Tag: Mando

Fashola Inspects Gurara, Kashimbila Hydro Power Projects

Babtunde-FasholaNigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has promised the completion of the 30 megawatts Gurara Hydropower plant in Kaduna, in 2017.

Speaking to journalists during an inspection tour of the project, Mr Fashola stated that the additional power from the hydro-power plant would boost efforts to stabilize power supply in the country.

The Minister told the reporters, “all the lines are already built as you can see.

“We are waiting to complete the substation where energy passes through and can be redistributed from.”

Hinting that an approval came after a Federal Executive Council meeting, he said “we should finish early next year at the latest.”

“The place is supposed to evacuate power from here through to Kaduna and Mando substations and also to Kudenda substation, to connect this to the Kaduna Power Plant”, he said.

Furthermore, he praised the efforts of the Federal Government in increasing power generation, saying that with wind power being developed in Katsina as well as the Gurara, Shiroro and Kashimbila Hydro-power projects, the nation’s energy mix would “slowly come together”.

Fashola Explains Input Gurara Hydropower Will Make To Nigeria’s Electricity

electricityNigeria’s electricity will receive a boost at the completion of the Gurara Hydropower Plant in Kaduna early next year, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said.

While inspecting the plant that will add 30 megawatts of electricity to the over 5,000 megawatts that the nation of over 160 million people ration, Mr Fashola said that the addition was in continuation of the drive by the Federal Government to boost power generation.

Addressing reporters at the plant he explained that the additional power from the Gurara Hydropower Plant would boost efforts to stabilise power supply.

Mr Fashola pointed out that the plant would also serve as a source of transporting energy through to Kaduna and Mando substations to connect the Kaduna Power Plant.

He also hailed the Federal Government efforts to increase power generation, saying with wind power being developed in Katsina and the Gurara, Shiroro and Kashimbila hydropower projects, the nation’s energy mix was slowly coming together.

The Minister was at the plant with his team of experts to inspect the level of work done.

They also inspected the Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam project in Taraba State.

The dam when completed would provide electricity and support agricultural ventures in the surrounding communities.

The minister appealed for peace and cooperation from the host community to ensure that the project, which he pointed out would first serve the community, was completed in record time.

Recently, electricity experts advised the Nigerian government to shift focus away from generating power with gas which has seen a setback amidst increasing attacks on oil installations in the southern region by militants.

Several pipelines have been blown up with a militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers claiming responsibility for most of the attacks.

Prior to the exploration of gas for power supply, the nation had depended largely on dams. Poor maintenance and shift of focus away from the dams have also been identified as reasons the nation’s power supply has stopped improving over the years.

Nigerian Air Force To Increase Recruitment Of Personnel

Nigerian Air Force RecruitmentThe Nigerian Air Force says it will increase its recruitment of officials to 2,500 annually.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who announced the new plan, said the increase in the number of intake would increase the Air Force’s support to Nigeria’s security.

He was speaking during the commissioning of the Ground Training Centre Airmen Instructors Quarters and Recruits camp at the 335 Base Services Group Air Force Base, Mando in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria.

The project is part of others initiated by the administration of Air Marshal Abubakar few months ago.

He explained that the projects were aimed at creating enabling working environment for personnel as a motivation to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

Announcing plans by his administration to ensure that personnel of the service have their own houses upon retirement, the Air Chief urged them not to relent in their duties in protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.

During an interview with reporters at the end of the event, he cleared the air on the claim by the Boko Haram terrorists that 40 of the Chibok girls were killed during an air strike by the Nigerian Air Force jets at the Sambisa forest in Borno State.

Nigeria Air Force Dismisses Boko Haram Claims It Killed Chibok Girls

Chibok Girls Boko Haram new video and Nigerian air ForceThe Nigerian Air Force has dismissed claims by the Boko Haram that it killed some of the abducted Chibok girls in an air raid at Sambisa Forest, a haven for terrorists in northeast Borno State.

In a recent video released by Boko Haram few weeks ago, the terrorist group claimed that air strikes killed 40 of the over 200 girls abducted from their dormitory in a secondary school in Chibok on April 14, 2014.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, denied the claims of the terrorist group, describing it as false and a complete propaganda.

He made the clarification to reporters on Saturday during the commissioning of some newly completed projects at the Air Force Base in Kaduna State also in northern Nigeria.

While describing the video released by the insurgents as diversionary, Air Marshal Abubakar said the ongoing air bombardment against the terrorists at Sambisa Forest was being carried out in professional manner to avoid a collateral damage.

