Category: Nigerian Tribune

Residential homes and farmlands have been destroyed by heavy flooding in at least five agrarian communities in Lafiagi, in the Edu local government area of Kwara.

The Tribune gathered that the incident followed a heavy downpour on Tuesday and affected communities include Pututa, Tswako, Likpata, Godangi, and Ekko, all within Lafiagi Ward 4.

It was gathered that no lives were lost in the flooding incident; however, property and rice farms were reportedly washed away, and a source of drinking water was also destroyed.

Speaking when he paid a sympathy visit to Pututa and other agrarian communities in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area, that were ravaged by the flood, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the recurring incident as unfortunate.

The governor identified dredging of the River Niger as a lasting solution to flooding in the area and promised to continue to push for a lasting solution.

‘The purpose of this visit is to come and commiserate with the communities over the flood incident and to see how we can bring succour to the affected communities,’ the Governor said at the Palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, HRH Alhaji Muhammed Kudu Kawu.

‘It is a bad situation, we are glad that no life was lost, though a lot of properties were destroyed. The dredging of River Niger is beyond the state but we will continue to engage federal agencies like the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Inland Waterways, HYPADEC and other federal agencies for their support.’

Earlier in Pututa, the Governor told the head of Pututa (Lashan Pututa), Alhaji Muhammed Manko Ibrahim, that the government is working hard to fix their challenge.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to visit the place and take inventory of their losses for adequate government support.

He also gave them a sum of N10 million to provide for their immediate needs, including medical, food, and drinking water.

The Governor thanked the people of Kwara North, including the Lafiagi Emirate, for supporting his government.

AbdulRazaq also visited the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, and Lafiagi Stadium under reconstruction, with the promise to intensify efforts for the upgrade of the former to Federal University of Education.

He said the government will look into the reopening of the Gbugbu International Market, Lafiagi, which was earlier closed for security reasons.

The Governor also justified the zoning of the governorship ticket to Kwara North, saying the motive was to expedite development in the region.

‘On a final note, the push of this administration is that wherever a leader comes from, it brings more development to that area. It is a natural thing,’ he said at the Emir’s Palace.

‘For Kwara North to feel greater impacts, our administration has decided to make sure that the next Governor of Kwara State comes from Kwara North.’

Speaking on behalf of the Emir, the Somasun of Lafiagi, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, appreciated the Governor for the visit and for the developmental projects by his government.

He specifically thanked the government for donating a Coaster Bus to the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, to ease the mobility of staff.

He appealed for the reopening of the Gbugbu International Market to improve commercial activities and grow their economy.

Lashan Pututa, Alhaji Ibrahim, for his part, said the Governor’s visit further demonstrates his leadership qualities and a commitment to the well-being of people of the community.

He commended AbdulRazaq for providing them with good leadership and appealed to his government to assist in putting an end to their challenge.

‘There have been governors in Kwara state, both military and elected ones like Your Excellency.

What we have witnessed during your time is unique. We have not had it so good as you have done for us,’ he said.

‘This is Lafiagi Ward 4; we have about 31 villages within the ward, all in the riverine area. We are just one single ward, but our votes count even more than some local governments in the state.

‘Since we have been practicing politics along with other people, we have not had a governor who would be stepping into our ward like you. You have been coming to this ward as if you were born here. Your contributions to our community are enormous. We will reciprocate this kind gesture with our vote in 2027.

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola, has revealed plans to introduce body cameras for enforcement officers who board vessels in order to further enhance transparency in the agency’senforcement operations.

He disclosed this when he received a delegation of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN).

The director general appreciated MACN’s continued engagement and contribution to strengthening conversations around integrity, transparency and accountability in the maritime sector and expressed the Agency’s readiness to deepen collaboration with MACN towards building a more transparent, predictable and efficient maritime sector.

Represented by the Executive Director, Operations, Engineer Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, Mobereola emphasised the importance of data in demonstrating and communicating the progress being made in the sector.

‘Data is essential to show the progress being made in the maritime sector. We need to be able to demonstrate what we are doing and showcase the impact of these reforms,’ he stated.

