The order was issued to the 11 electricity distribution companies (DISCos) on December 31, 2019, but published on the Commission’s website on Saturday.
Signed jointly by the Chairman of the Commission, Joseph Momoh, and the Commissioner for Legal, License & Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, the order was titled “December 2019 MYTO Minor Review Order” for the 11 DISCOs.
New tariffs
The various tariff reviews for all categories of consumers — except those consumers classified as residential (R1) — ranged from 59.7 per cent for consumers in Ikeja to 77.6 per cent in Enugu.
Under the new order, electricity consumers in Ikeja who used to pay about N13.34 per kWh since under the 2015 MYTO when the last review was carried out will from January 1 this year pay N21.80 per kWh, same as their R2 counterparts.
Their counterparts in Enugu who used to pay about N17.42 per kWh will, under the new order, pay about N30.93 kWh from January 1.
Their R2 and R3 counterparts who paid about N19.31 and N27.11 per kWh since 2015, will now be paying N34.28 and N48.12 per kWh.
Residential (R2) and R3 consumers in Ikeja, who have been paying N13.34 and N26.5 per kWh since 2015, will now be paying N21.30 and N21.80 per kWh.
Residential consumers are those categorised as those using singe phase and three-phase meters and electricity consumption of about 50 kWh in premises with flats exclusively for residential purposes.
The affected DISCos include Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Yola Electricity Distribution Company.
The order, the Commission said, supersedes “other orders issued on the subject matter, and shall take effect from January 1, 2020.”
The R3 consumers who use maximum demand low voltage who have been paying N26.5 per kWh in Ikeja will now be paying N36.49 per kWh, compared to their counterparts in Abuja who have been N27.20 per kWh since 2015, who will now be paying N47.09 per kWh, same as their R4 consumers.
The review also affected the tariffs for other categories of consumers, namely commercial, industrial and special.
Commercial consumers are those who use premises for any purpose other than exclusively as residence or as a factory for manufacturing goods.
The industrial consumers are customers who use their premises for manufacturing goods including welding and iron monger.
The special customers include those involved in agriculture (excluding agro-allied enterprises involved in processing), water boards, religious houses, government and teaching hospitals, government research institutes and educational establishments.
Under the new tariff order, commercial customers who have been paying between N20.45 and N27.20 per kWh since 2015 will now be paying between N37.39 and N47.09 per kWh.
Their industrial customers who have been paying between N20.95 and N27.22 per kWh in Abuja, will now be paying between N36.07 and N47.09 per kWh under the new dispensation.
Also, those in the special category who have been paying about N20.06 per kWh in Abuja since 2015, will now be paying about N35.74 per kWh.
Enabling law
NERC said the order was pursuant to Section 32 and 76 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act aimed at providing a cost reflective tariffs that ensures prices charged by licensees are fair to consumers.
Besides, such prices are supposed to be sufficient for licensees to operate efficiently to recover the full costs of their activities, including reasonable returns on the capital invested in the business.
In issuing the order, Section 17 of the MYTO 2015 expects that changes in the variables in the economy outside the control of DISCOs, including inflation rates, foreign exchange rates, gas prices and available electricity generation capacity will be taken into consideration.
The order will also reflect the market shortfall for years 2019 and 2020 as well as determine the minimum remittances payable by the DISCOs in meeting their market obligations on the allowed tariff to allow the settlement of invoices by Nigerian Bulk Trading and the market operator.
NERC said the new order updates was based on actual changes in macroeconomic variables in generation capacity as at October 31, 2019, including inflation rate of 11.3 percent for January to October 2019.
The order was also based on exchange rates of N306.9 plus one percent premium which is about N309.97 to the dollar and gas price of $2.50 per million metric tons BTU and gas transportation cost of $0.80 per MMBTU
Basic assumptions that guided the review included exchange rate of N310, generation cost of N23 per kWh, transmission cost of N7.8 per kWh, transmission and admin cost of N3.99 per kWh
Under the new tariff order, NERC insists “All DISCos are obligated to settle their market invoices in full as adjusted and netted off by the applicable tariff shortfall.”
“In the determination for compliance to the minimum remittance threshold in this Order, the Commission shall consider verified receivables from MDAs (ministries, departments and agencies) for the settlement period and DISCos’ historical collection efficiency for MDAs.