The Chief of Air Staff was at the 335 Base Services Group’s Air Force Base, Mando, Kaduna State to commission some projects initiated by his administration few months ago.

Some of the projects include the Ground Training Centre Airmen Instructors Quarters and Recruits camp.

The Air Force boss reiterated his administration’s determination to address accommodation challenges being faced by officials and improve their welfare which he said were key in boosting their morale towards winning the war against insurgents in the northeast and other operational areas in Nigeria.

Announcing plans by his administration to ensure that both officials of the service have their own houses upon retirement, Air Marshal Abubakar asked them not to relent in their duties in protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.

Nigerian Air Force Holds Route March For Personnel

Nigerian Air Force, KadunaThe Nigerian Air Force Training Command in Kaduna State has held its second quarter 10 kilometres route march for its officers and recruits serving in the command.

Speaking at the end of the exercise, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Wakili Ahmed, explained that the march was part of the 2016 calendar of events for the Air Force.

The AOC, who was represented by his Chief Staff Officer, Air Commodore Remigius Ekeh, stated that the exercise was mandatory for all officers and other ranks and would assist in keeping fit in the course of discharging their duty.

He said that the exercise was taking place in all the Air Force formations across Nigeria and was being conducted four times in a year.

“Personnel of the service who were deployed to the northeast to fight terrorists and other trouble spots in the country could not have done a good job if they were not physical and mentally fit.

The route march is to ensure that officers and other ranks of the Nigerian Air Force are physically fit to discharge their constitutional responsibilities at any given time.

The march started at about 6 O’clock on Saturday morning from the Nigerian Air Force Base to the Mando roundabout in the Kaduna State capital back to the base.

Army Accuses Shiites Of Violence During Clash

Army-ShiitesThe Nigerian Army has accused members of the Shiites Islamic sect of attacking soldiers with dangerous weapons during the bloody clash between the Army and the Shiites in Zaria.

The Army stated this on Monday at the ongoing investigation into the clash by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government.

During his submission before the commission, the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, alleged that the Shiites attacked soldiers with dangerous weapons on that fateful day.

He added that the situation prompted his men to apply relative force in order to restore law and order in Zaria.

The GOC also explained why the Army did not notify the Police during the incident on December 12, 2015, before its arrest of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El Zakaky, since the matter is a civil one.

The Director General of Kaduna State Inter-Faith Agency, Namadi Musa, had told the commission that he received a total of 347 dead bodies for burial at Mando area in the outskirt of the state capital.

Conflicting Death Figures

Meanwhile at the ongoing investigation, differing figures of those allegedly killed in the incident are being presented, as the Nigerian Army could not give an actual figure.

A medical officer from the Nigerian Army Depot Medical Unit, who also played a major role in the burial of the deceased, Major Uche Agulanna, told the commission that contrary to the government’s disclosure that 347 corpses were buried in mass grave, he handed over few corpses to the representative of the state government.

When cross-examined by counsel to the commission to give the actual figure of the dead, Major Agulana said that he did not keep the record of the deaths as he was busy trying to save lives that were brought into the hospital.

 

Amnesty International had also alleged that the Army killed hundreds of men, women and children from a minority Shiite Muslim sect in December 2015.

The group claimed that more than 350 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria were believed to have been unlawfully killed by the military between December 12 and 14.

Nigerian Army Commences Annual Shooting Exercise

The Nigerian Army has commenced its annual range classification shooting exercise for officers and soldiers in weapon handling and other military skills.

The Army says this is aimed at improving the proficiency and professional competence of its personnel and re-evaluating officers and soldiers on their mastery of weapons in line with the Nigerian army headquarters’ vision of maintaining a professional force.

The exercise which is planned to last for two months is taking place at the Nigerian Airforce Base shooting range, Mando Kaduna, North West Nigeria.

Briefing journalists on the importance of the exercise, the general officer commanding One Division, Nigerian army, Major General Abdul Wahab said the training would equip the officers and men as marksmen with the aim of reducing casualties among the civilian populace in the fight against terrorism and other security challenges.

Weapons such as AK47, FN, pistols and general purpose machine guns are to be used for the exercise which included static 200 meters, 100 meters firing at targets and movement exercise.

Although the Nigerian army is noted for its sterling records in peacekeeping and internal security operations, the force has also recorded cases of professional negligence from its personnel. It is against this backdrop that the army headquarters considered it appropriate to conduct yearly range classification shooting exercise for its personnel.

It is expected that the officers and men undergoing the training will come out better equipped to fight the current terrorism and insurgency in the country.