Mobereola also hinted at efforts to further enhance transparency in enforcement operations to include the introduction of body cameras for enforcement officers who board vessels.

‘The initiative would provide greater transparency in interactions between enforcement personnel and operators, while also promoting more efficient and accountable operations’, he said.

The NIMASA DG also advocated the replication of successful reforms across maritime administrations in the region with a concomitant impact on trade and investment, stressing that a more transparent maritime environment would create opportunities for businesses and strengthen regional competitiveness.

Speaking earlier during the visit, Chief Executive Officer of MACN, Cecelia Torbrand, commended NIMASA for the reforms being implemented in the maritime sector, noting that the measures have contributed to the increased transparency and improved business environment currently being witnessed across the sector.

Torbrand highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing corruption risks within the maritime industry, noting that sustainable change requires strong collaboration among government institutions, industry stakeholders, civil society and other relevant actors.

She explained that MACN’s work is anchored on three key pillars: Capability Building, Collective Action, and Collaboration/Culture of Integrity, emphasising that provision of innovative tools, training and compliance resources; sustainable, on-the-ground change; and partnerships across board are critical to addressing the root causes of maritime corruption.

The MACN CEO commended NIMASA for the reforms undertaken to improve transparency and integrity within the Nigerian maritime space, stressing the importance of sustaining the momentum and documenting the progress being achieved.

Also speaking, a member of MACN and Chief Executive Officer of the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), Mr Olusoji Apampa, said the progress recorded in Nigeria’s maritime sector deserved greater visibility.

He noted that the reforms being implemented in Nigeria are attracting attention across the sub-region, with countries including Ghana and Senegal developing mechanisms inspired by the Nigerian experience.

Apampa described the development as ‘the Nigerian Miracle’, noting that the experience demonstrates what can be achieved when government and industry stakeholders work together to address systemic challenges.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the economic struggles facing some Nigerian families did not begin with his administration, arguing that the hardship was the result of problems that accumulated over several decades.

Tinubu made the assertion in his Independence Day address to Nigerians, where he acknowledged that millions of citizens still struggle to afford food, school fees, medical bills and transportation.

The president said these difficulties were rooted in years of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, limited opportunities and institutional weaknesses, rather than being created by the economic reforms introduced by his administration.

According to him, the government could not reverse in four years problems that had accumulated over generations, but it could change the country’s economic direction and create conditions capable of lifting more Nigerians out of poverty.

Tinubu said his administration was therefore combining economic reforms with measures designed to support vulnerable citizens, including strengthening direct assistance to poorer households and improving the National Social Register to ensure support reaches people who need it.

He also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying it was intended to help students from low-income families pursue higher education despite their parents’ inability to pay tuition.

The president pointed to CREDICORP’s consumer credit scheme as another measure aimed at helping working Nigerians acquire essential assets, including vehicles, solar systems and digital devices without having to save for years before making such purchases.

Tinubu said the government was also working with state and local governments to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other essential public services relied upon by poorer Nigerians.

He maintained that the economic reforms introduced since he assumed office in 2023 had been necessary to address longstanding weaknesses in the economy.

By 2023, he said, poverty was rising and the country faced severe economic challenges, leaving the government with little choice but to implement difficult reforms.

Tinubu said the reforms had since produced what he described as measurable improvements, including economic growth of more than four per cent in 2026, lower inflation from its peak, rebuilt foreign reserves and greater stability in the foreign exchange market.

He also said Nigeria recorded more than $6 billion in non-oil export revenue in 2025, describing it as the highest in the country’s history.

The president said the government had now moved beyond the initial phase of economic correction and was focusing on translating the reforms into broader prosperity.

He identified lowering the cost of living as a major priority, with the government seeking to reduce production and transportation costs through agricultural mechanisation, irrigation, improved access to seeds and fertiliser, storage facilities and better transport infrastructure.

Tinubu also said the administration would focus on job creation and industrial expansion by using Nigeria’s gas resources to power industries, reviving factories, expanding digital connectivity and developing skills demanded by employers.

