sheikh’s remarks, coming during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, has attracted a lot of comments and generated so much fear about his security. These fears are not out of place as it has become very obvious that anyone who publicly condemns the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria today also becomes a prime target of the misguided group’s senseless killings.

The Saudi-based scholar penultimate week while preaching at the famous Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna condemned the killings claimed or attributed to the group and other violent groups citing verses from the Holy Quran that have outlawed the killing of innocent souls.

“This is why we are of the view that those behind these killings are not doing it because of Islam. Islam does not allow its followers to engage in the killing of innocent people. Even during wars, we are not allowed to torch places of worship of Christians and Jews. We are not allowed to kill women and children except if they are among those fighting Islam. Therefore, these people killing indiscriminately are just wicked people who have an agenda to destroy our religion and our people. It is important for those in authority to stop corruption and stop imposing themselves on people. Nigerians should be allowed to choose their leaders.” Sheikh Gumi said.

Sheikh Gumi’s comments are not new. Many scholars have condemned the activities of Boko Haram before now. What is new in my view however is that the Sheikh was able to summon the courage to say in public what many leaders and scholars only say in private. Other scholars often condemn such killings in such a manner that suggests that they are being cautious of the fact that they could become instant targets of those misguided elements.

But Gumi’s approach was different. He hit the nail on the head, saying it out loud that the teachings of the Quran have made it clear that ‘there is no compulsion in religion’ and Boko Haram was wrong to have issued an ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan to convert to Islam.

[size=14pt]Indeed Quran chapter 109 is very clear on the position of Allah on people who believe in Islam and those who don’t. The verses read as follows: “(1.) Say (O Muhammad) to those disbelievers in Allah, (in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar, etc.) (2) I worship not that which you worship (3) Nor will you worship that which I worship. (4) And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. (5) Nor will you worship that which I worship. (6) To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).[/size]

With these verses from the Holy Quran in mind, it remains a mystery how group of people will issue an ultimatum to a Christian to convert to Islam or face their wrath. It is however very unfortunate that a few youngsters would be coerced into joining the group to carry out instructions from evil minded leaders of the deadly sect. The sect’s leaders continue to live in comfort and convenience while bullying mostly young adolescent males to go out and commit violent crimes against harmless citizens.

The sect’s problem is both a reflection and a reminder on the moral decadence that has occurred in the Nigerian society. Many parents across the north have become negligent, careless, irresponsible and nonchalant that that they bear children and hatch no plans to provide the basic shelter, nutritional, educational, health and other needs of those offspring. At very tender ages, children are sent out on the streets under the cover of seeking knowledge, thereby exposing them to various kinds of conditions ranging from starvation, poor healthcare, immoral acts and bullying.

The end result is what we have on our hands today. Millions of uncultured almajiris now roam the streets of the north looking for activities to occupy their minds. The wanton poverty and joblessness in the land now makes it easy for such children raised with no morals to become vulnerable for recruitment by the evil sect and other criminal groups.

This has resulted in a situation where in the past two decades or so, a few thugs will at the slightest provocation begin to set houses ablaze, killing people and looting assets. As is traditional in this country, very little efforts have been made over the decades to tackle these issues. Ethno-religious violence has become the order of the day, with thugs and homeless children killing and looting all the way.

It is in the light of all these that I find Sheikh Gumi’s comments welcome at this critical time. If the terrorists would not listen to Emirs, Governors and other political leaders, at least they will do themselves some service by listening to the learned Sheikh. Then, what is their justification for such violence? It’s time to stop this madness and anyone who is anyone in the north must play a part in this task. It is the most important national assignment of our time. This is not just the work of security agents. Our leaders in the north - all of them;  northern elders, governors, former governors, former heads of state, emirs, traditional title holders, captains of industry, legislators and everyone that matters – it’s time to get to work. No more lip service.

Sa’id writes from Lugbe, Abuja

[size=14pt]Genuine Muslims Don’t Kill – Sheikh Gumi[/size]

03.08.2012, 12:29

A prominent Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Mahmud Gumi, yesterday described as un-Islamic the killing of innocent people in Nigeria through bombings and gun attacks.

