Nigerian Newspapers
Poor power supply: Electricity consumers switch to solar
Despite efforts of the Federal Government in the past few years, the supply of electricity remains epileptic in many parts of the nation with consumers experiencing also massive exploitation from Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs. UDEME AKPAN who has been following the trend reports that many consumers have started to switch to solar.
President Goodluck Jonathan was not pleased with the state of the nation’s power sector when he got the mantle to preside over the affairs of the nation in 2010. After much contemplation, Jonathan stated in the nation’s power sector that: “My appraisal of the sector over the past few years has revealed that the factors that affect reliable electricity service delivery in Nigeria include the absence of a sustained and deliberately deployed long term power development strategy under exploitation of our abundant energy endowments and the absence of adequate and unknown implementation of reforms.
The president thereafter constituted two committees to fast track the resolution of all issues pertaining to power sector. These included the Presidential Action Committee on Power and Presidential Taskforce on Power. The Presidential Action Committee on Power has the responsibility to provide leadership and guidance and to determine the general policy direction and strategic focus of power reform, the committee meets weekly while the Presidential Tax force on Power is the engine room for the day to day planning, and it is charged with the responsibility of developing and driving forward the action plan of the Nigerian power sector, with achievable targets, especially with reference to the areas of Power generation, transmission, distribution, as well as fuel to power.
The president maintained that: “I have declared that on the attainment of stability in the sector, the government will disengage from generation and distribution of electricity in the country. Government will encourage the private sector participation in these areas. Therefore, as articulated in the electric power sector reform act, the private sector will be responsible for generation and distribution, while government will still own the transmission grid, but with private sector management. We are in the process of commissioning independent power producers, international oil companies to produce at least 5,000 megawatts of new capacity. These plants will begin production in 2012 and 2013. Government will provide the credit enhancement that will enable them invest in the construction of the power plants.
Jonathan also stated that: “The key factor to realising government goals in the power sector is appropriate tariff regime. The tariff on electric power in our country today is much lower than what is paid in countries across the West African sub region. The present tariff regime will be adjusted in line with government’s determination to provide reliable electricity to the consumers but this will be done in a way that it will not affect ordinary consumers.
Investigations showed that some achievements have been made in the past few years. For instance, efforts have been made to increase the nation’s electricity generation from less than 2,000 megawatts, mw to the present over 4,000mw which is still 8,000mw less than the nation’s estimated 12,000mw national demand. Arrangements have reached an advanced stage to handover the nation’s 15 Electricity Generation Companies, GENCOs and Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs to preferred bidders who are expected to manage them better and deliver more electricity to consumers. More than that, concerted efforts have been made to improve transmission through the engagement of Manitoba Hydro International to manage the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Despite these and other feats, the government has not yet met its set targets in the sector. Power supply remains low at over 4,000mw against 12,000mw estimated demand. Many consumers lack electricity meters. Consequently, the DISCOs continue to give them crazy bills amounting to between N10, 000 and N15, 000 per month whether they have supply or not. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has not been mute. Recently, the Commission issued a 14-day ultimatum to DISCOs, requesting them to submit a list of all customers who paid for meters since January 2011, and commence metering them with immediate effect. Specifically, the Dr. Sam Amadi –led Commission expressed its utter dismay that all DISCOs have been in complete violation of the order as it relates to customers who have made payments within the given time frame, and have not been identified for immediate metering. NERC had earlier in the year issued an Order on CAPMI – Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation. CAPMI was a response by the regulator to address the lingering issue of non-issuance of meters by the electricity companies.
However, while awaiting these and other issues to be solved, many consumers have taken to the use of solar. The Chief Architect, GoSolarAfrica, Mr. Femi Oye stated that: “Many consumers have already shifted from the use of public power to renewable, especially solar because of some advantages such as low technology cost, wider service coverage, short and simple trainings required for efficient operations.
Oye who puts the rate of adaptation to solar at 37 per cent in the past three years (formerly 5-7 per cent) attributed it to other factors such as confidence building on the reliability of solar in the nation. Low cost of components, especially solar panel and battery. For instance, he stated that solar panel which used to be N1, 000 now cost only N300 per wax. He stated that the lightness of equipment which requires low transportation cost, community resource mobilisation and community management of the decentralised energy system also promote social integration.
He maintained that: “By using solar energy as our future source of energy, we can avoid both the two crises as well as meet Nigeria’s immediate energy needs. The application of solar can be broadly classified into two categories; (a) thermal energy systems which convert solar energy into thermal energy and (b) photovoltaic energy systems that convert solar energy into electrical energy.
Oye who has spent his entire life assisting consumers to maximize the use of solar stated that the shift to solar would not have been possible without the efforts of two Solar Energy Research Centres at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. As he puts it: “Efforts at both Centers and other Solar Energy Research Laboratories resident in other Nigerian universities and polytechnics have been geared at designing absorptive surfaces for the effective harnessing of solar radiation.
The solar expert who believed the bold steps would go a long way to eliminating BlackOut in Africa stated that the development would assist to clean the environment, stem global warming, strengthen the energy grid, and support national security and energy independence, while enabling consumers to become energy independent.
He counseled potential consumers to make use of competent consultants to avoid making regrettable mistakes. For instance, Oye stated that: “CarbonCredit Network pays for, installs, owns and operates the Solar Home System (SHS). All you do is pay for your monthly electricity usage from your panels. Your contract rate for this electricity is based on the outcome of your energy audit + your average carbon footprint for your utility during the prior year. We “lock in” this rate so that it never goes up for the entire duration of the contract, up to 10 years. We give you back your power, you produce your own electricity, and you keep the savings every month.
He remarked that no upfront equipment investment. No waiting for discount or solar to become cheaper. Oye stated that CarbonCredit Network obtains all permits and handles engineering, procurement, and construction. He maintained that consumers only pay for what is delivered.
Oye stated that: “After you sign up for a no obligation account on our CarbonCredit Network and activate your account to receive your welcome carbon offset pack, a demonstration that you are a Carbon Neutral Citizen. Your Carbon Offset Pack contains a tradable Solar lanterns, Energy Saver Lamps and Clean Cook Stove – These can be used and share with others or re-sell to low income house-holds, helping them further reduce carbon and green house gases.
He explained that: “Solar energy begins with the sun. Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic, are used to convert light from the sun, which is composed of particles of energy called “photons”, into electricity that can be used to power electrical loads. Light from the sun is a renewable energy resource which provides clean energy, produced by solar panels. Solar panels can be used for a wide variety of applications including remote power systems for cabins, telecommunications equipment, remote sensing, and of course for the production of electricity by residential and commercial solar panel systems.
Oye maintained that: “When deciding to use solar the following are to put in consideration – How much power you consume, How many hour of direct sunlight the panel will receive, make inventory of all electric appliances you use, estimate the number of hour your equipment will run on batteries in a day, add up all the wattage, purchase the solar panel that suites your wattage ratings and divide the total appliances wattage by 5 to get the solar panel wattage to be used.”
This approach seems to be appropriate. An Uyo-based consumer, Mr. Godwin Etuk who used the approach to get his solar installed stated that with the massive importation of solar components from different parts of the world, especially India and China, the prices of components have crashed substantially. He remarked that this makes solar affordable to many consumers now than in the past. Etuk who called for local production of local components to further reduce the cost stated that solar is gradually becoming a reliable source of energy and that the DISCOs may have to work harder to attract and retain the loyalty of this class of consumers in the coming years.
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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: National Mirror Newspaper
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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