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The Power generation in Nigeria has dropped to 3,200 mega watts (mw).
Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at the weekend confirmed this, maintaining that that power generation in Nigeria reduced by 400 MW from the current 3,600 MW generations.
The company stated this in a statement made available to Daily Independent, and blamed the drop on the shortfall in gas supply to its thermal stations.
The management of PHCN, the statement read; "regrets to inform its esteemed customers that it has received notice from the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) that it will commence a four-day accelerated maintenance work on Oben and other gas pipelines on Friday, 9th April, 2010.
"As a result of the maintenance work, daily power generation will drop by 400 MW, from the 3600 MW of electricity currently being generated.
"However, we are informed that at the completion of the maintenance works more gas would be made available for additional electricity generation.
"In the circumstance, we appeal to our esteemed customers and other stakeholders, especially the mass media for understanding and cooperation as there will be substantial improvement in power supply nationwide after the maintenance of the gas pipe lines, as Geregu, Sapele and Olurunsogo Power Stations currently being restricted will come up fully to contribute to the overall generation to the national grid."
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AFTER several unsuccessful attempts by a Nigeria leader to personally meet with an American President, which many believed would have averted Nigeria's recent listing among terrorist countries by the US, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan last Night met with the President of the United States, Mr Barrack Obama.
Clad in Ijaw, his native tribe, black coloured attire, with a black hat and a pair of shoes to match, the Acting President held one-on-one meeting with US President, a feat Nigeria achieved last during the Obasanjo era; thereby bringing the two nations, once again, together to directly discuss issues of common interest.
Several international engagements involving the Nigeria Government, which ordinarily would have provided an ample opportunity for a Nigeria leader to meet with immediate past American President Gorge Bush and current Obama were never attended by Nigeria's President.
Representatives of Nigeria's President sent to such conferences, such as the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affair, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, never had the opportunity of meeting with the American President one-on-one.
Although details of the historic meeting was very scanty as at press time, Vanguard gathered the direct talks between the two world leaders which commenced exactly 11:30 local time held behind closed doors.
The talks took place at the prestigious Blair House, across from the White House, the venue of Obama's meeting with other world leaders including the South African President Jacob Zuma. Others included Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
According to reports, the Nigeria's Acting President is among some of the 40 world leaders currently attending World Nuclear Summit aimed at finding ways to secure the world's nuclear stockpile.
Jonathan's talks with Obama, it was learnt, focused on Nuclear Security and terrorism as well as democracy among others.
Obama was quoted as saying that "if al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations acquired nuclear weapons it "would have no compunction at using them,".
"The single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium-term and long-term, would be the possibility of a terrorist organization obtaining a nuclear weapon," Obama said. "This is something that could change the security landscape in this country and around the world for years to come."
"If there was ever a detonation in New York City, or London, or Johannesburg, the ramifications economically, politically and from a security perspective would be devastating," the president said.
"We know that organizations like al-Qaida are in the process of trying to secure nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, and would have no compunction at using them," Obama said.
The Nuclear Security Summit of more than 40 world leaders in Washington this week is aimed at securing "loose nuclear material," Obama said. He was holding one-on-one meetings Sunday with several of those leaders.
He said other world leaders including Acting President Jonathan have offered "very specific approaches to how we can solve this profound international problem."
Hails South Africa
Obama singled out South Africa for giving up its nuclear program, and said it "has been a strong, effective leader in the international community on nonproliferation issues. South Africa has special standing in being a moral leader on this issue."
"I feel very good at this stage in the degree of commitment and a sense of urgency that I have seen from the world leaders so far on this issue," Obama said. "We think we can make enormous progress on this, and this then becomes part and parcel of the broader focus that we've had over the last several weeks."
Earlier in the week, Obama approved a new nuclear policy for the United States, vowing to reduce America's nuclear arsenal, refrain from nuclear tests and not use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.
Obama said securing loose nuclear arms is "a central part of the process, but probably the most urgent one and the one we are most concerned with in the short term."
After his remarks, Obama met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. Obama smiled and shared a laugh with Gilani, but the Pakistani leader's words were not audible.
As reporters entered the meeting room, Obama was telling Gilani, "We've made some progress since then." It was unclear what Obama was referring to.
Pakistan has a troubled history with the United States, and anti-American sentiment runs extraordinarily high among ordinary Pakistanis. U.S. leaders went out of their way to assure Pakistan that the United States will not walk away from improving relations with the country , and Congress has committed billions of dollars in new aid to the Asian nation.
