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25 states to benefit from $500m W’Bank loan(SEE LIST)

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25 state governments will be beneficiaries of the newly approved $500m World Bank loan to improve water resource management for hydropower and irrigation.

This was as the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Ministry of Power, on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank for the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.

The latest development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja.

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The states include Benue, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, Enugu, Bauchi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Kebbi, Plateau, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Abia, Kwara, Imo, Taraba, Kano, Delta, Osun, Jigawa, Edo, and Kogi.

The statement noted that the initiative aims to enhance dam safety, improve water resource management, and boost hydropower and irrigation systems nationwide.

“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Ministry of Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project.

“The 500 million dollar World Bank SPIN project aims to enhance dam safety and improve water resource management for hydropower and irrigation across 25 states.

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In his address, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, emphasised the partnership’s importance in advancing sustainable hydropower development and enhancing Nigeria’s energy security.

He disclosed that despite abundant water resources, only 2 per cent of the country’s 14-gigawatt hydropower potential has been utilized, leaving vast opportunities untapped.

He said, “Hydropower currently contributes about 20 per cent of Nigeria’s grid supply, with a potential estimated at 14GW (14000 megawatts) of which only 15 per cent has been tapped.

“This collaboration underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging our natural resources for sustainable development.

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“Through SPIN, we aim to optimize water resources to provide clean and reliable energy while supporting irrigation and agriculture for enhanced food security.”

Adelabu highlighted the MoU as a key step toward harnessing renewable energy, optimizing natural resources, and diversifying the energy mix in line with the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan.

He noted the initiative’s potential to transform the energy landscape and provide sustainable power for millions.

He further stated that under the current federal government administration, measures such as the Electricity Act 2023 are decentralizing the electricity market and enabling subnational governments’ participation.

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Adelabu stressed the role of decentralized power systems in enhancing reliability and reducing risks to the national grid.

He also pointed out northern Nigeria’s solar potential, with 8 to 12 hours of daily sunshine, and reaffirmed the commitment to leveraging hydropower and fostering partnerships for a sustainable energy future.

Utsev described the SPIN project as pivotal to boosting food production, creating jobs, and strengthening Nigeria’s economy.

He commended the World Bank as a trusted partner in the country’s development, highlighting the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria project, which concludes in January 2025, as a foundation for innovative solutions in water and agriculture.

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As Chairman of the SPIN Preparatory Team, Utsev reaffirmed the ministries’ and partners’ full commitment to the project’s success, expressing confidence in its potential to address Nigeria’s irrigation needs and deliver significant benefits to citizens.

“We are confident that the SPIN project will build on this legacy by boosting food production and meeting the irrigation needs of our growing population,” he added.

“Our collective efforts have brought us to this significant moment, and I am confident that SPIN will deliver the tangible benefits Nigerians are eagerly anticipating,” he said.

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Politics

Unity among APC members only way to reclaim Kano from NNPP – Ganduje

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on members of the party in Kano State to join hands in a fight to win power from the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Speaking at the 8th and 9th APC Kano State House of Assembly Forum dinner in honour of Rt. Hon Kabiru Rurum, Rt. Hon. Hamisu Chidari, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Atta among others, Mr Ganduje who was represented by the state APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas declared that members should remain united and not allow their differences to tear them apart.

“Unity is the only way out for us; it’s the only avenue available for us to have what we want,” he said, adding that God had already intervened for them as the present administration was mismanaging the state”.

He dismissed NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso’s boast about his popularity, stating, “I can swear to God that if not for our internal issues, he wouldn’t have won any election in the state.” He told members of his party, the APC, to be ready for the task ahead.

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Similarly, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, who also urged the party members to unite, observed that the party would easily win the elections if it puts its house in order. “Let’s just pray and forge ahead in unity. We must work towards reclaiming Kano because the state is not in good hands under the current leadership,” he said.

The Chairman of the Forum, Abdul’azeez Gafasa, congratulated the honorees, assuring that the forum would continue to work towards ensuring unity and uplifting its members.

The event celebrated the good works of APC leaders and members who have benefited from federal appointments amidst calls for a collective effort in reclaiming APC’s dominance in Kano State.

