ba7man: Right move. Its sad considering the fact that it took G.E.J to see that education is the cure to their ignorance, while their own leaders ignored them.

Tolexander: taharqa, use your brain!

The court declared the new pdp illegal? Fine!

Does that now mean they should all separate immediately after the illegal declaration of their party without meeting on their future either to be reabsorbed by the parent party, cross carpet or float a new party entirely?

eye4eye:



Are you stupi.d or dumb? Just pick one of the two, 1diot. Just because they are against Jonathan doesn't make their meeting "illegal" as you stated here. SS/SE governors met last month and declared their full support for Jonathan second term ambition. Oshiomohle did not attend the meeting as a SS governor. Was their meeting illegal too? You are very stupi.d to call their meeting "illegal". Everyone is guaranteed the right to association as stated by Nigerian Constitution.

Tolexander: mr man, the court only said the new party is illegal and not the meeting of the governors.
How are they sure of the agenda of the meeting, perhaps they can meet on another agenda.
Can't the governors meet again?

Leaders of the New Peoples Democratic Party (NPDP) claimed last night that the police attempted to stop their meeting in Abuja.
The New PDP leaders were meeting with the G-7 governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives belonging to the group.
But the police denied storming the meeting.
A senior officer said: “We went there to ensure everything was in order as part of our routine surveillance of Asokoro. We do that everyday. We did not storm any place. There’s no way we would arrest governors.”
The policemen came in three cars to the Kano State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro District, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
But the policemen from Asokoro Division failed to stop the meeting. The venue was shut.
The meeting, which started at about 5.30pm, ended at 9.30pm.
The Divisional Police Officer, CSP Nnanna Ama, led the policemen.
Wearing a T-Shirt with Igbo Day inscription, the police chief left when he and his men could not enter the Lodge.
The policemen returned at about 8.30pm, but they could still not enter the venue.
The governors, however, invited the DPO into their meeting, The Nation learnt.

Mynd_44:
Can you please explain how they are renegades

and if this story is true, the IG has to come and explain why this would happen or is there another constitution we are not aware of?

Omexonomy: i want you to understand one thing. Nairaland has been bought and payed for by some greedy dogs, they then make sure that any positive thing about any other political party or tribe does not make front page except negative news or story.
Now, any negative news about APC, CPC OR ACN will not make frontpage except their uselles media hype.
Fashola bought and commisioned large dieasel generator as an IPP and the news made front page 20times

amarilo: What happened to [people owing NEPA bill? Is that written off?

nameo: I think the article implied that about 125 Schools have already been built- 35 last year, 64 this week and more than 20 others that are already completed but not yet furnished. The article also implies that the Federal Government is building additional 300 other Schools

Sincere 9gerian: The privatisation is killing several birds with one stone:

1. Elimination of public sector CORRUPTION in the power sector. This is fighting corruption using SYSTEMS that work.

2. Elimination of govt bureaucracy from the power sector. You no longer require the approval of the minister in Abuja to have faulty transformers in your locality changed.

3. Removal of govt inefficiencies in the sector.

WildChild00: I will be coming back to give a true analysis.....

greatgod2012: I just hope it'll be for better service sha, and we won't have to be shouting UP NEPA or asking when light is brought each time we arrive home and meet light.

Rhino.5dm:


Which East - West Road are you talking about? I stopped flying for some reasons known to all, so don't tell me about EAST - west road. Just less than 2% of the that road is completed.

