TCN begins second phase of compensation for 330KV Double Circuit Mando–Rimin Zakara Transmission Line

 

By Okey Muobgo

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said it has commenced the second phase of compensation for Project Affected Persons (PAPs) impacted by the 330kV Double Circuit QUAD Conductor Mando–Rimin Zakara Transmission Line Project.

A statement by the General Manager (GM), Public Affairs of the Company, Ndidi Mbah on Sunday stated that the exercise began on Thursday, 7th May 2026, in Shika, Zaria, with over 2,000 claimants receiving compensation.

“In line with its standard operational procedures, TCN prioritises the clearing of the Right of Way (RoW) before the commencement of any transmission project. This step ensures safety, protects infrastructure integrity, and enables seamless project execution.

 

“Speaking during the exercise, the Project Manager, Engr. Omobola Odusoga Sobo, stated that 5,500 Project Affected Persons were enumerated for compensation along the Mando–Rimin Zakara transmission corridor, with the second phase covering approximately 2,000 PAPs.

 

She commended district heads and community leaders for their cooperation in sensitising community members on the importance of the project and the compensation exercise. She also acknowledged the support of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, and the African Development Bank toward the successful implementation of the process.

 

In his remarks, the District Head of Rigasa, Arc. Muhammed Aminu Idris, noted that while achieving 100 percent satisfaction may not always be possible, TCN had remained transparent and collaborative by engaging community leaders and members throughout the project. He expressed optimism that the project would improve power supply and stimulate socio-economic development across the affected communities.

 

The exercise commenced with a screening and verification phase, during which affected persons presented original documents for authentication prior to payment. The process was designed to ensure that all legitimate claimants were properly identified and duly compensated, in line with TCN’s commitment to accountability and due process.

 

Beneficiaries commended TCN for the transparent conduct of the exercise. Mallam Lawal Abubakar thanked TCN for the initiative, Shehu Muhammad expressed appreciation for the compensation and pledged continued community support and cooperation, and Muhammad Lawal commended the process.

 

The transmission line will run from the Mando Transmission Substation in Kaduna State to the Rimin Zakara Transmission Substation in Kano State, with a Turn-In Turn-Out (TITO) connection at the new 2x150MVA 330/132/33kV substation in Jaja, Zaria.

 

The project is being implemented with support from the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Development Bank. It is one of the major transmission reinforcement projects in Northern Nigeria, connecting critical load centres across the Kaduna, Zaria, and Kano industrial corridors.

 

The project is also part of broader efforts to expand Nigeria’s transmission wheeling capacity and improve grid reliability and redundancy nationwide. Sunrisereporters.

2027: NDC ready to provide credible alternative for Nigerians-Party Chairman

 

National Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Sen. Moses Cleopas, has said that the party is positioning itself to provide credible leadership and responsible opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the party’s inaugural national convention held on Saturday, Cleopas said the NDC was founded on the principles of justice, inclusion, accountability and national development.

 

According to him, the convention marked a major milestone in the democratic journey of the party and its supporters across the country.

 

“Today we gather not merely to hold a convention, but to write a new chapter in the democratic history of our dear nation, Nigeria,” he said.

 

Cleopas noted that the party’s registration in Feb. came after years of struggle, sacrifice and persistence by members committed to democratic participation and political inclusion.

 

“For years, our leaders and members endured administrative bottlenecks, institutional delays and political frustrations, yet we refused to surrender,” he stated.

 

He described the eventual registration of the NDC as “a victory for constitutional democracy and the Nigerian people.”

 

The NDC chairman expressed concern over the current state of the nation, citing economic hardship, unemployment, inflation and insecurity as major challenges confronting citizens.

 

“Nigeria stands today at a very critical crossroads.

 

“Millions of Nigerians can no longer afford to provide for their families. Small businesses continue to collapse under severe economic pressures,” Cleopas said.

 

He also lamented worsening insecurity in rural communities, saying that many farmers were unable to return to their farms due to fear of attacks.

 

Cleopas maintained that opposition politics must focus on offering practical solutions rather than engaging in criticism alone.

 

“True opposition must provide ideas, direction, accountability and credible alternatives for national progress,” he said.

 

He added that the party remained committed to “issue-based politics, constructive engagement and people-oriented governance.”

 

The chairman further stated that the NDC would prioritise youth empowerment, women inclusion, institutional reforms and economic productivity if given the opportunity to lead.

 

“Our mission is clear; to promote governance founded on integrity, competence and inclusiveness,” he said.

 

Cleopas urged Nigerians, especially young people, not to lose faith in the democratic process.

 

“To our youths, I say your future matters, your voice matters and your participation matters. Do not abandon the democratic process,” he said.

