Opinions

PWDs in Lagos groan, while LASODA, its GM grows fat? –Yinka Olaito

Published

2 years ago

April 25, 2023

The enactment of Special Peoples ‘Laws by Lagos state in 2011, the Creation of a Special Assistant to the governor’s position on disability Affairs and the eventual creation of the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs Agency and some other commendable efforts instituted by the state government administrations from Raji Fashola to Ambode and now Babajide Sanwo-Olu was intended to establish an inclusive society which leaves no one behind.

But despite all these, the stark realities confronting People with Disabilities(PWDs) in Lagos show no significant progress has been made when the investment made and benefits envisaged are weighed on the balance. PWDs in Lagos had noted with concern a lack of Lagos state’s government’s political will and commitment which will guarantee the achievement of the purpose for all the efforts and investments on their issues.

The population of PWDs continues to soar, World report on disability by the World Health Organization, an estimated 15% of about 1Billion people have a form of disability or the other across the globe. This is because aside from genetically induced disability, some through accidents do become a PWD. Out of the 1Billion PWD global population, 80% of this live in the developing world while 2Million of this population resides in Lagos. This calls for critical planning not to leave many behind.

LASODA, its GM and PWDs community

The establishment of Special Peoples’ law in Lagos provided for the appointment of a General Manager, who is the administrative head of the agency. Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo through his appointment became the pioneer and existing General Manager.

Mr Ogundairo’s appointment, which was initially welcomed with joy is allegedly turning into a nightmare for the PWDs in Lagos as the situations of the community had not improved significantly despite state investments and efforts to leave no one behind

i. PWDs Stakeholders concern and ’perceived highhandedness’ of General Manager, LASODA

PWDs communities in Lagos have several clusters with each of these having its own leader. There is the visually impaired(blind) led by Abolarinwa Salami, Spinal Cord injury cluster led by Mr Matepo, the Association of Intellectual and developmental disability led by Mrs Roseline Jokotola, Physical disability led by Prince Rotimi Adeniyi, the Joint National Association of physical disability Lagos led by Sehu Adebayo, there is hearing impaired(deaf), there is also Albinism cluster led by Mr, Tolani Ojuri, Leprosy cluster led by Baba Muhammed as well as Dwarf cluster led by Israel Akinyode among others.

Many of these cluster heads expressed non-inclusion of their opinions or even zero consultation with them when decisions were made by the Mr Dare Dairo-led administration of LASODA, especially in programme planning and implementation. The cluster heads had also written a letter to the general manager on some of these issues.

Yet a few, considered to be loyal allies to the general manager, were silent on this. But this reporter is in possession of jointly signed letters and communique which expressed their displeasure at the way LASODA is being run. Some of the letters were addressed to the governor, deputy governor, and the wife of the governor when all entreaties and letters written to LASODA general manager had failed.

Some of these letters were written and dispatched to respective offices in 2021 and nothing had been done about it which made some of the cluster heads felt there may be alleged complicity of officials in these various offices with the general manager of LASODA hence the silence on non-responsive approach by higher authorities to issues raised.

ii. PWDs rights abuses and neglect

In our discussions with some cluster heads and some PWDs in Lagos, the general consensus is that in many instances LASODA, the Agency in charge and management often delay or posits a carefree attitude to several issues of violence brought to its office. A PWD named Seun when interviewed complained bitterly about the abuse of rights, and violence against her person by her landlord as well as his son.

Seun said she wrote and provided photo evidence and every necessary document to the LASODA office and General Manager to help her get a redress. But after a long while and nothing was done, despite her persistent call, and visits to the LASODA office, a member of PWD asked her to go to another human rights group which promptly responded to noted abuses of her rights.

Accessibility issues and LASODA silence

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities had been ratified by 185 Countries including Nigeria. The 2030 sustainable development Agenda adopted by several heads of State affirmed disability should not be a reason for accessibility.

But the case may seem different in Lagos. Lagos is considered one of the most inaccessible cities in the world. For instance, with transportation, Lagos State public initiated Bus Rapid Transport has no assistive mechanism that will allow PWDs to assess its use. There is a clear absence of ramps for wheelchairs in some public buildings and infrastructures. Where it exists, technical details are overlooked so much that assisted mobile tricycles used by some PWDs may not be able to climb. This is the case with many pedestrian bridges and many public offices.

