Since 2019 when the Nigerian government struck a power-generation deal with German company, Siemens, Nigerians were eagerly expecting the deal to disrupt the current epileptic electricity status quo and usher in a new order of constant electricity supply.

Three years later, the federal government appears to be giving their expectation hope of actualization. On Tuesday, FGN Power Company, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up for the Nigerian-Siemens power deal said electricity equipment like transformers and mobile power substations are expected to arrive in Nigeria in September.

The delay in executing the partnership, which was attributed to Covid-19, has contributed to the deterioration of Nigeria’s poor electricity supply.

But the Managing Director, FGN Power, Kenny Anuwe, said on Tuesday in Abuja, while speaking on the project, that by the time the power equipment are installed, there would be major improvement in the supply of electricity in the country.

Per ThisDay, Anuwe explained among other things that the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) in Phase 1 seeks to modernize, rehabilitate and expand the national grid by investing in the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, and distribution systems of the power sector.

“We will start to see the implementation of the transformers and substations which have been purchased across the country starting from September, right through to December. We have some significant amount of equipment which will start to come in.

“Part of the minister’s objective in visiting Germany only a month ago, if you recall, was to engage the principals at Siemens on the president’s agenda for the PPI to ensure that we were able to deliver on the objectives

“I am happy to report that this has borne some fruits and we will start to see the delivery of equipment starting off in September this year,” he stated.

He also explained that yesterday’s programme was meant to provide the “codes”, the standards and the essential technological aspects of the project that the Distribution Companies (Discos) as well as other partners will abide by in the process.

“Essentially, this provides the minimum standards and requirements that they must utilize in implementing the project.

“Siemens equipment must comply with the local laws and regulations. And these are the things that we have put together to ensure that the Discos are all aligned with the FGN company power company and Siemens to implement the presidential initiative,” he said.

The Minister of Power, Aliyu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Nebolisa Anako, stated that the close-out event signified a milestone for the stakeholders in the sector.

“The objective of the PPI is to improve the end-to-end operational grid of the power supply in Nigeria to 25,000 MW, but the purpose in the next 18 months is to deliver additional 2,000 mw,” he said.

The Chief Technical Officer, FGN Power, Mr. Idowu Oyebanjo, in his intervention, said there are two parts of the project, including the onshore aspects that will take place in Nigeria as well as the offshore aspect that will take place overseas.

While Siemens would remain in charge of design and manufacturing of equipment, including control panels, mobile substations, he stated that the contractors will be in charge of logistics, transportation, storage as well as procurement and dismantling of substations for upgrades.

He added that while transformers in Nigeria are bought with the capacity to withstand about five Degrees Celsius, the new transformers could stay for 30-40 years because the transformers are now attuned to the Nigerian weather.

While attributing the delay in the project to the Covid-19 pandemic, he assured that with the expected supply of the mobile substations, as early as September, the work that has been done will begin to reflect nationwide.

“In six months’ time from now, we will be having the first tranche of supplies of mobile substations and transformers delivered on the shores of this country and that will be very, very helpful to the power grid,” he stated.

He denied the insinuation that there was any disagreement between the federal government and the German company as to the local content part of the project, insisting that the information was not correct.

“By means of mere coordination of what is going on in the power sector right now, we can even achieve the 2,000MW without a drop of power sector investment, but by September when all these equipment start to arrive, and we start to put them in the right places on the network, Nigeria’s will start to feel the impact in terms of power supply delivery,” he explained.

Epileptic electricity supply is one the bedrocks of Nigeria’s economic underdevelopment, resulting in poor business performance that has largely plunged Africa’s largest economy into abject penury. Last year, the World Bank said that unreliable power supply costs Nigeria about $29 billion annually, a situation that has exacerbated since then, forcing some companies to move their businesses to nearby country Ghana.

Nigeria has 8,000 MW installed electricity capacity but only about 4,000 MW is operable. Infrastructural development plans by successive governments since 2005, have failed to address the problem.

