[Business news]---Senate ‎says power companies bankrupt

Hard facts, on Wednesday, emerged about Nigeria’s epileptic power sector on the floor of the Senate. During a debate on the poor power situation in Nigeria, senators concluded that the sector is in a comatose situation and in dire need of an emergency response.

Senators also claimed that the distribution companies are bankrupt and cannot procure meters. They therefore called for the entire privatisation of the power sector to be revisited.

The submissions were made at a debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye, which revealed how the frustrations in the power sector is further sabotaging efforts at reviving the economy.

Contributing to debate on the matter, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who represents former President Goodluck Jonathan, said the manner in which the privatisation was carried out, operators in the power sector are in serious difficulty.

Senator Bruce blamed the administration of Jonathan and claimed that the privatisation exercise was not transparent. He recommended that the Senate should prevail on government to revisit the privatisation.

On his own part, Senator Mustapha Burkar from Katsina State, said Nigeria was sitting on emergency in the power sector, adding that all the measures that had been adopted were not working.

He observed that the value chain is now at its weakest point. Mustapha, who is the vice chairman of the Senate committee on power, said: “The problem we have is the inefficiency within the system which we have actually so far not decided to address. I will give you a small example: Nigeria has an installed capacity of 12,522 Megawatts of power. We have non-available capacity of 5,300. We have non-operational capacity of 3,180; meaning that the The law maker continued: “We have transmission loss of 228, we have distribution loss of 447 Megawatts. At the end of the day, only 3,800 Megawatts reaches the consumer. And we have commercial loss of more than 36 percent.

“So, what is actually being paid for out of the over 3,000 Megawatts is only 1,800 Megawatts. So unless and until we decide to look at these inefficiency within the value chain there is no way we can have better electricity generation, distribution and also billing system in the country. So, I agree that the model they have used for privatisation has not worked. And unless and until this inefficiency looked at, it will not work.

“If we have capacity to generate 4,500 Megawatts but we can only get less than 4,000 that is more than 75 percent of the capacity is not ulltilised. It means that we are sitting on an emergency something has to be done drastically to address this problem. The value chain is weakest at the Discos because they are the ones who collect the money. And you never know how much money is being collected because they have failed to install the metres that are needed. We need millions of metres.”

Bruce in his detailed submission on the problems confronting the power sector declared that: “The problem we have with the power sector is that the generating companies and the distribution companies were privatised a few years ago on the premise that they will charge cost reflective tariffs to make it profitable.

He disclosed that those who privatised the sector did not imagine the naira will be devalued from N160 to N500 to the dollar.

According to Bruce, “Those who invested in the business thought it was like a company where they will make a lot of money. I believe they only had enough money to pay the federal government and make the initial investment; they did not have the capacity to run a power sector company in a modern economy.

“Now, they brought a bill of 1 trilion naira they are not saying the federal government again. They say we owe them a trillion naira. This is a serious problem. The way the privatisation process took place, the difficulties we have. There is no solution in sight. They don’t have the money to buy the meters. They are technically bankrupt. Unless we visit the entire privitastion process. Unless we understand and dissect what went wrong, we will still get estimated billing.”‎

Bruce added: “We have a catastrophe in our hands, there will be no light in Nigeria under the current structure is reviewed. No hope in sight, unless we revisit the process and try to understand what went wrong and bring in new players with the capacity, the people in place now.”

Melaye had in his motion noted that years after the privatization of the power sector. the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) handling the retailing and marketing of electricity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry have not been able to effectively meter their customers thereby leaving millions of their customers at their mercy through estimates billings.

He lamented that DlSCOs prefer to hound consumers with law-dropping estimated Bills by devising means and ways of smartly retrieving meters from Customers in order to realize targeted profit margin through the imposition of arbitrary billing system usually referred to as “Crazy Bills” by customers:

Melaye said that available and affordable electricity is supposed to be a right and not a privilege as section 24 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government.”amount that is actually available is just over 4,000 Megawatts out of 12,500.”

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[Music]---Yemi Alade replaces 2face as coach of The Voice Nigeria Season 2

Afropop singer and songwriter, Yemi Alade best known for her hit single “Johnny” has been announced as the newest entrant to occupy the famous red chair as a coach for the second season of The Voice Nigeria reality TV show.

