There is no doubt about it that Buhari/Osinbajo administration cut accros all sectors and still counting ,good leadership to follow

By Oluwafemi Popoola

In recent weeks there has been a surge in the distribution of power supply in many parts of the country. That development has led many Nigerians overtly worried as the situation continues to give an alien feel.

Last month, precisely, on Thursday, September 1, 2022, electricity generation was reported to have peaked at a record high of 5,043 megawatts (MW) which is an 8.1% increase when compared to 4,664MW recorded a day before. And with a daily average power generation of 94,281.68MWh in August, the power distribution has undoubtedly improved drastically.

To many, this is the clearest manifestation of the recent policy changes being introduced to the power sector by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This is coming at the back of the heels of a labour Union strike action in August of this year where electricity workers had embarked on a nationwide industrial action that plunged the whole nation into darkness.

The electricity workers were protesting non-payment of outstanding arrears owed by former workers of defunct PHCN, suspension of conditions of service and other demands. Although the strike action couldn’t last 48 hours the ripple effect of the nationwide blackout was said to have made DisCos lose an estimated N2.94 billion in potential revenue.

However, the upward trend of the power supply in the country has made many citizens begin to commend the Federal Government for improving the power situation in the country just within a couple of months that the electricity workers turned off gas turbines and power plants and grounded the operations of the TCN. They were, afterwards, accused by many of ‘economic sabotage” and “subversion against the nation.”

However, all those have been put behind, and the reality of the power supply in the country has improved drastically. Many Nigerians are testifying to it noting it is a huge step in the right direction.

Observing the situation on Twitter and other social media channels many have described it as the first time in two decades that Nigerians have experienced an uninterrupted power supply.

They bared their minds across many social media channels narrating their experiences across several homes, confirming the improvement of the electricity supply.

Many of them are seen on social media expressing their joy and satisfaction regarding the situation while others wondered asking what the Federal Government had done differently that facilitated the changes.

Also confirming the situation, the Ikeja Electric Company wrote on its Twitter account, “In one word, how is the power supply in your area?”

Many Twitter users jumped on the post praising the government for such an intervention. Some also jokingly expressed their tiredness of enjoying the extravagant power supply.

One Twitter user, Wizchy, in reacting to the post wrote, “Please take the light, I don taya.”

Raphael Ifeanyi while commenting on the said post also wrote. “Abeg take am small, I don taya to dey buy units.

In an independent post made by one Jerry Koko Durojaiye, commenting via @kokomatic wrote, “Is Buhari trying to force electricity supply on us in Nigeria? This uninterrupted power supply is suspicious. @SERAPNigeria said, “please help us sue the president over this matter.”

“Omo electricity has improved, I have not turned on my generator in weeks. It seems APC wants to campaign with electricity because I honestly don’t understand this. I like it sha,” Eze @AdannaPapa tweeted.

Martins Ezea said, “E Be like say na Electricity, APC wan use do campaign because I no understand the stability these days.”

Savage Gentleman @Fel Steve also has a similar experience. “E be like say na electricity, APC wan use do campaign because I no understand the stability these days.”

Also, Bashir Aliyu Limanci, in a Facebook post wrote “Electricity supply in Nigeria has never been that stable for almost two decades. For the first time in my adult life, my home has been enjoying an uninterrupted power supply for two weeks. The streak is likely to continue since rainfall no longer leads to the disruption of supply.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, had, in March 2020, appointed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the Power Sector Reform Coordination Working Group to consolidate the efforts of the federal and state governments to fix the power sector.

As a good administrator who has delivered successfully on national assignments put in his care both in the past and present, especially in creating a welfare state, Prof Osinbajo has again proven to be the right man for the job.

In essence, what is being experienced in the power sector is a product of the work being done by the presidential Power Sector Reform Coordination Working Group set to restore the lost efficiency in the nation’s “powerhouse” for the overall benefit of Nigerians.

Oh ! take heart guy

Not only do they guide students in academics or extracurricular activities, but teachers are also responsible for shaping a child's future, making him/her a better human being. A teacher imparts knowledge, good values, tradition, modern-day challenges.

It is the responsibility of elite to sacrifice for their people ,community

To build a successful society and nation, there must be a deliberate effort to create unity, with equity, justice, the rule of law, and accountability as components.

And the onus particularly lies on the elites of that society, who must be prepared to make the sacrifices for the benefit of the people.

