In a significant announcement, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has emphasized the imperative for Nigeria to discontinue its subsidy on electricity. Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister highlighted the country's mounting debt to generating companies (GenCos) amounting to 1.3 trillion naira, along with an outstanding debt of 1.3 billion dollars owed to gas companies.

Adelabu stressed the necessity for Nigeria to transition towards a cost-effective tariff model. He revealed that the allocated budget for subsidy this year stands at a mere 450 billion naira, while the ministry requires over two trillion naira to sustain the subsidy.

Furthermore, the minister announced a significant policy shift, stating that states will now have the autonomy to generate power independently. This move marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria's energy landscape, reflecting the government's commitment to addressing the challenges within the power sector.

The minister's declaration underscores the need for strategic reforms to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of Nigeria's electricity supply. As the country navigates this transition, it is poised to embark on a path towards greater self-sufficiency and reliability in power generation.

Stay tuned for further updates as Nigeria embarks on this transformative journey towards a more robust energy framework.

In a recent exchange, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar attributed Nigeria's economic challenges to the "poor policies" of President Bola Tinubu. However, the Presidency responded, accusing Atiku of hypocrisy and failing to propose better policy alternatives. Atiku criticized Tinubu's economic policies, stating that they are causing pain, despair, and a shrinking private sector. He also questioned the effectiveness of Tinubu's budget and characterized his initiatives as uninformed and chaotic.

On the other hand, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Atiku's criticism, claiming it reflects a mission as a poor opposition figure. Onanuga defended Tinubu's reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and harmonization of exchange rates, emphasizing their long-term benefits. He countered Atiku's claims about a shrinking private sector and multinational companies leaving, stating they are not grounded in facts.

The Presidency highlighted Tinubu's acknowledgment that the reforms would cause immediate pain but insisted they are essential for future prosperity. Onanuga urged Atiku to be honest about the inherited weak economy and commended President Tinubu's focus on solving economic and security challenges through fiscal and tax policy reforms. Despite Atiku's criticism, the Presidency emphasized its commitment to nation-building and economic recovery initiated by President Tinubu.

United States authorities have indicated that preliminary findings suggest wintry weather conditions contributed to the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Access Holding Plc's Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and others.

During a media briefing held at 3 am Nigerian time on Sunday, National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham stated that initial reports from witnesses indicated rain and wintry precipitation at the time of the accident. He also mentioned that officials were present at the crash site to collect perishable evidence.

Graham noted that the helicopter involved in the crash lacked both a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, as it was not required to be equipped with such recording devices.

In response to inquiries regarding passenger details, Graham mentioned that no specifics were available at the moment. However, he assured that any information regarding the passengers would be released through the coroner's office, although he did not provide a specific timeline for this.

Access Bank confirmed the tragic news of Herbert Wigwe's passing, along with that of his family members, in a statement released on Sunday.

Herbert Wigwe, the co-founder of Access Bank and the visionary behind Wigwe University, has reportedly passed away in a tragic helicopter crash in California, United States.

Wigwe, who also served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings, the parent company of Access Bank, was traveling aboard the helicopter with his wife, son, and three other passengers. The aircraft was en route to Las Vegas when it tragically crashed near the border between Nevada and California on Friday night.

The US government has confirmed that there were no survivors among the six individuals on board, with the helicopter crashing near Nipton, California, an unincorporated community approximately 60 miles south of Las Vegas in eastern San Bernardino County. The crash was reported to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department around 10:12 pm local time, with the site located east of Interstate 15, near Halloran Springs Road.

While The New York Times has corroborated the incident, the identities of the passengers have not been officially disclosed. As of Saturday morning, no formal statement has been released regarding the tragic event.

The year 2023 marked the tenth anniversary of the partial privatization of the power sector, where the Federal Government relinquished its 60% stakes in 11 electricity distribution companies and either sold or concessioned seven power generation plants. Despite this move toward privatization, electricity supply has remained inconsistent, leaving consumers frustrated. Surprisingly, the government, attempting to divest from the sector, ended up spending over N7 trillion to support the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The power sector underwent significant changes in 2023 with the signing into law of the Electoral Act, shifting the power sector from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list. This allowed state governments not only to issue licenses but also to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity within their states. Adebayo Adelabu's appointment as the Minister of Power marked a unique development, as he became the first individual to administer the sector single-handedly since the advent of the present democracy in 1999.