The energetic performer, who gained prominence after winning the Peak Talent Show in 2009, now replaces African Queen Crooner, 2face Idibia (who leaves the show to pursue other commitments) on the saddle joining the trio of Timi Dakolo, Patoranki and Waje.

The reality TV show coaches are saddled with the responsibility of critiquing contestants’ performances and guide their teams of selected artistes through the remainder of the season whilst also competing to ensure that their act wins the competition.

In the first season, A’rese of #teamwaje emerged victorious winning the grand prize of an SUV and a recording contract with Universal Music.

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[Music]----Real reason 2face gave up role as coach of The Voice Nigeria Season 2

Two weeks ago, ‘African Queen’ crooner 2face Idibia gave up his role as coach of The Voice Nigeria Season 2 to the surprise of many, a year after he was unveiled as a brand ambassador for Airtel, sponsors of the reality TV show.

Recall that the organisers wasted no time in naming Yemi Alade best known for her hit single “Johnny” as the newest entrant to occupy the famous red chair as a coach for the second season of the show in place of 2face.

While unveiling Yemi Alade as the new coach on the saddle, joining the trio of Timi Dakolo, Patoranking and Waje; the organisers revealed that 2face left the show to pursue other commitments.

But reports have revealed that 2face declined to renew his contract with Airtel as he had a more mouth-watering contract with rival telecoms company Glo which unveiled him as a brand ambassador at a colourful event staged in Port Harcourt some days ago.

2face now joins other entertainers like Mercy Johnson, Olamide and Timaya as the newest brand ambassadors on the Glo network platform and he is expected to be involved in upcoming advert and marketing activities for the telecoms company.

Read Also:[Music]---Yemi Alade replaces 2face as coach of The Voice Nigeria Season 2

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[Politics}---Are you so power drunk? Falana queries Buhari’s aide over El-Zakzaky claims

A Senior Advocated of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has landed hard on Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, over claims on Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

He asked if Shehu has become “so power drunk to the extent that he can conveniently set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court” on the El-Zakzaky case.

Shehu had in response to a question on Tuesday in Abuja by newsmen said that the Federal Government is still holding former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and the Shi’ite leader for the good of the country.

While he said Dasuki was yet to be released against court judgement because of his ‘many sins’, on the part of El-Zakzaky, who the court has also ordered to be freed, he said, “The information we have is that he is being kept more for his own safety than the offences he committed. If you set him free today, what do you think will likely be the reactions out there on the streets of Kaduna or in Zazzau where he comes from.”

But in a fierce reaction, Falana wondered if Shehu had become so intoxicated with power to make such claims.

He said, “Even under the neo-tarzanist Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, court orders which directed that victims of the obnoxious Detention of Persons Decree No 2 of 1984 be released from illegal custody were complied with.

“But under a democratic government Mr. Shehu wants Nigerians to believe that El-zakzakys are held in ‘protective custody’ after the federal high court had declared such detention illegal and unconstitutional.”

“Or has Mr. Shehu suddenly become so power drunk to the extent that he can conveniently set aside the judgment of the federal high court?

“Is Mr. Shehu not aware that El-Zakzaky has lost one of his eyes in the dungeon of the State Security Service and may lose the other eye due to denial of urgent medical treatment? Why has his request to travel abroad for medical attention at his own expense been refused by the federal government?”

“Since neither President Muhammadu Buhari nor Acting President Yemi Osinbajo could have authorized the contemptuous statement issued on behalf of the Presidency, Mr. Shehu Garba should be called to order and restrained from further exposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ridicule before the comity of civilized nations.”

Both El-Zakzaky and Dasuki have been granted bail by different courts, but the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has refused to honour such court orders but continues to keep them in prison.

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[National]----Gov Wike, Amaechi in fresh quarrel over new cult group

The series of fights between Governor Nyesome Wike and his predecessor, who is the current minister for Transport, Rotimi Amaechi seems to know no end.

After series of accusations, Wike had recently alleged that the huge sums of cash recovered by the EFCC at an apartment in Ikoyi Lagos was hidden there by Amaechi.

Even after the director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ayodele Oke said the funds belongs to his agency, Wike still insisted that it was a cover-up.

This time around, Wike has accused Amaechi of being behind a new cult group in the state, with the sole aim of destabilizing the security situation in the state, and make him (Wike) look incompetent.