In terms of education, despite efforts made by the state government, not much has been achieved significantly in terms of education of children with disabilities. Not many public schools have structure and facilities to accommodate admission and full inclusion, integration of children with disabilities. The 49 inclusive, specialized schools despite their stigma could not accommodate the numbers available and the facilities there are inadequate. It was also reported the schools were grossly underfunded, understaffed

So if the out-of-school children are properly captured children with disability will constitute a significant number in the state. This is not unique; Lagos state population is a factor. UNICEF had raised alarm about an increase in the number of out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa. In all of these issues, the voice of LASODA had not been loud enough or is even silent outside marking international days and running ‘jamboree’ events

In the area of health, many of the clusters and their leaders had complained bitterly of exclusion or zero attention. Though there is a Lagos health insurance by Lagos State Health Management Agency which the general manager keeps encouraging PWDs to embrace.

But the gross inadequacy of this health insurance in relation to PWDs is obvious. Many of the peculiar health challenges of Intellectual and development, Albinism among other clusters are not captured in the health scheme. Besides the free opportunities in the health schemes only last a year.

iii. Programme sustainability and ‘Contracts for boys’?

A check on Lagos states public procurement website which outlines different budgetary allocations to different Ministries and MDAs showed LASODA got Millions of Naira in allocation yearly. Some had allegedly claimed the agency gets an average of N500 million yearly.

But for the 2022 LASODA budget, items like training of all sorts, allowances, purchase of items, a celebration of international days, travels, consultancies, conferences, types of diesel, empowerment for PWDS and festival (which many had complained had not had much direct and sustainable impact on PWDs) took a whooping sum.

In one of the complaint letters written and signed by PWDs cluster heads, issues of sustainability of many programmes were questioned. The cluster heads argued if there had been consultations, the programme sustainability process and assurances would have been easy.

In many instances, some other individuals had alleged as well as insinuated contracts awarded had been questionable with regards to the legal authenticity, and the existence of the companies awarded.

iv. Disability Trust fund

Section 12, (subsection 4) of SPL, which allows establishment of a disability trust fund gives opportunity to LASODA to be involved in the administrations of this. During Akinwunmi Ambode’s tenure, N5Million per average is allegedly allocated to this fund annually. This was initially abandoned by the Sanwo-Olu administration, Findings again showed some undisclosed sum was released again in 2022. Though every effort to get the total sum released was abortive as neither LASODA general manager or any of the agency staff was willing to answer questions despite several visits to the agency’s office.

In one of these visits, we were asked to write an official letter in this regard which we did and submitted but despite an appointment given by the Agency through the staff member, Mrs Eniola, the general manager refused to grant the interview. For 2022 disbarment, we gathered from cluster heads of PWDs that the fund was divided into two. One hundred Thousand naira for Empowerment purposes and fifty thousand for social support for each PWD in the state.

Many of the cluster heads, at least the Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, said none was paid in her cluster while in the Visually impaired (blind) cluster, many got paid but 16 of its members were left out.

No serious leader will go on rest- Peter Obi swipes at Tinubu

According to Mr Matepo, in the spinal Cord injury cluster, 27 members were not paid the One Hundred Thousand naira while 9 members were also excluded from the fifty-thousand-naira social security. Prince Rotimi Adeniyi of the physical disability cluster told our reporters he did not have the figure but will get back after confirming from the secretary which we assumed he forgot to do to date. Mr Tolani Ojuri of the Albinism cluster also did not give any data.

Many concerned individuals claimed the alleged secrecy associated with this fund, especially with regard to 2022 disability trust fund’s release is giving opportunities to some elements within the system.

Failure of the state and how this creates loopholes for LASODA and its inefficiency

With regard to the alleged rot in the LASODA, many had laid the blame at the state government’s door. First, the Special Peoples ‘law has 19 sections. Only a few in it allow full integration of LASODA into its implementations. Many of the PWDs cluster heads also blame the state government for the lack of inauguration of the LASODA board, which could have had an oversight role over LASODA management. That is if any board exists at all.

In terms of procurement process and protocol infringement in LASODA many believe the process give opportunities for certain flaws. This might have been the reason thorough due diligence on the legal status of some of the companies that work for LASODA were not done. Though on paper, especially on the state’s public procurement website everything looks okay at face value.