Despite a 13,000MW installed capacity from the country's 27 power generating plants, power generation remained exceptionally low due to poor utilization. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported a worrying plant availability factor (PAF) of 33.31% in 2023/Q3, highlighting the significant issue of mechanical outages, particularly stemming from the age of many plants.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), managing the national grid, faced challenges with repeated collapses and attacks on transmission towers. The government aimed to unbundle TCN into two entities, Independent System Operator and Transmission Service Provider. Despite efforts to upgrade substations and procure new transformers, incidents like fire outbreaks and attacks on power towers persisted.

Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) continued to perform poorly, neglecting infrastructure investments and lacking in proper metering. As of September 2023, only 44.51% of registered electricity customers in NESI were metered. The Federal Government took steps to address this metering gap, opening bids for 1.25 million electricity smart meters funded by a $155 million World Bank loan.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) played a role in rural electrification through the Nigeria Electrification Projects (NEP), providing electricity to 6.8 million people under a $350 million World Bank loan and a $200 million African Development Bank loan. The World Bank expressed interest in supporting a successor project with another $750 million grant.

Despite these efforts, the power sector faced financial struggles. Closing the metering gap was identified as a crucial step, with calls for the government to ensure that all customers are provided with electricity meters. Addressing losses, expanding and modernizing networks, and encouraging necessary investments in the sector were highlighted as essential measures to support tariff adjustments and improve overall efficiency in the power sector.

Leaders of thought and elder statesmen representing Southern and Middle Belt regions have penned a letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to address the ongoing killings and destruction in the Middle Belt, which they see as a threat to the nation's existence. The group, known as the Southern and Middle Leaders Forum (SMBLF), emphasized the President's responsibility to resolve the issue and criticized the portrayal of the conflict as mere herders/farmers clashes. They called for a comprehensive security inquiry, the closure of IDP camps, and specialized training for security agents.

The leaders, including Chief Edwin Clark and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, highlighted the diversity within the North-West geopolitical zone and underscored the dangers of the Fulani territorial agenda. They urged President Tinubu to take decisive action, address the senseless killings, and ensure the safety of citizens, especially in the Middle Belt. The letter criticized the government's handling of the Fulanization agenda and called for the return of displaced communities to their ancestral homes.

In a separate development, governors from the North Central states visited Plateau State, expressing concern over the persistent attacks and killings. They called on the federal government to address the root causes of the issue and find lasting solutions. The governors emphasized the need for unity and cooperation among the North Central states to combat banditry effectively.

Additionally, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) called on President Tinubu to deploy radical security and economic policies in response to the increasing insecurity in the country. The NBA condemned recent attacks in Plateau State and a drone strike in Kaduna State, urging the government to prioritize the security of lives and properties. The association called for a comprehensive and region-specific approach to address security challenges, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency coordination and substantial investments in security.

Nollywood enthusiasts fondly recall the Netflix original epic, 'Jagun Jagun,' as one of the standout movies of 2023, garnering widespread acclaim. Building on that success, the movie's producer and actor, Femi Adebayo, has unveiled an exciting new project titled 'Seven Doors' slated for release in the upcoming year, 2024.

Adebayo shared this revelation during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on New Year’s Day, presenting it as a significant venture for movie enthusiasts to anticipate. He tantalizingly teased the movie's plot, indicating that filming has been successfully completed, and the project is currently in the post-production phase.

"In my upcoming movie, a Yoruba marries an Igbo woman, and the Igbo tribe supports the husband, who is a core Yoruba king. They uphold their traditions and everything. That is one of the things you should look out for this year; the title of the film is ‘Seven Doors,’ and it’s going to be big. Filming is done, and I am at the post-production stage," Adebayo disclosed.

Additionally, Adebayo shared plans to film the second season of the highly successful 'Jagun Jagun,' providing a platform for emerging actors to showcase their talents. He expressed enthusiasm for the intentional collaboration between indigenous language actors and their English-speaking counterparts, highlighting its positive impact on the industry.