“The commission shall hold the TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) responsible for deviation from the economic dispatch order that adversely impact on the base weighed average cost of the wholesale of energy.
CHIEF DR. PATRICK SUNDAY DAKUM RECEIVED NUMEROUS GROUPS ON COURTESY CALLS THIS YULETIDE SEASON The renown Doctor and Politician who is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the 'Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), former Regional manager CEDPA/USAID Plateau/Bauchi, Board Member of the Governing Council of the University of Jos and Board Chairman Consultancy Services University of Jos, former Plateau State Commissioner of information and equally that of health, played host to numerous groups/individuals within and outside his locality at his Jiblik residence this Yuletide season. Speaking separately, leaders of the different groups showered accolades on Dr. Patrick for the many projects and programs that he has been contributing to within and outside Plateau State, stressing that they are proud of him as a worthy son of Plateau state. They stated that they have come to identify with him and to also share with him the joy that comes with the Yuletide season. They encouraged him to keep up the good works of impacting positively on the lives of the good people of Plateau state, especially in his passion for opening opportunities for employments and entrepreneurship. In his remarks, while responding, Dr Patrick Dakum thanked the various groups for the visits, saying that he finds it a rare privilege and honor to have been visited by such number of groups/individuals. He appreciated the accolades showered on him and said that building Plateau is a joint effort between communities and government. He stressed that Plateau residents must put their faith in God who is Master Builder so that He directs our paths as we consolidate the gains of past and present Government for a Greater Plateau. Responding, leaders of the various groups thanked Dr. Patrick for the warm reception granted them, saying that their visits are not misplaced priority. Highlights of the events were exchange of pleasantries and a befitting reception as they shared in the joy that comes with the Yuletide season.
Iranian state TV broadcast the flag being hoisted over minarets in city of Qom
In Shia Islam red flags signify blood spilled unjustly and are a call to vengeance
They red flags also fluttered at mourning ceremonies held in the capital Tehran
It comes as President Rouhani assured Soleimani’s family he would be avenged
Iranians today raised the blood-red ‘flags of revenge’, vowing to retaliate after the US killed general Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike in Baghdad
Iranian state TV broadcast the flag being hoisted over the minarets at the revered Jamkaran Mosque in the holy city of Qom on Saturday.
In Shia Islam the red flags, which have also been flown at demonstrations in Tehran, symbolize blood spilled unjustly and serve as a call to avenge the person who is slain.
It comes as Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei and President Hassan Rouhani consoled Soleimani’s distraught children at his family home last night, reassuring them the commander would be avenged. Iran unfurls red flag at Mosque signalling severe battle to come
As the flag was raised the speakers called, ‘O Allah, hasten your custodian reappearance,’ a reference to the end-times reappearance of the Mahdi, a divine bringer of justice
As the flag was raised in Qom, the mosque speakers called, ‘O Allah, hasten your custodian reappearance,’ a reference to the end-times reappearance of the Mahdi.
In Shia Islam, the faith of Iran, the Mahdi is a divine figure who will appear to bring a Day of Judgement and rid the world of evil.
Soleimani, 62, was killed in the early hours of Friday, local time, outside Baghdad’s International Airport in an airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump
According to local reports it is the first time in the Qom mosque’s history – a holy site since the Middle Ages – that the red flag has been raised over the building.
Last night Khamanei and Rouhani consoled Soleimani’s family.
‘Who is going to avenge my father’s blood?’ One of the commander’s daughters asked.
In response, Rouhani promised her that ‘everyone will take revenge’ and assured her as she wept, ‘we will, we will avenge his blood, you don’t worry.’
‘The Americans did not realize what a grave mistake they have made. They will suffer the consequences of such criminal measure not only today, but also throughout the years to come,’ Rouhani said.
‘This crime committed by the US will go down in history as one of their unforgettable crimes against the Iranian nation.’
Soleimani, 62, was killed in the early hours of Friday, local time, outside Baghdad’s International Airport in an airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump.
Hours after the attack, Trump said that he ordered the killing of Soleimani to prevent war, adding that the commander was plotting ‘imminent and sinister’ attacks against Americans.