This was the submission of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday at the “Nigeria at 62 Independence Day Anniversary Public Lecture” held at the statehouse Banquet hall in Abuja, where he was special guest of honour.

According to a statement by the media aide of the vice president, Laolu Akande, the guest lecturer at the event was the former head of the civil service of the federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi who spoke on the topic, Elites and National Unity.
In his lecture, Prof. Afolabi noted what he described as the “immense responsibility of the Nigerian elite” in resolving the country’s challenges, fostering national unity and development.
Speaking on the topic after listening to the lecture, the Vice President noted that “the story of successful societies is quite simple. It is usually the story of how the society’s elite – its best educated, its political, religious class, influence, direct and lead their societies to progress.
“Put differently, every successful society is the product of a conscious, elite consensus: the implicit and explicit agreements of the elite to change their societies for good. But the elite must be prepared to make the sacrifices for the benefit of everyone.”


https://leadership.ng/independence-day-elite-must-sacrifice-for-nigerias-greatness-osinbajo/

When there's an enabling and safe environment farmers will cultivate more farms and this will make the food surplus in the market, there will be a reduction in prices of food as well

In furtherance of its objectives on job creation and economic development, the Federal Government will continue to create the enabling environment to encourage more private sector investments in the agriculture sector, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo said this Friday at the formal commissioning of Pandagric Novum Farms, an integrated feed and food manufacturing company in Panda community, at the Karu LGA of Nasarawa State.

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Signature Agri Investments are major investors in the project.

Urging for more private sector investments in the agriculture sector, the VP noted that the project’s commissioning was a foretaste of many possibilities and opportunities for investments, in agriculture and other sectors in the country.

“What you see today confirms that there is opportunity in Nigeria for investments in agriculture. While government commits to creating an enabling environment, we will look to the private sector for the investments to galvanize growth in the sector. We must indeed, work together to re-define agriculture for the future in Nigeria,” the Vice President said.

While extending the warm compliments of President Muhammadu Buhari to the people of the State, the VP said Mr. President “passionately believes in the role of the country’s agriculture sector as a key driver of job creation and economic growth.”

He listed instances in different sub-sectors of the agriculture value chain where the NSIA, as part its key mandates, has invested in over the last 10 years

One of these investments is the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), which was established by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 to address the problem of cost and availability of fertilizer.

Adding that NSIA was enlisted by the President as the project implementing entity, Prof. Osinbajo rolled out the achievements of the PFI, which was restructured in 2022.

“Over its 5-year run (2017 -2021), the programme has delivered over 30 million 50kg bags of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser to Nigerian farmers, resuscitated the fertiliser blending industry, reviving over 60 otherwise moribund plans scattered across the country, created hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and enabled government conserve foreign exchange by import substitution amounting to over US$100million.

“With the sector now reactivated, the NSIA’s role in the fertilizer value chain has moved upstream,” the VP noted.

Among others, Prof. Osinbajo also highlighted the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) which was established by the NSIA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the KfW (a development bank).

According to him “in 2018, the NSIA invested US$5.0 million in Babban Gona – a high impact, scalable agricultural franchise that seeks to sustainably improve the lives of smallholder farmers through the provision of credit, inputs, training in good agricultural practices, harvesting & storage services, and marketing services.”

Prof. Osinbajo further noted that in order to address both unemployment, local production growth and food security in particular areas of the country, the NSIA, in 2017, “established an Agriculture Development Fund under a 50:50 joint venture with the Old Mutual Group of South Africa, with a commitment of US$50 million (US$25 million each) towards the development and investment in large-scale agriculture projects, combined with out-grower schemes.

“In 2018, the Fund committed US$29 million towards the acquisition and two-phased development of the Pandagric Novum Farms, an animal feed processing business with backward integration through the farming of maize and soybean.”

Despite the global challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vice President stated that “between 2018 and now, the Fund has successfully completed the development of Pandagric Novum Farms.”

The VP observed that some of the key milestones achieved under this project include:
-the installation of a 147,000 metric tons per annum capacity poultry feed mill;
-the installation of 75,000 tons of storage infrastructure in the form of two silos, six bunkers, as well as 35,000 tons of raw material and finished goods storage;
-the installation of 750ha of center pivot irrigation systems;
-the leasing of 3,500 ha of land for the cultivation of maize and soybeans;
-the construction of a 1.4 million cubic meter reservoir for water management; and
-the successful planting of 856ha of maize and 1,200ha of maize during the 2021 and 2022 wet farming seasons respectively.

