PreviousNext

Nigeria: Shiroro Power Station Is Working, Says Nnaji

By // Biz | Nigeria: Shiroro Power Station Is Working, Says Nnaji
Email to a friend Plain text Print version // Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font

Abuja — The Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji Saturday described as false and misleading a report that some junior workers in the power ministry had shut down the Shiroro dam which supplies water to the Shiroro hydro station.

Reacting to the report through a statement by his special assistant (Media), Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe, the minister alleged that "the reports were planted by a handful of professional trade unionists in the leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) who do not consider anything sacred in their self-assigned mission of agitation and propaganda (agit-prop) against the ongoing power sector reform."

The statement explained that Shiroro dam is working impressively, claiming that "on the day the false and misleading report appeared, it was generating 550 megawatts out of the designed capacity of 600MW.

"In fact, it is doing better than the 760MW Kainji hydro power plant built in 1968 but had not been overhauled until now.

"Shiroro is a major contributor to the unprecedented quantum of 4,237MW plus 70MW spinning reserve which the nation has been generating since Monday, August 7, 2012, to the delight of all our people."

The minister said his ministry was "very much aware that there are some elements viciously opposed to improved electricity supply and are working with forces benefitting from the corrupt and decadent order which has for decades kept the nation down, impeded economic growth and adversely affected social life," alleging further that sponsors of the controversial reports merely hide under the canopy of labour activism "to actively and secretly promote the business interests of a notorious cabal in the power sector. He called on the Nigerian people "to watch out for these saboteurs working against improved power supply."

According to the minister, the federal government remains resolute in the determination to end forever the electricity blight.

"It has consequently taken all appropriate measures to safeguard the huge electricity assets across the country and the dedicated men and women work day and night in these facilities to ensure that constant and quality electricity is available to every Nigerian as of every right. The nation appreciates the commitment, patriotism, sacrifice of these conscientious citizens in the power sector," the minister said.

He explained that in recognition of the vital role of the power sector workers in national development, the federal government approved a 50 percent increase in salary for the PHCN staff since June of 2011, set aside for them a percentage of shares of the 17 PHCN successor companies being privatised, converted some 10,000 casual workers to permanent staff, and paid the staff N57 billion for the monetised benefits denied them since 2003 when the monetisation policy was introduced.

He disclosed that the government has agreed to pay 25 percent of their salary as part of the severance in the wake of the privatisation of PHCN assets, even though they did not make any contributions to the pension scheme up to July 1, 2004, when the Pension Reform Act came into effect.

"Despite the PHCN failure to comply with this Act and the failure of both the PHCN management and the workers to contribute 7.5% each of the workers' salary to the pension scheme as required by the law, the government has offered to pay 15% of each PHCN employee's salary as part of the retirement benefits.

"We would like to assure all Nigerians that the worst days are over as far as electricity is concerned. The current improvement is not irreversible. The programme for power development in Nigeria to international standards is very much on course, and the whole world is convinced that Nigeria is finally on the right electricity track," the minister said in the statement.

Copyright © 2012 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

Tagged : No tags for this article

Headlines Newsview all

Morgan Tsvangirai invites corruption busters to investigate him

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been accused of living an opulent lifestyle that is inconsistent with his government salary, has invited corruption busters to ...

Munyaradzi Mlimo, aka DJ Munya sent to prison

Popular radio announcer, Munyaradzi Mlimo showed no emotion as he was sent to remand prison together with his co-accused during an initial remand hearing at ...

World Bank pledges $1bn to help the Democratic Republic of Congo

  The World Bank has unveiled a $1bn (£660m) aid package to help the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbours, as fighting continues near the ... Full story

President Barack Obama Skips Nigeria's Visit

United States President Barack Obama will not be visiting Nigeria as recently speculated in the media. Obama and his wife Michelle will only visit Senegal, ...

Nelson Mandela’s daughters Zenani and Makaziwe Mandela to sue him over rights to property

NELSON Mandela’s daughters are suing him for the rights to his artworks and control of his millions, it has been reported. According to the Star on ... Full story

Oscar Pistorius' brother Carl acquitted of all charges

Carl Pistorius was acquitted of all charges, including culpable homicide and negligent driving, in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Pistorius was involved in an accident ...

