News Report: Nigeria Names Buyers Of Five State Power Plants

A Nigerian Power Plant

Credit: Reuters

Nigeria announced on Tuesday the preferred bidders for five state power generation plants, part of plans to privatise the country's electricity sector to boost growth in Africa's second largest economy.

Despite holding the world's seventh largest gas reserves, Nigeria only produces around 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for its 160 million people, less than a tenth of the amount South Africa provides for a population a third of the size.

In 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan announced plans to break up the state power company and sell it off as 11 distribution and six generation companies. He has promised a marked improvement in power output next year.

The highest bidders for the electricity distribution companies are due to be announced on Oct. 16.

"This is a milestone in the power privatisation process," Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku, said at a ceremony announcing the winners for generation firms in Abuja.

"I'm sure each and every one of you would agree the process has been transparent," he told a room of bidding firms.

A consortium including Nigerian firm Transcorp was the highest bidder for the Ughelli Power company, offering $300 million, while Geregu Power plant was won with a bid of $132 million by a group which includes Forte Oil, a firm majority-owned by Nigerian billionaire oil tycoon Femi Otedola.

A consortium made up of Nigerian, Chinese and British companies is set to buy the Sapele Power firm for $201 million.

Mainstream Energy, a group including Russian firm RusHydro and several Nigerian companies won a contract to manage the Kainji Power company and North-South Power, a mostly Nigerian consortium, won a similar contract on Shiroro Power.

Mainstream and North-South had no competitors for their bids, raising question marks over the legitimacy of the sales.

There are also concerns over financing difficulties after the Nigeria's central bank banned loans to 113 firms this week for failing to pay previous debts. These include Forte Oil and other firms bidding for power assets.

The sale of the remaining generation firm, which will run the Afam power plant, is being re-tendered after the Power Minister Barth Nnaji resigned last month when it was revealed he had a stake in one of the consortiums bidding for the asset.

If Nigeria can fix its electricity problems it could launch Africa's second largest economy into double-digit growth and help pull millions out of abject poverty.

But corruption, mismanagement and the strength of vested interests mean despite an estimated $40 billion of capital injected into reforming the power sector over the last two decades, capacity has only improved marginally.

Speech: UN Secretary-General Says “No War Criminal Should Ever Find Safe Harbour In The Modern World”

UN Secretary-General(Left) Addressing Meeting On Rule Of Law; Photo Credit: UN News Centre

The Charter of the United Nations, the Constitution of the international community provides indispensable tools to deepen the rule of law: the universal standard-setting power of the General Assembly, the enforcement power of the Security Council, the judicial power of the International Court of Justice.

The wider body of international law developed at the United Nations gives the international community a basis to cooperate and peacefully resolve conflicts and the means to ensure that there is no relapse of fighting. And with the development of accountability mechanisms, no war criminal should ever find safe harbour in the modern world. The rule of law is also fundamental to development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Today’s discussion should strengthen our resolve to ensure that the post-2015 international development agenda takes full account of the rule of law. I am proud that the United Nations is promoting the rule of law in more than 150 countries.

I am grateful for the many voluntary pledges being made today. I thank the governments that have made the commitments. But I ask for concrete action in five specific areas. First, I call on all States to commit to the equal application of the law at both the national and international levels. There should be no selectivity in applying resolutions, decisions and laws. We cannot allow political self-interest to undermine justice. Second, I call on Heads of State and Government to uphold the highest standards of the rule of law in their decision making at all times. The rule of law must be the foundation for every government action. Third, I call on all Heads of State and Government to accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. Fourth, I urge Member States to support peace by strengthening UN initiatives in the field of the rule of law: training police, improving corrections and enhancing the judiciary in fragile and conflict-torn countries around the world. Fifth, and fundamentally, I urge you to adopt the solemn declaration that is before you to make the most of this truly historic occasion to commit to respect for international law and justice and to an international order based on the rule of law.

Civil society plays a crucial role in holding leaders to account, and I urge you to keep pushing for action in all of these action areas to give the rule of law the place it deserves. It is not enough to disperse our rule of law activities across the United Nations agenda. They deserve a central place in the structure of our work. I count on you to help forge a new, structured approach to strengthening the rule of law and delivering justice so we can achieve peace, development and human rights.

Strengthening the rule of law is for every country and is in everyone’s interest. It is as essential within countries as it is among the family of nations. Today’s meeting is a milestone but it is not an end in itself. Our challenge now is to follow up, generate momentum and continue to give a high profile to this essential foundation for a better future.

Thank you.

News Release: The Planned Secret Campaign For Democracy(CD)National Convention, As Odumakin’s Tenure Expires

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; CD President

Through a source, we have learned that Dr, Joe Okei-Odumakin, the incumbent national President of the Campaign For Democracy and her co-horts are planning a secret national convention of the organization.

The source hinted that due to pressure on Dr. Odumakin by the CD south-East region, a secret meeting was held and it was decided that there should be a convention in which comrade David Kalu and other south-East leaders are not to be invited.

The purpose to this convention is to elect new national leadership who are to cover up the ACPF/CD fraud that happened while Odumakin is in office. The new the executive will claim that what happened was not in their time and that it has nothing to do with them.

We hereby wish to state that any convention held without our consent and participation, will not be acceptable to us.

We also wish to state that there is no part of the CD constitution that empowers the national body to choose or elect executives for any state or region.

We expect that with that on the allegation against Dr. Odumakin, she ought to have resigned her position and offer herself for probe.

If Dr. Odumankin cannot tell the world how she managed the ACPF/CD account, then it becomes obvious that her claim of been an activist should be questioned.

An organization like the CD should be a transparent one, that even non members can walk in and access whatever information they want and this should include the organization’s finance book, without being hindered.

Whatever is done without our consent would be null and void, and will not be acceptable to the CD in the south-East. Whatever decision that would be taken on behalf of the CD South-East, must be with our consent and imput.

Signed:

David Kalu
Chairman,
Campaign For Democracy(CD)

South-East Region

On Behalf Of The Following:
Nze Alachukwu
Secretary

Emenike  Ogba
Abia State

Henry Okoh
Ebonyi State

Uche Agbo
Enugu State

Kelechi Ugo
lmo State