The cleric said this during his daily Ramadan Tafsir (Qur'an translation and commentary) at the Sultan Bello mosque, Kaduna.

Citing various verses from the Qur'an, Sheikh Gumi said Islam does not allow Muslims to kill innocent people, irrespective of their beliefs.

"This is why we are of the view that those behind these killings are not doing it because of Islam. Islam does not allow its followers to engage in the killing of innocent people. Even during wars, we are not allowed to torch places of worship of Christians and Jews.

We are not allowed to kill women and children except if they are among those fighting Islam. Therefore, these people killing indiscriminately are just wicked people who have an agenda to destroy our religion and our people. It is important for those in authority to stop corruption and stop imposing themselves on people.

Nigerians should be allowed to choose their leaders. There should be fairness in the running of the affairs of the country, especially in recruitment of uniformed personnel. I was sad when I saw the list of admission recently released by various military schools. Muslims are being cheated and this is part of the things that cause unrest in the society," Sheikh Gumi said.

He urged Muslims to effectively utilise the Ramadan period to pray for peace and progress of the country.

Scun: I saw this article before my previous posts and I still stand by it. The underlined parts are the quotes Gumi made from the Qur'an and they didn't do anything in answering Shekau's challenge. The other parts which would have done much are unfortunately not from the Qur'an but Hadiths or whatever they call it from Islamic scholars and clerics like Gumi himself. Many Muslims do not believe in the authenticity of those Hadiths, for example Abu Huraira who was quoted by Gumi whose quote you bolded is regarded by many muslims as a liar. Furthermore, many muslims believe that the Qur'an is perfect and complete and that there is no need for Hadiths. So, I wonder why they cannot prove that Islam is against the activities of these terrorists from the Qur'an itself.

9jadelta: @naptu
u didn't get the point scun was trying to make

committing suicide (to kill one self) is different from committing suicide for the will of Allah even the article abi na preaching that u posted confirmed that.
this so called suicide bombers died after casting terror into the heart of infidels and those that doesn't accept allah as one god. they felt Islam has been marginalized by the so called unbelievers.
they didn't die alone, they died fighting jihad

the suicide the sheik was referring too according to the last bolded part is killing urself out of depression/fanaticism/ sickness
which am sure was pretty rampart or still very rampart in Asia today

their is no place in qioran that frowns at killing infidels, heathen, unbelievers like me. please if there is any, let's talk, I like to learn. may be u can convince me on the way I view islam

erniok: @ naptu, what he preached against was only suicide bombing while ignoring the other heinous crimes committed against humanity and as such has not really condemned their overall activities using the Koran.

Scun: Only Sheikh Gumi?? I know of Shiekh Gumi before now but, I still took time to glance through the links, no where did he prove that Boko Haram's killings were against the teaching of the Qur'an. His statements were mainly poltical in nature and nothing different from what me or any non-muslim would have said. Abubakar Shekau asked for proof that his group's actions were against Islam's teachings, I couldn't see any where Sheikh Gumi gave proofs in any of the links you provided.
He condemned their actions, which is very good, but he didn't prove that they were unislamic.

Scun: Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader released a video yesterday. As he always does in his videos, he challenged any Islamic cleric anywhere in the world, to prove that what he does is against the teachings of the Qu'ran. That was the umpteenth time he raised that challenge, no cleric has been able to prove him wrong yet. Like I said before, the religion of Islam is evil!

naptu2: Sheikh Gumi: Boko Haram Are Not Real Muslims
https://www.nairaland.com/1008792/sheikh-gumi-boko-haram-not

Sheikh Gumi Escaped Death In Kaduna
https://www.nairaland.com/1019982/sheikh-gumi-escaped-death-kaduna

Sheik Gumi Kicks Against Amnesty For Boko Haram, Says They Ought To be Crushed
http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/sheik-gumi-kicks-against-amnesty-boko-haram-says-they-ought-be-crushed

All Suicide-Bombers Are Going To Hell
https://www.nairaland.com/1257673/all-suicide-bombers-going-hell-gumi

Boko-Haram Is Diabolical And Should Be Flushed" Sheik Gumi!!!!
https://www.nairaland.com/1265345/boko-haram-diabolical-should-flushed-sheik

Sheikh Gumi To Boko-Haram - You Cannot Break-Up Nigeria
https://www.nairaland.com/1303041/sheikh-gumi-boko-haram-cannot-break-up

Sheikh Gumi: Prophet Mohammed, Muslims Have No Enemy Worse Than Boko Haram
http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/sheikh-gumi-prophet-mohammed-muslims-have-no-enemy-worse-boko-haram

Dallas Cowgirl: Wetin you dey fear? You owe am money?