 

The national chairman also called on party members and delegates to remain united and committed to internal democracy.

 

“Differences of opinion are natural in democratic organisations, but we must always rise above personal ambition for collective national progress,” he added.

 

Reaffirming the party’s vision, Cleopas said the NDC was determined to restore hope and rebuild trust in governance across the country.

 

“Together, we shall build a stronger party. Together, we shall build a better democracy. Together, we shall build a better Nigeria,” he said.

NAN

EFCC declares Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq wanted over alleged diversion of public funds

 

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged abuse of office and diversion of public funds.

The anti-graft agency announced the development in a notice published on its official website on Friday, intensifying the legal troubles surrounding the former minister who served under late President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the EFCC, Farouq, 52, an indigene of Zamfara State, is wanted in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged financial misconduct during her tenure as minister.

The commission disclosed that her last known address is EN008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja, and urged members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide.City & Local Guides

“The public is hereby notified that Sadiya Umar Farouq is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of abuse of office and diversion of public funds,” the notice stated.

The EFCC also provided contact telephone numbers and communication channels through which information leading to her arrest could be supplied.

Farouq was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development in July 2019 and became one of the youngest members of Buhari’s cabinet. During her tenure, the ministry supervised several major social intervention programmes, including the controversial National Social Investment Programme.

Her declaration as wanted comes weeks after a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, reportedly issued a warrant for her arrest on April 16, 2026.

The latest move by the EFCC signals a fresh escalation in the anti-corruption agency’s crackdown on alleged financial infractions involving former public officials. Newsmakerlive.

Ideato Peoples Assembly urges IGP to investigate political thuggery in Ideato

 

 

A non-partisan socio-cultural group, Ideato Peoples Assembly (IPA), has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu to immediately investigate the recent attack on a political rally organized by Hon Ikenga Ugocninyere in Ntueke town, Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo state.

Hon Ugochinyere, a current member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato Federal Constituency had his rally disrupted by thugs bearing dangerous arms who wounded many people at the rally.

IPA in a strongly worded statement released on Sunday also urged both Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state and President Bola Tinubu to protect the right of every Nigerian to free assembly as provided for in the constitution of Nigeria.

The statement, signed by Dr Vin Igwilo President General and Tochi Ejiofor, Secretary General of IPA said: “The Ideato Peoples Assembly (IPA), Abuja — an apolitical, socio-cultural organization — rises with one voice to condemn in the strongest possible terms the shameful and barbaric attacks on a political rally held at Ntueke, Ideato South Local Government Area, on 27th April 2026.

“For this reason, we call on the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma to guarantee every Imo citizen a safe and conducive environment to exercise their democratic rights without fear.

“We equally call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to urgently call all relevant parties to order, and also the Inspector General of Police, to investigate the Ntueke incident and ensure full accountability

“That a peaceful gathering of our people — men, women, and youth — was violently disrupted by suspected sponsored thugs, with tear gas fired and live ammunition discharged on unarmed citizens, is a deeply troubling assault on democracy, humanity, and the soul of Ideato Nation.”

Analysing the attack further, IPA said that what happened at Ntueke is not politics but criminality dressed in political clothing insisting that the right to peaceful assembly and association is not a favour granted by any government but a fundamental right, constitutionally guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“No individual, group, or government holds the authority to violate that right through intimidation, violence, or the deployment of armed thugs against innocent citizens.

“The Ideato Peoples Assembly is unwaveringly aligned with the Ideato people. The victims of the Ntueke attacks are our people. Their pain is our pain. Their rights are our sacred responsibility”, group insisted.

According to the statement, “Silence in the face of such injustice would be a betrayal of everything this Assembly stands for.

“A government that cannot guarantee security of life and properties to its own citizens has forfeited its moral authority to govern.

“To all political actors in Ideato Nation, we issue this solemn charge: pursue your ambitions with ideas, integrity, and respect for the people — not with thugs, bullets, and bitterness. No seat is worth the blood of our people,” IPA insisted.

