NSCDC ARRESTS NOTORIOUS STREET-LIGHT VANDAL IN ABUJA

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Corps (NSCDC) has arrested in Abuja a notorious street-lights vandal around the Ugandan embassy at the Central Business District of the capital city.

The suspect was arrested at about 2 30am after a tip off on recurring activities of vandals in that vicinity which led to 24 hours surveillance by men of the Command.

The operatives of the FCT Command who swooped in on them while they were digging out the armoured cables after disconnecting the street lights from the power source putting the whole area in the dark.

Mr Abubakar Abdulmumuni, 29 years old suspect from Hong LGA of Adamawa State is currently in custody and will be charged to court while his partner who escaped from the crime scene and have remained at large is presently being trailed.

The suspect who is a serial vandal had been arrested in the past, and was charged to the court, he somehow found his way to the streets to continue his criminal activities.

The FCT Commandant of NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu PhD, therefore reiterates the need to impose stiffer punishment on criminals.

“I want to reiterate once more the need to impose stiffer punishments on convicted vandals and other sundry crimes as this will serve as deterrent to other would be criminals.

“The Command under my leadership will continue to do everything within our ability to ensure that public facilities are protected from criminals, we will leave no stone unturned in our fight against vandalism,” He said.

Odumosu also calls on all residents of the FCT to give the Command credible information about suspected criminals in their environment. He assures the general public that the identy of such informants will be protected.

“The war against vandalism is a collective responsibility, we cannot do it alone as we cannot be everywhere at the same time, we therefore depend on credible intelligence to help in not just arresting vandals but ensuring that they cannot carry out their acts of criminality,”

NSCDC ARRESTS NOTORIOUS STREET-LIGHT VANDAL IN ABUJA

Yobe committed to complete ongoing road projects—Buni

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe state government is committed to the completion of the seventeen ongoing road projects as well as to embark on new ones.

Governor Mai Mala Buni CON disclosed this while presenting a proposed budget of $328.8 billion to the State House of Assembly for the 2025 fiscal year.

He said the government will also complete the township roads and drainages in five local government areas, and work for the construction of the Damaturu flyover will soon commence.

“We would provide funds for the completion of modern markets in Potiskum, Geidam, Yunusari, and Ngalda, as well as the Damaturu mega shopping mall, Governor Buni said.

According to the governor, more buses would be procured to add to the fleet of the Yobe Line mass transport to provide cheaper transportation to our people.

He maintained that the government would improve facilities and open up various opportunities for the inflow of domestic and foreign investment in this sector.

“In its effort on improving education, the government would rehabilitation GSS Daura, GDSS Damaturu, GSS Jakusko, GSS Geidam, GSTC Nguru, GGSS Gadaka, and construction of school structures, as well as payment of scholarship, tuition, and examination fees at the NTIC schools in Mamudo, Kano, and Abuja and all government-owned schools.

Governor Buni said the government proposed to construct an additional maternity and child health complex at the state specialist hospital Damaturu, a pediatric ward at the specialist hospital in Potiskum, and a baby care unit at the state specialist hospital in Buni Yadi.

“All this is aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of reducing morbidity and mortality rates among our populace.

Yobe committed to complete ongoing road projects—Buni

Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline will boost West African growth, renewable energy expansion- Stakeholders

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, a 6,800-kilometer project linking Nigeria’s gas reserves to Morocco, is expected to boost energy security, regional economic growth, and support the shift towards renewable energy across West Africa.

During a meeting in Abuja on Friday, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministers of Energy and Hydrocarbons convened to review key agreements on this initiative, named the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), and to establish the ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Facility (EREEEF).

The pipeline project, developed in partnership with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) is targeted not only to fuel industries and drive economic growth across the region but also to align with climate goals by providing a transitional, lower-pollution energy source.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, Sédiko Douka, during the opening ceremony of the Abuja meeting highlighted the pivotal steps in ECOWAS’s energy ambitions.

Douka, who represented Omar Alieu Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, noted that the ministerial meeting aimed to solidify key agreements on the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) and the establishment of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Facility (EREEEF).

Douka said the importance of the AAGP, a project that will link Nigeria to Morocco via a 6,800 km pipeline, passing through all ECOWAS coastal countries, Mauritania, and the landlocked nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Initially proposed during a 2016 meeting between Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and Nigeria’s then-President, the pipeline is now a collaborative effort between Nigeria’s NNPC and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM).

According to him, ECOWAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NNPC and ONHYM in 2022, and the project gained further traction in July 2023, when ECOWAS leaders endorsed a decision to merge this pipeline with the West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP).

