News
Power Disconnection: Army Laments Decomposing Corpses In Mortuaries
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has requested the intervention of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, following the disconnection of various Nigerian Army barracks and cantonments by power distribution companies (DisCos) due to an outstanding electricity debt of N42 billion.
During his visit to the Minister of Power in Abuja, the Army chief appealed for assistance, expressing concerns over the security risks posed by the blackouts in Army facilities. Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja highlighted instances of decomposing corpses in Army Hospital mortuaries due to the blackouts, which prompted protests from the deceased’s family members.
In response, Adelabu assured the Nigerian Army of his willingness to engage in discussions with power distribution companies to address the N42 billion electricity debt burden. However, he emphasized that the debt could not be completely forgiven but could be restructured, contingent upon regular payments from the Nigerian Army.
Adelabu further pointed out that the challenges in the power sector extended beyond debt repayment, citing issues such as infrastructure vandalism, theft, billing inefficiency, metering gaps, gas supply shortages, and disruptions caused by explosive attacks on transmission stations in volatile areas. He acknowledged the complexity of these issues and emphasized the need for long-term solutions.
While acknowledging that power outages were not unique to Army barracks but a national issue, Adelabu urged power distribution companies to consider implementing a monthly repayment plan instead of consolidating the entire debt into meter readings.
Additionally, the Minister pledged to explore collaboration opportunities with development partners to install Solar PVs and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as alternative power sources in Army barracks and cantonments.
During the meeting, Lt. General Lagbaja reiterated the urgency of addressing the power outage consequences in Army formations, noting that some barracks and cantonments had been experiencing total blackout since January. He emphasized the difficulties in raising funds to settle the entire debt and appealed for a resolution similar to the liquidation done in 2005 by the then President.
Furthermore, Lagbaja assured the Minister of the Army’s unwavering support in developing intelligence strategies to combat electricity infrastructure vandalism.
Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.
This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.
The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.
In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.
As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:
- Spain vs Canada
- Brazil vs Cameroon
- Colombia vs South Korea
- Mexico vs USA
- North Korea vs Austria
- Germany vs Argentina
- Netherlands vs France
- Japan vs Nigeria
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.
In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.
A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.
Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.
He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).
Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
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