Prof. Osinbajo also lauded Pandagric for providing boreholes for all six of its neighbouring communities and developing an out-grower scheme, while providing inputs and training to over 500 small holder farmers.

“It employs almost 800 direct staff and 2,000 indirect staff, making it the largest contributor of PAYE to Nasarawa State; and presently has the largest maize farm across the country,” the VP said.

Commending the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule “for the visionary zeal he has deployed in three and a half years to make Nasarawa the State of choice for Agricultural investment in Nigeria”, the VP added that the Governor’s support was fundamental in the completion of the project.

Prof. Osinbajo also commended the hard work and diligence of the Board and Management of the NSIA, Novum Farms and its partners on the project’s successful completion.

Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State commended the reinvigorated efforts of the Federal Government to support agricultural development across the country.

He added that though the project was conceived and pursued by his predecessors in office, ongoing efforts by the Buhari administration in the sector, made it possible for its completion.

Gov. Sule assured the investors and other stakeholders in the project of the state government's continuous support, urging the investors to expand to other major agricultural production areas in the State.

On his part, the Business Development Manager of Signature Agri Investments, Mr Theo van der Veen said the company's investment in the project is driven by its commitment to support food security and promote sustainable and innovative agricultural practice in Nigeria.

He said the company will leverage opportunities for more investments in agriculture in Nigeria starting with the expansion of the Pandagric project to cover more hectares of land.

The highpoint of the event was the commissioning and tour the factory, the farm and storage facilities by the VP accompanied by the Governor and other dignitaries.

The Vice President also planted a tree in commemoration of the ocassion.

Others present at the commissioning were, the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi; the Chairman and Board members of the NSIA, traditional rulers and other senior government officials.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
30th September, 2022

For unity ,development, and progress of our dear nation the elites must sacrifice at all cost ,sacrifice is one of the attributes of being a good leader and Prof Yemi Osinbajo is making all effort to sacrifice for the masses

Huge achievement

Prof Yemi Osinbajo is doing well and still counting
#MyLoveForOsinbajoStands

As a leader you have a responsibility and need to develop others to succeed in their roles and prepare for future roles and such attribute can be seen in prof Yemi Osinbajo

By Seun Johnson

For any country to achieve or attain greatness it is largely dependent on people which must first understand their roles as citizens. They must know the implications of every action taken, how positive is the action and what is the drive or motive of that action. We can argue from now till tomorrow that leaders determine what we do but I can say leaders are just there to coordinate our affairs and beliefs.

We can’t also forget that the leaders are a crop of individuals who are products of various homes from the society and often society is always a product of individuals. So, a society that desires change must first and foremost change everyone’s unhelpful dispositions.

Nigerian society is riddled with people with humongous selfish desires and aspirations. This, has, unfortunately, crippled the movement towards the greatness we anticipate. A situation where individuals swim in the ocean of personal gains rather than national gains will lead nowhere. It is tantamount to efforts in futility.

Since independence, we have had strings of chances of putting our country on the path of development but few powerful individuals, have had their grip on the Nation. They saw no need to sacrifice or bury their evil desires for national gains.

Nigerians once had the opportunity to choose a man to lead them, someone whose closest rivals even attested to his brilliance and leadership skills, the man whom Nigerians believed could salvage the country given his proven capabilities and achievements at the regional government. The man was Obafemi Awolowo.

In the words of Odumegwu Ojukwu, “Obafemi Awolowo was the best President, Nigeria never had.” Nigeria lost a golden opportunity by missing the leadership of the late sage at the central government. Awo as fondly called was head above the shoulder of his peers in life and even in death. Awo is dead but his memory lives on.

Fast forward to the present time providence, just a few months ago, presented a great opportunity for us to leverage on as a society seeking real leadership in the person of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, the current Nigerian Vice President.

The candidacy of a man that has elevated the office of Nigeria’s Vice President from just being a mere spear tire to a serious active office was a good and promising one. This is the man that has proven to be the best Vice president we have ever had in our democratic history given his numerous achievements.

I say this with a deep sense of responsibility, Osinbajo is a different breed of Nigerian politician. He has breathed fresh air into the polity. His politics is different from that of Nigerian traditional politicians. Osinbajo has shown us that no matter the difficulties you can make a difference.

He has made a difference in present-day Nigerian politics. Not only when he was acting President with remarkable impacts but even as Vice President, he influenced many impactful programmes for the poor masses and the people in general.

