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New Electricity Generating Company, Qua Iboe Power Plant, Berths In Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom State Government has concluded arrangement for the establishment of a new electricity generating company, Qua Iboe Power Plant.
Governor Udom Emmanuel made this know while fielding questions from Government House Correspondents shortly after a meeting at his office with the investors on the power plant project.
The project, governor Udom said is to be cited at Qua Iboe Onshore Terminal in Ibeno Local Government Area, and would be operated under Public Private Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) joint venture with Dangote Group, BlackRhino, African Development Bank, International Finance Consortium (IFC) with the Islamic Development Bank as financiers of the project.
According to him, the project when completed would attract more investors and create employment as well as boost the economy of the state and country. He added that if about four hundred million cubic of gas were produced at the terminal, the industrialization policy of his administration would witness a major leap and assured of a congenial and safe environment for the investment.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BlackRhino, Mr. Brian Herlihy, explained that the power plant project has a portfolio of more than one billion dollars in partnership with BlackRhino, Dangote Group and NNPC.
He further explained that the company would build a 570 Mega watts Gas fire Power Plant using a Combined Circle Technology with General Electric equipment and world-class expertise, which would utilise onshore and offshore gas for its operations to enhance the growth of other industries in the value chain.
Herlihy also stated that the project would employ more than 12,000 workers at the construction level and 300 workers during operations, adding that this would have a replicate effect on the indirect job market.
He commended the governor for the reception granted the team, assuring that the company would live to its corporate social responsibilities and sued for more cooperation from both the government and people of the state.
Special Assistant to the governor on Power, Engr. Meyene Etukudo, noted that Akwa Ibom is richly blessed with enormous economic potentials and it’s development is gradually unfolding.
Etukudo identified power as a major element in industrial development, stressing that about 567 megawatt of electricity would be added to the national grid to make up to about 20 percent of the total grid in the country.
He commended the governor for his vision to build power sub-stations that would enhance effective energy distribution in the state. He also seized the opportunity to condemn the incessant vandalism on electrical installations.
Also present at the meeting were Secretary to the State Government Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Dean of Commissioners, Dr. Glory Edet, and Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Technical Matters and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong.
News
American International School of Abuja writes EFCC, seeks to refund $760k of Yahaya Bello’s children fees
The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi state.
Bello allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.
The children are in grade level 2 to 8 at the school.
On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.
In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.
AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the letter reads.
“Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two US Dollars and eighty four cents) in tuition and other fees has been deposited into our Bank account.
“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty Four cents).
“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”
The school said it will draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there are any further deposits by the Bello family.
In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School”.
The EFCC has since declared Bello wanted, with the NIS placing the ex-governor on a watchlist.
News
‘Betty Akeredolu dumped me after I served for 7 years on N45k monthly pay’ — makeup artist cries out
Folashade Anu, the beauty expert, has lamented that she was paid N45,000 monthly while working for seven years as a makeup artist for Betty Akeredolu, the former first lady of Ondo.
Anu, in a recent interview with Olujimi Adekanle, the news presenter in Ondo, also said she sometimes worked as a personal assistant to the wife of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, former Ondo governor.
The makeup artiste claimed she was paid N50,000 per month but 10 percent of her salary was automatically deducted as a contribution to the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), an organisation founded by Betty.
“I worked for Her Excellency (Mrs Betty Akeredolu) for over seven years. When I was going, she did not give me anything,” said Anu as she broke down in tears.
“I worked with her for seven years as her makeup artist. I used to make her hair and do her pedicure when she was still making her hair.
“I was paid N50,000 then, but I usually gave back N5,000 to BRECAN. They would have deducted the N5,000 before the salary was paid. They called it ‘give back to BRECAN’.
“Another N100 was also usually deducted as charges.”
This is Folashade Adu the makeup artist for the former First Lady of Ondo State for 7 years who was placed on N45k salary a month, she was discarded after the demise of the former Governor without nothing, listen to her story.
— Olóyè T.D Esq (@BolanleCole) April 24, 2024
By Olujimi Adekanle JAF. pic.twitter.com/9bZs3ib0r1
The makeup artist said she stopped working for Betty after her husband was buried.
Anu claimed that after Akeredolu’s burial, she solicited help from the former first lady but Betty refused, adding “I was no longer in office”.
“I texted Betty Akeredolu that I needed help and that she was my last hope, that she should render help to me, but she said there was no help she could render because she was now out of the office,” she added.
“I usually reach out to her to help me. She once told me that since I have a passport, she would take me out of the country, but till now, nothing.”
News
LG polls: Oyo declares today as half-work day for civil servants
The Oyo state government has declared Friday as a half-work day for all civil and public servants in the state ahead of the LGAs election on Saturday.
In a statement on Thursday, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, special adviser on media to Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, said the declaration of the half-work day was to enable workers to participate in the election.
Olanrewaju said government offices would close by noon, noting that workers on essential services are expected to remain at their duty posts.
He said the state government enjoined all civil and public servants to go out and exercise their civic rights on Saturday.
The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has assured that the LGAs polls would be hitch-free and credible.
Speaking recently during a radio programme, Isiaka Olagunju, OYSIEC Chairman, said only citizens with voter cards are eligible to vote.
He added that no other form of identification would be recognised, noting that additional polling units have been created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a smooth exercise.
He also said electoral violence would be prevented, assuring that all LGAs would receive election materials before Friday to guide against incidence of late arrival.
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