He said Nigeria’s large youth population should become a source of economic production and opportunity rather than despair.

The president further said the government would continue investing in roads, railways and ports to connect farms and factories with markets, arguing that lower production and distribution costs would eventually reduce prices for consumers.

Tinubu said the ultimate goal was to create an economy in which farmers could earn better incomes, businesses could access reliable power and credit, young people could find productive employment, and Nigerian companies could compete in global markets.

He acknowledged that poverty reduction would take time and require sustained economic growth and the creation of millions of productive opportunities.

Tinubu declared that Nigeria had moved beyond the reform phase and entered what he described as an era of prosperity, urging Nigerians to look ahead rather than return to the economic practices he said had contributed to the country’s longstanding challenges.

The statement partly reads, ‘I am also conscious that millions of our fellow citizens cannot wait for tomorrow. Some Nigerian families still struggle today for the next meal, the next school fee, the next medical bill, or simply enough money to get to work. Their circumstances did not begin with the reforms of the last three years. Their struggle is the accumulated consequence of decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient opportunity and institutions that too often failed those who needed them most.

‘We cannot erase in four years what accumulated over generations. But we can change its course. We can build an economy that steadily lifts people out of poverty while ensuring that those who remain vulnerable are not abandoned along the way.

‘That is why we are strengthening direct support for the poorest households and improving the National Social Register so that assistance reaches those who genuinely need it.’

Taraba Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, has approved a total of N2.5 billion in intervention funds to cushion prevailing economic hardship among vulnerable households, boost youth empowerment, and accelerate recovery in communities hit by communal crises.

The governor announced the approvals on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during his statewide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

While exercising his constitutional powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) upon the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, Kefas also granted executive pardons to 24 reformed prison inmates.

Breaking down the N2.5 billion intervention, the governor explained that N500 million has been earmarked for the six-month TARABA CARES Social Investment and Poverty Relief Programme running from October 2026 to March 2027, aimed strictly at supporting indigent households, widows, persons with disabilities, and the elderly without political bias.

He also announced an additional N1 billion injection into the Taraba State Youth Development Agency to finance vocational skills and enterprise support, alongside another N1 billion intervention fund dedicated to rebuilding livelihoods and providing relief materials to crisis-affected communities in Karim Lamido Local Government Area and other affected parts of the state.

Kefas said: ‘Independence must mean that a poor family’s child can access quality education, a pregnant woman can enter a clinic without fear, and our farmers can reach markets profitably.

‘Leadership must be measured by what it does for the people. These three interventions represent N2.5 billion in approved funding. Every single naira must serve its intended purpose, and the implementing agencies will publicly account for every kobo.’

On infrastructure and the prolonged hardship trailing the collapsed Namnai Bridge along the Jalingo-Wukari federal highway, Governor Kefas issued a seven-day ultimatum to the State Ministry of Works and the Secretary to the State Government to engage the North East Development Commission, NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, and the contractor for a realistic completion timetable.

‘The people do not need another speech about Namnai Bridge; they need a safe, completed bridge. Repeated assurances without visible progress are no longer enough,’ he said.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the state’s debt profile, the governor noted that he

welcomes responsible scrutiny, accountability and fact-based criticism but rejects the use of incomplete figures and distorted records to frighten the public.

He said: ‘Borrowing is not automatically evidence of failure; what matters is whether it is lawful, affordable, transparent, and invested productively. Our books must be open to lawful scrutiny, and I take full responsibility for our financial decisions.’

Kefas also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government over Nigeria’s September 17, 2026 victory at the International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal, which cleared legal hurdles stalling the multi-billion-dollar Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

He, however, noted that Taraba will not depend solely on the federal dam, directing the State Electricity Commission to open up the state’s intrastate power market to credible mini-hydro and solar investors under the Electricity Act 2023.