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PDP Slams Osun APC Over Adeleke’s Re-election Comment

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Osun state chapter, has dismissed the negative posture of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the overwhelming endorsements for re-election received by Governor Ademola Adeleke recently as the last kick of a dying horse, noting that the main opposition is fighting a lost battle.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi on Monday, said the Osun APC must purge itself of the arrogance of recognising the will of the people in a democracy, declaring that no amount of ranting or innuendos will takeaway the fact that Osun people are solidly behind Governor Adeleke and will renew his mandate when the ballot is opened.

Hon. Bisi lashed at the Osun APC for showing no remorse at all for the hopelessness and pains that it’s misgovernance and bad financial decisions inspired while it administer the affairs of the state, pointing out that it will be a grave misreading of the situation to think it can sneak to power using falsehood and propaganda.

“It is a pity that the Osun APC has been lost to illusion that it is failing to see that Osun people are solidly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke. Osun APC’s irrational contest of the will of the people is a danger to our democracy and should concern all,” the statement reads in part.

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“Contrary to the erroneous postulation of the Osun APC, Governor earned the endorsements for another term in office on the merit of the remarkable work he has done in his first two years. In infrastructure, not only has Governor Adeleke initiated new roads and bridges, but also completed some that were abandoned by the preceding APC administration.

“If the Osun APC had any honour left with it, the right thing to do was to acknowledge it, but we suspect they are so ashamed and would want to keep it away from the public. They are however mistaken, as the truth of their failure while in office was too open to be concealed and the public are well aware of how much Governor Adeleke is working to fix their mess.”

Hon. Bisi who pointed that in two years, Governor Adeleke has taken measures to provide reprieve for many families that the Osun APC maladministration has caused undue pains, said it is entirely fallacy for the Osun APC to think the people will return those who abandoned their welfare and failed miserably in upscaling infrastructure in the state back to power.

“Under the APC, promotions were given but the financial aspect of it was left unattended to. Governor Adeleke came and not only implemented the financial consequences of the promotion, but also cashbacked it. The same thing with pensioners who have received more release of their bond certificate in two years than in twelve years of the APC in Osun.

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“Yet, the Osun APC is wondering why the people are endorsing Governor Adeleke for re-election. Except for delusion, the reason is clear and only those who wants the retrogression of Osun will do otherwise.”

Hon. Bisi dismissed the claim by the Osun APC that Governor Adeleke sacked 1,500 teachers in the state as an invented lie that has failed to gain life, wondering why the APC has find it hard to produce the purported sack letter of those disengaged.

“It is not surprising that the Osun APC is regurgitating the same lie it has repeatedly promoted for over two years. They have no reasonable thing to hold the Governor, hence, manufacturing lies, which has failed with the people. When Governor Adeleke assumed office, education was near comatose as public schools infrastructure were in a deplorable conditions, unhealthy for both students and teachers.

“This was because his predecessor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, made no investment whatsoever on the infrastructure of public, turning what should be a safe environment into a dangerous trap. In two years, Governor Adeleke has concentrated on putting the infrastructures in good conditions and equipping, making if safe for both teachers and students. No fewer than 100 public schools has been rehabilitated and equipped and many more will be done this year. This will be followed by deploying successful candidates in the almost concluded teaching recruitment into those schools.

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“Similar investment are made in the health sector, with about 200 PHCs across the state wholly rehabilitated and equipped with 24/7 power and water. This wouldn’t have been necessary if Oyetola had not misused the $20.5 million grant received from the World Bank to upscale the infrastructures of the PHCs to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is rather unfortunate that those who failed grossly when they had the chance are turning to blame the man fixing their mess.

“It is however comforting that Osun people are well aware of the horrible past that the APC represents in the state and will not be swayed by doomed-to-fail mission to sneak to power. In the days ahead, Osun people should expect more of the APC’s wild rhetorics and deliberate misinformation campaign in the desperation for power, but they must firmly reject them in order to guarantee the progress that Osun is witnessing under Governor Adeleke.”

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We didn’t contemplate destroying uncollected PVCs – INEC denies report

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said they are not contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

Reacting to a newspaper report to that effect, INEC through a post on its official X handle, said the report is incorrect, advising members of the public to discountenance the story.

“Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the Commission is contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) going back to the 2015 voter registration.

“The report is incorrect. At no time did the Commission contemplate the destruction of uncollected PVCs. The public is advised to discountenance the story”, INEC said.

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