The schools are located at: Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Kogi, Niger, Katsina, Taraba and Nasarawa States.
Some of the schools were constructed in parts of the South-West and South South due to the influx of Almajiri children into these areas from the north, the statement explained.
Facilities at the Almajiri Model Schools include; classrooms, administrative blocks, hostels, staff quarters, Mallams residences and Mosques.
The schools are specifically designed to cater for the western education needs of the children, whilst the Mallams who are resident on campus still provide them with Quranic knowledge.
The schools will also be handed over the state governments who are to pay the teachers, while the Federal Government supplies the children with uniforms and textbooks. A memorandum has been signed to this effect.
The statement noted that the Jonathan administration started tackling the Almajiri challenge with urgency because from UNESCO figures, Almajiris constitute over 9million in the 10.5million out of school children in Nigeria.
Incidentally, the remaining 1million still have a large chunk from the north-east, north-central and north-west. These are girl-children barred from enrolling in schools. The statement informed that the Jonathan administration has also completed the construction of girl-child Model schools in 16 States of the country, mostly in the north.
Expected at the commissioning are governors, education commissioners, traditional rulers and education stakeholders in Northern Nigeria.
This is the first time any administration at the Federal level has taken comprehensive steps to tackle the education challenges facing the northern poor.

[b]For the average Nigerian, the ear-splitting noise in the political landscape could be quite confusing. The reason for the noise is quite obvious. To deviate attention from the quiet revolution taking place in several sectors of our national life.
After several postponements due to official engagements, the Jonathan administration on Saturday, November 2, 2013 threw into the nation’s education system, 64 newly completed and furnished Almajiri Model Schools, initiated and constructed by the administration. This is out of a list of 89 being constructed by the administration through the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
The remaining 25 have been completed and are being furnished. They will soon be duly completed before the end of the year and handed over to the host states. Indeed, since assuming the reins of leadership, President Goodluck Jonathan has fully initiated 124 Almajiri Models Schools across the country, especially in the north. Last year, the President personally commissioned the first set of 35 Almajiri Model Schools constructed by Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund. The symbolic commissioning exercise in Sokoto was done by the President to cover that phase.
These 64 schools that are now on stream are those built on behalf of the administration by UBEC. Vice President Namadi Sambo took charge of the event on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.[/b]

The 64 schools are located at: Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Kogi, Niger, Katsina, Taraba and Nasarawa States.
As stated earlier, this is part of a comprehensive drive to completely tackle the out-of-school children challenge that is negatively affecting the nation’s overall development. At present, based on existing data from UNESCO, Nigeria has 10.5million out-of-school children. Of this number, over 9million are Almajiris.
Therefore, the decision to comprehensively tackle this unwholesome social challenge was deliberate and geared towards emancipating the down-trodden in parts of the north and other parts of the country where they may have migrated to. The consequences of the ubiquitous presence of the Almajiris across the north and in other parts of the country are felt by all Nigerians, directly or indirectly.
At the base of this decision to educate the Almajiris is the conscious effort to empower them with the required knowledge base and entrepreneurial skills to survive in a knowledge driven economy. For the administration, there is no room for lip service. Every single promise made must be fulfilled. The President personally promised the northern poor during his campaign runs that he would change their fortunes by ensuring that they have access to quality education. He has done this resoundingly well through the Almajiri Education Programme.
No previous administration at the Federal level established a holistic framework to tackle the Almajiri challenge of the Northern region. It appeared they simply thought that the problem would go away. Rather than evaporate, the challenge continued to grow more complex. What President Jonathan has done is to tackle the challenge head-long for the benefit of Nigerians.
Beyond the construction and furnishing of these schools, the Jonathan administration has developed specialised curricula in eleven subjects that will be taught in these schools to enhance quick assimilation for the boys. The curricula which flow with the mainstream basic education curriculum were based on the culture and needs of the Almajiris.

