By Moses Kolo

Mr Abdulkabir Ahmed, Group Executive Director, Gas and Power at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Natural Gas Pipeline (AKKP) project was at 73.3 percent completion.

The AKKP was approved by the Federal Government in December, 17 and was planned to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta, in Kogi State to Kano, in Kano State, through several states and urban centers, as part of the Trans Nigeria Gas Pipeline.

Ahmed made the disclosure on Monday when he spoke as Guest Speaker at a Public Lecture in Honour of HRH. Mr Suleiman Umaru, Emir of Lere Emirates and Merit Awards ceremony organised by the Kaduna Chapter of Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineer (NSCHE) held in Kaduna.

The GED represented by Mr Emmanuel Ibokwuwe, General Manager, Commercial, Nigeria Gas Company LTD, (a subsidiary of NNPC) during a presentation on the topic; "Nigeria Gas Master Plan and Opportunities for the Northern States," noted that the AKKP which cost about $2.3 billion dollars in excess had reached an advanced stage since it's commencement in 2017.

"We have so far made tremendous progress as the project is about 73.3 percent completion with only about 23.5 percent remaining.

"We have already splitted the project into two to make sure it is completed as the earliest time possible since we are working within the timeline of 2022.

He said the Federal Government fully supported the initiative and was pulling resources to ensure it was not truncated.

"The immense opportunities are; Kaduna will have access to 900 megawatts of power generated by the time the AKKP is completed and also have enormous access to gas that can support the spring forth of industries and petrochemical plants," he added.

Also, Mr Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of National Board of Technical Education (MBTE) who was Chairman at the occasion in his remarks said described AKKP as the most important achievements of the present administration saying that upon it's completion, the project would solve the problem of inadequate power supply.

"Most states especially in the Northern states, get only one or less than one percent of what TCN transmits as such, the AKKP is an opportunity for us to generate power, distribute to communities and reach industrial hubs and revive industries.

"It is also an opportunity to create industries because with natural gas, you can produce; urea for fertilizer which is badly needed," Bugaje added.

He, then, urged the Federal Government to involve local Engineers in the design and construction industrial plants which according to him would mitigate maintenance cost.

"Let us build these industries, design them by Nigerian engineers so that we will be able to maintain them ourselves and this would further create opportunities, employment and lots of income to states and federal government," he said.

Earlier in a welcome address, Mr Saidu Mohammed, National President of NSCHE noted that that although there had been challenges with the gas sector which other sector depended on, he was optimistic that desired results would soon be attained.

Mohammed, then, congratulated the organisers of the occasion and urged participants to listen with wrapped attention lecture to be delivered.

Mr Suleiman Umaru, Emir of Lere who spoke unbehal of the Awardees commended the organisers fo a successful event and urged for continued synergy amongst the professionals that would impact positively on the people.

Reciepents of Awards at the event included; Mr Suleiman Umaru, Emir of Lere, Mr Garba Muhammad, NSCHE Chairman in Kaduna, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Rector, Nuhu Bamallal Polytechnic, Zaria.

Others included; Mr Abdulrashid Babalola, Mr Diya'udden Hasan and Mr Ado Ahmed.(NAN)

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Igboho to remain in Benin Republic despite his release from prison

BAYO WAHAB

March 8, 2022 6:42 AM

Igboho was released on health grounds.

Sunday Igboho is a Yoruba Nation enforcer (Guardian)

On Monday, March 7, 2022, Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo better known as Sunday Igboho regained his freedom after spending close to eight months in a Benin Republic prison.

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But despite his release yesterday, Igboho won’t be allowed to leave the country as the Beninoise Government restricts his movement to the francophone country.

Igboho, who was arrested at a Cotonou airport in July 2021, while on his way to Germany was released in March 2022, on health grounds.

According to a statement signed by Maxwell Adeleye, the secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Igboho was released to Prof Banji Akintoye and Prof Wale Adeniran.

In the statement, Akintoye described Ighoho’s release as a “triumph of truth over darkness in Yoruba land.”

However, Igboho’s lead counsel Olusegun Falolawhile confirming his release said the political agitator would remain in Benin Republic despite his release.

Falola said, “Sunday Adeyemo will remain in Benin Republic for now. He will remain in Benin Republic till the political atmosphere is calm because he is a political prisoner.

“Though Igboho has been released from custody, he will not be permitted to leave Benin Republic for now. He will be moving around with security agents till the time is ripe for him to leave.”

But another lawyer representing Igboho, Yomi Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) disclosed to TheNation that his client has not been released.

Aliyu said Igboho was only released to attend to his health.

The lawyer said, “Igboho has not been released; he was only released to be taken to the hospital to attend to his ill health.

“The last time we spoke, I told you that we were making arrangements to take him to the hospital over his ill health. So, he was released based on health grounds.

“I am to inform you that Chief Sunday Adeyemo has been released from prison to his medical practitioners under the agreement that he should not leave the medical centre or Cotonou for any reason.

Aliyu also said Prof Wole Soyinka and Prof Akintoye should be commended for the role they played in the release of Igboho.