"It has really helped the industry, and for me, it’s one of the joys that I’m seeing in the industry presently. I am so happy about the harmonization and synergy. We are even coming together to co-produce to engage the Yorubas, even the Hausas, so most of us now when we write scripts we must infuse other tribes," Adebayo remarked.

While acknowledging the progress, Adebayo emphasized the need for a more conducive environment for movie producers, citing concerns such as the lack of security in movie locations among other challenges.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced modifications to the registration fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the year 2024. As per the official statement from JAMB, the revised fees for UTME registration now stand at N7,700, inclusive of a mock examination, and N6,200 for UTME registration without the mock examination. This marks an increase from the previous cost of N5,700 for the JAMB form without a mock exam and N6,700 for the application form inclusive of a mock exam. Additionally, foreign candidates applying for the JAMB form will incur a fee of $30.

JAMB is set to provide a detailed breakdown of these fees when the registration details are released on or before January 15, 2024. Alongside the adjustments in UTME registration fees, JAMB has disclosed the registration period for the sale of Direct Entry (DE) application documents in 2024. The sale of Direct Entry application documents is scheduled to kick off on February 28, 2024, and will conclude on March 28, 2024.

As the process of generating profile codes for registration is currently underway, JAMB advises prospective candidates to stay informed about official announcements and guidelines to ensure a seamless registration process. Detailed guidelines on profile code generation will be provided closer to the registration commencement date on January 15, 2024.

In an official statement on its X page, JAMB stated, “This is to inform all prospective 2024 UTME/DE candidates that the creation of Profiles for registration has officially started, while the sale of application documents will commence on Monday 15th January 2024. You are to please take note of the following important dates for the coming UTME/DE exercise.”

Traders in the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Shopping Complex within Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, faced significant losses after the complex was demolished on Sunday. The demolition, supervised by armed security personnel, commenced around 12 am, catching shop owners by surprise. Tayo Shittu, Chairman of the Computer Dealer Association in Computer Village, expressed dismay at the lack of prior notice and emphasized the impact on over 300 shops and more than 1,000 occupants. Shop owners reported the loss of valuable goods, and the demolition raised concerns about job losses and the livelihoods of those affected.

The traders had previously sought intervention from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun amid rumors of impending demolition. Despite the traders’ efforts, the complex was demolished, and the Lagos State Government clarified via its official social media handle that it had no involvement in the action. The statement from the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, attributed ownership of the structure to the Police Officers' Wives Association, emphasizing that they ordered the demolition.

The incident triggered criticism from traders and questions about due process, especially given the lack of prior engagement and the impact on businesses. The Lagos State Task Force spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyanka, did not have detailed information on the incident. Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, while emphasizing the planned demolition in a prior statement, did not provide updates on the situation. The demolition raises broader concerns about property rights, due process, and the welfare of those affected.

Concerned about the looming threats of environmental pollution and its impact on human well-being, a gathering of experts convened in Ogun State on Wednesday to brainstorm solutions to this pressing issue. The 16th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Landscape Horticulture (NILH) took place at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where experts not only discussed potential remedies but also sought legislative support for a bill mandating landlords to plant trees on their properties.

Delivering the keynote address under the theme "Urban Greenery and Beautification as a Strategy for Control of Environmental Pollution and Climate Change," Dr. Elizabeth Augustus, the Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, highlighted the urgent need for green solutions to combat environmental pollution. Dr. Augustus emphasized the far-reaching consequences of pollution, encompassing climate change, water and soil contamination, and its detrimental effects on aquatic life, agriculture, and wildlife, all of which ultimately impact human health.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory issues, and increased hospitalization rates were identified as major health concerns associated with pollution. Dr. Augustus proposed a strategic approach to environmental control, advocating for greenery and beautification as crucial interventions. She underscored the significant role of plants in the global carbon cycle and their potential for climate change mitigation. Dr. Augustus also highlighted the importance of phytoremediation, a plant-based method aimed at extracting pollutants from the soil and restoring fertility.

