Nigeria Times

The northern governors and traditional rulers convened a meeting to address the ongoing blackout impacting 17 northern Nigerian states, affecting millions. With power out for two weeks in areas like Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe due to transmission line vandalism, economic activities have been significantly disrupted. The governors and leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto and other regional monarchs, called for urgent federal intervention, increased energy diversification, and additional transmission infrastructure.

President Bola Tinubu responded by ordering the military to protect engineers as repairs begin and announced plans for a $1-2 billion solar initiative to provide 50 MW per northern state. Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu highlighted plans to modernize aging infrastructure, install a “super grid” to bolster resilience, and expedite the Shiroro-Kaduna line repair.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised concerns over a prolonged electricity blackout in northern Nigeria, accusing the Federal Government of neglect and questioning the uneven distribution of power across the country. The group has urged the government to declare a state of emergency, emphasizing the severe impact on the northern economy, where prolonged outages have disrupted small businesses and worsened living conditions.

In a statement, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, pointed out the disparity in infrastructure, noting that Lagos alone has eight power substations, while the northern region, despite contributing significantly to national electricity, has only three. The forum condemned officials’ silence, dismissing banditry along power lines as a weak excuse for inaction, and demanded a fair allocation of resources to address the crisis.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatization, clarified his support for President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing that it has no connection to his past corruption case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Responding to Dr. Reuben Abati, former presidential spokesperson and TV anchor, Kalu rejected claims that his loyalty to Tinubu is linked to the dismissal of his case.

In a social media post, Kalu expressed frustration, stating that his case with the EFCC was resolved before Tinubu assumed office, following 12 years of consistent court appearances and a trial with 19 witnesses. He further shared his experiences, saying that his prison sentence was transformative, and highlighted that he remains loyal to his party and president, not out of fear or personal gain but as part of his values and principles.

President Bola Tinubu has directed enhanced security protocols to expedite the restoration of power in northern Nigeria, where outages have persisted due to recent infrastructure vandalism. After a meeting with the President, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu disclosed that repairs should typically take three to five days, but delays have occurred due to safety concerns for personnel.

President Tinubu has instructed the National Security Adviser, alongside other key defense officials, to provide the necessary security for repair teams. The outages, affecting regions in the northeast, northwest, and parts of north-central Nigeria, resulted from insurgent attacks on the Shiroro-Kaduna power line.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has declined to defend the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) regarding its handling of allegations tied to Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, a popular social media personality. Speaking at a ministry retreat, Tunji-Ojo stressed the importance of ethical conduct and reputation management within para-military agencies.

This controversy emerged after claims that Bobrisky did not complete his full six-month sentence. A government panel, however, recently found no evidence supporting these allegations but noted that Bobrisky received certain privileges during his detention, which it deemed “unethical.”

Tunji-Ojo urged agencies to embrace a transformative approach to inmate rehabilitation, emphasizing respect for human rights and dignity. He also highlighted the critical role of the NCoS and other para-military services in supporting national security and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has initiated an indefinite strike today, halting operations across Nigerian universities. The unions are demanding the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, enhanced remuneration, earned allowances, and the fulfillment of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

Despite partial salary releases earlier this year following President Bola Tinubu’s directive, non-teaching staff members were excluded from payments, which only covered academic staff. The unions argue this selective payment approach is unjust, and after multiple ultimatums and protests, have resolved to commence an indefinite strike.

The unions are calling on all NASU and SSANU branches within federal and state universities to fully participate, citing their roles in managing essential campus services such as water, power, internet, and security.