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EU ends six years of darkness in C’River community with solar mini-grid
By Francesca Hangeior
The European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS on Monday revealed that it funded a solar min-grid project for residents of Etomi community in Cross River State.
According to a statement by the EU, the community had been without electricity for six years.
“After six years without electricity, residents of Etomi community in Cross River State now enjoy reliable, clean, and affordable electricity through the European Union-funded solar mini-grid project. The solar project, which provides 119.5kW of electricity to over 600 households and businesses in the community, was implemented by GIZ,” the statement noted.
Inga Stefanowicz, Head of the Green and Digital Economy Section, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, explained that the grid is managed under a public-private partnership arrangement to ensure its sustainability and long-term maintenance. A private company is overseeing the operations of the grid, in partnership with the Cross River State Government.
Stefanowicz said the project is part of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and is aimed to ensure that Nigerians have access to clean, renewable, and affordable energy.
“The provision of reliable, clean, and affordable electricity for domestic and commercial use will boost the social and economic development of the people. I am also glad to say that we are taking electricity to a cocoa-producing community. This will help their farming activities and processes greatly.”
The Cross River State Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Eka Williams, explained that the solar mini-grid project is an off-grid system, and expressed the conviction that it would serve the Etomi community very well. “I want to say a very big thank you to my Governor, in partnership with the EU, who has made this possible. We have a replication of this in about four communities in Etung Local Government Area.”
A resident of the Etomi community, John Okpa, expressed excitement, as his community had been without electricity for over six years. He said, “Residents of the Etomi community are happy because the EU has provided us with electricity after six years of darkness. We are grateful to them, and pray that God continues to bless them.”
Another resident of the Etomi community, Precious Jeremiah, revealed that for seven years, she used a generator to run her hair-styling business. This, according to her, comes at a high cost of fueling, repairing, and servicing the generator. “Before the installation of the solar plant, I managed my business using a generator. The cost of fueling the generator is very expensive.
“Since the installation of the solar plant, my customers can come into my shop to get their hair done and enjoy a cool and clean atmosphere devoid of generator smoke and noise. Also, I can make enough profit to take care of my household, including paying for the school fees of my children,” she said.
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Govt official arrested for 400 s3xtapes with president’s sister, ministers’ wives, others
By Kayode Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been arrested for allegedly recording over 400 sextapes of women, including the sister of the country’s president.
The sextapes were recovered from Engonga’s house and office following a raid by ANIF officials who carried out the operation in a fraud investigation against the 54-year-old economist.
The ANIF officials were said to have come across several CDs that later showed Engonga’s sexcapades with different married women.
The videos, according to a local media platform, Ahora EG, include encounters with high-profile individuals, including Engonga’s brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the Director General of Police’s wife, and about 20 of the country’s ministers’ wives, among others.
The video discovered in his office was said to have been recorded with consent and has since been leaked online.
In a report by a local media platform, Ahora EG, since last October, Engonga has been involved in a sexual scandal unprecedented in the history of Equatorial Guinea.
Ahora EG stated: “The most striking thing is that some scenes took place in his work office, including moments in which he is seen sleeping with a woman next to the National Flag. Based on this sexual scandal, the Executive has stated that the measure is a direct response to the acts that have affected the image of the country.
“With these new measures, the Government hopes to establish a clear precedent on the expected conduct of public officials in order to create a more respectful work environment in the public and private administration of Equatorial Guinea. For days now, erotic videos have been circulating on social media featuring Baltasar EBANG ENGONGA, better known as ‘Bello’.
“Baltasar EBANG ENGONGA is said to have filmed these scenes with the consent of the women themselves, which exonerates him from a possible crime of violation of integrity. In the videos, he is seen having unprotected sex with several women, including those married to powerful and well-known people in the country, but also with the most “diva and influential” single women in Equatorial Guinea. Some scenes take place in hotel rooms, houses, even in the protagonist’s office at the Ministry of Finance,” it added.
Speaking on the viral sextapes, the Attorney General of Equatorial Guinea, Nzang Nguema, said although the videos suggest that the women involved were not forced to participate, the law does not consider consensual sexual relations to be a crime, unless coercion or violence is proven.
“The possibility of a contagious disease being spread through these sexual interactions makes the situation even more critical,” Nguema added.
Reacting to the development on Monday, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Nguema Mangue, said Engonga’s behaviours violated the country’s Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law.
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