 

Below is the full text of the IPA Statement:

POLITICS WITHOUT BITTERNESS AND THUGGERY: IDEATO PEOPLES ASSEMBLY ABUJA CONDEMNS THE VIOLENT ATTACKS ON HON. UGOCHINYERE AND CALLS FOR THE RESPECT OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

 

The Ideato Peoples Assembly (IPA), Abuja — an apolitical, socio-cultural organization — rises with one voice to condemn in the strongest possible terms the shameful and barbaric attacks on a political rally held at Ntueke, Ideato South Local Government Area, on 27th April 2026. That a peaceful gathering of our people — men, women, and youth — was violently disrupted by suspected sponsored thugs, with tear gas fired and live ammunition discharged on unarmed citizens, is a deeply troubling assault on democracy, humanity, and the soul of Ideato Nation. This is not politics. This is criminality dressed in political clothing. Let the record be clear: the right to peaceful assembly and association is not a favour granted by any government — it is a fundamental right, constitutionally guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). No individual, group, or government holds the authority to violate that right through intimidation, violence, or the deployment of armed thugs against innocent citizens. Those who do so place themselves in direct conflict with the law, with democracy, and with the conscience of our people. The Ideato Peoples Assembly is unwaveringly aligned with the Ideato people. The victims of the Ntueke attacks are our people. Their pain is our pain. Their rights are our sacred responsibility. Silence in the face of such injustice would be a betrayal of everything this Assembly stands for. A government that cannot guarantee security of life and properties to its own citizens has forfeited its moral authority to govern. For this reason, we call on the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma to guarantee every Imo citizen a safe and conducive environment to exercise their democratic rights without fear. We equally call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to urgently call all relevant parties to order, and also the Inspector General of Police, to investigate the Ntueke incident and ensure full accountability. To our people — at home and in the diaspora — we say: remain calm, remain united, and remain resolute. Truth and justice have never lost their footing permanently. To all political actors in Ideato Nation, we issue this solemn charge: pursue your ambitions with ideas, integrity, and respect for the people — not with thugs, bullets, and bitterness. No seat is worth the blood of our people. Ideato must be better than this.

 

SIGNED:

Dr. Vin Igwilo President General (IPA Abuja)

Tochi Ejiofor (MP) Secretary General (IPA Abuja)

Beneficiaries of Democracy now bent on destroying it -Peter Obi

 

By Okey Muogbo

Frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi has lamented that those who benefitted from Democracy in the past are now bent on destroying it.

Obi stated this in his speech at the first National Convention of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC on Saturday 9, May in 2026 in Abuja.

 

Said he, “Today, the most painful aspect of our political existence is that many who once benefited from democratic governance have now become willing accessories to the destruction of democracy itself.

“Those who once fought for justice now openly celebrate electoral injustice. Those who once spoke against impunity now defend coercion, manipulation, intimidation, and outright political gangsterism, especially against opposition voices.

“What we are witnessing is not politics; it is a systematic assault on democracy and the will of the people.”

 

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party further lamented that: “Nigeria today stands at a dangerous crossroads.

“Our democracy is under severe threat. Our nation is drifting without direction, and our people are passing through immense suffering.

“Across the world, Nigeria is increasingly described as a failing and disgraced nation. This is not the destiny God ordained for our great country. It was not always so, and it must never be allowed to remain so.

 

“Across virtually every recognised indicator of good governance – accountability, political stability, rule of law, control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and the separation of powers – Nigeria continues to record alarming failures.

“The institutions that should protect the people are weakening daily, while the burden on ordinary citizens grows heavier with each passing moment.”

 

Giving details of the poor situation of majority of Nigerians, the former Governor of Anambra state said: “Today, over 140 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.

“Tens of millions of young people remain unemployed or underemployed. Inflation continues to crush families. Businesses are shutting down.

“Farmers can no longer safely access their farms. Communities live in fear. In this month alone, hundreds of innocent Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity, while many others have been kidnapped, displaced, or thrown deeper into poverty.”

 

He also said that: “The most heartbreaking question confronting us is this: Who consoles the grieving mother whose child was abducted on the way to school?

“Who speaks for the father who can no longer feed his family despite working every day? Who defends the young Nigerian whose dreams have been destroyed by a nation that rewards connections over competence and corruption over character?

 

“Our present tragedy is not accidental. It is the direct consequence of years of deliberate sabotage by a political class that prospers by dividing the people and weakening the nation. Nigeria is not a poor country; rather, we are being looted into poverty.

“We have abundant human and natural resources, yet we remain trapped in deprivation because leadership has failed to place the common good above personal interest.”

 

The frontline presidential aspirant urged Nigerians to take a stand on how to remedy their misfortune.

“Our choice as a people is therefore clear: whether to surrender to despair and national decline, or to summon the courage to rescue our country and rebuild it on the foundations of unity, equity,  justice, competence, and productivity.

 

“Where we are, national unity is no longer optional; it is a national necessity. We must rise above ethnicity, religion, region, and political divisions to recover the soul of our nation.

 

“With unity and effective leadership, Nigeria can become a productive and prosperous nation once again.

“We must deliberately support agriculture and manufacturing so they become the highest contributors to our Gross Domestic Product.

