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Minister of Power inaugurates five projects under Presidential Power Initiative

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

Mariam Sanni

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has inaugurated five projects, located in Okene, Kogi State, Amukpe, Delta State, Potiskum, Yobe State, Apo in Abuja, and Ihovbor, Edo State, under the phase one of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

The phase one of the PPI is targeted at increasing Nigeria’s wheeling capacity by 272 megawatts, thus culminating in a more robust delivery of electricity to consumers across the nation.

Speaking at the commissioning of the 60MVA Power Transformer yesterday, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said: “Concurrently, we are remotely inaugurating four additional sites, namely Amukpe in Delta State, Potiskum in Yobe State, Apo in Abuja, and Ihvobor in Edo State.

“This is why we commend the strides that have been made by the FGN Power Company under the Presidential Power Initiative. In particular, the partnership that has been forged with the German government and Siemens Energy which led to the production and installation of these world-class equipment we are commissioning today.

“PPI, I must note, is a strategic and systematic approach to solving Nigeria’s perennial problems of unreliable and inadequate electricity supply. I am delighted that with the German Government’s partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the execution of the PPI, we will be able to deliver reliable power supply to the entire country. Mr. President has mandated that we accelerate our Agreement with Siemens Energy, and we are currently finalizing the scope of that work with all stakeholders.”

Similarly, the Managing director/CEO, FGN Power Company, Mr. Kenny Anuwe, said: “Today marks yet another historic day in the journey of our beloved country, Nigeria and the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI). The inauguration of four other sites, which include Amukpe in Delta State, Potiskum in Yobe State, Apo in Abuja and Ihovbor in Edo State, will collectively boost the transmission wheeling capacity by 272MW for onward delivery to electricity consumers. These signify a pivotal step forward in the revitalization of the power sector, serving as a masterstroke that will profoundly impact our industrial, social, and commercial life as a nation.

“The PPI has embarked on a noteworthy initiative by deploying Ten (10) Power Transformers and Ten (10) Mobile Substations across Nigeria. This strategic move will augment the transmission wheeling capacity, a pivotal component of the current administration’s concerted efforts to expeditiously deliver enhanced power supply. Importantly, the deployment of these devices underscores our steadfast dedication to advancing improved electricity access for the people of Nigeria.

“Let me at this point express my profound gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, His Excellency, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his single-minded determination to continue the pursuit of improved power supply for Nigerians, as initiated by his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I extend my gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Power for your exemplary leadership and dedication to fulfilling the mandate of the PPI. Special thanks are also due to the former Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello and the incumbent Governor of the State His Excellency, Ahmed Usman Ododo for your invaluable support during the project implementation in Okene, which has made the commissioning of this project a reality.

“We acknowledge the importance of improved power supply towards the attainment of the present administration’s Renewed Hope agenda and assure Mr. President of our determination to provide all necessary leverage towards the attainment of his administration’s national objective.”

He said: “When, on August 31, 2018, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), the underlying objective was to coordinate the partnerships and secure financing for the project that would improve the country’s power transmission, distribution, and generation capacity for the benefit of Nigerian households and businesses.

“Through hard work and driven by an immeasurable sense of patriotism, the Nigerian government was able to reach an agreement with the German government, resulting in Siemens Energy’s emergence as the implementation partner to deliver on PPI’s mandate to modernize and revamp infastuctures in the power sector .

“Partnering with the German Government, Siemens A.G and Siemens Energy, we were able to set for ourselves and our dear country Nigeria, the ambitious task of boosting power supply from an estimated 4,000 megawatts to 25,000 megawatts.

“We are aware of the country’s economic and social potentials and needs. Therefore, FGN Power Company, through the PPI, has laid plans for an even distribution of power infrastructure across all the geopolitical and potential economic power zones of the country.

“This is why this commissioning of the power transformer in Okene, Kogi State is important. We strongly believe that with improved power supply in Kogi State as well as in other parts of North Central Nigeria, investments in agriculture and food processing will begin to spiral, and with that, there will be spontaneous personal, regional, and national economic growth.”

He added: “This administration is setting the course towards economic development, and access to energy is the foundation for job creation and economic growth. I am happy to announce that with our partnership with Siemens Energy, we have been able to create more jobs while also delivering capacity building in the area of power sector engineering for Nigerian engineers.”

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Amb Lion Ogorry Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Sahara Reporters, Sowore For Misleading and Malicious Publication Endangering National Security

Published

4 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a renowned public advocacy practitioner and activist, today announced the filing of a high-profile lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Ltd. and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, accuses the defendants of publishing a false, malicious, and reckless article that violates Nigeria’s Constitution, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and other laws protecting public discourse, national security, and public order.

The originating summons, filed on November 24, 2025, stems from a Sahara Reporters article titled
“EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC—Former Aide,” published on November 19, 2025.

Ambassador Ogorry alleges that the publication contains grave, unfounded accusations against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, claiming he maintains illicit contacts with bandit leaders, orders communities to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and engages in activities that undermine counter-terrorism efforts.

These claims, according to the suit, are not only false but also fabricated to incite alarm, hatred, and ill-will, while endangering national security and public safety.

In his affidavit supporting the summons, Ambassador Ogorry, a Nigerian citizen and resident of Abuja with a long-standing commitment to public order and lawful civic discourse, emphasized that the article was disseminated widely across Sahara Reporters’ website, social media channels, X.com (Twitter) account, Facebook pages, WhatsApp broadcasts, and other platforms. He described the publication as a blatant violation of Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech that endangers public safety, national security, and public order. Furthermore, it contravenes Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by disseminating false, misleading, and harmful information capable of causing alarm or ill-will.

“The defendants’ reckless actions have not only tarnished the reputation of a dedicated public servant but have also compromised ongoing military operations against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West region,” said Ambassador Ogorry. “This publication promotes distrust, exposes the Minister to risks, and undermines the morale of our armed forces engaged in counter-terrorism. It is a direct assault on our national security and the freedom of expression that must be balanced with responsibility.”

The lawsuit seeks the following reliefs from the court:
– A declaration that the publication is false, misleading, malicious, and not protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution (as amended).

– A declaration that it falls within restricted speech under Section 39(3)(a), endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
– A declaration that it violates Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by prohibiting false, harmful, or misleading information.

– AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, their agents, or privies from further publishing, distributing, circulating, or causing to be circulated the said false publication or any other malicious publication especially as it relates to and against the person of Defence Minister, Dr. Matawalle.

– An order directing the defendants to issue a public retraction of the publication and publish a full apology on their website and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.

– General and exemplary damages of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) for the frivolous, false, and malicious publication geared toward endangering public safety, national security, and public order.

Ambassador Ogorry highlighted that the article, based on unverified claims from an alleged “former senior aide,” lacks any official record or evidence, demonstrating the defendants’ disregard for truth and ethical journalism. He urged the court to address this as a matter of urgent national importance, citing precedents such as President F.R.N. v. ISA (2017) and Guardian Newspapers v. AIEH (2011), which affirm that freedom of expression does not protect reckless publications that threaten security.

“This lawsuit is not just about correcting a falsehood; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, protecting public officials from baseless attacks, and ensuring media accountability,” Ambassador Ogorry added. “Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore must be held responsible for their role in spreading dangerous misinformation that could fuel terrorism and disrupt public order.”

The case is set for hearing in the Abuja Judicial Division, and Ambassador Ogorry expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice and constitutional principles.

About Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry is a public advocacy practitioner, activist, and Nigerian citizen dedicated to promoting national security, public order, and lawful civic discourse. With a focus on protecting public discourse from malicious interference, he advocates for responsible journalism and governance.

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