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Grassroot Electrification: Ugwuanyi Clears Coast for TCN
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has applauded the Enugu State Government for its support in securing the right-of-way for the completion of the power project being handled by the company in the university town of Nsukka.
Since 2006, the important power line project has been stalled owing to disputes between the TCN and host communities over right of way. When completed, the project would boost electricity supply to millions of residents in the Enugu North senatorial district of the state.
Work which commenced at the station 12 years after it was abandoned, residents of some rural communities in Igbo-Eze North council area of the state are celebrating effective commencement of electricity supply to facilities installed by Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi in his aggressive rural electrification projects across the state.
TCN’s Assistant General Manager, Transmission, Enugu Sub-station, Engr. Bakare Kazim, who spoke to newsmen said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration has set the pace in helping to resolve the issue of transmission access line acquisition which almost stalled the progress of work at the 30MVA injection sub-station in Nsukka, calling on other state governments to emulate this exemplary leadership.
While briefing newsmen at the transmission station in Nsukka, Kazim said: “This 30 MVA injection sub-station has been completed since 2006 but for the problem of litigation and inaccessibility of the power line, it was not possible to hook up the station. Consequently, our MD/CEO, Mr. Mohammed Gur, made a move and contacted Enugu State Government and they had a wonderful discussion and he was able to convince the government to help secure the right-of-way and access issue.
“If this facility is left unused, it would continue to deteriorate despite the fact that it is a new sub-station. The MD met with the governor and they had a fruitful discussion and he (the governor) helped us tremendously to secure the access line to the station. As I speak with you, main access has been cleared.”
He added that the plant is able to give 24 mega watts of power which would augment the 12 mega watts coming from the obsolete 66KVA voltage level from Oji River which according to him, has been phased out in the entire nation, assuring that upon completion, it would enhance power generation in Nsukka and environs. He however warned those acquiring property close to TCN line to desist forthwith to avoid litigation problems.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the state’s Rural Electrification Board, Simon Atigwe, an engineer, said the state government decided to wade into the matter to resolve the issue of the right-of-way so as to give succour to the residents who need the service of the facility.
When asked whether the owners of the houses and economic trees where the transmission line passed were compensated, Mr. Atigwe said: “Individually, they have gotten what I feel should be fair to them but the state government has promised to assist them to ensure that what is due to them is given to them. Though the Federal Government pays the compensation, there are areas that were not involved in the job originally which the state government has accepted to pay.”
The residents of the area, Echeji Hillary and Amarachi Fabian expressed their happiness over the power project as that would translate to an end to the epileptic power supply which has marred social and economic undertakings in the area.
Reports from the rural communities had it that in the past few days, it has been celebration in Olido and some neighbouring communities in Igbo-Eze North local government area as electric power supply came on live, a development they had waited for in anxiety since the facilities were installed by the state government awaiting switch-on by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.
They commended Governor for keeping his promise of opening up the rural areas of the state to catalyse even development of the state.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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