Many have raised fears about the sustainability of this programme. Given our national experience their fears are understandable. However, the Supervising Minister of Education Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike ensured that the directive of the President on continued engagement with stakeholders at all levels was effectively carried out.
[b]Another important step towards sustaining and expanding the gains of this outstanding contribution to national development was the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Federal Government and State Governments on the running of these schools. This MOU was signed on 11th May, 2012 after a consultative meeting convened by Vice President Namadi Sambo and it covers the running of the schools, maintenance of infrastructure, enrolment drive, employment of qualified teaching and non teaching staff, provision of uniforms and writing materials and the provision of day-to-day running expenses of the schools. The MOU also provides for the protection of facilities at the schools, impact assessment after pre-determined periods of operation and submission of quarterly reports by State Universal Basic Education Boards, SUBEBS, to UBEC. The last major component of the MOU is ensuring that sustainable provision for the feeding of the Almajiris in the schools is always on ground.
Also, the Jonathan administration has developed and produced a National Framework for the Development and Integration of the Almajiri Education into basic education. This framework is to serve as a guide to states, local governments and nongovernmental organizations to key into this project aimed at providing quality education to these less privileged Nigerians. State Implementation Committees have been established in all states of the Federation to ensure that these kids are catered for educationally, wherever they may be. The Jonathan administration has put in place three models of Almajiri Schools in different parts of the country.
Model One integration of traditional Tsangaya/Qur’anic School into the formal education system within its original location. In this case, additional classrooms are built and new essential facilities provided. For Model Two, the Federal Government constructed the schools with modern boarding facilities to serve a group of Tsangaya/Qur’anic schools within a given location. The Model Three is the integration of basic education in established Islamiyyah and Ma’ahad schools. This involves the provision of infrastructure and other facilities based on the needs of specific schools.
For years, these kids were denied their fundamental human right to education by those who now use them as weapons of insecurity. What President Jonathan has brought to the table is a fundamental shift to the ways things are done. He has expanded the frontiers of the empowerment of the less privileged in our communities. It is no longer enough to give that Almajiri a plate of food at a local restaurant and pretend that you have been nice to him. Encourage him to enrol in one of the new Almajiri schools.
Most importantly, all Nigerians must begin to demand that the states key into this revolution by constructing more Almajiri schools. Like the supervising minister has said repeatedly, basic education is the constitutional responsibility of the states and local governments. The Federal Government is only intervening because of the rot in the system[/b].

For the Jonathan administration, it will continue with the programme by next year. Additional 300 Almajiri schools have been slated for construction in line with the survey conducted. While some misguided politicians continue to divert attention from the work going on as members of the vocal minority, the majority are enjoying the benefits of numerous government projects that have impacted their lives positively

jacksol: So, who are now supposed to be working at the substations and switch rooms? Old PHCN staff or new private co staff?
I ask because there had been a total blackout in my area since yesterday. It's unusual. We used to get at least s few hours at night.
Has anyone else experienced the same?

Ohibenemma: But Naptu has provided us with some highly insightful links to show how conventional such practice is. I have read all the responses and have seen the anti GEJs blatantly refuse to comment on those. Mental indiscipline is really rife amongst Nigerians. Very rarely do we see objectivity. Honestly, when I start having misgivings about Jonathan, I come to nairaland and get instant cure from the highly biased and polarised arguments spewed forth here. How much was actually spent on the burial? What percentage of it was from the Fed Govt's purse? That's objectivity! Should Fash want to do something similar, he would be surprised at the rate donations would be pouring in. That's a fact! Back to topic, it would do the OP and his backers a whole lot of good to google the security arrangements made for Obama's visit to Israel and make comparisons. Maybe Obama is different, after all, he's the President of 'A whole USA',
The only argument that seemed to make sense-to me-was the suggestion for the Airforce base as a better alternative. But do we know how equipped for such it is

ballabriggs:

So a road is smooth means it is a good road? Rubbish.

What happened to road signs, road marks and other important safety criterias which most Nigerian highways lack.

Following the controversies which shrouded the privatisation programme of the federal government during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had in 1999 constituted the Electricity Power Sector Implementation Committee (EPIC) to undertake a comprehensive study and review of the entire industry in order to prepare grounds for liberalising the electricity power sector to attract private sector investment and ensure competition in the market.

Prior to the enactment of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), 2005, the Federal Government was responsible for policy formulation, regulation, operation, and investment in the Nigerian power sector. However, EPSRA Act became law in 2005, providing legal backing to the power sector reform programme, leading to the launch of the Power Sector Roadmap by President Goodluck Jonathan in August 2010.

