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Power: N12bn Spent Annually On Airports, FG Considers Solar
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Federal Government was spending N1bn monthly to power the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
He stated this Monday during the ministerial press briefing in Abuja to mark President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.
According to Keyamo, the ministry is planning to reduce the heavy cost by investing in solar power systems.
Keyamo explained that the ministry was bypassing the power distribution companies to buy electricity directly from the generating companies, saying that method would save the Federal Government about N300m.
“We want to run our airports with solar and that will save us so much every month. Lagos airport alone, I was told we do N1bn every month, and I asked why.
“The first thing I said they should do is bypass the Discos and go to the Gencos because we are eligible customers. Why do you pay a Disco that will add profit when you are an eligible customer? Cut them off and go to the Gencos straight.
We are doing that and they are protesting up and down to go and meet the president. By doing that, we are saving 30 per cent. When we are supposed to pay N1bn, we will pay N600m,” the minister stated.
Meanwhile, Keyamo emphasised that the Nigeria Air project remained suspended.
In 2023, the Ministry of Aviation, under Hadi Sirika, unveiled Nigeria Air three days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The development elicited concerns among stakeholders nationwide over the ownership arrangement, which gave Ethiopian Airlines a 49 per cent equity stake.
The Federal Government had five per cent equity, while a consortium of three Nigerian investors had 46 per cent.
Reacting to the deal in June 2023, the House of Representatives asked the Federal Government to suspend the operations of Nigeria Air, describing it as a fraud.
In August 2023, Keyamo announced that the national carrier project was suspended until further notice.
Keyamo said, “It remains suspended.
It was never Air Nigeria. It was not Air Nigeria. That is the truth. It was only painted Air Nigeria. It was Ethiopian Airlines trying to flag our flag.
“If it is so, why not allow our local people to fly our flag? Why bring a foreigner to fly our flag? So, nobody should dispute that it was Air Nigeria.
“Air Nigeria must be indigenous, must be wholly Nigerian, and must be for the full benefits of Nigeria, not that 50 per cent of the profit is for another country,” he explained.
Keyamo reiterated that the ownership structure of the suspended airline was not beneficial to the country.
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Ecoparl: Speaker Ibrahima Reaffirms Parliament’s Dedication to Regional Unity
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Air Force Begins Moving Electoral Materials For Edo Guber Election
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has began airlifting the sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, Edo State, ahead of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali.
The operation is part of the NAF’s efforts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of materials necessary for a smooth electoral process.
This development reinforces the collaboration between NAF and INEC to facilitate logistics and ensure a peaceful election in Edo State.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had previously reiterated NAF’s commitment to providing airlift support for the swift movement of electoral materials during a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
This airlift operation is a crucial aspect of NAF’s constitutional responsibility to provide Military Aid to Civil Authority, underscoring the force’s dedication to supporting democratic processes in Nigeria. With the election just days away, the NAF’s timely intervention will help ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo State.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had earlier accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.
Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.
The governor had said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.
Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.
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“Dancing gives me abundant joy and peace of mind”-Gov Adeleke
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has given reasons why he loves dancing.
The ‘Dancing Governor’, as he is fondly called, revealed this on Wednesday while responding to a tweet on X.
An X user, @Iwogoke, while praising the governor, stated that Adeleke has been busy fulfilling his electoral promises to the people of Osun State, while his political opponents believe he is only good at dancing.
Iwogoke tweeted, “I’m not flattering you, Your Excellency, your opponents think you can only dance but while they are busy shouting and calling you ‘Dancing Governor’, you are busy fulfilling your electoral promises to the people.”
Responding to the tweet via his verified X account, Adeleke explained that he loves dancing because it brings him joy.
Speaking further on his love for dancing, Adeleke highlighted that while dancing brings him immense happiness, his greater fulfilment comes from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.
Outlining his administration’s efforts to enhance the state’s infrastructure, he noted that primary health centre rehabilitation is underway in at least 200 out of the 332 wards across Osun State, adding that road construction projects are also progressing in every local government area.
He wrote, “Dancing gives me joy, but delivering on my electoral promises and providing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Osun gives me even greater joy. Rehabilitation of primary health centers is ongoing in at least 200 out of 332 wards, and road construction is progressing in every Local Government!”
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