[size=14pt]Mana faults Eagles’ WC schedule[/size]

24 Sep 2013 16:22:53

Humphrey Njoku

Retired Nigerian Fifa badge referee, Dr Alex Mana has laughed off the Nigeria Football Federation 24-hour arrival plan for the Super Eagles in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the crucial first leg tie of the 2014 World Cup qualifying play-offs against the Walya Antelopes.

The NFF has scheduled October 11 as departure date for the Eagles aimed at countering the expected high altitude in the East African state for the game against the Ethiopians on Saturday, October 12 at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

Mana took a swipe at the decision insisting that the football body is unwittingly shortening the Super Eagles’ survival opportunities against their Ethiopian counterparts, the Walya Antelopes.

“The 24-hour arrival plan is obviously laughable, we’re giving Ethiopia undue advantage, we won’t even gain much with weeks of acclimatisation not to talk of a day old acclimatisation.

“It’s bad not to acclimatise at all. There is a disadvantage there already due to the high altitude but if you acclimatise you can chance to bend the minuses a little.

“I know the NFF has a handicap, as majority of our players is everywhere in the world coupled with clubs varying restriction on the release of players for their national team assignment.

“That’s why it’s good for a country to have the nucleus of their players in one region not as it’s in our case our players are virtually everywhere in the world thereby making it a daunting task to get the players together on time.

“Egypt dominated the continent for a long time before the recent crisis because majority of their players play on the continent,” said the don of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) to supersport.com.

Though Mana is positive Nigeria will come out of the Addis Ababa duel unscathed he will prefer the nation queue behind Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi to get more domestic players on board of the national team.

“Of course, the high altitude in Ethiopia will surely play its pranks on us but with little doggedness on the part of the players we may survive the scourge and emerge unscathed.

“But we can manage similar incident in future on permanent basis by encouraging the ongoing effort by Keshi to bring in more local lads in the team so that we’ll depend less on the foreign-based players,” Mana said.

Both sides will meet in the return leg in Calabar, Nigeria in November for the decisive leg in which the winners over the two legs will qualify for the quadrennial global football fiesta coming up in Brazil next year.

theoctopus: @naptu, I respect your unbiased approach to this forum most times but with all due respect, the Enron project was a major scam by Tinubu. It was never designed to produce any power. It was simply an avenue to syphone and embezzle major funds just like the Lekki concession road. The whole Enron badge shipment to Lagos was a fraud. I will engage you on that if you want me to.

[size=14pt]Fashola Demands Refund Of N16 Billion Illegal Deductions On Power By FG[/size]

by oyb(m): 3:24am On Jul 12, 2012

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/07/10/fashola-demands-refund-of-n16-billion-illegal-deductions-on-power-by-fg/

The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to refund the N16 billion deducted from its allocation from the Federation Account over its investment in power.

Claiming the nation’s economic capital has been unjustly treated in the on-going privatization exercise, especially, when it comes to privatization of assets. The governor asserted that if the nation must make a success of the privatization exercise in the Power Sector, it must start from Lagos

Mr Fashola made the lamentation about the alleged plight of the state while playing host to the members of the Senate Committee on Privatization which paid him a courtesy visit.

Explaining the genesis of the N16 billion illegal deductions, the governor explained that the state government invested in power plant, yet the power was not dedicated to Lagos, “but they (FG) have deducted about N16billion of our money in spite of court orders.” “Now, we get punished for taking the initiative” he added.