What PWDS in Lagos want?

“We do not say life should revolve around us” affirmed many cluster leaders as well as PWDs community members in Lagos interviewed. But at least create an enabling environment that helps us thrive through individual’s efforts.

Section 9(sub section 1,2&3) even made provision for PWD to use Public transport for free, but if this is not possible, there can be an arrangement of discount, one of the disability cluster leaders charged. This must also be included in many other demands which include health, education and gainful employment etc.

Related Topics:Lagos State Government Sanwo-Olu

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President Tinubu and Baba Adebanjo: A ‘Ringside’ Story

Published

3 weeks ago

February 22, 2025

Seyi Babalola

By Tunde Rahman

Since Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo passed away on February 14 at 96, many have praised his significant contributions to Nigeria as a frontline nationalist, a key role player in the politics of the first and second republics, and an uncompromising devotee of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Active in the First Republic Action Group, the Second Republic Unity Party of Nigeria, and Alliance for Democracy from 1999, Baba Adebanjo fought tirelessly for democracy. He consistently advocated for true federalism and the country’s political and economic restructuring based on the 1963 Republican Constitution.

Pa Adebanjo was also a well-known activist who stood for equity, truth, and justice. He fought against all forms of injustice and oppression including military dictatorship.
In this respect, I recall his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.

When Asiwaju Tinubu, then a founding chieftain of the defunct AD, decided to run for Lagos governorship, Pa Adebanjo fully supported him, championing transparency in the process that produced him as the candidate of his party. Despite the initial opposition within the party, Baba Adebanjo and other young party members opted for open party primaries, helping Tinubu to emerge as the candidate. Tinubu went on to win the governorship election and was inaugurated on May 29, 1999.

Grateful for the support, Asiwaju maintained a strong relationship with Baba Adebanjo. Even when their political paths diverged, Tinubu held Baba in high regard. The President said this much in his incisive tribute to Pa Adebanjo, which I quote in part thus:
“In moments of national crisis, Baba’s courage shone brightest. When democracy hung in the balance after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, he joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) as one of the leading voices against military dictatorship, helping to galvanise a movement that became the bedrock of our collective struggle to reclaim democratic governance.

“His unwavering commitment to truth and justice extended to my journey as a governorship candidate in 1999. Baba Adebanjo’s steadfast support was instrumental in my election as Governor of Lagos State under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.

“Though our political paths diverged in later years, my respect and admiration for him never wavered. Until his death, I shared a deep personal bond with Baba Adebanjo; he was like a father figure.”

Many in Tinubu’s position might have taken issue with Baba, who sometimes openly criticised him. But not Asíwájú. As an Omoluabi—a person of good character—Tinubu respects elders and institutions, giving honour where it’s due.

How do I know President Tinubu highly regarded Baba Adebanjo? As a journalist and editor, I was well-known to Baba Adebanjo. I interacted with and interviewed him on many occasions during my active years in journalism. So when I became Asiwaju’s Media Adviser, I became the envoy of sorts, the message-bearer for both. Baba Adebanjo would telephone me, saying, “Rahman, Rahman, so fun Oga e pe mo fe ri. To ba wu yin ke wa, to ba wu yin ke ma wa. Tie na la fe so fun,” meaning “Tell your Principal I would like to see him. If he likes, let him honour my invitation. It’s to his benefit if he comes.”

We visited Baba at his residence in Lekki, Lagos, several times. On other occasions, Baba called at Bourdillon, the Ikoyi residence of Asiwaju, along with his entourage.

There is, however, a hilarious and instructive story about the two, which speaks to the admiration and high regard President Tinubu had for Baba, which essentially is the focus of this article. It was during the 90th birthday of Baba Adebanjo, sometime in April 2018. I remember vividly that that particular birthday fell on a Sunday. But a birthday colloquium came up on a Thursday, three days before the actual birthday. We had lodged in our dairy for Asiwaju, the birthday lecture, as well as other activities and events lined up to celebrate the distinguished elder statesman. While focusing on the birthday date, I forgot the preceding Thursday event at Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Luckily for me, around 9am that Thursday, the traditional ruler of Oke-Ila in Osun State, Oba Dokun Abolarin, telephoned me, saying he was in Lagos and asking if Asiwaju was coming for the birthday lecture. Knowing I had failed to alert Asiwaju about the lecture the previous night, I smelled trouble.