With limited executive functions, Osinbajo is still giving us the best season of that office which cannot be denied by even the opposition party and those disaffected with the government.

He’s being seen as the backbone of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. His credentials are unquestionable so are his integrity, dedication, loyalty, empathy, professionalism and understanding of issues are impeccable.

Coincidentally, this same Osinbajo has a family connection with the same man who Nigerians venerate so much, Awo of Africa. His wife shares the same family with the best President we never had. I guess God gave us a second chance but yet we allowed the same evil and unholy ambitions, ethnicity, religiosity and more to overshadow our age-long quest for development and prosperity as a nation.

It is safe to say we are not ready for the emergence of a new Nigeria. But for the optimists, the future is always bright. We can still get it but maybe not now.

However, to rekindle the hope of a New Nigeria, knowing God is ever kind to his people, it is the same Osinbajo He is sending to us, to confidently reassure Nigerians that, it is not all over for the country, that Nigeria’s future will be great.

VP Osinbajo said despite its challenges, the future of Nigeria will be far more glorious and peaceful than her past, and the nation’s lights will shine bright, with opportunities, equity, justice, and righteousness.

Prof Osinbajo, who spoke on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the 62nd Independence Day anniversary service, held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, to mark Nigeria’s October 1 Independence Day anniversary of Nigeria clocking 62, declared that “the future of Nigeria will be far more glorious, more peaceful than her past, and so it shall be for you too. Every year will be happier for you, more glorious, more prosperous and more peaceful, in Jesus’ name.”

He even prayed for Nigerians, not minding what the delegates had done to him at the last presidential primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), denying him to fulfil his presidential aspiration in 2023, while also admonishing them, reflecting on the chances for a better Nigeria, saying, “we stand at the gates of a new nation. And we see its lights shining bright. The nation of God’s promises. A nation of opportunities, of equity and justice, a secure and prosperous nation, a nation of laws and righteousness.

“Even if what we see today seems bleak, and dark, we are confident that God who owns the heavens and the earth will fulfil His promises concerning this nation.”

What else do we say? Nothing to add. Surely, Prof Osinbajo as a supersonic and visionary leader, exemplary all through as a public servant and still a model in power, has a date with history. He will surely lead Nigeria to that Promised Land he envisioned someday.

• Johnson is a social and event analyst.

We have a lot of young ,vibrant young Nigeria but they need more encouragement to do more and prof Yemi Osinbajo is making all effort to promote our young and able youths

Who is Peter Obi If APC had presented Yemi Osinbajo

There's no doubt about it Yemi Osinbajo is the best candidate for the job, though the APC know but the delegates allowed them to be used just because of money

Milions of people have benefitted in the MSME since the inception of Buhari/Osinbajo administration and still counting but my fear is that can we still enjoying it aftet this tenure,hmmmmmm I am not sure

WHY WE MUST MAINTAIN MOMENTUM BUILT ON MSMEs, BY OSINBAJO

Made in Nigeria Project’ group applauds VP’s commitment to sector

Lists MSME Clinics, Survival Fund as successful interventions


The momentum built on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector by the Buhari administration in the last seven years must be maintained given its crucial position in the economy.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, stated this on Monday when he received members of the Made in Nigeria Project led by Mr Adedeji Alebiosu, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The group, representing a coalition of MSMEs in Nigeria, were at the Presidential Villa to commend the Federal Government and appreciate the Vice President’s support for MSMEs in the country over the past 7 years.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “we must be as determined as possible going forward in maintaining the momentum built over the years in the MSME space.

“How we sustain the MSME Clinics, how it is institutionalized in a way that the incoming Vice Presidents or Presidents are obliged to pay close attention to whatever is happening in the sector, is very important.”

The Vice President then assured MSME stakeholders in the country that “we will make sure that we provide everything that is required to enable the incoming administration to step into the positions that we have created in the MSME space. We are in a very good place.”

Speaking about the Made in Nigeria concept and the need to develop local capacity, the Vice President said “we must find where we fit in, in that value chain.

“It is true that no economy can be entirely self-sustaining but it is important to emphasize that we have the capacity to do a lot in our country.

“What we need to do is to find our comparative advantage and develop capacity in the value chain around the manufacturing of electric vehicles, arms manufacturing etc.”

Continuing, the Vice President said “there is a bigger challenge in manufacturing of items, creating jobs and wealth. So, we have got to think in terms of scale.

