Federal Government fails to deliver 6000MW of electricity

The Federal Government of Nigeria failed in its attempt to bring the country's electricity generation to 6000 Megawatts of electricity by December 2009. Kano based industrialist, Alhaji Mohammed Umar made this statement about the government's attempt:

"It is only an irresponsible leadership that would set an unrealizable target for itself. Why did government set a target when it knew it was not in control of a critical component such as gas supply? In more advanced countries, this is more than enough to cost a government its tenure. But not here, I bet you nothing will happen," he said.

The Minister of Power, Dr. Babalola made this statement:

"Towards the 6000 MW target, PHCN is repairing some of the generating plants units in Afam, Sapele, and Ughelli. In terms of machines available to highlight some of the issues in gas supply, we have about 5300 MW of capacity available. With those units being repaired and one of the IPPs being finished, we should be able to have the 6000 MW.

"Two things at any point in time will determine what you generate, number one is the demand that I just explained and the other one is gas supply. Gas supply has actually improved as we have seen over the past several months that it is a pure constraint in power production in Nigeria.

We expect that production will vary from base load which is when demand is low especially at night. Anything from about 4000 MW during the day, that is why we want to ensure that we have at least 6000 MW to be able to cope with the demand when it is needed,"

"What determines actual generation is gas. It's just like your car, what determines the distance it covers is the amount of fuel in it. If you have a full tank you can cover more mileage. What we have seen so far is that if gas supply improves, and we expect more to be available before the end of the year.

With the Niger Delta issue then, most of the gas supply pipelines were badly affected and one of the major plants, that is the one operated by Chevron was out for a long time but they are fixing that now and that alone accounts for about 2000 mmscf per day or 800 MW of electricity generation per day," he said.

Vanguard

Related stories: CNN reports on Nigeria's electricity crisis

Nation in darkness

Electricity generation rises to 2900 mega watss in Nigeria

Firm plans to use solar power to light up Nigeria

Martins might miss Nations Cup due to surgery

Super Eagle and Wolfsburg FC striker Obafemi Martins is to undergo surgery in the next few days for a shin issue. Reports say that Martins will be out for at least a month. This development might jeopardize his chances of taking part in the African Nations Cup and also severely weaken Nigeria's offense.

Sources close to Martins say he is determined to fight his way back to full fitness in time for the Nations Cup.

Vanguard

Related stories: Nigeria qualify for the 2010 World Cup

Obafemi Martins gets career back on track at Wolfsburg

Nigerians account for 90 percent of crime by Africans in China

Nigeria's Ambassador to China Alhaji Aminu Wali announced that Nigerians accounted for about 90 percent of crimes committed by Africans in China.

"Comparatively of all the crimes committed by Africans in China, Nigerians occupy about 90 percent. Currently, we have over 100 Nigerians in various jails across China, excluding those already sentenced to life imprisonment," he said.

However, the ambassador refuted reports that the 23 Nigerian corpses, awaiting cremation in China, were of those who died in prison. Ambassador Wali said some of the corpses had been in a morgue for more than three years and had not been claimed by relatives.

Ambassador Wali also mentioned that most of the Nigerian illegal immigrants came to China as nationals of other African countries, "so when such people die, it becomes difficult to repatriate their bodies home because they do no not have Nigerian passports".

About the challenges faces the Nigerian community in China, the ambassador said that "they were being harassed constantly as offenders of the law and robberies in the Guangdong Province where there is a large concentration of Nigerians".

Dail Trust

Related stories: China to cremate 21 Nigerians if bodies are not claimed by December 15

Nigerians in China

Nigeria sign deal with China to stop import of fake products

Nigerian executed in China

China invests $6 billion in Nigeria

Video report of Nigerians rioting in China

Return to Nigeria's Witch Children

"A year ago, Dispatches told the story of how children in Nigeria's Niger Delta were being denounced by Christian pastors as witches and wizards, and then killed, tortured or abandoned by their own families. Following the introduction of the Child Rights legislation and an increase in financial support for a British charity providing a refuge for affected youngsters, the programme returns to find out what happened to some of the people featured in the first film," Dispatches.

Support 'Stepping Stones Nigeria'

Related story: The young turks cover witchcraft in Nigeria

Documentary on rebranding Nigeria

Police officer murders 2 children in hospital

A police officer allegedly suffocated two children at Oni Memorial Children Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria, after he was told that doctors could not save the life of his three-year old daughter. He allegedly removed the drips being used to treat five other children in the hospital and sprayed them with tear gas canisters.

He proceeded to attack the doctors and nurses in the hospital and threatened he would have shot them all if he had his gun on him. The police officer is said to have lost another child in similar circumstances in another hospital.

The daughter of the police officer, Destiny Raymond, had severe malaria, a chest infection, and respiratory disorder.

Vanguard

Police gund down 70-year old man who refused to pay bribe

Video report on Nigerian police accused of illegal killings in Boko Haram incident