“Special strategic attention must be given to unlocking the enormous agricultural potential of Northern Nigeria and connecting it to industrial production across the federation. We must move decisively from a nation of consumption to a nation of production,” warning that: “We can no longer afford policies that foreclose our youth.

“With competent, compassionate and transformative leadership, we can defeat insecurity, reduce corruption, create jobs, tame inflation, improve education, and restore hope to millions of Nigerians.

“I remain convinced that a new Nigeria is possible, a Nigeria that is united, secure, productive, inclusive, and governed by justice and fairness,” he insisted

2027: NDC zones Presidency to South for four-year single term

 

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has zoned its presidential ticket for 2027 to the South.

The decision was approved via a motion by Rep. Afam Victor Ogene of Anambra’s Ogbaru federal constituency.

Delegates at the national convention of the Party in Abuja on Saturday adopted the motion without dissent.

 

After the South’s four years term which ends in 2031, the presidency automatically shifts back to the North.

NDC’s zoning formula represents an assurance to the weary North which is not ready for any arrangement that will not allow it regain the presidency latest by 2031.

It would also be a concrete attempt to wrestle power from the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who is the sole candidate of the APC for next January presidential election.

 

For Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), the resolution  presents him the best opportunity to pick the NDC ticket.

Though Obi is the most visible southern presidential aspirant now, other southern politicians have the same green light to purchase and process nomination forms too.

Robbery attack: TCN declares “Force Majeure” on Offa 132kV Transmission Station

 

 

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Osogbo Region, has declared force majeure on its Offa 132kV Transmission Substation following a robbery incident at the facility.

 

Force majeure, a French term translates to superior force or superior power or uncontrollable events that prevent fulfilling contractual obligations such as accident, armed robbery attack, war, natural disasters, etc.

According to a statement by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager (GM), Public Affairs, the station was invaded by heavily armed men who forcefully gained access to the control room and held all personnel on duty hostage at gunpoint.

The attackers, the statement further said, ordered the operator on duty to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, 7th May 2026.

The hoodlums further demanded a total shutdown of the substation and that during the incident, control switches and relay buttons were tampered with, and the 40MVA transformer was opened at approximately 1:07 a.m., Mbah’s statement said.

“After the operation, the 40MVA transformer was restored at 1:13 a.m., the Offa 33kV feeder was restored at 1:14 a.m., and the Ojoku 33kV feeder was restored at 2:15 a.m.

“TCN regrets the inconvenience this incident may have caused and reaffirms its mandate to transmit bulk electricity efficiently to distribution companies’ load centres across the country”, the TCN statement concluded. Authority.

 

Inflation: Why oil prices decline may not ease Nigerians’ hardship – Experts

 

Nigeria’s inflation rate may remain stubbornly high in the coming months even if global oil prices begin to decline, as structural rigidities, exchange rate pressures, and what economists describe as “price stickiness” continue to limit the speed at which costs adjust downward across the economy.

 

Brent crude had hit a peak of over $125 per barrel early April as the U.S.-Iran war escalated. However, as of May 8, 2026, Brent crude is trading around $101–$102 per barrel as discussions continue between the warring parties.

 

Analysts say that even if tensions ease and crude oil prices eventually decline, Nigerians may not immediately feel relief because prices of goods and services in the economy tend to adjust upward rapidly but decline very slowly.

The development poses another threat to household purchasing power as prolonged inflation continues to erode real incomes and deepen economic hardship across the country.

 

What they are saying

The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said Nigeria’s highly unionized and structurally rigid market environment contributes significantly to persistent inflation.

 

According to him, businesses are often reluctant to reduce prices once consumers have adjusted to higher costs.

 

“Since businesses operate for profit maximization, and there are hardly stiff competitions in highly unionized economies, businesses are reluctant to reduce the prices of goods and services when the initial cause of the inflation, usually the cost of energy, falls,” Yusuf said.

He noted that oil prices are only one component of the inflation equation.

 

“If the naira remains weak, or if distribution costs remain high, the effect of lower crude prices on inflation will be inadequate,” he added.

Yusuf also pointed to monopolistic market structures and the pricing of essential goods as reasons many businesses resist reducing prices even when economic variables improve.

 

A development economist at Adeleke University, Professor Tayo Bello, said Nigerians should not expect a direct or immediate drop in prices even if crude oil prices retreat significantly.

 

“Prices in Nigeria are downward sticky; they rise quickly when costs increase, but adjust slowly when those costs decline,” Bello stated.

He added that inflation expectations have become deeply embedded in the economy after years of persistent price increases.

 

Also commenting, economist at CashLinks, Paul Olaleye, said businesses are contending with several layers of operational costs beyond fuel prices alone.