“There is a lot of real and serious work that needs to be done. What should our approach be in terms of the value chain? We are a huge economy and a huge market.”

“The problem people have always faced is how to engage our massive population in a meaningful way because anything you do seems like a drop in an ocean due to the enormity of the problem,” the VP added.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Alebiosu praised Prof. Osinbajo’s personal commitment and support for the growth of small businesses in the country.

He acknowledged the contributions of the Vice President through key interventions supervised under his office, noting that they positively impacted small businesses in the space.

According to him, “initiatives supervised by your office such as the MSME Clinics, the Survival Fund, and the MSME Awards, among others, have positively impacted many small businesses over the years.”

He said, “you have done so much in the MSME space in the country, we have never had it so good, that is why we are here today, to show gratitude for the support the Federal Government has given to MSMEs in Nigeria.”

Mr Alebiosu said the visit to the VP underscored the importance of collaboration and partnership in growing the MSME space in the country.

Members of the Made in Nigeria Project delegation include Director of Operations, Tosin Ashiru; Director of Special Projects, Samuel Adewale; Director of SME Engagement, Tola Ajayi and Director of Partnerships, Destiny Enakhimion.



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
26th September 2022

Osinbajo: Between Portraits of Patriots' inclusion and APC Campaign Council's exclusion

By Oluwafemi Popoola

From the moment the throngs of efforts to get the flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to change his contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket failed, the die was cast and the VP Yemi Osinbajo's omission from the list of the campaign team for 2023 election was inevitable. So, to many of us and other keen observers of the VP’s personality and his political history, his recent omission from the APC campaign council list was no surprise. It had been presaged a long time ago.

There is no doubt that the Vice President is a political ally of Tinubu. He had served the latter as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice when he was Lagos State governor. The duo might have slugged it out in a face-off during the APC presidential primary election but both are still bound together by a strong sense of collegiality that has spanned for many years. Asiwaju Tinubu won the presidential primary election contest and the Vice President congratulated him saying his sterling contributions to democracy stood him out.

During Osinbajo's visit to the campaign office of The Progressive Project (TPP), a coalition of support groups that backed him for the presidency, the Vice President went further and also said that he would support Bola Tinubu, who was declared the flag bearer of the APC for the 2023 presidential election.

There was no sign that the VP would not go all out for the party's presidential candidate. And then there were fears Tinubu might opt for a Muslim running mate. However, Osinbajo was said to have advised against such an arrangement. Some presidency sources even quoted him to have expressed serious objection to the adoption of the ticket saying "such an adoption would not augur well both for the party and the country."

This has been his position since 2014 before the APC came to power, which was a winning formula he suggested for the party's leadership based on the principle of social justice for religion balancing and what has been the practice pre-2015 elections. Recalled Tinubu had wanted to be a running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, but he wasn't favoured as Buhari who had lost presidential elections three times before 2015 was said to have been opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket, so, it won't again affect his chances.

So, when the list of the Campaign Council members was officially released, it was all certain the VP would not make the list. Osinbajo couldn't have been on the list because its composition is obviously against his values as a just, straight and transparent leader. This is the man that has spent most of his adult years on the principle of integrity. And he once admitted that what propelled him into government are his virtues of integrity, transparency, and social justice.

Addressing the Harvard School students who recently paid him a visit in his office, VP Osinbajo spoke on why he values transparency and social justice.

He said, "For me, spirituality connotes values. I came into government with values about what I think is important, especially around transparency, social justice among others. You are almost always a product of the values you believe in. Fortunately, a lot of these values cut across different faiths, they are not necessarily restricted to religion or one faith"

"Just looking at these values, there is a great deal of unanimity about what is the right thing to do. The question is whether or not you will do those things, or whether you are motivated enough to do them, or whether you are compelled to do them."

The VP's exclusion from the APC's campaign team is strictly based on his firm opposition to the APC's contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket that has generated fierce controversy in the public. To Osinbajo, it is a matter of decency, and social justice he is known to stand for. He is not meant for that kind of a Campaign Council ordinarily, because of its defective ticket, defaulting on social justice grounds as criticised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the Northern Christian members of the ruling APC led by former Speaker Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

Even, when he was not thinking of being a Vice President, but as a loyal party man, working for the APC and national interests, in 2015 before his eventual divine selection to be Buhari's running mate, it was rumoured he had said pointedly in a meeting that there was no way he would defend a Muslim-Muslim ticket in good conscience. And up till now, the VP's belief has remained firm, resolute and unshaken. He has always been an advocate of fairness, equity, religious balance and justice.