Tintswalo Ngobeni, 22, Flees After King Mswati III Of Swaziland Tries To Make Her His 14th Virgin Bride

 A young woman is seeking  asylum in Britain after she spurned the advances of the polyamorous King Mswati III of  Swaziland and refused to join ... Full story

Recent Headlines

Latest Blog

Suspects In London Attack Are Both Nigerians

The second suspect in the brutal killing a British soldier, Lee Right, of the 2nd Battallion, the Royal Regiment of fusiliers, is also a Nigerian-born British, LEADERSHIP FRIDAY can now reveal. The second attacker, who was not named, was arrested at the scene of the incident by the British police. He is aged 22. LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported yesterday that a Nigerian-born...

0 comments

Prophet Fanuel Mututu threatens to pray for married woman's death, then rapes her

A prophet from Zvakazarurwa Apostolic Church in Bulawayo's Magwegwe suburb on Monday appeared in court facing charges of raping a fellow church member's wife. The prophet allegedly raped the woman following a three-day long fasting regime which he has prescribed for her ailment. Prophet Fanuel Mututu (39) of House Number 766/2 Old Magwegwe who appeared before Mr Willard Maphios Moyo at Western...

0 comments

Bulawayo Prophet arrested over miracle money

Police in Bulawayo have arrested a prophet for praying for stolen money to balloon. The Iminyela suburb-based propbet, Nkulumane Khomalo, of house number 59620/3 was reportedly approached by one Kagongwe Sibanda who wanted to be helped amass wealth. Prior to the incident, Sibanda has been watching his brother Mlamuli Sibanda's life flourishing after seeking help from the prophet. It is reported that...

0 comments

Nigerians On the Run As Military Combats Boko Haram

Kano — Tens of thousands of residents of northeastern Nigeria's Borno State have fled their homes - thousands of them into neighbouring Niger and Cameroon - following airstrikes by Nigerian fighter jets on Boko Haram (BH) camps from 15 May. The attacks on BH camps in northern parts of Borno close to the borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon followed the...

0 comments

Kenya Now A Country Held For Ransom

Nairobi — Gangs in Kenya Have Realised That Every Family, No Matter How Poor, Will Give Everything It Can to Stay Whole, Sparking a Rising Trend of Kidnappings for Ransom. the Crime, and the Public’s Reaction to It, Have Left Police At Something of a Loss, and Kenyans Scrambling to Stay Safe. You’re alone in your house, in your bed where...

0 comments

Wives fight over late Seiso Moyo estate

BULAWAYO South MP Eddie Cross (MDC-T) yesterday revealed there is a serious fight over the estate of the late Agriculture deputy minister Seiso Moyo, who was also in the MDC-T. The fight, he said, was between the deceased's two wives and the reason was that the late Nketa MP had not left a will. Cross made the revelations in the House of...

0 comments

Lusaka Polygamist finds wife in bed with another man

A LUSAKA polygamist stunned the Lusaka  Court when he narrated how he caught his pregnant wife in a sex romp with another man in their bed. This was heard before justices Martha Tembo and Kaputo Ng'andwe in a case in which Oliver Mweemba, 33, sued Lukas Lufino, 52, for compensation for adultery. Mweemba told the attentive gallery that on April 30...

0 comments

Deputy Minister Murisi Zwizwai faces eviction from his Borrowdale rented house

MEDIA, Information and Publicity Deputy Minister Murisi Zwizwai is facing eviction from his Borrowdale rented house after he failed to pay rentals and utility bills amounting to US$19 318,63. Deputy Minister Zwizwai, who is MDC-T legislator for Harare Central constituency, reportedly failed to pay US$750 monthly rentals from March 2012 to date and the bill now stands at US$10 623. As part...

0 comments

DJ Munya's murder case: Suspects demanded US$5,000, Munya's wife had confessed

The kidnapping and murder case which sucked in radio personality DJ Munya (real name Munyaradzi Mlimo) as a suspect has taken a new twist as it emerged that the suspects demanded a ransom US$5,000. These revelations were made by the deceased O'neal Tinashe Magorimbo's father yesterday at Tinashe's funeral wake. The demand was made through a text message directed to the...

0 comments

HIV positive Harare man arrested for raping 2 daughters and sodomising son

A 30-year old HIV positive man has appeared in court accused of raping his three children, raising fears he might have infected them with the deadly virus. The alleged rapist is said to have molested his 10 and six-year-old daughters and sodomised his five-year-old son during the period extending from last year to February this year. He denied the charges, saying the...

