News
FG assures of affordable energy for Nigerians
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has assured of Federal Government’s commitment to ensure affordable cost of energy for Nigerians.
Sylva gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2nd World Energy Day conference organised by the National Chamber Policy Centre of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
Represented by an official of the ministry, Mr Dipo Agboola, the minister said that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would further support the opening up of the downstream oil sector to ensure affordable energy.
He stressed that the need to unbundle the downstream oil sector was imperative.
“We have spent so much on subsidy. However, when the downstream sector is unbundled, more business opportunities would be created.
“Initially the challenges might be a bit high, but over time it will definitely be in the best interest of the country.
“Take for example, the telecoms sector; when we first had the likes of MTN and Glo coming on board, a SIM card cost N18, 000, but today you can get the SIM card for as low as nothing.
“Also, there is now competition in the telecoms sector. So, it is necessary that we ensure that energy is affordable for our citizens.
“When energy is affordable, we would have been able to meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals,’’ he said.
I his remarks, President of ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, described energy security as the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price which had many aspects.
“Long-term energy security mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs,’’ he said.
Abubakar noted that Nigeria had been pursuing energy transition to promote economic growth and gradually investing in renewable energies, primarily solar.
“This is to reduce carbon emissions while continuing to exploit hydrocarbon resources, especially natural gas, the energy transition fuel for Nigeria.
“Energy transition will continue to impact on the ability of Nigeria and oil and gas companies to attract capital.
“This is as banks and investors prioritise environmental, social and governance factors and move away from funding hydrocarbon projects,’’ he noted.
Abubakar said the conference would provide better appreciation of government’s efforts to develop the sector, improve private sector investment in clean energy and new insights on national policy on energy transition.
“I believe that security in the oil and gas sector will help Nigeria to meet its OPEC daily oil output as well as meet the energy requirements of the country,’’ he said.
The conference theme is: “Energy Security and Sustainability in Oil and Gas Sector’’.
THE Federal Government has approved free internet services worth N24.2 billion naira at 20 selected airports, 43 universities and six markets across the country.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami, disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday
Pantami said that the airports were selected from the six geo-political zones.
“Certain intervention projects are going to be implemented by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Communications Commission of providing Internet in 20 selected airports in Nigeria and higher institutions of learning and also some markets to support micro small and medium enterprises.
“In each geopolitical zone, you have around three airports. In the South-West, we have Lagos and Ondo. For the South-East, we have Anambra and Enugu.
“For the South-South, we have Port Harcourt and Akwa Ibom. For the North-Central we have Abuja and Ilorin. In the North-West, we have Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi. For the North-East we have Yola, Maiduguri and Gombe.”
The minister said the markets and 43 institutions which include universities and polytechnics were also drawn from the six geopolitical zones, adding that it will ease e-learning in schools and also enhance the transition to a cashless economy.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the appointment of six new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service
The appointments followed after a recent conducted selection process.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF),Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, made this known in a statement by Mohammed Ahmed, Director of Communications of the Office of the HOCSF,
The appointees and their states of origin are Esuabana Asanye (Cross River), Mahmud Kambari (Borno), Richard Pheelangwah (Taraba), Lamuwa Ibrahim (Gombe), Yakubu Kofar-Mata (Kano) and Oloruntola Michael (Ogun).
The Department of State Security Service has said that the plot to Instal interim government was real
DSS noted that the plot was “by some key players” to install an interim government and stop Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated as president.
A statement on Wednesday, by Peter Afunanya, the public relations officer of the secret police, said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria.
“The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.
“The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.”
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