But while we, unsurprisingly, couldn't find the name of Nigeria's second in command in the APC 422-man list of the 2023 campaign team that has names of political heavyweights including APC governors, ministers, lawmakers, as well as serving and past public office holders, Osinbajo's name was captured in the prestigious list of 100 Nigeria’s foremost thought leaders codenamed "the Portraits of Patriots."

The biographical compendium profiles Nigerians who have put the country first above personal considerations, ethnic leanings, political affiliations, and every other selfish ambition which often tends to limit the vision of many others.

Others who made the list include Aliko Dangote, Babagana Zulum, Peter Obi, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohammed, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, and others.

The compendium, which will be unveiled on October 1st of this year, basically identifies and points to Nigerians that possess the capacity to help birth a new Nigeria.

According to the editors of the project, they noted that the shortlisted Nigerians are people "who are daily sacrificing in their corners either as thought leaders in the areas of business, public service, civil society, faith, among others, towards building a united, prosperous and indivisible country.

"Such inspirational value is judged by their level of patriotism defined by how much they put Nigeria first. These are people who, by their actions, put Nigeria above personal and sectional considerations. They are committed to the greatness of the country and are working towards ensuring that the country becomes what its founding fathers envisioned it be,” they added.

I want to congratulate Vice President Osinbajo and others for being listed in that prestigious book of records. They all deserve to be recognized. All of them have done exceedingly well by contributing greatly to the progress of Nigeria through their respective callings.

For Vice President Osinbajo, it is a reward for his selfless service to the nation and humanity. Being the country's Vice President, he has engraved his name in the country's Hall of Fame given his landmark contributions to government. He has fought a good fight. He has kept his cool. He has served his country with love and pride and his integrity remains unsullied even in the midst of the dirtiest of politics. Prof Osinbajo's compassion for the poor masses was neither godfathered nor his intentions for a new Nigeria political, he is simply driven by an intense empathy and unadulterated love for the Nigerian people. Vice President Osinbajo is indeed a patriot.


• Popoola, is a political analyst, content analyser and news aggregator. He can be reached via bromeo2013@gmail.com

When private sectors are involved it will help in boost the economy and as well help the government in achieving the greater height

WHY PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IS CRUCIAL IN NIGERIA’S ENERGY TRANSITION PLAN – OSINBAJO

Adds Solar space in Nigeria “becoming one of the most exciting in the world”

VP advocates for energy companies, restates Debt-for-Climate swaps

More private sector participation in Nigeria’s transition to green energy is crucial as it would help the country achieve its objectives in the implementation of its Energy Transition Plan, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday night in Lagos while delivering the keynote address at the 60th Anniversary Dinner of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Speaking on the topic: “Nigeria: Transitioning to Green Energy”, the Vice President highlighted the Energy Transition Plan as “a comprehensive, data-driven and evidence-based plan, designed to deal with the twin crises of climate change and energy poverty.”

“We anchored the plan on key objectives, including lifting 100 million people out of poverty in a decade, driving economic growth, bringing modern energy services to the full population and managing the expected long-term job loss in the oil sector due to global decarbonization.

“The Private sector must up its participation in the transition to Green energy journey,” Prof. Osinbajo stated, adding that this includes “greater involvement in the crucial conversations about what an economically just transition to zero emissions should be,” he said.

Buttressing the need for more private sector participation in the Energy Transition Plan implementation, the VP pointed out that the off-grid Solar space in Nigeria “is becoming one of the most exciting in the world.”

According to the Vice President “we have programmes such as the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Solar Power Naija (under its Economic Sustainability Plan), the Nigerian Electrification Programme with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank, and also the Rural Electrification Fund providing almost $1 billion in financing and subsidies to drive 10 million connections. We are also working on clear guidelines for on-grid Solar before COP-27 to initially provide the structure for the rollout of at least 1,000MW.”

Adding that the private sector should also get involved in climate finance, especially the voluntary carbon markets, among others, Prof. Osinbajo urged the OPTS “to take the lead in Solar to help drive improvements in our energy mix and also accelerate the transition to having “energy” companies, not just oil companies.”

