Category: News

In yet another pacesetting move, the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah has approved the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan, ESCPAP, making it the first subnational government in Nigeria to adopt a long-term climate strategy that incorporates emissions modeling, microenergy audits, and extensive stakeholder engagement.

In the same vein, the State Executive Council has also approved the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification (OGE) Policy Strategy Plan to expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities, leveraging distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.

The approvals were announced by the Secretary to State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, at the end of the State Executive Council meeting at the weekend.

Briefing newsmen alongside the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu and the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Uramah, Prof. Onyia said ESCPAP underscored Mbah Administration’s commitment to balancing economic transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and climate resilience, ensuring that key sectors such as agriculture, energy, and natural resources were climate-resilient and future-proofed against environmental challenges.

The ESCPAP, according to the government, represents a pioneering effort to facilitate clean energy development, stimulate job creation, and foster green technology advancements.

“We do recall that Enugu State had started this policy design in the past eight months, and finally, after the surveys and after crunching the numbers from various instruments we used, we have come up with a policy and action plan.

“This action plan will help us enhance economic growth. This is very important for us in job creation, and we are looking at a situation where we facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060,” he said.

In terms of sustainable economic growth, ESCPAP is projected to drive a 25-fold increase in the state’s GDP by 2060 through investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology.

In terms of energy transition, the state, going by the policy, targets 80 per cent renewable energy usage by 2060, with a 60 per cent emissions reduction in the transport sector and a robust afforestation plan to enhance carbon sequestration.

The comprehensive policy and action plan includes the setting up of an ESCPAP Implementation Committee, comprising representatives from the government, private sector, civil society, and international donor organisations, to ensure effective execution of the policy’s goals as well as the introduction of a climate change curriculum in Enugu’s Smart Green Schools to equip the future generations with knowledge and skills in green innovation.

The Climate Policy and Action Plan, he said ,aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and global climate agreements, thus positioning the state as a key player in the nation’s journey toward a low-carbon, sustainable future.

Also, highlighting the state’s Off-Grid Policy, Onyia said, “This policy is designed to complement the Enugu State Electrification Policy that was passed in 2023 Enugu Electricity Law.

“This provides a framework that would catalyse private sector investment, enhance socio-economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life of Enugu people.

“This policy also recognises the importance of distributed renewable energy solutions such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. These will be the key drivers for electrification in the rural and peri-urban areas.”

All these, according to the government, were in sync with the Mbah Administration’s drive to grow Enugu’s economy to a $30 billion economy by 2031.

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit on January 27-28, 2025.

The Summit, hosted by the government of Tanzania in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, aims to advance ‘‘Mission 300,’’ an initiative to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

In Dar es Salaam, African leaders, private sector leaders, development partners, and civil society groups will strategise to accelerate energy access across the continent.

The Summit will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources to address Africa’s energy challenges.

Discussions will focus on accelerating energy access in underserved regions, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and mobilising private sector investment.

On the first day, at the ministerial level, participating countries, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies, termed compacts, detailing their approaches to achieving universal energy access within five years.

On the second day, Heads of State will endorse the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, outlining a unified roadmap for Africa’s progress towards the Mission 300 objectives.

President Tinubu will deliver a national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving universal access to energy and its leadership role in Africa’s energy sector.

He will also highlight Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and its strategy to drive integrated energy delivery in the continent.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, and other senior government officials will accompany President Tinubu on the trip.

He will return to Abuja after the summit.

…Gov Mbah visits accident scene, expresses sadness, as government takes over treatment of injured victims

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has expressed sadness over an accident involving a fuel tanker along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, claiming 11 lives.

The explosion, which was reported to have occurred around 11:30 am, caused widespread panic and affected another petrol tanker and six other vehicles.

It was not clear how the incident happened but witnesses told reported the explosion occurred when a fuel-laden tanker fell while navigating down the hilly busy expressway.

They described the blast as devastating, saying that the ensuing fire also gutted another truck behind it, leading to the escalation of the fire.

Rescue efforts were hindered by the intensity of the fire, making it difficult for bystanders to access the scene.

Victims reportedly burnt beyond recognition, and were believed to be occupants of the vehicles caught in the inferno. It was gathered that some of the victims were attempting to run away from the scene when they were caught by the fire.

Enugu State governor, who was at the scene of the accident for on-the-spot assessment, said the government had already swung into action to ensure that the victims received full medical attention, while also taking steps to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the federal road that was in disrepair.

Describing the accident as unfortunate, Mbah commiserated with the families of the victims.

He further directed the Federal Road Safety Commission’s Sector Commander, Enugu, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, and the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers conveying inflammable substances in the state have anti-spill lock that will prevent spill in case of accident.

“This is an accident involving a tanker that preliminary investigation show may have had a break failure, fell down, had its product, premium motor spirit spilled from the tank and ignited. So, this is for us a tragedy where we have some casualties.

“But as I said, investigation is still at preliminary stages. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it. We want to get to the root of this for us to understand the true cause of the accident.

“In the meantime, we have moved those that are in need of treatment to the hospitals for full medical attention. My Commissioner for Health and also my Special Adviser on Health, the Chief Medical Director of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH), Parklane, Enugu, the police, and Federal Road Safety Corps are all involved. They have my instruction to ensure that maximum medical attentions were given to the survivors,” the governor stated.

Continuing, he stated, “But we’re also taking quick measures as a government. I have just been speaking the head of the Federal Road Safety Corps to make sure they enforce the rules that prohibit tanker drivers from the road without an anti-spill lock. Tankers conveying premium spirit and inflammable products must have an anti-spill lock to ensure that when these trucks for down, they do not spill. It is very important.

