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Breaking : 10 years Failure, DisCos renewals will not be automatic, the power sector privatisation failed, Says Tinubu

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Ten years after the partial privatisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, the Federal Government, on Monday, admitted that the exercise had failed to meet its objectives.

The government described as shameful the current generation, transmission and distribution level of just over 4,000 Megawatts.

Speaking in Abuja at the 2023 NESI Market Participants and Stakeholders Roundtable, NMPSR, President Bola Tinubu said after 10 years of privatisation about 90 million Nigerians were still without power supply.

The three-day conference has as theme: ‘NESI privatisation and its 10-year milestone: the journey so far, opportunities and prospects’.

Represented by the Special Adviser, Energy and Infrastructure, Office of the Vice President, Mr Sodiq Wanka, President Tinubu noted that the investments expected from the private sector never came.

According to him, “the key objectives of the privatisation effort were to improve the efficiency of the power sector, unlock private sector investments and unleash the potential of the nation through an energized economy.

“10 years on, I believe it is fair to say that the objectives of sector privatisation have by and large, not been met.

“Over 90 million Nigerians lack access to electricity. The national grid only serves about 15% of the country’s demand. This has left households and factories to rely on expensive self-generation, which supplies a staggering 40% of the country’s demand.

“What is worse, the total amount of electricity that can be wheeled through the national grid has remained relatively flat in the last 10 years.

“The grid capacity has increased from just over 3000Mw to typically just over 4,000Mw today. Versus a 40,000Mw target by 2020 that the Federal Government had set pre-privatisation.”

Blackout as Nigeria’s electricity generation drops 93.5% to 273MW
‘No automatic renewal of licence’
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu expressed misgivings over the decision of the past government to embark on privatisation, noting that commercialisation would have been the best option.

Mr Adelabu stated that the licences granted to investors in the assets would not be automatically renewed until they prove that they have met the terms contained in the original licence.

According to him, “The question for everyone is: have we achieved the objectives of the privatisation on the scale of 0-100? I will say no.

“Which is why it is pertinent for all the players in the industry to come to a roundtable to discuss the reasons for the failures and steps to be taken to remedy this.”

He noted that the government ought to have commercialised the sector in 2013.

The Minister pointed out that “most countries throughout the world do not privatise their electricity supply value chain, from generation to transmission and distribution.

“But, bad enough that we have done this, how can we work around the current status to achieve our priorities and objectives? This is not a job for one person or entity but it requires collaboration from all players.”

Chief Adelabu warned that at the expiration of operational licences of the distribution companies, DisCos, renewals will not be automatic.

“Ten years down the line, the licences are expiring and it is now the time for renewals. Renewals are not automatic. Any of the privatised company that has not lived up to expectations will not have its licence renewed,” he stressed.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio pointed out that while the sector had been acknowledged as critical to the economic growth of the country, not much has been achieved.

Senator Akpabio who was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Eyinaya Abaribe, noted that while some progress has been made, the objective of improving power supply to Nigerians has remained unmet.

He said the parliament was committed to backing the sector with laws that would create the best business environment for the sector, adding that an amendment of the 2023 Electricity Act was underway that would take into cognizance of the latest developments in the industry.

Earlier, the Chairman of, the Conference Organising Committee, Prof. Stephen Ogaji described the challenges facing the power sector as formidable.

Prof Ogaji pointed observed that “without a doubt, the energy sector is the heartbeat of any thriving economy, and the NESI Roundtable demonstrates our collective commitment to advancing this critical sector.

“We gather here today as representatives from various sectors — public and private, regulatory bodies, investors, technocrats, and visionaries — all driven by a shared purpose, which is to enhance and shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s energy future.”

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JUST IN: Court Rejects “Terrorists’ Negotiator” Tukur Mamu’s Third Bail Application

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a fresh application for bail filed by detained alleged terrorists negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Wednesday, noted the health complaint by Mamu and held that the detaining authority, the Department of State Services (DSS) should not release him but take him to an appropriate health facility where he would be adequately attended to.

Justice Umar noted that, by the history of the case so far, the prosecution has exhibited diligence in it handling of the case and exhibited diligence in prosecuting the case.

The judge said one of the reasons for granting bail is where the prosecution is not diligent, noting that since the prosecution in this case is diligent, the application for bail cannot be granted.

He subsequently ordered that the defence lawyer should choose the health facility comfortable to the defendant, to which he should be promptly taken.

He also asked the DSS to allow the defendant access to members of his family.

The ruling on Wednesday is the third time the court will reject his application for bail since his was arraigned on March 21, 2023 by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, among others.

Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022 by Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, on reasonable suspicion of financing Boko Haram terrorism activities.

He was alleged to have convinced the terrorists to discuss ransom payments with individual families of the hostages of the train attack instead of the Chief of Defense Staff Committee set up by the Federal Government for his personal financial gain.

He was said to have been nominated by the terrorists that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train sometime in March 2022 which took scores of persons hostage.

Mamu was alleged to have collected ransoms on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists from families of hostages, confirmed the amount and facilitated the delivery of same to the terrorists.

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BREAKING: ASUU suspends two-week warning strike

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike.

The National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known in an ongoing press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Piwuna, the decision stemmed from the meeting of the National Executive Council meeting which was held overnight and ended by 4:00 am on Wednesday.

Piwuna noted that the union decided to embark on the strike due to the failure of the government to meet its demands on time.

“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike.

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Update : police tracks down mastermind of railway vandalism, recovers load of stolen Materials in Plateau, Says Opeifa

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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had a major breakthrough recently it its efforts to apprehend the vandals of its critical assets across the country.
Towards this end, the Corporation’s police Command has arrested one Musa Abdullahi, aka Major aged 32, a notorious receiver and kingpin of vandalized railway materials, in Kaduna.
The arrest was a major success recorded by the Corporation in its campaign against the vandalisation and theft of railway materials, just as it intercepted a trailer loaded with railway components In plateau State.
In Kaduna, operatives of the Nigerian Police, Railway Command, arrested the suspect around the Rigasa area.
His arrest followed intelligence reports on the vandalism of electrical installations along the Mando–Rigasa corridor on Tuesday,14th October 2025.
Investigation is ongoing, and the case will be charged to court on conclusion.
In Plateau State, operatives of the Nigeria Police, Railway Command, intercepted trailer conveying large quantities of railway materials along KM 822–823, Foromaxis, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14th October 2025.
The truck, which was abandoned by its driver who fled the scene, was successfully towed to the Jos Railway Police Station on Wednesday, 15th October 2025.
Investigation is on going to uncover and apprehend all individuals connected to the theft.
The Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, commended the Nigeria Police for their professionalism, intelligence-led operation, and swift action in handling both incidents.
He described the arrests and recovery as clear evidence of the renewed synergy between the Corporation and security agencies in protecting critical railway infrastructure across the country.
Dr. Opeifa reaffirmed the Corporation’s resolve to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security formations to ensure that vandals, receivers, and collaborators are brought to justice.
He emphasized that such criminal acts amount to economic sabotage, warning that the NRC Management will continue to pursue zero tolerance for vandalism through enhanced surveillance, community engagement,and intelligence sharing.
Opeifa further appealed to residents of communities hosting railway facilities to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movement around rail installations.
He noted that the railway system remains a major driver of national development and urged the public to view its protection as a shared responsibility.

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