 

“Even if one cost, like fuel drops, others remain high, making it difficult for firms to reduce prices,” he explained.

Olaleye said businesses are still burdened by elevated energy costs, insecurity, transportation expenses, rent, and exchange rate volatility.

 

According to him, prolonged inflation has also forced many firms to build future cost increases into current pricing decisions as a hedge against uncertainty.

 

More insights

A financial economist at Auchi Polytechnic, Zakari Mohammed, said companies also face operational and administrative costs whenever they attempt to reduce prices.

 

“Fine-tuning prices, especially downward, comes with managerial and operating costs such as relabeling, system updates, and renegotiating contracts. Many firms avoid frequent price changes unless absolutely necessary,” he said.

Mohammed added that Nigeria’s large informal sector further slows price adjustments.

 

“Pricing is less transparent and often arbitrary in the informal economy, making downward price adjustments slower and inconsistent,” he noted.

“Once consumers adjust to higher prices, businesses are less incentivized to reduce them, especially if demand remains relatively stable.” Nairametrics.

Defamation is not a crime’ — NBA warns against abuse of police powers

 

 

Nigerian Bar Association has raised alarm over what it describes as the increasing misuse of criminal law in matters that should ordinarily remain within the realm of civil litigation, warning that the trend threatens constitutional freedoms and undermines the justice system. Following its National Executive Council meeting in Awka, Anambra State, NBA expressed concern over the growing practice of using police powers to settle disputes involving defamation, reputational injury and social media publications.

 

The association’s reaction comes amid reports that some individuals were arrested over viral social media claims alleging that businessman and United Bank for Africa chairman, Tony Elumelu, had divorced his wife. UBA Group had denied the reports, describing the publication as false and defamatory while confirming that arrests had been made in connection with the incident.

 

In a statement released after the meeting, NBA said it had observed a disturbing pattern in which law enforcement agencies were increasingly being drawn into disputes that should be resolved through civil legal procedures rather than criminal prosecution. According to the association, while defamatory publications may expose individuals to legal consequences, the proper remedy under the law remains civil defamation proceedings and not arrest, detention or criminal charges.

 

NBA stressed that the criminalisation of civil disputes poses a direct threat to fundamental constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, personal liberty and fair hearing. It warned that the use of police powers in such cases could create a chilling effect on lawful public discourse and discourage citizens from expressing opinions or engaging in open conversations online.

 

The association further called on law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and ensure that criminal procedures are not improperly invoked in matters that do not constitute recognised criminal offences under Nigerian law. It also demanded the immediate release of individuals arrested solely in connection with publications where no lawful criminal offence has been established.

 

The debate has intensified in recent years over the growing use of the Cybercrimes Act against journalists, critics and social media users accused of spreading false information or damaging reputations online. Civil rights advocates and legal experts have repeatedly argued that many of these disputes are better handled through civil litigation rather than criminal prosecution, warning that continued abuse of such laws could weaken democratic freedoms and public trust in law enforcement institutions.

The NBA’s warning comes amid growing controversy over the use of police powers and cybercrime laws in disputes involving online publications and alleged defamation. Recall that in May 2024, investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism was detained by police over a report linked to alleged financial misconduct involving a government official, triggering widespread criticism from media and civil rights groups. Also In August 2022, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore faced renewed police scrutiny over comments made online, while several bloggers across different states were arrested under cybercrime-related allegations tied to defamation and “false publication.”  Legal experts and rights advocates argue that such disputes are increasingly being criminalised through the use of police powers and provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, even though defamation and reputational injury are traditionally civil matters meant for the courts rather than arrest and detention. Newsscroll.

Health engine of national progress – Obi, gets Bishop’s pledge of prayer-support

 

 

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has continued to underscore the importance of health as a development catalyst for any progressive nation.

 

Obi, who visited the Anglican Church Hospital in Kubwa, Abuja, on Friday, said that when health and education are positioned as the engines of national progress, it creates a feedback loop that accelerates economic growth, social stability, and human capital.

 

According to Obi, health is the foundational layer of human capital. Without physical and mental well-being, investments in education and infrastructure yield diminishing returns.

Obi said that a healthy child learns more effectively, leading to a more skilled future workforce. Obi donated N10m to support the development of the hospital.

 

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the hospital, the Anglican Bishop of Kubwa, Rt. Rev. Duke T. Akamisoko, commended Mr Obi for his spirit of charity which he is doing all over Nigeria.

 

The bishop said that the Church will follow him with prayers in his political pursuit since Nigeria will be well in his hands.

 

Obi also visited the hospital clinic and commiserated with some patients.