I immediately raced to Bourdillion in Ikoyi. When I went upstairs to see Asiwaju, he was reading newspapers, oblivious of any early morning engagement that day, particularly that of Baba Adebanjo. I informed him about the event and apologised that I had my mind set on the birthday date on Sunday. The lecture was slated for 10 am, and time was already 10 am. Asiwaju, livid, sprung to his feet. By this time, my colleague Ademola Oshodi had joined me in Asiwaju’s room. Without any prompting, we prostrated and apologised again.

Those close to President Tinubu know he is a very proficient politician in Yoruba as he is in English, complete with street lingo. Still seething in anger, Asiwaju said in Yoruba, “Hen hen, idobale yin yen ni emi ma te’ bati. Ma de ibi lecture, won a ma so pe mo moo mo pe de ni ki nba le da ijoko won ru,” meaning, “So it’s this your prostrating that will now count. I will get to the event now, and they will allege that I deliberately came late so I can cause a stir and disrupt the lecture.”

Somehow, Asiwaju quickly prepared to attend despite our tight schedule as we were meant to travel to Abuja that same day. We got to the occasion around noon after the program had been on for about two hours. One important personality I could not readily remember was on the podium.
Though we arrived late, Tinubu’s presence stirred excitement, and he delivered a heartfelt speech.

As President Tinubu predicted, his arrival caused a big stir and a temporary halt in the programme. As we made to leave, another commotion that did not subside even after our departure ensued. I suspect Asíwájú’s departure might have signaled the virtual end of the program.

That was not the end of the story, though. A couple of days later, I heard Uncle Jimi Disu, a known Asiwaju critic, on his regular programme then on Classic FM, talking about Baba Adebanjo’s birthday lecture, alleging that Asíwájú ‘sauntered’ into the programme uninvited and disrupted the birthday lecture of the nonagenarian. I could not believe my ears. I went on that program afterward to debunk what he said. I narrated what happened, that Asiwaju had tremendous respect for Baba and that he would have avoided the kind of situation that played out if I had briefed him of the timing of the programme.

This incident underscores the critical role of aides in supporting leaders to function effectively. Aides must guide them accurately, as their actions and inactions can significantly impact leadership outcomes. An oversight on my part unintentionally fueled what would have resulted in animus between Baba Adebanjo and Tinubu.

-Rahman is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media, Publicity and Special Duties.

Opinions

Between Japan’s Kaizen philosophy and Nigeria’s National Values Charter

Published

1 month ago

January 31, 2025

Seyi Babalola

By Temitope Ajayi

Two days after DeepSeek took the world by surprise, a Financial Times report warned that the West should be worried by how China appears to be leading the Artificial Intelligence race.

Financial Times says the emergence of DeepSeek from the shadows, catching the West unawares, is a strong indication that China has mastered the art of ‘Kaizen’.

I recall that my first encounter with Kaizen, the philosophy that underpins the rise of Japan as the Asian economic powerhouse, is about 10 years now.

Societies like China, Japan, and South Korea that anchor their development models on their culture and value systems continue to break new grounds and are far ahead in innovation and human advancement.

At the heart of Japan’s success, especially in the manufacturing and service sectors, is the work ethics that are firmly rooted in the Kaizen philosophy. ‘Kaizen’ is a Japanese word that means continuous improvement or change for the better. The quest for excellence and attention to detail have been weaved into the social and moral fabrics of Japanese society as a matter of obligation.

It is this philosophy and social imperative that the Japanese take into product designs and execution. It is, therefore, not surprising that the world sees continuous improvement in every new edition of Japanese products like Toyota automobiles.

The concept of Kaizen became popular in the United States by the 1980s when it was discovered that the performance of Japanese companies was much better than their American counterparts. It became apparent that the difference between Japanese and American companies in terms of effectiveness and operational efficiency was the application of the Kaizen principle.

Kaizen philosophy is similar to the Yoruba Omoluabi ethos. Every major ethnic group and subculture in Nigeria and Africa has its own equivalent of such value systems.