Subsequently, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was reconstituted to give the required institutional support to ensure a balanced regulatory framework to protect both investors and consumers. Also, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) was further created to provide securitisation which was seen as critical to driving power production efforts.

The services of a management contractor-Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) of Canada was also engaged in fulfilment of the power sector roadmap to reorganise the Transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) into technically, financially and commercially viable and market driven company.

The Unbundling of PHCN Companies
The federal government also established the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN – the initial holding company) and subsequently unbundled it into eighteen (18) successor companies to transfer of management and financing of successor company operations to the organised private sector; establish an independent and effective regulatory commission to oversee and monitor the industry as well as focus the federal government on policy formulation and long-term development of the industry, among others.
The objective was to achieve increased access to electricity services, improved efficiency, affordability, reliability and quality of service and greater investment in the sector to stimulate economic growth.

Successor Companies
However, the unbundling leaves the Federal Government with three hydro and seven thermal generating stations with a total installed capacity of about 6,852MW, with available capacity of 3,542MW (as of 31st July 2010).
Each entity had been incorporated as a single-asset generating company; a radial transmission grid (330kv and 132kv), owned and managed by the TCN, with the responsibility of undertaking the system operation and market settlement functions, respectively as well as eleven distribution companies (33kv and below) that undertake the wires, sales, billing, collection and customer care functions within their area of geographical monopoly.

A competitive tender was thereafter carried out to receive bids from core investor groups (inclusive of competent generation asset owner/operators) for a minimum of 51% of equity in the following successor thermal generating companies including Afam Power Plc; Sapele Power Plc; Ughelli Power Plc; Geregu Power Plc as well as a separate concessioning process for successor hydro generating companies including Shiroro Hydro Power Plc; Kainji Hydro Power.

A similar competitive tender was carried out to receive bids from core investor groups (inclusive of competent distribution asset owner/operators). They are Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc; Benin Electricity Distribution Plc; Eko Electricity Distribution Plc; Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Plc ; Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc; Jos Electricity Distribution Plc; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; Kano Electricity Distribution Plc; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc and Yola Electricity Distribution Plc.

Remarkable Patronage from Investors
In December 2010, the NCP advertised for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective core investors interested in acquiring controlling stake in the 11 successor distribution firms created out of PHCN. By March 2011 deadline for submission of EOIs, 180 applications were received.

However, 80 bidders were shortlisted. The bidders were later reduced to 72-prequalified bidders when some of the prospective firms couldn’t pay the mandatory $20,000 fee to purchase the Request for Proposals (RFPs).

Further to the exercise, by the submission deadline of July 31, 2012, the BPE had received 54 proposals from pre-qualified bidders, out of which 10 of the bids failed the first test of completeness and responsiveness. The remaining 44 bids were subjected to full technical evaluation out of which 32 bids submitted by 20 bidders scored the minimum of 75 per cent that was needed to move to the next stage. They were subsequently asked to submit post qualification bidders’ guarantee following approval of the evaluation by the NCP.

Eventually, after several hurdles, the NCP in October 2012 approved 14 preferred bidders for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) generation and distribution companies in its ongoing privatisation programme.

Rising from its sixth meeting, the Council, in Abuja, affirmed Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc Consortium, CMEC/Eurafic JV Consortium, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited and North-South Power Limited as the preferred bidders for the five thermal and hydro power stations being sold by the Federal Government to core investors. However, billionaire businessman, Mr. Emeka Offor, who failed the consistency test conducted by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), but fought very hard to hold on to the Abuja and Enugu Distribution Companies (Discos), was forced to settle for only Enugu Disco.

The NCP also disqualified Southern Electricity Distribution Company for submission of multiple bids for Benin Disco and announced Vigeo Power Consortium as the preferred bidder for the distribution company.
At the expiration of the January 31 deadline for the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective bidders for the two companies, the BPE received 19 applications for Kaduna Disco and 29 applications for Afam Generation Company.
Consequently, on February 4, the privatisation agency sent Requests for Proposals (RFP) to the 48 prospective bidders.
The Afam and Kaduna discos were among the 17 PHCN successor companies that were earlier advertised for sale in December 2010 along with the 15 other PHCN Successor Companies that went through a full competitive tender process, which culminated in the submission of technical and financial proposals in July 2012.