“We are particularly pleased with the good work that All-On and Konexa have been doing all with funding from Shell (a key OPTS member). We also have NNPC partnering with the Rural Electrification Agency to rollout Solar Mini-grids and Solar Home Systems across the country,” he further said.

Aside from the need for more private sector participation in Nigeria’s energy transition plan, the impact of climate change on the African continent, need to support fossil fuel projects in developing countries, and debt-for-climate swap deals were major highlights of the Vice President’s speech at the event.

Speaking further on the topic, the Vice President noted that climate change may likely be the most consequential subject globally in the next few decades, even as the significance of reducing global emissions to zero come to the fore.

Noting the effects of global climate crisis such as floods, desertification, rising water levels and record high temperatures, Prof. Osinbajo stated that the developing countries are faced with two challenges; climate change and extreme poverty.

Restating the importance of using gas as a transition fuel for Nigeria and others developing countries, he highlighted six aspects in reducing global net emissions to zero, as it relates to the developing world.

He said, “Most countries, including Nigeria, agree that we must reduce global emissions to zero, in our case by 2060. We are major victims of the effects of climate change, but there are a few important issues that we have flagged to our wealthier brother-countries in the global north.

“The first is that we, in the developing world, are faced with two, not one crisis. One is climate change and the other is extreme poverty, the cause and consequence of which is energy poverty; or the fact that lack of access to electricity for millions is a cause of deepening poverty.

“The second is that African countries are the least emitters of carbon today - less than 1 percent of cumulative C02 emissions, and even if we triple electricity consumption in African countries (aside from South Africa) solely through the use of natural gas, this would add just 0.62% to global emissions. So, a lot of the flooding and adverse weather events that we are experiencing here are from emissions caused by the wealthier countries.

“The third is that the defunding of gas projects in order to force gas-rich countries like Nigeria to stop using gas and use renewables instead is faulty. These proposals to ban the funding of fossil fuel projects make no distinction between upstream oil and coal exploration; and gas power plants for grid balancing. Also, no economy in the world has been known to use renewables solely to industrialize. Solar power simply does not have the base load capacity yet for industry.

In addition, the Vice President emphasized that stopping the use of gas could lead to deforestation and increase in pollutants.

“Stopping the use of gas means that we cannot use LPG for clean cooking stoves to replace the use of kerosene, firewood and charcoal, which are dirtier fuels that are widely used for cooking and other domestic purposes particularly in the rural areas. The use of firewood means deforestation, cutting down trees and, of course, desertification and then the loss of our carbon sinks,” he noted.

Faulting the double standards that wealthier countries have adopted on this issue (defunding of gas projects in developing countries), the Vice President noted that "in the wake of the energy crisis, many European nations have made recent announcements to increase or extend their use of coal-fired power generation through 2023 and potentially beyond.

“This is in violation of their climate commitments, and all analysis suggests that this will raise power sector emissions of the EU by 4%- a significant amount, given the high base denominator of EU emissions.”

Speaking further, Prof. Osinbajo emphasised that “the sixth and perhaps most crucial point is that we must take quick and informed actions in our national interest. We must take the threat of no investments in fossil fuels, including gas, seriously.”

“For example, many European and other global North countries are setting aggressive targets for use of electric vehicles and the banning of combustion engine vehicles. Soon, there may be only a few countries using combustion engines.

"It is also evident that while the Russia invasion of Ukrainian has shown the double standards in not allowing public funding for fossil fuel projects, the wealthier nations are still of the view that this is the correct policy and that, even if public funding is to be allowed, financing should not go beyond 2035."

Also restating his advocacy for Debt-For-Climate swaps and greater participation in global carbon market for African nations, the VP noted that “Given the escalating debt situations of many developing countries, including Nigeria, especially in the aftermath of C0VID-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, we should also bring Debt-For-Climate Swaps into the climate finance mix."

The Vice President then commended the OPTS “for its outstanding role in the growth and development of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, and for the numerous social development projects undertaken by your members through the years.”

The event, which was attended by notable personalities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, as well as the public and private sectors, also featured remarks from top government officials, NNPC Ltd, the executives of the Oil Producers Trade Section of the LCCI, among others.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
23rd September, 2022

Good and I hope to hear a positive result at the end of the meeting

Any country without unity will end in crisis

The late queen Elizabeth had lived a fulfilled life with exemplary character, may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace

Rest in perfect peace mama with golden heart, may God console the deceased family

This man has been going up and down and do represent Nigeria well ,may the soul of the queen rest in perfect peace