We can only imagine our pace of development and progress as a country if we develop a national value system around the virtues of excellence, honour, and integrity. This means our workmen and women will pursue excellence as second nature in everything. Politicians will embrace public service as a matter of honour, and citizens will accept integrity as an article of faith in undertakings.

Our society is hemorrhaging as a result of value degradation. It is heartbreaking how badly we have drifted because we neglected our cultural values and practices that served as the guiding principles of society.

It is the responsibility of leaders at all levels to direct society to embrace enduring values that edify and promote human development. I believe we can still recover lost grounds. This is why the efforts being made by the Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu-led National Orientation Agency to re-ignite a new wave of consciousness through the National Values Charter should be appreciated and promoted. The values charter has already been approved by the Federal Executive Council. President Bola Tinubu is leading this renewed effort to push value re-orientation to the forefront of public policy and national development agenda.

-Ajayi is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity

Opinions

Tinubu’s quest to overcome the power sector gridlock

Published

2 months ago

January 20, 2025

Seyi Babalola

By Temitope Ajayi

Angered by the appalling situation of Nigeria’s electricity supply sector over several decades of doing the wrong things by successive governments with no remedy in sight, even after hundreds of billions of public funds had been expended, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 chose a different path that had worked in other jurisdictions.

He reached out to the then German Chancellor Angela Merkel to help solve the protracted power gridlock in Nigeria. The discussion between the two leaders gave birth to the FG-Siemens Energy AG Presidential Power Initiative in 2019. Under the terms of the agreement of the Nigerian Electrification Roadmap, Siemens Energy would ramp up electricity generation in Nigeria to 25,000 megawatt in six years, in three phases, from an average of 4000 megawatts the country had been stuck with for decades.

President Buhari was quite bullish about the project such that he put it under the direct supervision of his office with his Chief of Staff, late Abba Kyari, as the directing officer. The former president who didn’t want the project to be derailed by bureaucratic bottlenecks and red-tape made sure all man-made obstacles and deliberate obstructions were bulldozed with Abba Kyari in charge.

The unfortunate demise of Kyari in 2020 arising from Covid-19 while in Germany to get the power project underway rolled back the speedy implementation of what would have been a game-changer in Nigeria’s elusive quest for a stable and reliable power supply. Nigeria’s economy had been blighted by years of poor electricity supply. From available records, Federal Government has spent over $30 billion dollars to revamp the sector in the last three decades without any substantial progress. The economy is run on generators with Nigerians spending a staggering $10billion dollars (N7.6 trillion) annually on petrol and diesel to run their generators including the cost of maintenance, according to a 2024 report, “Beyond Gensets: Advancing the energy transition in Lagos State” published by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).

True to his campaign promise to build on the achievements of his predecessor across all sectors and improve on governance performance in areas where it is required, President Tinubu, in demonstration of his unshaken believe in continuity of governance, took on the FG-Siemens Power Project as part of his priority projects in the energy sector.

It is necessary to state that this all-important power project had suffered undue delays since July, 29, 2020 when the Federal Executive Council approved the payment of €15.21m and N1.708bn as part of Nigeria’s counterpart funding for the offshore and onshore components of the project.

Managing Director, Siemens Energy Nigeria, Seun Suleiman, was quoted as saying then that, “Siemens Energy is committed to working with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the FGNPowerCo to see a successful implementation of the presidential power initiative. We have successfully carried out a similar project in Egypt.

“This project will transform the energy landscape of the country, and we are grateful the government has entrusted us with this notable initiative. We are capable, and we will deliver excellent results.”

In 2021, FGN Power Company, the Special Purpose Vehicle established by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the implementation of the PPI, announced the commencement of the grid network studies and power simulation training for technical experts in the Discos, TCN, NAPTIN and NERC, including provision of specialized power simulation softwares for TCN, NERC and all Discos. By December 2024, more than 100 experts across the sector have been trained on power systems simulation and network planning with skills to better manage the grid operations at various levels.
In the same year 2021, the Federal Executive Council approved the contract for the supply of 10 mobile substations and 10 power transformers by Siemens Energy for quick reinforcement of the grid as part of the pilot Phase of the project. Reports by FGN Power Company indicate that all the equipment have since been supplied and installed across the country.

However, the overall pace of the project delivery in terms of meeting timelines has not been impressive.