President Rouhani (right) speaking with General Soleimani’s daughters (left) on Saturday
Rouhani says US made a ‘big mistake’ killing Qassem Soleimani
Ayatolla Khameneireleased a series of tweets on Saturday, recounting his conversations with Soleimani’s family during his visit on FridayIran¿s Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei (pictured) comforted a member of Soleimani’s family during a visit to the family’s home on Friday evening
The general was the architect of Iran’s shadow warfare and military expansion in the Middle East and was targeted specifically because he was actively developing plans to kill members of the U.S. military and diplomats in the region.
Gholamali Abuhamzeh, the Revolutionary Guards commander from Soleimani’s hometown Kerman, said Tehran would punish Americans ‘wherever they are in reach’, and raised the prospect of possible attacks on ships in the Gulf.
‘The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there,’ Abuhamzeh was quoted as saying on Friday evening by the semi-official news agency Tasnim.
‘Vital American targets in the region have long since been identified by Iran … Some 35 U.S. targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach,’ he said, referring to Israel’s largest city.Thousands mourn Qassem Soleimani in Shiite holy city of Kerbala
Protesters demonstrate over the U.S. airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran, Saturday. Red flags in Shia tradition symbolize both blood spilled unjustly and serve as a call to avenge a person who is slainThousands pack the streets in front of Imam Jafar Sadegh Mosque in downtown Tehran on Saturday afternoon many flying the red flag
Thousands of mourners took to the streets of Tehran today where the red flag was also seen fluttering before a downtown mosque in the Iranian capital.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, shouts of ‘Death to America’ filled the air as tens of thousands of people marched to mourn Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in the US strike.
A PMF-organised procession carrying the bodies of Soleimani, Muhandis and other Iraqis killed in the US strike took place in the city’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
Mourners included many militiamen in uniform for whom Muhandis and Soleimani were heroes.
They carried portraits of both men and plastered them on walls and armoured personnel carriers in the procession.
According to local reports it is the first time in the Qom mosque’s history – a holy site since the Middle Ages – that the red flag has been hoisted over the building
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and Iraqi militia commander Hadi al-Amiri, a close Iran ally and the top candidate to succeed Muhandis, attended.
Mourners later brought the bodies by car to the Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala south of Baghdad.
The procession was to end in Najaf, another sacred Shia city where Muhandis and the other Iraqis killed will be laid to rest.
Soleimani’s body will be transferred on Saturday to the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan that borders mashhad
On Sunday it will be taken to the Shia holy city of Mashhad in Iran’s northeast and from there to Tehran and his hometown Kerman in the southeast for burial on Tuesday, state media said.
While the world was still reeling from the aftermath of a US government drone strike that killed Qassem Souleimani, the Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian authorities promptly appointed Esmail Ghaani to replace the slain major general.
Ghaani, as Souleimani’s deputy in the Quds Force for 13 years, was responsible for, among others, financial disbursements to paramilitary groups like Hezbollah, the US Treasury wrote.
However, his influences did not stop in the Middle East but extended as far away as Africa, where he was linked to an arms shipment scandal in Lagos in October 2010.
A self-acclaimed Tehran businessman, Azim Aghajani, was arrested and prosecuted by Nigerian authorities over the arms shipment, which was believed to be headed for The Gambia or Senegal, in defiance of a UN arms embargo on Iran, from where the arms were imported.
The arms were found inside 13 shipping containers labelled as building materials.
Some of the items found in the controversial shipment included Rocket Launchers, Grenades and 107mm rockets designed to attack static targets and used by armies to support infantry units, Ebeano Chronicles reported.
The Iranian was alleged to be a member of the IRGC, an accusation he denied. He was also on a UN blacklist. In placing Aghajani on its blacklist, the UN said the Iranian was a Revolutionary Guards member tied to “Iranian support for terrorism and extremism worldwide”.
The US government described Aghajani as a “longtime IRGC-QF official with ties to The Gambia”. It said Aghajani acted on behalf of the IRGC-QF in facilitating the weapons shipment intended for The Gambia.
Aghajani, alongside his Nigerian accomplice and shipping agent, Usman Abbas Jega, was convicted in May 2013 on four of five charges relating to the shipment.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos sentenced the duo to five years in prison each.
According to the US Treasury, which weighed in on the issue, Ghaani’s authority covered IRGC-QF financial disbursements to IRGC-QF elements, including elements in Africa, as well as to various terrorist groups, including Hezbollah.