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Former military President General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) on Saturday declared his intention to run for the 2011 Presidential election.
IBB who spoke to newsmen at the Benin Airport while on his way to Asaba, Delta state, to attend the commissioning of Mariam Babangida dual carriage way and a lecture in honour of his late wife, said the persistent rumour by most Nigerians including his political associates and admirers about his intention to return to Aso Rock as a civilian President "is correct".
The former military President who was dressed in a white Babariga, landed at the Benin Airport in a charted airline with registration number 5N-BLW at about 9:30am and was greeted by the Governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and the deputy governor of Edo state, Dr Pius Odubu. The Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Aliu Babangida was also in the entourage of the former President. Other dignitaries at the airport included Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief of Staff to the Edo state government, Osarodion Ogie and John Mayaki.
It would be recalled that the former military president who ruled Nigeria from 1985 - 1993, had told Nigerians during the 54th birthday of Otunba Gbenga Daniels, Governor of Ogun State that he was still consulting with his friends and allies on whether he would contest the 2011 presidential election.
Only recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was reported to have held secret meeting with Babangida on the 2011 presidential election. Asked what he was going to do in Delta state, IBB asserted that "I am going to Delta State because of the special love I have for it and courtesy of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. I am looking forward to going to Delta state because that is my ancestral home. I think that is enough for today".
Governor Babangida who also spoke to newsmen, stated that Nigerians look forward to the thorough implementation of the Justice Uwais report on the electoral reform in order to enthrone a transparent electoral process before the 2011 general elections.
He said the reform exercise was the only panacea for the emergence of credible leaders without questions about their character and ability to deliver on the dividends of democracy. "All of us are looking forward to it (electoral reform) because we want a legitimate election. We want an election everybody will accept. We want leaders that will emerge, that can say stop these things. We don't want people whom we will doubt whether they are actual leaders".
Other dignitaries with General Babangida included the former National Chairman of the United Nigeria Poeples Party, Alhaji Saleh Jumbo and the former Director of military Intelligence (DMI), Halilu Akilu and several others.
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Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a pregnant woman and four other suspects for ingesting 6.265 kg of narcotic drugs at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
The pregnant suspect Osatohanwen Esohe, 29, was detected to have ingested illicit drug with the aid of scanning machine during the screening of passengers on Alitalia flight to Rome. After observation, she expelled 27 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 350 grammes. Apart from one Chukwuma Kingsley Uchemadu that ingested 1.430 kg of heroin, Esohe and three others were smuggling 4.835 kg of cocaine when they were caught.
The NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar who confirmed the arrest of Esohe described her action as weird and unbecoming. He expressed shock at the strange act, stressing that drug suspects have no respect for human lives. "They do not have respect for their own lives, neither do they respect the dignity of their children. This is the height of desperation by drug barons and their associates," Hamza said.
The commander also gave the names of the four suspects that were recently nabbed by the Agency. They include Arovo Moses Amaso, 42, that ingested 1.725 kg of cocaine, Darlington Nwanwere, 48, that ingested 1.300 kg of cocaine, Okeke Anthony Maduabuchukwu, 46 that ingested 1.460 kg of cocaine and Chukwuma Kingsley Uchemadu, 34 that ingested 1.430 kg of heroin.
Esohe who hails from Benin City, Edo State told anti-narcotic officers that the man that impregnated her rejected her and she needed to fend for herself. In her words, "I am three months pregnant. The man that impregnated me refused to take responsibility and I am jobless. That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. They promised to pay me 2,000 euros. This is my first time of smuggling drugs; I only needed money to take care of myself and the unborn baby".
Okeke Anthony Maduabuchukwu a trader that sells frozen foods at Mile 2, Lagos was nabbed on March 19, during the screening of passengers on Virgin Atlantic flight to London. He ingested 72 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.460 kg and was to be paid 4,000 pounds. Chukwuman Kingsley Uchenmadu the only suspect that ingested heroin was to be paid the sum of 5,000 euros for ingesting 95 wraps of heroin weighing 1.430 kg. Darlington Nwanwere, an automobile technician residing at Alagbado, Lagos was also cajoled into swallowing 92 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.300 kg. He was to be paid the sum of 400,000 naira.
All the suspects will soon be charged to court.
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