Temporary Hitch in privatisation Process
However, following the rigorous technical evaluation that all bids were subjected to, none of the bids received for the Afam and Kaduna utilities scored the minimum 75 per cent required to progress to the financial bid stage.

The Afam plant bid was particularly nullified because the former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji was said to have links with one of the firms which bided for the asset. The incident led to the Minister’s resignation, thereby raising doubts over the transparency of the programme while many doubted if it would ever be concluded successfully.
The development forced the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to order a re-run of the entire transaction as it was not prepared to settle for a second best. Consequently, the pre-due diligence conference for the re-tender of Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc was on March 4 in Abuja.

Grappling with Payment Deadline
Initially, some of the preferred bidders had difficulties getting credit from their financiers over controversial circumstance. However, at the end of the August 21 deadline, 13 preferred bidders fulfilled the payment of the remaining 75 per cent of their bids for the power generation and distribution companies, except for Interstate, the preferred bidder for Enugu Distribution Company failed to meet the deadline. It eventually complied. CMEC/EUAFRIC Energy JV, which also had compliance issues was referred to the legal arm of the NCP for advise.

Labour issues
The privatisation programme had however, been bedevilled by labour related issues. Power sector workers had vowed to cripple the exercise if their severance benefits were not taken care of before the companies were eventually transferred to their new owners.
As a result, there had been pockets of protests by workers to compel government to accede to their demands.

However, the Federal Government which was determined to create a hitch free transition had said it had equally set aside the entire proceed of N384 billion from the sale of power assets to settle labour liabilities. A total of $3 billion is expected from the proceeds.
At the last count, the BPE said it had despatched a team of consultants and its staff for the biometric data capture of 1, 478 employees of the Enugu Distribution Company who could not be audited because of virus attack on the system were their names were stored.

The Labour Angle
However, on September 30, President Goodluck Jonathan formally handed over Share certificates and licences to 14 new core owners of PHCN successor companies.
Jonathan praised Nigerians for exercising great patience and confidence “putting up often with darkness, noisy power generating sets, related pollution and daily disruption in their lives” and assured them of better days ahead.

Ordinarily, the formal transfer of assets should have allowed the new investors immediate access to the power utilities but Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said that could only be possible when the remaining PHCN workers would have been paid their entitlements within October in order to have a smooth and peaceful transition.

Meanwhile, Jonathan, while admitting a number of limitations with actual service delivery noted that there had been remarkable progress with steady and sustained increase in national power generating capacity.
He however, promised Nigerians that “things can only get better, from this point onwards.”
Jonathan further said while the power sector could not be revitalised overnight, measures were being carefully worked out to address all other issues particularly the resolution of labour-related concerns.

He said: “In partnership with the labour unions, we have been able to come up with an outcome that is beneficial for all stakeholders...the payment of all labour-related benefits commenced earlier in August this year, and is almost concluded as a condition precedent to today’s event.”
Jonathan said: “We can all look forward to a better time very soon as we have seen in telecommunication and banking sectors. I am confident that the power sector will promise no less, knowing the calibre of those who are taking over.

berem: even after sahara reporters said she died due to the bad road,there were no refuted claims that the road was good and had no potholes. So what are you yapping? You want to make me believe SR was lying?

kokoA: Do your work very well and stop looking for sympathy. If you believe in your heart that you are giving us the best kind of leadership befitting human beings you won't even be making statements such as this, you will focus on your work and watch the critics hide their heads in shame. GEJ keeps making statements that open up his weakness to the world.

berem: Are you trying to say that accidents cannot happen due to bad roads or this one is different because it involves PEJ's step mother?

New owners take over operations of Gencos, Discos
FG: sustainable electricity now rests on new managers
By Our Correspondents


A major milestone was achieved Friday in the nation's bid to reposition the power sector for stable electricity supply with the hand over of operations of the privatised generation and distribution companies to their new owners.