It further said as Deputy Commander, Ghaani had financial oversight of the IRGC-QF weapons shipment that made its way into Nigeria en-route The Gambia.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state says a new security outfit for the south west zone is set to take off
Fayemi notes that the security outfit called Amotekun is an initiation of the six governors of the zone
The governor explains that the job of Amotekun is to complement the efforts of the nation’s security agencies The south western part of Nigeria now has its own security outfit named ‘Amotekun’ and would commence operation across the zone on January 9, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state has announced. Fayemi said on Wednesday, January 1, in his new year message, that the job of Amotekun, created by the six governors of the region, would be to complement the country’s security agencies in a bid for peace. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi said: “On January 9, 2020, the western Nigeria security network known as ‘Amotekun’ shall commence operations in all the six states in our zone.
“Ekiti is very active in this initiative which will go a long way in securing the people and protecting the state.” The governor, however noted that it would be difficult for criminals to be totally eradicated from a society, but that their activities could be reduced. ”Since we are not an Island, we are working with neigbouring states to strengthen our security architecture,” Fayemi said while urging residents of the state not to allow themselves become tools in the hands of those who love trouble. He assured that the security situation in Ekiti state is being closely monitored and that the lives of the people would remain paramount to his government. ”Ekiti remains one of the safest places to live, work and conduct business in Nigeria. ”We must encourage our people to report any strange signal or incident, but we must resist the temptation to resort to self-help at any time,” the governor said.
NAN reports that on Friday, August 23, 2019, Fayemi had said that governors in the south west planned a security network in an effort to tackle such related challenges in the zone of the country.
BAGHDAD – The United States has killed Gen, Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the region.
The targeted killing, at the direction of President Donald Trump, could draw forceful Iranian retaliation against American interests in the region and spiral into a far larger conflict.
The Defense Department says it killed Soleimani because he “was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.”
An adviser to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is warning President Trump of retaliation.
The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, Iraqi officials said.
The Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria, ALGOVC, has urged Nigerians to keep hope alive in spite the various challenges facing the nation and be positive in their outlook and approach.
The National Chairman of the Association, Hon. Lawrence Onuchukwu made this known in his message to Nigerians in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The Chairman also congratulated Nigerians for witnessing a new year and wished them a prosperous and remarkable year 2020.
The ALGOVC Boss who expressed optimism that with the collective hard work, sincerity of purpose by both the leaders and the led in addition with enduring commitment to do the right thing always, the country’s economic prosperity will improve.
He noted that the beginning of a new year provides Nigerians a unique opportunity to make resolution on all spheres of human lives with renewed vigour and passion.
He then urged all Nigerians across board to join hands and support all efforts at all levels aimed at solving the various challenges facing the nation so as to reposition it for a better place to live.
National Summit Onuchukwu who is also the Vice Chairman of Abuja municipal area council (AMAC) described the recent ALGOVC national summit on security as part of their contribution as leaders of the people at the grassroots level to offer solution to the nation’s insecurity.
He enjoined all and sundry to emulate the Vice Chairmen to come out with plans and actions that will better the country in 2020.
Residents of Jos, the Plateau State capital, are experiencing severe cold weather following the change of season. The weather took a very harsh turn from last Saturday to resume the original nature of the rocky city. The weather forecast by the Nigeria Metreological unit has put Jos weather as low as 9o Centigrade, a little harsher than Los Angeles California. The prevailing weather has forced residents to regulate their time of coming in and out of their houses. No more night crawling as residents round off their daily activities fast enough to return home at 6pm. At the moment, no residents will want to be outside after 7pm and it is highly inconvenient to come out of the house before 9am. Residents warm water to drink as the water is extremely cold to cause blood clot when taken in it’s natural cold nature. At day time, people rush to the popular Terminus market at the city center to buy thick socks and tick hand gloves as well as thick winter jackets which is the new sleeping gown for both young and old. Families have resorted to the use of electric room warmer to sleep comfortably. Those who cannot afford an electric room warmer go for charcoal which they light and place it at the centre of the room. Medical experts have warned residents to always keep themselves warm both day and night. They have also been warned against playing with cold water to avoid it’s attendance risk. Residents expressed happiness, at least, that children schools have closed for the year before the cold sets in, else it would have been impossible for children to attend school under the harsh weather. See few hilarious comments from some Residents;
ArtificialBlanket” Mehn today’s cold is different am freezing.” Hmmm” One blanket is not just enough to prevent this cold! You need to see how I am cuddling inside two thick blankets! Advice:This is the time not to misbehave to security officers at checkpoints! If you do misbehave to them,na your troublem!”