Other key policy announcements in the broadcast included the planned rollout of the Taraba Teachers’ Welfare, Professionalisation and Housing Programme in 2027, the unveiling of the 168-Ward Quick Impact Development Programme before the end of October 2026, and an upcoming multi-stakeholder summit on October 3 to regulate artisanal mining against environmental pollution, mercury poisoning, and child labour.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, political pressure group Grassroots 121 Action has commenced grassroots mobilisation across Ekiti State in support of the presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

The group said it was targeting a minimum of 200,000 votes for Makinde in the state, with its mobilisation structure covering the 2,445 polling units across the 16 local government areas.

The group disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during the inauguration of 5,000 polling-unit canvassers as part of its grassroots mobilisation structure.

Speaking at the event, the group’s convener, Mrs Lanre Fajuyi, congratulated the newly appointed unit coordinators and assistant unit coordinators and urged them to carry out their responsibilities with seriousness, discipline, and commitment.

Fajuyi charged the coordinators to maintain direct engagement with voters at the grassroots, understand the challenges facing their respective communities, and ensure that the group’s mobilisation activities reached all polling units across the state.

She said the group was working to establish a grassroots structure that could translate its support for Makinde’s presidential ambition into electoral participation in 2027.

‘We have set a clear target of a minimum of 200,000 votes in Ekiti State. This is not a declaration to be made and forgotten; it is a responsibility that requires organisation, commitment, and sustained engagement at the grassroots,’ she said.

Fajuyi urged the newly appointed coordinators to work towards achieving the group’s objective while operating within the law and respecting the rights of voters and other political stakeholders.

The group also criticized the economic situation in the country under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

It argued that some government policies had placed economic pressure on ordinary Nigerians and, in its view, contributed to increased hardship and declining purchasing power.

The group said the government’s response to the economic challenges facing citizens was inadequate, arguing that stronger measures were needed to address poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and the rising cost of living.

It said its support for Makinde was part of a wider political discussion on the direction of the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The group added that the newly inaugurated structure marked the beginning of a sustained grassroots mobilization campaign rather than a one-off political gathering.

Nigeria’s sporting story is not defined only by the trophies that slipped away or the major tournaments the country failed to reach.

For 66 years, Nigerian athletes and teams have also produced some historic sporting moments that have brought the country international recognition, broken records and created memories that have endured across generations.

Football has provided some of the biggest celebrations, from the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumphs to the Dream Team’s Olympic gold, but the country’s sporting achievements stretch far beyond the pitch.

From Atlanta to Oregon, from the Paralympic Games to the Commonwealth stage, Nigerian athletes have repeatedly shown that the country’s sporting talent extends across several disciplines.

Here are six historic sporting moments that stand out.

Atlanta 1996: The Dream Team and Ajunwa

The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta remain one of the defining moments in Nigerian sports history.

The country’s football team won gold in the men’s tournament after one of the most memorable runs in Olympic football.

The Dream Team came from behind to defeat Brazil 4-3 in the semi-final after extra time before overcoming Argentina 3-2 in the final.

The victory made Nigeria the first African country to win Olympic gold in men’s football.

The team featured several players who would go on to become major figures in Nigerian football, including Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Amunike.

Atlanta also produced another historic moment for Nigeria.

Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the women’s long jump, becoming the first Nigerian to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

Her leap of 7.12m secured the title and added another landmark to an unforgettable Games for Nigeria.

The two achievements made Atlanta 1996 much more than a football story.

The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) has expressed concern about accusations that it owns a militia group and collaborates with security agencies to unleash mayhem on the Fulani, claiming that the allegations are false, unfounded, and an intentional attempt to tarnish the image of those who have been victims of Fulani terrorist attacks

Deacon Bulus Dabit, the Association’s National President, dismissed the allegations, saying: ‘Allegations of collaboration with DSS against Fulani in our land are unfounded; this is unacceptable to us because DSS is a security force working within the land. We are not the ones engaging the bandits; they are. It was a baseless allegation, and I am challenging them to come forward and substantiate it’.

He also refuted the Fulani’s claim that they were being monitored by drones, saying that the drones seen could be from security agencies monitoring vulnerable communities in the area.

