Power minister pledges commitment toward addressing power sector challenges
The Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman has expressed his commitment toward addressing the challenges in the power sector.
Mamman, an engineer by profession said this on assumption of office on Thursday in Abuja.
The Minister of State Power, Mr Goddy Jedi-Agba also assumed duty alongside Mamman.
“I need not remind you of the challenges ahead of us as a ministry at this crucial level of our socio-political development as a nation.
“You may agree that power is not only the central nervous system but also the indispensable vehicle for the delivery of all government policies as they relate to the social, economic and industrial development of any country.
“I am not unaware of the fact that the quest for an effective and efficient power sector in our nation has been unending pain to Nigerians.
“You may also agree that the issues arising from our action and inaction as a ministry have remained on the front burners of the country’s endless and boring discourse on our failure as a nation,” he said.
According to him, there is no reason why we cannot change this despicable and miserable narrative.
“This is what Nigerians expect from us as we begin this new journey. We must therefore brace up to face this challenge.
“But I can assure you of my diligence and sense of commitment. I intend to apply myself totally to this assignment in order to justify the confidence of my President.
“And by extension all Nigerians that have entrusted me this rare opportunity,” he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Louis Edozien pledged the support and commitment of the staff to ensure that they succeed in their assigned task.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mamman who hails from Taraba was born on Feb. 2, 1958.
He obtained his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical Electronics from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1988 and an MBA from Bayero University, Kano in 2015.
He started work as a teacher in Technical School Mubi, Adamawa in 1981 and transferred his service to the newly created Taraba state in 1992.
He rose to the rank of Assistant Director in the Ministry of Works in the state before retiring in 2002. He has since become a full time businessman and politician
Mr Godwin Jedy -Agba, the minister of state was born on Aug. 20, 1958 and hails from Cross River
He obtained a degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1983, and a Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, 1989.
Jedy -Agba started work as an Administrative Officer in the then Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT.
In 1993, he joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and rose to the rank of Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, NNPC and retired in 2014 to join politics. -NAN
Collaboration with OPC has reduced crime rate in South West — IGP
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has revealed that his collaboration with the Oodua Peoples Congress has led to a significant reduction in crime rate in South West Nigeria.
The IGP who made the revelation through a delegation sent to the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland and Leader of the OPC, Iba Gani Adams, in Lagos on Thursday, said he would sustain the synergy and partnership to further reduce crime rate and ensure peace in the South West area.
Rising from a meeting with the delegation, the Aare Ona Kankanfo commended the initiative of Adamu to partner with his organisation to fight crime, pledging that the OPC will not betray the trust.
Adams noted that the most important part of security is intelligence gathering, recalling how the police in Lagos were able to end the menace of the dreaded Badoo cultists involved in several killings in the state by forming a partnership with the OPC.
He also noted that the OPC was not set up as a crime-fighting organisation, revealing that the circumstances that led to its involvement in security matters was when the landlords associations on Lagos Mainland sought its assistance to stem the tide of rising crimes.
He reflected on the confrontations between the OPC and the police between 2000 and 2004, and expressed joy that today the IGP has found the organisation worthy of his collaboration in crime fighting.
Commending Adamu for believing in community policing and taking pro-active steps, Adams said the OPC would work with the newly established Police Special Squad deployed to the South West to fight kidnapping and armed banditry, as his men who know the territory well are ready, willing and able to confront criminals in the region.
The Leader of the IGP’s delegation, Jude Nwankor, assured the Aare Ona Kankanfo that the mistake of the past would not repeat itself again.
Members of the delegation included the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos State, Chief Superintendent of Police Peter Gana; and the Commander, Seme Border Patrol, CSP Ogechi Moses Udu.
Also at the parley on the side of Iba Adams were the former Special Adviser, Political, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Basorun Akin Osuntokun; OPC’s Director of Mobilisation, Comrade Dauda Asikolaye; Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo; Osi Aare Ona Kakanfo, Gani Kola Balogun; Segun Sani; and key members of the OPC.