“The AAGP will create access to natural gas across West Africa, fueling industries, agriculture, and power generation, and driving economic growth. This project is of vital importance for our region,” Douka said.

He emphasized that, although natural gas is a fossil fuel, it produces relatively low levels of pollutants and serves as an effective transitional energy source.

“The gas pipeline project supports both regional development and global climate goals by advancing clean energy initiatives, from mobility solutions to clean cooking options”, he stated.

The meeting also focused on enhancing renewable energy in West Africa, where Douka highlighted that only about 20% of the region’s hydroelectric potential is currently tapped.

“The ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Facility (EREEEF) will aim to increase renewable energy’s role in the region’s energy mix.

“Key policy documents under discussion include a directive for solar photovoltaic technologies and model agreements for public-private partnerships, power purchasing, and project implementation for solar projects”, he noted.

Douka underscored the need for collaboration among member states to overcome energy access barriers and to develop a reliable energy infrastructure that will support both the AAGP and renewable energy projects.

He also pointed to challenges within the ECOWAS energy framework, including WAPP’s debt recovery issues and ERERA’s need for support to fully operationalize the regional electricity market.

By mid-December, ECOWAS hopes to have these agreements approved by its statutory bodies, setting the stage for action on both the gas pipeline and renewable energy projects.

On his part, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), emphasized the importance of collaboration and strategic agreements to drive the region’s hydrocarbon and energy growth.

Ekpo noted that the AAGP is more than an infrastructure venture—it’s a step toward building a deeply interconnected energy network across Africa.

He explained that the Draft Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and Host Government Agreement (HGA) will be vital for setting the framework for this collaboration, fostering stability and equitable terms among participating nations.

“The AAGP is set to stretch from Nigeria to Morocco, passing through multiple ECOWAS countries.

“The pipeline promises to open new markets, bolster regional energy security, and spur economic growth by linking Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to North Africa and Europe”, Ekpo said.

Ekpo also highlighted that this could be transformative for economies across the region, bringing increased industrialization and job creation to communities along the pipeline route.

The Minister also took the opportunity to acknowledge the role of the existing 678-kilometer West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), which currently supplies gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo, and Ghana.

He praised WAGP’s achievements and resilience, noting its role in connecting Ghana’s domestic gas sources from its western to eastern coast.

Ekpo also pointed out that the success of the WAGP would not have been possible without the oversight of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), which has served as the regulator for WAGP countries for over two decades.

He stressed that WAGPA’s future role could be instrumental, given its extensive experience in regional gas regulation.

Ekpo described the initiative as a crucial opportunity to create a united vision for West Africa’s energy future.

“These agreements hold the power to reshape our energy landscape, strengthen our economies, and uplift our people,” he said,

He urged leaders to prioritize cooperation and resilience, while commending the commitment of energy experts who have worked tirelessly to develop the draft agreements, which are set to be presented to ECOWAS Heads of Government in December 2024 for final endorsement.

Ekpo also called on all ECOWAS members to support the region’s ambitions for energy security, sustainable infrastructure, and economic growth.

“Together, let us continue to advance the goals of energy security, sustainable infrastructure, and economic prosperity for all of Africa,” he stated.

Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, represented by Mahmuda Mamman, the Permanent Secretary noted that these would guide the region toward reliable and sustainable energy solutions.

“With more than 200 million people in West Africa lacking access to electricity, it is imperative that we take decisive actions,” he stated.

Mamman highlighted the vast potential of solar, wind, and hydro resources, noting that West Africa has the opportunity to not only address its own energy deficits but also to set an example for sustainable development.

“By harnessing these resources, we can drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for millions of citizens,” he added.

He stressed the importance of technologies and practices that reduce consumption while boosting productivity.

“This regulatory framework will ensure that we prioritize energy-efficient solutions that contribute to sustainable development and protect our environment for future generations,” he explained.

He also added that the ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Facility represents a transformative step for the region.

He called on private sector partners and civil society groups to unite behind this vision, leveraging collective resources to turn policy into action that will benefit local communities.

“Together, we will overcome barriers and unlock the full potential of renewable energy and energy efficiency across our region,” he said.

He further urged a renewed commitment to the region’s sustainable energy future, acknowledging the challenges ahead but expressing confidence that a collective approach would bring success.

The Minister commended the ECOWAS and its international partners for their persistent efforts in shaping the regulatory frameworks under discussion.

Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline will boost West African growth, renewable energy expansion- Stakeholders