‘We do not use drones; I’d like to believe they mistook military drones for private ones. So when they see drones, they should know it’s the security agencies working.

‘The claim that we have a militia group is a figment of their imagination and a deliberate attempt to tarnish our image. We have always maintained that our people will defend themselves whenever necessary, as it is our constitutional right. And we don’t need to have a militia to accomplish this. So we don’t need an organized militia to protect ourselves. It is completely wrong to portray us as a militia in this way,’ he said.

Deacon Dabit, who claimed that at least 750 natives from the Mangu local government area alone had been killed between January and the present, stated that the figure was not exaggerated because those killed were frequently buried in public.

He challenged the Fulani group, which claimed they were being killed by natives, to provide proof.

The MDA National President stated that the primary motives of the attackers on the prowl were land grabbing and displacing natives from their ancestral land, threatening that such actions would be strongly opposed.

The Directors-General of Agencies and Parastatals of Government (MDAs) on Wednesday kicked against the composition of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC).

The DGs expressed concern over their exclusion at a meeting with the ruling party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

The Director-General of National Board of Technology Innovation, Dr Kazeem Raji, led his colleagues to the meeting under the platform, Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals.

The Forum, which recalled that they played a strategic role in galvanising support for President Bola Tinubu in the last general elections, told Professor Yilwatda that they have since been sidelined ahead of the next January Presidential election.

The Director-General, National Institute of Cultural Orientation, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, who described the forum as Independent Campaign Council, maintained that they have been left in the cold in the composition of the PCC that would drive the campaigns of President Tinubu.

Chief Ajiboye noted that the PCC ‘needs a supplementary and complementary platform to mobilise in media management and election management. That’s what we are here to offer you, and we think we can work together.’

Earlier in his presentation, Dr Raji, who is the Forum Chairman, described it as a composition of core politicians with capacity for grassroots mobilisation.

‘Yes, we are technocrats but grassroots politicians. We are professionals in politics. We are public sector leaders who are passionate about Nigeria’s development,’ Raji said.

He declared that his group will deliver 10 million votes to Tinubu.

Professor Yilwatda tasked members of the Forum to ensure a fresh mandate for President Tinubu to justify their individual appointments.

He said: ‘For every one of us serving in public office today, there are countless other Nigerians who possess the qualifications and competence to occupy the same positions. The opportunity we have today is therefore a privilege, and we must justify that privilege through service, performance and loyalty to the mandate entrusted to us.’

To sell Tinubu to Nigerian electorate, the APC Chairman urged them to communicate his achievements to Nigerians.

‘That is why forums such as yours are important. Through your agencies, you are implementing programmes that directly impact citizens. You understand the projects, the policies and the outcomes. You therefore have a responsibility to help bridge the information gap between government and the people,’ he added.

Experts have raised concerns over the simultaneous use of sildenafil citrate, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, and popular herbal alcoholic bitters, after researchers observed significant changes in liver, kidney and reproductive hormone markers in male laboratory rats.

The study, published in the West African Journal of Pharmacy, examined the effects of sildenafil citrate administered alongside three herbal bitters – Orijin, Action and Coco Samba – amid the widespread use of herbal preparations and alcoholic bitters.

There has been a shift in the consumption of beer towards alcoholic bitters, which are rich blends of medicinal roots and herbs and are widely used in Nigeria because of their various acclaimed health benefits.

Users of bitters often believe that the herbal preparations contain substances that cleanse the body, have anti-malarial and anti-diabetic properties, boost male virility, lower cholesterol levels and are non-toxic to the kidneys.

Erectile dysfunction has also been reported to be increasingly common among young men in Nigeria. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is one of the approved orthodox medicines used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

With the widespread acceptance of alcoholic bitters for their purported health and aphrodisiac benefits, men experiencing erectile dysfunction may combine herbal alcoholic bitters with sildenafil citrate.

In the study, the researchers found significant increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone across the experimental groups compared with the control group, indicating possible changes in liver, kidney and reproductive hormone function.