On assumption of office, President Tinubu saw the need to continue with the project and how timely delivery can transform the power sector for a country that desperately needs a reliable power supply for industrialisation and grow its economy. The status of the project came up at a bilateral meeting between President Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the latter’s working visit to Nigeria in August 2024 in Abuja. At a follow-up engagement in Dubai in December 2024 during COP28, the Nigerian Government and Siemens Energy AG signed an accelerated performance agreement aimed at expediting the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) to improve electricity supply in Nigeria. The agreement that was signed by Kenny Anuwe, Managing Director/CEO of FGN Power Company and Ms. Nadja Haakansson, Siemens Energy’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Africa, was witnessed by President Tinubu and Chancellor Scholz.

Under the accelerated performance agreement, Siemens Energy will see to the end-to-end modernization and expansion of Nigeria’s electric power transmission grid with the full supply, delivery, and installation of Siemens-manufactured equipment.

Furthermore, the agreement will ensure project sustainability and maintenance with full technology transfer and training for Nigerian engineers at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

In a major demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to the power project and a positive shift towards execution, the President led the Federal Executive Council on December 16, 2024 to approve €161.3 million Euros for the execution of the contracts in the first batch of the Phase one of the projects across the country following earlier approval of the transaction by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Addressing journalists after the FEC approval, an enthusiastic Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, with the renewed vigour to deliver on the project said, “at the Federal Executive Council meeting, there were basically two approvals for the Federal Ministry of Power, as I presented. The first was actually an approval for the award of contract for engineering, procurement, construction and financing for the implementation of the 331 32 KV And 132 33 KV substations upgrade under Phase One of the Presidential Initiative, popularly known as the Siemens project consequent upon completion of the pilot phase of this project.

“So, the Federal Executive Council considered it necessary for us to move forward as promised by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at a meeting he held with the President of the Republic of Germany.”

The latest FEC approved scope of work includes upgrade of TCN substations in five locations of Abeokuta (330/132/33kV), Ayede (330/132/33kV), Offa (132/33kV), Onitsha (330/132/33kV) and Sokoto (132/33kV). These substations were carefully selected as Batch 1 of the brownfield scope of the Phase 1 projects to increase the wheeling capacity of the transmission network grid.

In the same vein, FGN Power Company will implement assets upgrade and enhancement in the distribution networks, in collaboration with the Distribution Companies (Discos) to ensure last-mile delivery of the evacuated power to industrial customers and residential consumers. These locations are load centres that are currently underserved and require swift enhancements. The execution of the project will be fast tracked and completed under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

It’s important to state that the FGN Power Company has started working on other priority brownfield and Greenfield projects in target load centres across the country. Special attention is also being paid to the execution of systems and products to enhance grid resilience and stability to reduce the frequent occurrences of grid disturbances.

In December 2024, Minister of Power Adelabu commissioned the mobile substation in Saapade, a suburb of Shagamu in Ogun State. This has enhanced power evacuation and delivery to industrial customers within the Shagamu hub. Similarly, another mobile substation was commissioned at the Ajibode area of the University of Ibadan to enhance power delivery to the university community and adjoining areas. Before then, mobile substations and power transformers have been commissioned and energized in Ajah Lagos, Mando Kano, Jebba Kwara State, Okene Kogi, Amukpe Delta, Potiskum Yobe, Apo Abuja and Ihovbor Edo.

While the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative is going on, President Tinubu has equally inaugurated the Presidential Metering Initiative, which aims to increase the rate of smart metering of all customers in a commercially sustainable manner. The roll out of the metering solutions has started. It is expected that the combined impact of assets upgrade through Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and metering through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), coupled with efforts of subnational electricity markets will bring lasting solutions to the challenges of electricity supply in Nigeria.

With President Tinubu’s committed leadership, the parlous state of the power sector will be reversed, and Nigerians and the economy will experience a new lease of life with reliable electricity supply that will geometrically increase productive activities. Indeed, the president’s strategic approach to resolving the multifaceted challenges in the power sector is yielding visible results. The restructuring of the tariff regime, intervention in the commercial imbroglio on gas supply, additional investments in infrastructure through PPI, enactment of the new Electricity Act which provides legal framework for further decentralisation of the sector and devolution of more responsibilities to the subnational governments, are all part of the renewed hope agenda for the power sector to bring sustainable solutions.

-Ajayi is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity