Power Minister-Designate Clarifies Promise on Fixing Nigeria’s Grid in Three Months

By: Michael Mike

The camp of Nigeria’s Minister-designate for Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has dismissed media reports claiming he promised to fix the country’s troubled national power grid within three months, describing the reports as inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, the minister-designate clarified that no such commitment was made during his Senate screening on May 6, 2026.

According to the statement, Tegbe had clearly explained that timelines for major reforms in the power sector were still being developed and would depend on technical diagnostics as well as consultations with key stakeholders.

The clarification followed widespread reports suggesting that the minister-designate pledged to completely resolve Nigeria’s persistent electricity grid problems within a three-month period.

The statement stressed that while Tegbe assured lawmakers that initial efforts aimed at stabilising the national grid would begin within his first 100 days in office, he also acknowledged that deeper structural reforms in the sector could take significantly longer.

It quoted the minister-designate as saying that reforms relating to sector credibility, gas supply, metering and operational efficiency may require about one year to achieve meaningful progress.

“My promise to this chamber and to Nigeria is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” Tegbe reportedly told senators during the screening.

He further pledged to stabilise the national grid, modernise electricity infrastructure, strengthen commercial frameworks within the sector and enforce accountability across the entire power value chain.

On electricity tariff reforms, Tegbe reportedly assured that vulnerable households would be protected while government works to balance affordability, sector sustainability, investor confidence and operational efficiency.

The statement also emphasised that the minister-designate remains open to constructive engagement with the media and encouraged journalists to seek clarification where necessary in order to avoid misinformation.

According to the spokesperson, Tegbe views the media as critical partners in nation building and in helping Nigerians understand the scope and direction of the proposed reforms in the power sector.

Nigeria’s electricity sector has continued to face major challenges, including repeated national grid collapses, inadequate generation capacity, weak transmission infrastructure, gas supply constraints, poor metering and mounting debts across the value chain.

The minister-designate’s clarification comes amid heightened public expectations over the ability of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the country’s longstanding electricity crisis and improve power supply to homes and businesses.

Power Minister-Designate Clarifies Promise on Fixing Nigeria’s Grid in Three Months

Giwa detention facility completes 1,450 terrorism cases, moves 500 suspects for trial

By: Zagazola Makama

The Joint Investigation Center located at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, says it has concluded investigations in about 1,450 terrorism-related cases, while over 500 suspects have recently been transferred for prosecution, many of whom were subsequently convicted.

The Commander of the facility, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Audu, disclosed this on Wednesday in a detailed briefing delivered by Capt. Obinwale, where he outlined the structure, operations and reforms of the multi-agency detention and investigation centre supporting counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East.

Audu said the facility, established as a unified interrogation and screening hub for suspects arrested during counter-insurgency operations, remains central to Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.

He explained that all suspects processed through the centre undergo structured investigations, legal review, and eventual classification into prosecution, rehabilitation, or reintegration pathways, depending on findings.

“After investigation, a complex casework group reviews all reports and provides legal advice. Based on the outcome, detainees are categorised into three groups: prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” he said.

He disclosed that “recently, the centre moved over 500 suspects for trial, most of whom were convicted,” adding that the development reflects improved coordination among security and justice institutions handling terrorism cases.

Audu said the centre operates as a multi-agency platform comprising personnel from the Nigerian Army, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and Nigeria Immigration Service, alongside legal experts from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

According to him, the arrangement ensures a holistic approach to terrorism investigations and strengthens the integrity of prosecution processes.

He noted that suspects are received with preliminary investigation reports from frontline units, formally documented, and assigned to investigators drawn from various security agencies.

The commander said detainees are kept in segregated facilities, with special provisions for women and children, while minors accompanied by mothers are provided with basic education and care within the centre.

He added that medical support is a key component of the facility’s operations, with isolation and treatment available for detainees suffering from illnesses such as tuberculosis, in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

Audu said the centre maintains structured feeding arrangements, with three meals daily provided to detainees, supported by improved water supply systems, including a 40,000-litre solar-powered borehole constructed with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

He also disclosed that inmates are provided with clothing, toiletries, and hygiene materials upon admission, while periodic fumigation is carried out to maintain sanitation standards.

According to him, detainees also benefit from physical and psychological support programmes, including access to sports, indoor games, and supervised exercise periods aimed at improving mental and physical well-being.

Audu said the facility also operates a “restoration of family links” programme, through which detainees communicate with relatives with support from international humanitarian organisations, including the ICRC.

On legal processes, he explained that investigations are conducted under the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011, as amended in 2013 and 2022, with judicial oversight through federal high court remand orders and adherence to human rights standards.

He noted that biometric data of all suspects is captured and stored in a national database to support intelligence gathering and future security operations.

The commander further highlighted collaboration with international partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNICEF, and other humanitarian agencies, which have supported infrastructure development, training, and detainee welfare programmes.

He said UNODC constructed an evidence storage facility, while IOM established a data management system to improve screening and classification of suspects.

Audu added that UNICEF has provided educational materials for juveniles, while the ICRC continues to support healthcare delivery and humanitarian interventions within the facility.

He said detainees are also engaged in skill acquisition programmes such as tailoring, farming, poultry, fish farming, cap making, and bakery operations, designed to equip them with vocational skills for reintegration.