“There is a standing liability to us by the PHCN, the illegal deductions of N16 billion for power that we did not get, for the power that other states used. Now, those are issues of social and economic injustice that must be resolved before we can even have a successful privatization exercise. We are in court and there is arbitration”, the Governor said adding that he has written to the National Assembly to say that those are “red flakes to the successful completion of the exercise.

The governor however warned that as much as the state government supports the privatization exercise, if the money was not refunded, it would constitute clogs to the successful execution of the exercise.

Noting that the debt would be part of the due diligence obstacles for any concessionaire to cross, Governor Fashola warned, “If our money is not paid, clearly there will be issues of financial caution, I can tell you that”, calling on the Committee to persuade the National Assembly to make appropriation to refund the N16 billion to Lagos State.

“”It is no longer a question of who is right and who is wrong. The impact of Power to the National Economy is more than N16 billion”, the Governor said, adding, “Now, if the PHCN workers that went on strike at the onset of Power Reforms were paid, why should we not be paid because we did not go on demonstration; we are being civil”.

Governor Fashola insisted that for the privatization of the Power Sector to be successful, “We must put our best foot forward in Lagos because the Power demand is here, the Power assets is here”, warning that if the Federal Government should put on the attitude of “we can do it without them”, there would be problems ahead.

“Most of the distribution assets are here, we have invested in transformers, feeder pillars, poles, cabling and others. Those are the distribution assets any concessionaire is going to use. We have a transformer manufacturing company in Lagos where we are producing transformers and distributing to communities”, the Governor said pointing out that so far the electricity regulatory company has come to inspect the assets.

Noting that there is a provision in the Constitution that allows states to distribute power in areas not covered by the National Grid, Governor Fashola said such areas were not defined and called on the Committee to take up the task to legislate on such issues so that concessionaires and private investors would know which areas to invest in distribution.

The Governor also called on the Committee to assist to create “Greenfield Power Distribution Companies” saying they would act as backups for the 11 distribution companies carved out of the PHCN.

“It is not enough to say that the 11 distribution companies carved out of the PHCN are the only ones because if you look at the NITEL story, it was the Greenfield telecommunications companies that ultimately baled us out of our problem. So we must have Greenfield distribution companies that carry no baggage.

Federation’s orphan

“We have been given the short end of the stick consistently. Given our contribution to the national economy, there has been no reciprocity. Our assets and our lands have been servicing the nation; these lands were there before they were acquired by the Federal Government for government business and we are saying, if they are no longer serving government business we are supposed to take our land back”, the Governor said.

Describing it as social injustice, Governor Fashola said Lagos State has been “the orphan of the entire Federation”, adding that the Federal Government took the State’s assets and gave nothing in return in spite of the fact that the State contributes the highest quota to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman of the Committee said the Committee was in Lagos to inspect the Egbin Thermal Station in Ikeja and the Eko Business District as part of its oversight functions on the processes for the Privatization of the Power Sector.

According to Senator Obadara, the Committee paid a courtesy call Mr. Fashola with a view to interface with the State Government on areas of mutual interest in the drive towards improvement in the Energy Sector and to appreciate efforts made by the state government in the Independent Power Project scheme.

[size=14pt]Akute Power Project (12.15 Megawatt) - IPP for the Lagos State Water Corporation.[/size]

https://www.lagosstateppp.gov.ng/projects/case_studies/power/images/Akute.jpg


The Akute Power Project provides a total capacity of 12.15 MW by using four 3 MW GE Jenbacher gas engines.

A 13km natural gas pipeline was connected to the existing natural gas infrastructure.

The project cost US$25.5 million and spanned a 12-month construction period.

The Power plant commenced operations in December 2009.

Key stakeholders are:

 

Lagos State Water Corporation - Power Off Taker

Clarke Energy - EPC Contractor

Oando Gas & Power (OGP) - Promoter

Finance arranger - OGP

NGC/Gaslink - Gas supplier

Lagos State Government - Financial guarantor

[size=14pt]AES Nigeria’s 270 Megawatt (MW) - IPP Project[/size]

https://www.lagosstateppp.gov.ng/projects/case_studies/power/images/AES_000.jpg

The project is an Independent Power Project (IPP) that operates nine (9) barge-mounted gas turbines, producing 270MW of electricity.