0 comments

Zimbabwe prophet, 34, gets 5-year jail term for stealing car from 60 year old Botswana woman

A Self-styled Zimbabwean prophet and building contractor based in Botswana has been jailed for five years for duping a 60-year-old Botswana woman into coming to Zimbabwe on the pretext of meeting a "high priest" before robbing her of her vehicle. Prophet Aaron Ngirazi (34) had denied theft of motor vehicle charges when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa but...

0 comments

Passengers Stranded At Lagos Airport As Strike Begins

Scores of air passengers were yesterday stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) as unions at the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) embarked on an indefinite strike. The workers, who spoke to our correspondent, said the strike was to press home their demand for the implementation of the salary structure approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. The unions...

0 comments

Wife gets 7 years for poisoning hubby a week after marriage

A High Court judge has jailed a 20-year-old Mutoko woman for seven years, after convicting her for poisoning and killing her husband. The couple had just married for a week, but the woman Esther Mapisa claimed in court that the man was sexually molesting her. High court judge Joseph Musakwa convicted Mapisa on murder with actual intent. She had however, denied intentionally killing...

0 comments

Robert Mugabe to summon army generals over inflammatory political statements

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has tacitly agreed to summon service chiefs over their recent inflammatory political statements in which they threw afresh their weight behind Zanu-PF, as pressure mounts on him to rein in military commanders ahead of watershed elections later this year. Mugabe is under pressure from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a victim of vicious military verbal attacks, and Sadc leaders...

0 comments

Catholic Priest 'caught' on camera performing oral s*x on another man

A Spanish priest has been removed from his job after apparently being busted on camera performing oral s*x on another man. Father Francisco Javier Ruiz was dismissed from his position in the Churra section of the city of Murcia by Bishop of Cartagena Jose Manuel Lorca Planes on Wednesday. It came after footage emerged purportedly showing him in an erotic embrace with...

0 comments

Chrispen Sibanda, 23 year old man fatally stabs drinking mate

A 23-year-old Kezi man has been dragged to court for allegations of fatally stabbing a drinking mate with a broken empty beer bottle. Chrispen Sibanda was arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate Witness Mtetwa on charges of murdering 22-year Lungani Nyathi at Venue Cocktail Bar on September 30 last year. The court heard that at around 3pm on the fateful day, Sibanda was drinking...

0 comments

ShowBiz

Actress Afrocandy To Cast Uche Ogbodo, Cossy Orjiakor, Anita Joseph In An immoral Movie
Actress Afrocandy To Cast Uche Ogbodo, Cossy Orjiakor, Anita Joseph In An immoral Movie

Actress Afrocandy To Cast Uche Ogbodo, Cossy Orjiakor, Anita Joseph In An immoral Movie

Controversial actress, Judith Afrocandy has announced through her Twitter timeline that before Uche Obodo made the nasty comment that she could act unclad irrespective of ... Full story

Sport news

Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni switches mind to next season
Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni switches mind to next season

Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni switches mind to next season

Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni has switched his focus to next season as he continues to battle with a knee injury that forced a premature ... Full story

World

Walmart Photo Center refuses to print photo of mother breastfeeding her baby because it 'violates store's nudity policy'
Walmart Photo Center refuses to print photo of mother breastfeeding her baby because it 'violates store's nudity policy'

Walmart Photo Center refuses to print photo of mother breastfeeding her baby because it 'violates store's nudity policy'

Walmart has come under fire for refusing to print a photo of mother breastfeeding her baby. As a gift for her first mother's day, Kayla Andre's ... Full story

Today's Latest News

Comment on: Nigeria: Shiroro Power Station Is Working, Says Nnaji

Rate this article

0

WATCH AFRICAN MOVIES

Pregnant Hawkers

Sequel to Throne Of Sinners Features: Jim Iyke, Chika Ike, Ken Erics
Pregnant Hawkers

Throne Of Sinners

Features: Jim Iyke, Chika Ike, Ken Erics
Throne Of Sinners

The Baby

Features: Nazareth Jesse, Oge Ihuoma, Kiki Opuru
The Baby

Rain

Features: Nadia Buari, Adjetey 'Pusher' Anang, Juliet Ibrahim, David Dontoh, Nana Akua Addo, J.O.T. Agyemang, Ekow Smith Asante, Frank Artus, Alexis Ntsiakoh  Every major incident in
Rain