At yesterday's events, four power generation companies; Ughelli Plant, Geregu I Plant, Kainji Hydro and Shiroro Hydro, and ten distribution companies, namely, Ikeja, Eko, Ibadan, Jos, Kano, Yola, Abuja, Benin, Enugu and Port Harcourt, from the now extinct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), were handed over to their owners - who had cumulatively paid about $3 billion (N480 billion) in August.


At the handing over ceremony of Abuja Distribution Company to KANN Consortium Utility, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was represented by the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, noted that the power privatisation programme was historic as it represents the biggest divestment programme of public utility in Africa.


He explained that the government now relies on the financial and technical capacities of the new private investors to help advance its plans to ramp up power generation and supply in the country.


He said it was the fear entertained by government against possible asset stripping that informed its insistence on investors with proven financial and technical capacities for the assets.


"Reputable, buoyant and financially stable owners were selected to avoid assets stripping. We are sure that there will be no more business as usual but business unusual in the sector going forward," Sambo said while assuring Nigerians that the reforms being implemented in the sector by the government would increase consumers’ access to electricity and in turn stimulate economic growth.


He said: "The participation of the private sector would bring about higher generation capacities through the provision of more efficient and cost effective power stations and improvements in electric power distribution, in the areas of billing and collection, and transmission networks."


Sambo however warned the new owners of the public utilities that government would sanction any of them who fail to deliver on the agreement reached with it.


He assured workers of the defunct PHCN that government remains committed to meeting up with its agreement with them, adding that about N360 billion had been spent on the settlement of their entitlements.


He stated that the remaining N30 billion needed to complete the payment was ready and that government would keep to its own part of the bargain which enabled its handover of the power assets to the new owners.


In Kogi, Geregu Power Station was handed over to Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd. The Managing Director, of the Geregu Power station, Engr Adeyemi Adenuga, said that the power station was being owed over N15. 93 billion by market operators, a fact which he said had hampered the expansion of the station.


The eighteen business units that make up the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in the five South East states were also handed over to the new owner, Interstate Electric Limited.


New Chief Executive Officer of the EEDC, Mr Robert Dickerman, said that through the change in control, "there will be some reshaping of the company’s strategy, goals and objectives".



In Kogi, Geregu Power Station was handed over to Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd. The Managing Director, of the Geregu Power station, Engr Adeyemi Adenuga, said that the power station was being owed over N15. 93 billion by market operators, a fact which he said had hampered the expansion of the station.


The eighteen business units that make up the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in the five South East states were yesterday handed over to its new owner, Interstate Electrics Limited.


New Chief Executive Officer of the EEDC, Mr Robert Dickerman, said that through the change in control, "there will be some reshaping of the company’s strategy, goals and objectives".


He assured members of staff that they would be considered as shareholders of the company as a way of creating in them a sense of belonging, while calling on all to support the new vision of the company.


Outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the EEDC, Engr. Suleiman Yahaya, said that the Enugu distribution company was made up of 18 business units covering Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States and have resourceful workforce that, if given the right infrastructure, would grow into sustainable and profitable company.


Chairman of the Interstate Electrics, Sir Emeka Offor, said that as an investor from the Southeast, he would as fast as possible restore the confidence of the Southeast in the company.


Among members of the new board are former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Minister of Torism, Prince Kayode Adetokunbo, Dr. Stephen Dike, and Mr Kester Enwereonu.


Also in Yola, Adamawa State capital, the Federal Government officially handed over the Yola Distribution Company to Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited. Senior Special Adviser on Power, Engr O.S Egberongbe, who stood in for the Vice President, said the development was made possible because of the administration's commitment to the roadmap for the provision of stable power to drive the economic transformation of Nigeria.


The Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), the new owner of the Ughelli power plant in Delta State, said it would increase the output of the plant from the current 330megawatts to 1,500megawatts within the next three years.


Speaking yesterday during the handover ceremony of the plant to the new owner, the Chairman of Transcorp, Mr. Tony Elumelu, said the Ughelli plant would be at the forefront of the current efforts by all the stakeholders to improve power supply in the country.


Elumelu, who was handed over the plant by Vice President Namadi Sambo, represented by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the successful conclusion of the privatisation exercise.


In Port Harcourt, 4 Power Consortium took over the operations of the Port Harcourt Distribution Company. Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, said the hand over was a culmination of 14 years of painstaking efforts by the Federal Government, through the national Council of Privatisation (NCP) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to reform and liberalise the nation’s power sector.


Igali also revealed that between April 22 and September 2013, the Federal Government had released 60 per cent share certificates to new investors and owners in the power sector.


He further explained that the Federal Government had fully paid about 40, 698 workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN and another set of 14, 900 out of 40, 000 had received their full pension entitlements.

The Chairman of the 4Power consortium Group, Sir Augustine Wokocha, said the hope of the new owners was to accelerate, to a supersonic speed, the hitherto slow returns on investments, as they would be charged with the zeal and enterprise of the private sector.


Noting that the PHED covers four states namely: Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Aqua Ibom State and Cross River State, which covers a service territory of about 39,206.25 sq km and a total population of 14 million, he however expressed regret that, only 530,000 customers which is a paltry 3.8 per cent of the population of the area were connected to the national grid.


In Edo, Vigeo Power Limited took over the operations of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) as new owner. Its Chairman, Otunba Victor Gbolade Osibodu, urged the Federal Government to conclude the payment of entitlements of PHCN workers to enable new investors who took over the various companies to enjoy a stable working environment.


In Lagos, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company plc (EKEDC) was handed over to its new investor, West Power and Gas (WPG).


Dr. Oladele Amoda of EKEDC said they would also be monitoring their successor in term of ways they operate, whether it would be in line with the agreement signed.


At the handing over ceremony of Jos Distribution Company, the Chairman of Aura Energy Limited (AEL), the new owner, Alhaji Tukur Modibo, assured consumers that the era of uninterupted power supply had come. He, however, warned customers that were in the habit of conniving with electricity workers to dupe the company that such would not be tolerated.


The Jos Electricity Distribution Company comprises Plateau, Benue, Gombe and Bauchi states.


At the ceremony in Ibadan, where the ownership of Ibadan Eletricity Distribution Company was formally transfered to its core investor, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company Limited, formally took over, representative of the new owners, Mr Olatunde Ayeni, said the vision of the investors was to transform into a world class organisation and become a leader in the electricity distribution industry.


In his own speech, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State said any nation which failed to get its power supply right would not witness progress. Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State urged Nigerians to cooperate with the new owners.

POWER REFORM TIMELINE

2000 National Council on Privatisation (NCP) sets up Power Sector Reform Implementation Committee

2002 New draft legislation is produced to repeal the Electricity Act

2002 Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Bill is submitted to National Assembly as an executive bill

2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Bill is passed into law

2005 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Company (NERC) is established

2006 National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) is wound up and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) established
2006 PHCN is unbundled into successor companies comprising 11 distribution companies (Discos), six generation companies (Gencos) and one transmission company

2007-2009 Power reform programme is stalled under the Umaru Yar’Adua administration

2010 Power reform programme is restarted by President Goodluck Jonathan with the establishment of the Presidential Task Force Committee on Power headed by Professor Barth Nnaji

2010 Power sector reform blue print is launched, paving the way for NCP and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to commence the privatisation of the successor companies

2012 Manitoba Hydro is appointed to run the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in September under a management contract

2013 Preferred bidders emerge for six Gencos and 10 Discos in January (privatisation of Afam Power Station and Kaduna Disco are restarted). Egbin power station, which was partially sold in 2007 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, is thrown into the mix

2013 Preferred bidders pay initial 25 percent and outstanding balance (75 per cent) on August 22 for the power utilities. CMEC/Eurafric is the only bidder unable to conclude payment for Sapele power station

2013 New owners of the Gencos and Discos are handed their share certificates on October 2

2013 New owners of the Gencos and Discos takeover the physical assets on November 1

Emyo:

While taking the governor round the classrooms to see the turnout of students in the school which was closed for almost a year after it was attacked and razed down two times by Boko Haram insurgents, the Commissioner for Universal Basic Education (Board), Professor Abba Tijjani told the governor that since the burning down of school classroom blocks by terrorists which was estimated at over 800 Blocks of Classrooms, the federal government only assisted the ministry with N100 million as intervention fund which was used in renovating some of the schools affected, and thanked the state government for giving approval which led to the total renovation/reconstruction of all the schools affected by the crisis.

sourcevanguardngr

O soldier:

Dont be stupid, have you being to US? bush man like you and your poor father shld not talk when fact are being said.

PORTLAND, Ore. - President Barack Obama will be stopping in Portland on Tuesday during a campaign tour through Oregon and a few other Western states.

The president will be attending a fundraising event at the Oregon Convention Center in Northeast Portland for a private, sold out affair.

A 'grassroots event' that had also been planned for Tuesday was later canceled. Officials said they felt the tone of the larger event would be inappropriate in light of the theater shooting in Colorado.

For obvious security reasons, the president's exact schedule is not publicized ahead of time but we can give you some general information to help you avoid some of the traffic headaches that normally arise when President Obama comes to town.

Air Force One will be arriving at the airport mid-morning and then the president will be at the Oregon Convention Center by mid-afternoon for the fundraising event, scheduled for 3:50 p.m.

The president's visit will impact traffic on the east side of the river. Police said Martin Luther King Blvd. by the Convention Center will shut down during the day and traffic around the building will be affected starting at 9 a.m. through the morning commute.

You will still be able to access area business by foot.

MAX trains will also not stop at the Convention Center platform. People riding MAX to the area will need to get off at the 7th Avenue stop.

According to TriMet, bus service around the Convention Center may be affected and MAX trains may stop and hold at platforms while the president's motorcade is in transit.

Overall, the agency expects the impacts to be "minimal".

Area freeways may be shut down temporarily for the motorcade so be sure to give yourself some extra time to get around. The Oregon Department of Transportation also released the following information about an I-84 ramp that will be shut down:

ODOT will close the Rose Quarter exit on the ramp from westbound Interstate 84 to northbound Interstate 5 Tuesday in connection with President Obama’s visit to Portland.

The exit will close at 9:30 a.m. with installation of signs and related lane closures beginning by 8:15 a.m. The exit will remain closed all day, until President Obama leaves the area.

To close the exit, the right lane of westbound I-84 will be closed west of Northeast Lloyd Boulevard. Motorists should use caution and avoid last-minute lane changes, a common cause of crashes. The closure involves the Rose Quarter exit only; the transition ramp from I-84 to I-5 north will remain open.

Motorists should expect delays and plan alternate routes. Motorists trying to reach the Rose Quarter from I-84 westbound should use the Lloyd Center exit (exit 1, 12th Avenue)....
http://www.katu.com/politics/President-Barack-Obama-visiting-Portland-Oregon-163447586.html?tab=video&c=y

He said the celebration of the death of his in-law
is enough pointer to politicians and political office
holders to leave lasting legacies that would sign
post their performance while holding public office.
President Jonathan said he would have delivered
enough goods for Nigerians to remember him
after leaving office as President,
“To me as a political leader and most of my
friends here who are politicians, politics or holding
political offices is almost like death. While you are
there, you are on the stage. The day you leave,
what would people remember you for? That has
always being my guiding principle.
“No matter the comments; whether the
comments are to the left or the comments are to
the right or at the centre, what challenges me
every day is that the day I step out of the State
House, what would the present and future
generations of Nigerians remember me for. I
believe that is what will guide most of us who are
holding political offices. So, for today, I have to
thank you. Sisi has done well and we are
remembering her. My family is the family that will
surely remember her”, he said.