However, Amaechi dismissed Wike’s claim, stating that the governor has continued to display an “exclusive and uncommon strand of gubernatorial madness”.

Wike who made the claim while Commissioning the Kpopie-Bodo Road in Gokana Local Government Area, said the cult group, by the name Rivers cult group is well spread with cells in all the 23 local government areas of the state.

He therefore called on security agencies to investigate the group, and their sponsors with a view to stemming any ugly development, or breakdown of law.

He said, “Let me alert Nigerians. I am only informing Nigerians and security agencies of the crime against Rivers State by the past governor. We have successfully concluded the state amnesty programme for cultists in the state, but the former governor has set up another cult group.

“I am shouting for the security agencies to hear us. Let heaven hear us. Let nobody allow his son to be used. No amount of cult recruitment can intimidate us. I am calling on the security agencies to call the former governor to order”, Wike said.

Replying, Amaechi while denying the accusation, said it was Wke’s way of diverting attention from his earlier allegations that he allegedly hid the 43 million dollars recovered at the Ikoyi apartment.

Amaechi lamented that it was unfortunate Wike who had been unable to establish that he owned the apartment where the money was found had now come up with another allegation.

A statement from Amaechi’s media office read in part: “the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike continued to display unabated, his exclusive and uncommon strand of gubernatorial madness when he attempted to link his mentor, benefactor and predecessor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as a sponsor of cultists in Rivers State. And as usual, Wike did not provide any shred of evidence to prove his claims.

“We know that Wike craves attention and always wants to be seen in the media to be “exposing and fighting” Amaechi.

“However, we will burst his bubble this time and will not indulge him or dignify his crass stupidity. If he has any sense, Wike ought to know by now that no one takes him seriously anymore, especially whenever he makes those cooked-up vile, malicious allegations against the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

“This his new concocted story is not any different from the previous numerous false allegations he has made against Amaechi.

“Again, Wike’s new cult fabrication against Amaechi fits into Wike’s style and pattern of distraction and obfuscation- tell a lie to distract, and then tell another lie and another lie to distract our attention from the previous lie, creating an endless web of lies, confusion and deception. Same pattern of telling blatant lies with no proof or intention to prove his claims. Sadly, this is the kind of irresponsible, reckless, disgraceful garrulous, scallywag conman that presides over the affairs of Rivers State.

“Wike wants us to forget that only recently, he made an allegation that the over $43million found in an Ikoyi apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were stolen Rivers State funds kept in the apartment by Amaechi. Wike had also lied that the luxury Ikoyi apartment belonged to Amaechi.

“But we won’t forget. We remember vividly that on the night of Friday, April 14, during his hurriedly arranged shambolic press briefing, Wike had threatened the President Buhari administration with fire and brimstone, vowing the mother-of-all legal action against the Federal government if the over $43million was not given to him within seven days. His 7-day ultimatum had long expired, yet no action, whether legal or otherwise by Wike to prove his malicious allegations and claim to the money.

“On Friday, May 6, when another opportunity was opened for Wike to prove his frivolous allegations against Amaechi and claim the money before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos; neither Wike nor his lawyers were anywhere near the court to claim the money. Again, another no show.

“Nyesom Wike, also used his lackeys and minions like former President Goodluck Jonathan campaigner, Femi Fani-Kayode, Lere Olayinka (an aide to Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State) and one Senator George Sekibo who, like a clown, foolishly blew a whistle on the floor of the senate to push his (Wike’s) false, malicious narrative of Amaechi’s ownership of the Ikoyi money. Nigerians are sick and tired of Governor Wike’s shameful spectacles, his nuisance value of wanting to entertain us regularly, with different frivolous stories about Amaechi.

“This fresh attempt by Wike to distract Nigerians from his earlier false, politically motivated allegations against Amaechi on the over $43million Ikoyi money, will not fly.

“We will continue to remind Wike and insist that he must go to court, like he vowed (as he goes, he can also take his minions and lackeys with him), to prove his frivolous claims that the over $43million Ikoyi money and luxury apartment belongs to Amaechi and were stolen from Rivers State by Amaechi; or be ready to face the wrath of the law at the appropriate time (constitutional immunity for governors is not for life) the wrath of the people and ultimately the wrath of God, which no constitutional immunity can protect him from,” the statement concluded.

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