Fwangmun-Nicholas Dashan wrote: “See how everywhere is quiet in Jos Whomever opened the city’s freezer door and left it open better quit playing. I’m suspecting Man U fans with this silliness. Alvin Tongzum Paul better call Alfred Leo Dankasa and go and close that door.” D’yong Mangut has this to say: “Please the Jos weather should nose dive to 4 degree Celsius na. The weather is too hot for my liking. Sen. Nanzing Dogo wrote: “Current Temperature in Jos is 14 degrees Celsius.” “To baf under this weather na achievement” Hilda J. Chuhwak wrote: “BYE BYE TO JOS COLD GOING BACK TO BASE 2020 ” Victor Ritduna: “Na who dey see this cold abeg?” Dalyop Mwankon John: “Only strong men like me take their bath with cold water early in the morning in JOS.if u are strong like me say “HI”.. Vwarji Katlong: “APC led government should do something about this cold now.” Dr. Giwa Gwomson Jos: “The cold is wearing glasses, not respecting faces.” Rose Adiwu: “Ok my people.. on my way to an unknown land, see you soon, enjoy the snow that will start falling ” Amarachi Favour Ebisi: “Who opened they gate of Europe and forgot to close it? Apj Deshi: “Those complaining of jos cold, No even think of visiting Pankshin!” Stephen Hassan: “SMALL COLD UNA GO DEY COMPLAIN AND MOST OF UNA WAN TRAVEL GO EUROPE.” Vina Theo Adams: “If you have anybody in Jos ,call them and wish them well ooo. The cold today came out fully kitted ..” Nathaniel Umar: “All those posting results of temperature of Jos should wait for the official result from those who are out” Nengak Emmanuel Mathew: “Jos weather 7°c Placida Chundung Pam: “I heard the sun in Jos is wearing sweater. Is it true? ” Beji Musa Beji: “Jos Weather
The Acting Chairman of Peoples Democratic party Hon Amos Gombi Goyol has asked politicians and their supporters to shun politics of bitterness and work together for the unity by calling on People Democratic Party, PDP, to come together for the common good of the party. He charged his party faithful to come together and work for the good and growth of their party as they enter into the year 2020 this Wednesday. Goyol in a statement in Jos made available to newsmen solicited the cooperation of all the stakeholders, party stalwarts to see to the success of the party. He called on his party faithful to be united and forge a common cause in the New Year, urging them to drop any form of bickering that was part of the challenges of the party in the outgoing year. According to him, this 2020, they should speak with one voice on matters that are of common interest to their party on the Plateau. He further disclosed that plateau state remains the home of the Peoples Democratic Party as Late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar and several other founding fathers of the party hails from the state. He stressed. The party Acting chairman cautioned those hell bent on causing disunity within the party to henceforth have a rethink and should be seen as Ambassadors of peace and development of the party, assuring them that the PDP umbrella is big enough to provide shelter for everyone within the party on the Plateau. He wished his party leadership at the state and national levels of his party a happy and prosperous New Year of 2020.
NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI.
My Dear Compatriots,
NIGERIA’S DECADE
Today marks a new decade. It is a time of hope, optimism and fresh possibilities. We look forward as a nation to the 2020s as the opportunity to build on the foundations we have laid together on security, diversification of our economy and taking on the curse of corruption. These are the pledges on which I have been twice elected President and remain the framework for a stable, sustainable and more prosperous future.
Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. I salute the commitment of the millions who voted in peace last February and of those leaders who contested for office vigorously but fairly, submitting to the authority of the electorate, the Independent National Electoral Commission and judicial process.
I understand very well the frustrations our system has in the past triggered. I will be standing down in 2023 and will not be available in any future elections. But I am determined to help strengthen the electoral process both in Nigeria and across the region, where several ECOWAS members go to the polls this year.
As Commander-in-Chief, my primary concern is the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens. When I assumed office in May 2015 my first task was to rally our neighbours so that we could confront Boko Haram on a coordinated regional basis. Chaos is not a neighbour any of us hope for.