Elevated levels of ALT and AST can be associated with liver-cell injury or stress, although they are not specific to a particular cause. Increased urea and creatinine levels may indicate changes in kidney function, while LH is involved in signalling to the testes and testosterone is the principal male sex hormone.

The study, titled ‘Effect of concomitant administration of sildenafil citrate and selected herbal bitters on sex hormones and some biochemical indices in Wistar rats,’ was conducted by researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Babcock University in Ogun State. It was in West African Journal of Pharmacy.

The researchers used 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats weighing between 115gm and 125gm. Following five days of acclimatisation, the animals were randomly divided into eight groups of five.

One group served as the control, while another received sildenafil citrate. Three groups received Orijin, Action or Coco Samba bitters, respectively, while the remaining three groups received sildenafil citrate in combination with each of the three bitters.

The substances were administered orally for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and analysed for markers associated with liver and kidney function, as well as testosterone and LH levels.

The researchers reported statistically significant differences in AST and ALT between the experimental animals and the control group.

According to the researchers, the elevation of AST and ALT in animals exposed to sildenafil, herbal bitters and their combinations could indicate liver injury.

The study also found significant differences in serum urea levels between the experimental groups and the control group.

The researchers reported a significant increase in creatinine, particularly among the animals that received Coco Samba alone and those that received Coco Samba together with sildenafil citrate.

They said the higher urea and creatinine levels could reflect impaired kidney function. They further described Coco Samba as having a potentially greater toxic effect on the kidneys than the other polyherbal formulations investigated.

However, the researchers acknowledged that increased urea levels can have other explanations, including dehydration and alcohol consumption.

Beyond the organ-function markers, the researchers observed significant increases in testosterone and LH among the experimental animals.

They suggested that increased LH could contribute to increased testosterone production and said the observed hormonal changes could be related to the combined effects of sildenafil and the phytochemical components of the herbal bitters.

Traditional herbal bitters, which are rich blends of medicinal roots and herbs, have been widely used in Nigeria because of their various claimed benefits.

Most herbal alcoholic bitters are also marketed with claims of improved sexual performance and stronger erections. Despite these claims and their widespread consumption, however, limited research has examined their safety and their purported effects on erectile function, particularly when used alongside conventional medicines.

Amid the widespread use of herbal preparations and alcoholic bitters, including products marketed with claims relating to sexual performance and male virility, awareness of the possible consequences of concomitant use of sildenafil citrate and herbal bitters remains limited.

The researchers noted that herbal medicines are often self-prescribed and may be taken alongside conventional medicines without healthcare professionals necessarily being informed about their use.

They further noted that herbal alcoholic bitters are marketed with various claims, including improving sexual performance, while limited research was available on their safety and claims concerning erectile function.

The research was conducted on Wistar rats, not human beings. Its findings therefore cannot by themselves establish that people who combine sildenafil with the herbal bitters will experience the same biochemical changes.

The study nevertheless provides experimental evidence of measurable biochemical and hormonal changes following concurrent exposure to sildenafil and the products investigated.

The researchers said the findings suggested possible effects on liver and kidney functions in the animals studied.

The findings underscore the importance of further investigation into the simultaneous use of prescription medicines and herbal alcoholic preparations, particularly products consumed for sexual-performance purposes.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, met with selected electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) on how to provide uninterrupted electricity in high-demand corridors in some parts of the country.

The meeting, attended by the leadership of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group, discussed the proposed energy Zones initiative designed to provide stable 24-hour power supply to homes, businesses and industries in the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna- Kano corridor and Enugu -Port Harcourt corridor.

Speaking during the meeting, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the challenge in the power sector is not limited to only generation and transmission but also to the capacity to take up and deliver power at the distribution end.

While expressing the government’s commitment to build up infrastructure in high-demand areas to ensure supply keeps pace with estimated demand in our growing economy, the minister stated that the proposed energy zones are meant to close that gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand as well as strengthen DisCo revenue and collections.

Tegbe added that the engagement aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identified reliable energy as critical to economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.