AES Nigeria (a subsidiary) of AES USA was the project sponsor responsible for the implementation of the project.

US$12million was raised to fund the project from an international consortium of 4 commercial banks and 3 development institutions.

The project remains a joint venture between AES and YF Power Nigeria.

AES has an option to follow through this project with a 540MW IPP in Marogbo, Badagry.

[size=14pt]Pioneering Role of Lagos in Power Projects[/size]

02 Nov 2010

Being the first state to attempt to break the monopoly of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), with the initiation of the Enron Power Project on August 1, 1999, coupled with the recent inauguration of a transformer manufacturing factory, Lagos State has maintained its pioneering role in power projects in Nigeria, Ejiofor Alike, writes

 

Enron Experiment

At the peak of the abysmal performance of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), now Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN), Lagos State under the then Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, became the first state to attempt to break the monopoly of the ailing power giant by initiating a giant Independent Power Project(IPP).

On August 1, 1999, the Tinubu-led administration, Yinka Folawiyo Power Limited and Enron Corporation of the United States signed an agreement for an IPP, with the Federal Government as the guarantor.

The barge-mounted electricity generating plant was to be located adjacent to the NEPA’s Egbin Power Station, Nigeria’s biggest power plant.

 

The generating facility was originally designed to consist of nine barge-mounted combustion turbines with a total net output of 290megawatts of electricity.

The total investment in the business was estimated at $225 million with Enron controlling the majority shares, while Yinka Folawiyo Power Limited, a Nigerian conglomerate, owns the remaining shares in the venture.

By the terms of the agreement as presented by Lagos State, Enron was to generate the power and feed it into the National Grid, with NEPA as the operator that was to receive, transmit and distribute the power, while the State would designate destinations for power supply and market it to consumers.

 

The state was also to generate bills and pay the accrued revenue into an escrow account from which Enron could draw; while the Federal Government would provide project support, being the guarantor.

However, in January 2001, the AES Corporation announced that its subsidiary had acquired from Enron, a majority interest in the barge-mounted IPP.

AES, a leading global power company has generation, distribution and transmission infrastructure in Georgia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic and El Salvador,

At the time of acquisition by AES, the barges were still under construction and commencement of commercial operations of the power facility was expected in September 2001.

 

AES was both manager of construction and plant operator; while electricity from the plant was to be supplied to NEPA under a 13.25 year power purchase agreement.

However, since inception, the project was mired in controversy as the state, NEPA and the Federal Government clashed over the implementation of the agreement.

The controversy peaked when Lagos State took the PHCN to the then Dr. Ransom Owan-led board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), over allegation of breach of supply agreement and wrongful invoicing of the state.

Lagos State had said in the petition to NERC that it had agreed to contribute 21.15 per cent of the Barge Power Purchase Agreement (BPPA) monthly bills on the condition that the power being generated by AES/Enron would be supplied solely to Lagos State.

 

According to the state government, further to the Contribution Agreement, on 14th November, 2000, it instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to effect a direct debit of its statutory allocations from the Federation Account for the amount due as its contribution, to the capacity payments.

The state however, said that the instruction was to serve only as further security for payment of its obligations, under the BPPA and could only be effected if it failed to pay a valid invoice.

“In June 2001, the IPP began commercial operations and NEPA began to purchase capacity and energy under the BPPA.

‘However, in clear breach of the BPPA and the  spirit of the Contribution Agreement, NEPA failed and or refused to devote any or all of the electrical output of the IPP to customers in the areas designated in the BPPA submitted for its contribution by NEPA,” the state said.

 

Lagos State also stated that despite the breach of agreement, the Federal Ministry of Finance had continued to deduct its 21.15 per cent contribution from source.

All these show that there is no doubt about the viability and feasibility of the IPP project as envisaged by all the partners, including the Lagos State Government.

The project was viable, feasible and was delivered to meet not only specifications but also international standard.

Today, the AES project is supplying close to 230megawatts to the Egbin Thermal Station, from where the power is feed into the National Grid.

 

With this additional supply from AES, the total output from Egbin averages 800megawatts when gas is available.