“Also, for us as a government, we are going to be looking at how we can deploy some traffic rules to ensure that we do not have a recurrence of this.

“We are obviously not going to wait for the federal government to fix the other section of the road. We as government are going to take steps to ensure that whatever needs to be done on that section of the federal road is done immediately so we would never want a reoccurrence of this.”

While briefing the governor on some of the preliminary investigation conducted by the FRSC Sector Commander for Enugu explained that the tanker spill was as a result of a brake failure by the fuel tanker.

He added that 11 people lost their lives at the scene, while identified injured road users were rushed to the hospital for treatment and thanked the governor for showing leadership by rushing to the scene and equally undertaking to foot the medical bills.

…as NiDCOM Chairman lauds governor’s investment in infrastructure, security

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has urged the Nigeria diaspora community to consider Enugu as their first choice of investment destination, stressing that his administration has created robust mechanisms to facilitate their investment process and ensure high return on investment.

This was even as the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the governor for his committed investment in the state’s infrastructure and security, noting the huge investment potentials that would benefit diaspora investors.

Mbah made the call on Wednesday in Enugu while delivering his welcome address at a sensitization and advocacy workshop organized by NiDCOM in partnership with Enugu State Government for the promotion of diaspora investment potentials in the Southeast Nigeria.

He recalled the administration’s unwavering commitment to the diaspora community which has already positioned the state as a business-friendly environment through policies such as easy access to land, guaranteed return on investment, transparency and secure environment.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, acknowledged the pivotal role Nigerians in diaspora were playing in the nation’s development through their remittances, expertise, innovation and networks.

“With an estimated $20bn – $25bn sent home annually by Nigerians abroad as estimated by the World Bank, and active participation of this group, the Nigerian diaspora community cannot be ignored. As such, effectively harnessing the support and influence of our diaspora community is crucial for enhancing investment and trade, and securing robust representation in host countries to promote global interconnectedness,” the governor added.

Insisting that the government was open to partner with diaspora investors to explore the untapped potentials of diaspora participation in the southeast, Mbah charged Igbo investors in diaspora to imbibe the spirit of homecoming investment, calling on Nigerians living outside the eastern part of the country to seize the opportunity afforded them to invest in the Southeast zone.

“The Southeast is renowned for its entrepreneurial drive, industrious spirit, a rich history of migration, and a commitment to community development of Ala Igbo. The significant population of Ndigbo in the diaspora presents tremendous opportunities for fostering mutual growth and development across the five states of the Southeast. This workshop should serve as a powerful call to Ndigbo in the diaspora, urging them to look back home and invest not only financially but also socially, to drive the sustainable development of the region,” he further stressed.

While stating that the state government recognized the Igbo in diaspora as key stakeholders in the development agenda to move the state’s GDP from $4.4bn to $30bn, Mbah maintained that investment from diasporans would not only complement the administration’s efforts to fostering inclusive economic growth, but would also improve the quality of life of the citizens.

He added that some of the initiatives that might interest diasporans included the newly established Enugu State Electricity Market, the New Enugu Smart City, the Special Agro-Processing Zones, the recently completed ICT centre, the Enugu Transport Infrastructure Projects, among other projects which cut across agriculture, technology, education, transport, energy and mineral resources.

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Abike-Dabiri called on diaporans to tap into the unlimited resources and opportunities which Nigeria has to offer them through investment in diverse areas of the economy.

“There is no better place to invest than investing in one’s home. Majority of the respected diasporans are from Enugu State and they are doing great globally,” she noted.

While advocating for a diaspora fund to be set up to identify specific areas of investment, the NiDCOM Chairman stressed that every state in Southeast has something to offer to investors with potential high return on investment.

In her welcome remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Olangwa Ezekwu, said the governor had already created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through the special ease of doing business model that encourages investment in the state.

“We are open and ready for investment opportunities and have identified various sectors in education, security, agriculture, tourism, health, mining, oil and gas, ICT, to name but a few. This has yielded partnerships in the various sectors.

“This is a call for action. I have invited you on this journey, and I appeal to you to be part of it. Do not give up your seat on the table as we all strive to move South Eastern States forward,” she concluded.

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of Nigeria’s Ex Deputy Senate President, Sen. Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria after her incarceration in the United Kingdom, PACESETTER can confirm.

Beatrice who is presently in Abuja, according to an anonymous source who is a close political associate of the Ekweremadus  and who spoke to a PACESETTER correspondent on phone, returned safely.

“I can confirm to you that the good news you heard about Madam’s (Beatrice Ekweremadu) return is true”, the source said.

When asked where she was, the source who was elated, owing to his voice, said she was in Abuja.

Background

Mrs. Ekweremadu was sentenced to prison alongside her husband, Ike Ekweremadu and a medical doctor, Obinna Obetta under highly controversial circumstances involving an organ donor, David Nwamini for their daughter Sonia, who suffers from kidney issues.

The Ekweremadus and Obinna Obetta, the medical doctor, were convicted of conspiracy to arrange for a young man, identified as David Nwamini, to travel to Britain, where he was to donate his kidney, needed for their ailing daughter, Sonia.

The UK metropolitan police claimed Nwamini was a minor but documents revealed he was an adult.

While Ekweremadu received a sentence of 9 years and 8 months from Justice Jeremy Johnson at the Old Bailey, his wife was handed a 4-year and 6-month term, while their intermediary, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.