According to him, the bakery project recently established within the centre was introduced to reduce operational costs and enhance vocational training opportunities.

“The idea is to keep detainees engaged productively while awaiting investigation outcomes,” he said.

He explained that officers posted to the centre are carefully selected based on professional backgrounds in psychology, criminology, sociology, and related fields to improve investigative efficiency.

Audu also noted that the facility has received commendations from local and international dignitaries, including former defence ministers, service chiefs, United Nations officials, and counter-terrorism experts who have visited the centre.

He said the centre’s operations align with global best practices, particularly the United Nations principle that “effective counter-terrorism measures and protection of human rights are mutually reinforcing.”

Despite the achievements, he acknowledged challenges, including difficulty in securing witnesses from affected communities due to insecurity and fear of reprisal, as well as delays in prosecution processes which often prolong detainees’ stay in custody.

Giwa detention facility completes 1,450 terrorism cases, moves 500 suspects for trial

How Nigeria’s Frontline Troops Are Fed, Managed, and Monitored Amid Social Media Controversy

By: Zagazola Makama

In recent weeks, a wave of social media videos alleging poor feeding and neglect of Nigerian troops in frontline operations has reignited public debate about military welfare. But behind the viral claims lies a more structured, and less visible, system of logistics, oversight, and soldier participation that military authorities say is often misunderstood outside the theatre of operations.

At the centre of the clarification, the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who insists that what circulates online is far removed from the realities on ground.

Speaking during an interaction with journalists on Thursday, Abubakar described troop welfare as a “deliberately structured and soldier-driven system” built on accountability and internal checks rather than perception.

According to him, every operational base in the theatre operates a food committee system designed to give troops direct involvement in what they eat and how supplies are managed.Every location has a food committee. That food committee is made up of mostly non-commissioned personnel. They know the menu of what they want to eat,” he said.

He explained that these committees are not symbolic but functional, conducting monthly assessments of feeding arrangements, inspecting supplies, and documenting conditions using written reports, photographs, and field feedback from troops.

In practical terms, commanders are not responsible for deciding meals. Their role, he said, is to ensure logistics are provided based on government allocation.

“The responsibility of the commander is to provide the resources as given by the government to ensure that meal,” Abubakar noted.

The commander acknowledged that social media narratives often emerge from isolated incidents, sometimes recorded under difficult field conditions, but argued that such content is frequently stripped of context.

He cited cases where soldiers, after receiving their rations, allegedly altered or partially consumed them before recording videos, which then went viral as evidence of systemic neglect.

“For someone to have been given his meal with soft drinks, he consumed the soft drinks, take out the protein of the food, take out half of your meal, and now make a video. That is mischief,” he said.

He stressed that such portrayals distort the reality of a system that, according to him, has improved significantly over time.

“That is mischief. What was posted out there in the media is not a true reflection of the feeding pattern that we have in the theatre,” he added.

Contrary to public perception, Abubakar said troops routinely receive structured meal packages that include protein, beverages, water, and operational rations adapted to field conditions.

He described a typical day for deployed soldiers as involving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and field packs during patrols.

“Even when they go on patrol, they have their cold trip, they have their lunch, they have their water meal pack, they have their takeout. This is what is obtainable across most of our locations,” he said.

The system, he explained, is designed not only for sustenance but also for operational continuity in remote and high-risk environments.

While defending the system, the commander also acknowledged that lapses can occur, but insisted they are neither ignored nor tolerated.

“We are not 100 percent. There are instances where commanders have been found wanting, and where that happens, you lose your command,” he said.

He referenced the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, who he said enforces a strict “Soldier First” doctrine across all formations.

“You cannot take care of the soldiers, the Chief of Army Staff has directed that that commander must lose command. Every commanding officer in the field knows that the Chief of Army Staff does not joke with the welfare of our soldiers,” Abubakar stated.

Beyond feeding arrangements, the Army has introduced several reforms aimed at improving morale and efficiency across theatres.

These include an upward review of troop welfare allowances from N20,000 to N50,000 for personnel ranging from privates to warrant officers, as well as expanded access to foreign training and peacekeeping deployments.

Abubakar also revealed that three batches of troops are currently being prepared for international assignments, with priority given to personnel who have served in operational theatres.

To reduce stress and improve rotation cycles, welfare flight operations have also been sustained, allowing troops easier movement between deployment areas and home stations.

In addition, quick intervention funds have been introduced to help commanders address urgent maintenance and logistics needs in the field.

“Consistent welfare is not an afterthought, but a command priority embedded in structure, oversight, and policy enforcement.

While much of the public attention has focused on controversy, troops reportedly maintain active food committees that monitor supplies, verify quality, and ensure equitable distribution of rations across units.

Who have our troops for instance in Biu LGA who established their own Bakery, water factory and other packages for their troops.

According to him, these internal systems have contributed to higher morale and improved operational discipline despite persistent security pressures.

He argue that the current debate reflects a broader challenge in modern warfare, the struggle between battlefield reality and digital perception.

He warned that misinformation, if left unchecked, risks undermining troop morale and public trust in ongoing operations.

As Abubakar put it, the system is not perfect, but it is actively monitored, internally corrected, and designed with one principle in mind: the soldier comes first.

How Nigeria’s Frontline Troops Are Fed, Managed, and Monitored Amid Social Media Controversy