President of NILH, Kola Quadri, called on the National Assembly to pass legislation mandating homeowners to plant at least one tree on their premises as a proactive measure against climate change. Quadri stressed that climate change is a global issue, and implementing such laws would contribute to environmental preservation. Similarly, Emmanuel Bankole, the Ogun State chairman of the institute, emphasized the significance of the program in raising awareness among policymakers about the effects of climate change. Bankole expressed the institute's commitment to collaborating with governments at all levels to mitigate global warming and preserve the environment for future generations.

Renowned singer Charles Chibuezechukwu, popularly known as Crayon, has shared a piece of advice with his fellow artists and creatives, cautioning them against the misconception that abusing illicit substances can enhance their creativity. According to Crayon, genuine talent is the source of creative inspiration, and the use of weed or other drugs won't magically bestow creativity upon those lacking inherent artistic abilities.

The 'Ngozi' crooner emphatically urged his colleagues to abstain from any form of substance abuse. Taking to his social media handle, Crayon stated, "The biggest lie na say igbo/weed/drugs dey bring inspiration, lol. Na the biggest lie, bros. You get talent, you get talent, if you no sabi, you no sabi, if you like smoke one bag of Igbo, shishi you no vibe! Don’t be deceived. Please, say no to drugs!"

Crayon's advice stems from his personal journey, as he recently disclosed his past struggles with substance addiction. It was Mavin Records producer and Blowtime Imprint CEO, Babyfresh, who discovered Crayon's talent and advised him to break free from the grip of illicit substances. The artist has since embraced a drug-free lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of authentic talent over substance-induced creativity.

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State is taking his case to the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict of the Appeal Court, which had earlier removed him from office. The Appeal Court had ruled against Yusuf, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), citing his ineligibility to contest, and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful winner of the governorship election in the state.

The aftermath of the Appeal Court's decision has been marked by uncertainty and confusion, particularly regarding the judgment that ousted Yusuf. The court has directed concerned lawyers to return certified true copies of its judgment for necessary corrections.

The basis of the Appeal Court's ruling was the determination that Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP during the election. However, the certified true copies of the judgment have added to the perplexity, as they seemingly suggest the court upheld Yusuf's victory. The discrepancies in the documents have contributed to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the legal proceedings and the political landscape in Kano State.

The inhabitants of Ugborodo Community in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State took a decisive step on Wednesday by erecting the shrine of a formidable deity in front of the Chevron Escravos Gas to Liquid (EGTL) facility. This unusual action serves as a potent symbol of the community's discontent with Chevron's perceived failure to implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Protesters, wielding placards and forming a blockade at the facility's entrance, clarified that the idol, named "Ogbejugbele," posed no threat to Chevron staff. Instead, its presence was intended as a symbolic manifestation of ancestral displeasure towards the company.

Undeterred, the demonstrators declared their resolve to remain within Chevron's facilities until the federal government intervenes and compels the multinational corporation to address their grievances. Among their 41 demands, the protestors specifically called for Chevron to adhere to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Ikpere Host Community PIA, as stipulated by the National Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURPC). Additionally, they demanded employment opportunities for the youth and residents of Ugborodo and Itsekiri descent.

In a conversation with reporters, Helen Uremure, a prominent woman leader in the community, elucidated that the protest was a response to Chevron's failure in fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities to Ugborodo. Expressing frustration, she highlighted the lack of tangible benefits from Chevron's presence over the past six decades, emphasizing the absence of employment opportunities and contracts.

According to Uremure, Chevron's reluctance to convert qualified graduates from the community into substantive roles has left many relegated to menial labor. Julie Iwetan, another community member, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the prevailing hunger and hardship faced by Ugborodo residents.

Youth representative Ukueyinden Ajuetsi underscored the community's dire need for basic amenities such as clean water and electricity, lamenting the absence of employment opportunities. Joseph Ireyefoju, a community leader, decried Chevron's hiring practices during ongoing maintenance work, alleging a disregard for the local content law.

Augustine Iyinbo, one of the leaders of the peaceful protest, affirmed their unwavering stance, stating, "We will not leave until they (Chevron) do the needful." The demonstration serves as a potent expression of the community's frustration and determination to secure their rights and well-being from the oil multinational.