The partnership between the Nigerian government, German government and Siemens AG,  had a target of 7, 000 megawatts of power generation by 2021, (the 1st phase) and subsequently, 11, 000 megawatts by 2023, (the 2nd phase). It’s April 2022, which means that the first target has failed. It is only hoped that the new target of ‘2000MW in 18 months’ will not falter also as the partnership is resuscitated.

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), has urged political parties to make drug integrity tests part of the screening requirements for aspirants seeking to contest political offices in the 2023 elections on their respective platforms.

Marwa stated this while responding to questions from newsmen at the 2022 First Quarter Best Performing Commands Awards ceremony at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, 27th April 2022.

The boss disclosed that the anti-narcotic agency had been seriously advocating for all public office holders, including political appointees to undergo drug integrity tests before they would be certified fit to take public offices.

He said, “For politicians, we have long advocated and I take the opportunity again to repeat the advocacy that when they run for public office, it demands a lot of responsibility from the person and we need to be certain if he’s a person that is already a drug addict/user who will spend all the money he’s given for public service to consume cocaine and his head will not be in a stable condition to handle the affairs he has been entrusted with.

“For this reason, we have advocated and will continue to advocate that drug test be conducted for politicians. Some state governments like Kano State is already doing this.

“Not just politicians, but government appointees, and I have just sent a letter this morning to the National Chairman of the APC, who will be the first of the national working committee I wish to pay an advocacy visit on this issue.

“I recommended that drug tests be incorporated in the screening process for all those interested in running for public office. We will do the same to the PDP and other important parties.”

Marwa further hinted that when it’s the turn of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties to conduct its party primaries, the anti-drug agency would also write the parties’ national chairmen and request that operatives of the NDLEA be allowed to conduct drugs integrity tests on their members aspiring for various political offices.

The NDLEA boss while further speaking to the members of the agency said, “We should all be mindful that we hold the fate of the NDLEA in our hands, and that fate will be determined by our patriotism and dedication to duty, as well as our collective resolve to work towards the attainment of the agency’s mandate.

“Let me also seize this occasion to remind you about the importance of propagating the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme in your various commands. There is much we can achieve when our communities are working hand-in-hand with us. That is why our roadmap, the NDCMP 2021-2025, strongly emphasizes collaboration with all the stakeholders in the society.

“We have to woo members of society to work with us on this very important assignment. Therefore, I charge you to ensure that WADA is correctly and deeply entrenched in the spheres of operation of your respective commands”, he stated.

Marwa, who disclosed that the agency was proud of the officers, stressed, “The sacrifice of a narcotic officer cannot be quantified in gold or silver, for he is fulfilling a higher calling.

“As we go about our duty of securing our society against the corrosion of illicit drugs, we should be aware that we are the direct beneficiaries of our work because for every kilo of drugs seized, we are making our streets and society safer for our children, family and kinsmen.

“NDLEA is proud of its workforce. The Agency treasures the effort of its officers and men. The management shall continue to look out for their best interest. We shall continue to reward hard work and excellence.” He landed.

It’s no longer news that the NDLEA, as being currently headed by Marwa, is obviously doing wonders to eradicate all forms of drug abuse across the shores of Nigeria.

However, as a concerned Nigerian, I urge the management of the agency to ensure thorough speedy prosecution of the suspects in their custody is taken seriously towards serving as a deterrent to other prospective drug addicts.

It’s unequivocally a good and commendable move for the agency to recommend for a drug integrity test among Nigeria’s politicians seeking various political positions come 2023. This will go a long way to ensure that the chaffs are duly separated from the grains, to assert the least.

In view of this, I enjoin the NDLEA to expedite actions towards ensuring that its quest to totally get rid of drug abuse in the entire Nigeria’s society doesn’t die in the long run.

Hence, it must be ready to collaborate with anybody with a view to arriving at the desired destination.