Saturday Child

Features: Mercy Johnson
Saturday Child

War Against Tradition

Starring Olu Jacobs, Emeka Ike, Nonso Diobi, Queen Nwokoye, Joy Ellen No one from the royal family can date or marry an outcast from the village.
War Against Tradition

Baby Face

Features: Kofi Adu, Mercy Asiedu, Joseph Osei, George Berthou, Gotfred Opoku Afriyie, like every mother will do whatever it takes to secure her son's future, although
Baby Face

Riches

Sequel to Shattered Mirror. Features: Majid Michel, Nkem Owoh, Ngozi Ezeonu
Riches

Frema 2 - Part 2

Features: Kwadwo Nkansah, Emelia Brobbey, Bill Asamoah
Frema 2 - Part 2

Frema 2

Features: Kwadwo Nkansah, Emelia Brobbey, Bill Asamoah
Frema 2

Frema - Part 2

Features: Kwadwo Nkansah, Emelia Brobbey, Bill Asamoah
Frema - Part 2

Frema

Features: Kwadwo Nkansah, Emelia Brobbey, Bill Asamoah
Frema

Chichinia - Part 3

  Watch the Ethiopian Movie "Chichinia"
Chichinia - Part 3

Chichinia - Part 2

Watch the Ethiopian Movie "Chichinia"
Chichinia - Part 2

Chichinia

Watch the Ethiopian Movie "Chichinia"
Chichinia

31st Night 3 - Part 2

Features: Emelia Brobbey, Mavis Donkor, Mabel Amitoh
31st Night 3 - Part 2

31st Night 3

Features: Emelia Brobbey, Mavis Donkor, Mabel Amitoh
31st Night 3

31st Night 2 - Part 2

Features: Emelia Brobbey, Mavis Donkor, Mabel Amitoh
31st Night 2 - Part 2

31st Night 2

Features: Emelia Brobbey, Mavis Donkor, Mabel Amitoh
31st Night 2

31st Night - Part 2

Features: Emelia Brobbey, Mavis Donkor, Mabel Amitoh
31st Night - Part 2

Tagged as:

No tags for this article

Breaking News

Zoo worker has died after being mauled by tiger in front of visitors as she fed it in animal enclosure

24 year-old woman was mauled at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in CumbriaShe suffered serious injuries to her face and neck in the attack at ...

Sorry... we thought you were dead! Death notice blunder left expat's friends grieving for thirty years

Christine Greenslade and her family moved away from Cornish hometownShe placed an obituary for her mother in Cornish newspaper in 1980The Cornishman printed Christine's name ...

Seven-year-old killed by suicide jumper who plunged on top of her from tenth floor apartment in South Korea

South Korean man jumping off building kills girl after landing on herSeven-year-old died after her neighbour's body hit her on the street By Daily Mail ...

TEEN WORRIES: I'm a boy trapped in a girl's body but my parents won’t talk about it

I'M A boy trapped in a girl’s body but my parents won’t talk about it and think I should be happy being a girl. I’m 16 ...

Deidre daily drama: Secret sex with son of my dad’s bride ...and I have a boyfriend

MY DAD is getting married to his fiancée in two months’ time – and they’ve no idea I’ve been having sex with her son, especially ...

Lewis Hamilton warns health and safety from Monaco Grand Prix

Monaco Grand Prix Name: Circuit de Monaco Number of Laps: 78 Track Length: 2.075 miles Race Distance: 161.9 miles Number of times held: 70 Winners from Pole: 26 Full Throttle: 45 per ...

George Groves begs Carl Froch for a fair go

GEORGE GROVES has begged Carl Froch not to deny him a crack at the world title. The Commonwealth super-middleweight champion, 25, takes on Noe Alcoba on ...

Mark Cavendish’s hopes boosted by snow-hit stage 19

MARK CAVENDISH’S hopes of winning the Giro d’Italia points crown were given a huge boost on Friday — by snow. The sprint king was in danger ...

Carl Froch: I owe it all to Lennox Lewis

CARL FROCH will say a big thank you to Lennox Lewis if he manages to unify two super-middleweight titles tonight. Froch puts his IBF belt on ...

Ian Poulter admits he is struggling for Ryder Cup form

IAN POULTER admits he is struggling to recapture the form that provided the spark for Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph. And he is not alone as world ...