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Tag: Minister of Power

  • Tinubu Halts Electricity Tariff Increase, Insists on Power Subsidy

    Tinubu Halts Electricity Tariff Increase, Insists on Power Subsidy

    By Milcah Tanimu

    President Bola Tinubu has intervened to prevent a planned hike in electricity tariff, advocating for the continuation of subsidies on nationwide power consumption. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this development during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Adelabu also announced the government’s intention to investigate the legality of the five-year license extension granted to privatized power distribution and generation companies. He emphasized that the operating licenses of these firms should have expired on October 31, 2023.

    During the briefing, Adelabu expressed his commitment to dismiss any underperforming chief executive within the power ministry’s agencies if their non-performance jeopardizes his position as the minister.

    Addressing the issue of a cost-reflective tariff, which could result in increased power costs, Adelabu explained the sensitivity of the power sector and the government’s ongoing subsidy to bridge the gap between the actual tariff and the allowable tariff. He highlighted President Tinubu’s decision to maintain the current electricity rate until there is a consistent and incremental improvement in power supply.

    Adelabu acknowledged the challenges posed by the existing gap, affecting liquidity, investments, and causing constraints in the power sector. He clarified that the government is handling this gap as a subsidy, preventing an immediate tariff increase to avoid additional burdens on Nigerians.

    The minister outlined the factors contributing to the potential tariff hike, including the cost of gas, which accounts for 75 to 80 percent of Nigeria’s power generation. He emphasized the need for careful consideration, sensitization, and communication with the public before implementing any tariff adjustments.

    Adelabu also addressed the power generation capacity issue, deeming the current 4,000 megawatts as shameful and unacceptable. He pledged efforts to increase this capacity and emphasized the importance of performance within the ministry and its agencies.

    While admitting the perceived mistake in the 2013 privatization of the power sector, Adelabu suggested the possibility of the government reassuming control of power distribution companies and reviewing their territorial coverage. He highlighted the need for national interest and urged support for his vision to align with President Tinubu’s goals in the power sector.

  • Relieved Power minister Sale Mamman collapses after Buhari sacked him

    Relieved Power minister Sale Mamman collapses after Buhari sacked him

    By Danzumi Ishaku, Jalingo.

    Relieved Minister of Power, Sale Mamman collapsed in Abuja and landed at the hospital yesterday after being told by President Muhammadu Buhari that he had been relieved of his job, Peoples Gazette can report.

    Mr Mamman served as power minister since 2019 until he was fired on Wednesday as Mr Buhari conducted a minor redeployment of his cabinet members. He was fired alongside agric minister Sabo Nanono.

    “He collapsed yesterday and was immediately hospitalised,” a family source told The Gazette under anonymity. “He wasn’t expecting to be fired so soon.” The nature of Mr Mamman’s ailment was not immediately clarified to The Gazette, and his spokesman did not return a request seeking comments.

    The source said Mr Mamman has been quietly receiving treatment at a hospital in Abuja, and The Gazette has withheld the name of the hospital to respect the former minister’s privacy.

    Mr Mamman, 63, was said to have been living at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja for more than three weeks on the bills of some powerful interests in the power sector, who were hoping he would still be in the office to be able to award lucrative contracts.

    “He has been living permanently at Transcorp Hilton since early August,” our sources said. “His bills were being covered by elements in the power sector who were looking forward to more lucrative contracts before the bad news of his dismissal struck yesterday.”

    He also reportedly has plans to run for governor in Taraba by 2023, a claim The Gazette has not been able to independently corroborate.

  • Why I Reshuffled My Cabinet – Buhari

    Why I Reshuffled My Cabinet – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has given the reason behind a reshuffle in the cabinet he formed on August 21, 2019.

    DAYBREAK had reported that Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Sale Mamman, Minister of Power, were fired.

    They were replaced by Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, and Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing.

    Speaking through Femi Adesina, his media aide, the president said the changes were sequel to the “tradition of subjecting our projects and programmes implementation to independent and critical self-review”.

    “These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.”

    “I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.

    “As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavor and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.”

    Buhari is not known for reshuffling his cabinet.

    During his first term between 2015 and 2019, the ministers who left the cabinet resigned on their own.

    Among them were Kemi Adeosun, former Finance Minister, who was involved in a certificate scandal, and Amina Mohammed, former Environment Minister, who got a UN job.

    The president had reappointed 12 ministers during his second term.

  • Senators shock as Minister of powers allocates 20 projects to his local govt.

    Senators shock as Minister of powers allocates 20 projects to his local govt.

    Members of the Senate Committee on Power on Wednesday expressed shock to discover that  Minister of Power, Mamman Saleh, and the Rural Electrification Agency for lopsidedness in citing projects across the country.

    The lawmakers, who expressed dissatisfaction during the budget defence of some agencies under the Ministry of Power, questioned why only the Minister’s Local Government should have 20 projects when some others didn’t get any.

    The Senate Committee resumed its budget defence session with the Rural Electrification Agency on Wednesday with the lawmakers picking holes in the budget.

    The lawmakers were also taken aback that some projects were nonexistent. They, however, asked the agency to go back and rework its N17.8 billion budget before further work can be done.