The only issue under contentionwas that the power generated from AES was being transmitted to the National Grid for the use of the entire country, instead of only Lagos and this bordered on alleged failure by parties to honour contractual and business obligations.

Despite the controversy surrounding the Enron power project, the Federal Government still joined Lagos State to see the wisdom in breaking the monopoly of PHCN, hence the massive construction of power plants across the country and the planned privatisation of the ailing utility giant.

 

Transformer Manufacturing Factory

To maintain its leading role in power projects, Lagos State also became the first state to inaugurate a transformer manufacturing factory built by Elsewedy Electric Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Elsewedy Cables of Egypt.

The company, which has a capacity to produce 1,400 transformers yearly, is located at the Badagry end of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Lagos.

Speaking during the inauguration of the project, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola stated that the factory would serve not only Nigeria but other countries in the west coast of Africa.

 

The Governor disclosed that the factory started producing transformers in February 2010, and also added that the transformers produced by the factory were already strengthening the state government’s rural electrification projects in the state.

“The idea behind this factory did not start today. As Chief of Staff in the last administration, I visited Egypt – I led a government delegation to cairo to start the negotiations. But we could not conclude and it was when I became Governor that we signed the Joint Venture agreement that gave us this project,” he said.

“Elsewedy is an African company. When I left Lagos in 2008 to go to Egypt, this was what I went to do with your time and with your money. Electricity does not fail in Cairo.

 

“This is the company that generates and manages the electricity of Cairo. It is an African company. They are not only in Cairo; they are in many parts of the Middle East and many parts of Africa. Let us deploy African solutions to African problems,” he explained.

The Governor, who added that what Lagos State had done was not a rocket science, stressed that in many other parts of the world, transformer manufacturing was a cottage industry, adding that the situation should not be different in Nigeria.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Senapon

Oworu, said the inauguration of the project accentuated the commitment of the state government to the industrial growth and economic prosperity of the state.

 

The Special Adviser noted that the task of bringing the project to fruition was her first major assignment from Governor, having received the mandate to liaise with Elsewedy Cables of Egypt in November 2007.

She disclosed that the project was a joint venture between the Lagos State Government, 5.26 per cent and the Egyptian firm, 94.74 per cent.

According to her, the inauguration of the project was another manifestation of the successful collaboration with the private sector in project implementation.

 

“That we are here to commission this project today is no doubt a testimony to the power of vision, the commitment to mission and a product of dedication and hard work by the state government and the Elsewedy Group. To the good people of Badagry, I congratulate you on this achievement. This, coupled with the ongoing expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, has positioned this culturally rich and historically relevant town for unprecedented growth in commercial activities,” she said.

 

Appeal to President Jonathan

To encourage his state as well as other states to boost local manufacturing of electricity distribution equipment, Governor Fashola also said he had written to the presidency for a downward review of tariffs on the components of transformers and other distribution facilities.

He said a downward review of the tariffs would strengthen the competitiveness of locally-manufactured transformers in the domestic market.

 

“This is to ensure that these transformers would not be more expensive than imported ones. This is the only way that local firms can grow. If the imported transformers are cheaper, then we will not promote local growth. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to look favourably and kindly to our requests for a downward review of the tariffs on the imported components of these transformers,” he said.

Governor Fashola said a downward review of these tariffs was one of the ways the Federal Government could use its fiscal policies to promote growth.

The Governor, who also stated that he was waiting anxiously for a positive reply from the Presidency, noted that the measure would reduce unemployment in the country.

 

He said that there was still much work to be done in the area of distribution of electricity in the country.

According to him, the real difficult part of the electricity sector was the distribution end.

“The reality is that as we take steps to improve the stock of power generation in the country, the power that is eventually generated will have to be distributed to houses and consumers through cables, and transformers and measured through electricity metres in order to facilitate fair and proper billing,” he said.

The Governor noted that regular and efficient electricity remains the only missing infrastructure that was militating against the growth of the economy of this country.

He said the actualisation of the potentials of Nigerians and their freedom from poverty were also being hampered by irregular electricity supply.

Governor Fashola also noted that the unveiling of the roadmap on the power sector would provide opportunities for investors in the sector.

 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the construction of captive power plants to cater for designated areas as envisaged by Lagos State in the Enron project is the panacea to the epileptic power supply in the country.

Heavy dependence on the single ‘almighty’ National Grid for electricity supply to all parts of the country has not only made electricity supply epileptic and abysmally mournful, but has also transmitted system failure in one area to all other areas that rely on the grid.

 

The current effort by President Goodluck Jonathan to break away from the past by encouraging states, local governments and the private sector to participate in electricity generation and distribution is viewed by analysts as a right step in the right direction.

Lagos State has successfully pioneered the involvement of states in power generation and distribution, and it is expected that other states should follow the examples of the State.

The Federal Government should therefore provide the incentives to encourage other states, Local Governments, as well as small and big businesses to generate power for their own use.

 

A downward review or outright removal of tariffs on the components of electricity distribution facilities and power plants, such as transformers and gas turbines is one of the ways that the Federal Government can boost the interest of other stakeholders in power projects.

All regulatory impediments such as the requirement for an operating licence from NERC for generation below 10 megawatts should be removed.

ocelot2006: Let's see......Fashola generates/promises to generate a meagre 10-50MW, and you folks sing his praise. Yet GEJ doubles the power generated across the nation (plus some), and all he gets for a job well done are insults and stupid critisms borne out of sheer hatred.....huh....ain't that strange..

mikelreal: But why cant we ve one unified number for the whole states in the country?? Like in U.S na 911 dem dae call for anytn, be it armed robbers, fire, or ur cat hang for fence anywhere in u.s.

[size=14pt]Nairobi attack: Kenya's President Kenyatta says siege over[/size]

24 September 2013

The four-day siege involving suspected Islamist militants at Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre is over, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta says.

Five attackers were shot dead by troops and 11 suspects were in custody, he said in a TV address to the nation.

Kenya has "shamed and defeated our attackers" but the "losses are immense", he said, confirming that 61 civilians and six soldiers had died.

Three days of national mourning have been declared, starting on Wednesday.

President Kenyatta said that several bodies - including those of "terrorists" - were thought to be trapped under rubble after three floors of the building collapsed following a blaze on Monday.

Some 175 people were injured in the attack; 62 people remain in hospital and many others are being treated for shock and are undergoing counselling.

"I promise that we shall have a full accountability for the mindless destruction, deaths, pain, loss and suffering we have all undergone as a national family.

"These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices and patrons, wherever they are," he said.

At least 18 foreigners are among the dead, including six Britons, as well as citizens from France, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and China.

Continued threat

The militants stormed the Westgate centre on Saturday, throwing grenades and firing on shoppers and staff.

Somali Islamist group al-Shabab said it had carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenyan army operations in Somalia.

The president said he could not confirm reports that a British national and two or three US citizens were involved in the attacks, but he said forensic experts were carrying out tests to ascertain their nationalities.

In an interview with the US TV programme PBS Newshour, Kenya's Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed said the Americans were 18 or 19 years old, of Somali or Arab origin.

Her remarks have fuelled media speculation about the possible involvement of Samantha Lewthwaite, the widow of one of the men who carried out attacks on London's transport system on 7 July 2005.

But a Twitter post from al-Shabab on Tuesday evening dismissed claims that women were involved in the attack. The group said it "categorically" denied involvement of any woman".

The group said: "We have an adequate number of young men who are fully committed and we do not employ our sisters in such military operations."

President Barack Obama called the events in Nairobi a "terrible outrage" and said the US was providing all the co-operation it could to Kenya.

Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said those behind the attacks "must be held accountable."

Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, has repeatedly threatened attacks on Kenyan soil if Nairobi did not pull its troops out of Somalia.

There are about 4,000 Kenyan troops in the south of Somalia as part of an African Union force supporting Somali government forces.

Al-Shabab is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia.

Despite being pushed out of key cities in the past two years, it remains in control of smaller towns and large swathes of the countryside.

UN special representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay called on Tuesday for a fresh surge in African troops to Somalia to counter an estimated 5,000 al-Shabab fighters.