We have been fighting on several fronts: violent extremists, cultists and organised criminal networks. It has not been easy. But as we are winning the war, we also look to the challenge of winning the peace, the reconstruction of lives, communities and markets. The North East Development Commission will work with local and international stakeholders to help create a new beginning for the North East.
The Federal Government will continue to work with State Governors, neighbouring states and our international partners to tackle the root causes of violent extremism and the networks that help finance and organise terror.
Our security forces will receive the best training and modern weaponry, and in turn will be held to the highest standards of professionalism, and respect for human rights. We will use all the human and emerging technological resources available to tackle kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery.
The new Ministry of Police Affairs increased recruitment of officers and the security reforms being introduced will build on what we are already delivering. We will work tirelessly at home and with our allies in support of our policies to protect the security of life and property.
Our actions at all times will be governed by the rule of law. At the same time, we shall look always to engage with all well-meaning leaders and citizens of goodwill to promote dialogue, partnership and understanding.
We need a democratic government that can guarantee peace and security to realise the full potential of our ingenious, entrepreneurial and hard-working people. Our policies are designed to promote genuine, balanced growth that delivers jobs and rewards industry.
Our new Economic Advisory Council brings together respected and independent thinkers to advise me on a strategy that champions inclusive and balanced growth, and above all fight poverty and safeguard national economic interests.
As we have sat down to celebrate with friends and family over this holiday season, for the first time in a generation our food plates have not all been filled with imports of products we know can easily be produced here at home.
The revolution in agriculture is already a reality in all corners of the country. New agreements with Morocco, Russia and others will help us access on attractive terms the inputs we need to accelerate the transformation in farming that is taking place.
A good example of commitment to this inclusive growth is the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the creation of the National Action Committee to oversee its implementation and ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to allow us to fully capitalise on regional and continental markets.
The joint land border security exercise currently taking place is meant to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and security. No one can doubt that we have been good neighbours and good citizens. We have been the helpers and shock-absorbers of the sub-region but we cannot allow our well-planned economic regeneration plans to be sabotaged. As soon as we are satisfied that the safeguards are adequate, normal cross-border movements will be resumed.
Already, we are making key infrastructure investments to enhance our ease of doing business. On transportation, we are making significant progress on key roads such as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja – Kano highway. 2020 will also see tangible progress on the Lagos to Kano Rail line.
Through Executive Order 007, we are also using alternative funding programmes in collaboration with private sector partners to fix strategic roads such as the Apapa-Oworonshoki Express way. Abuja and Port Harcourt have new international airport terminals, as will Kano and Lagos in 2020. When completed, all these projects will positively impact business operations in the country.
These projects are not small and do not come without some temporary disruption; we are doing now what should have been done a long time ago. I thank you for your patience and look forward to the dividends that we and future generations will long enjoy.
Power has been a problem for a generation. We know we need to pick up the pace of progress. We have solutions to help separate parts of the value chain to work better together. In the past few months, we have engaged extensively with stakeholders to develop a series of comprehensive solutions to improve the reliability and availability of electricity across the country.
These solutions include ensuring fiscal sustainability for the sector, increasing both government and private sector investments in the power transmission and distribution segments, improving payment transparency through the deployment of smart meters and ensuring regulatory actions maximise service delivery.
We have in place a new deal with Siemens, supported by the German government after German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited us in Abuja, to invest in new capacity for generation, transmission and distribution. These projects will be under close scrutiny and transparency – there will be no more extravagant claims that end only in waste, theft and mismanagement.
The next 12 months will witness the gradual implementation of these actions, after which Nigerians can expect to see significant improvement in electricity service supply reliability and delivery. Separately, we have plans to increase domestic gas consumption. In the first quarter of 2020, we will commence work on the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 Gas pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos – Lagos Pipeline.
While we look to create new opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and other long neglected sectors, in 2020 we will also realise increased value from oil and gas, delivering a more competitive, attractive and profitable industry, operating on commercial principles and free from political interference.
Just last week, we were able to approve a fair framework for the USD10 billion expansion of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, which will increase exports by 35 percent, restore our position as a world leader in the sector and create thousands of jobs. The Amendment of the Deep Offshore Act in October signalled our intention to create a modern, forward-looking industry in Nigeria.
I am confident that in 2020 we will be able to present a radical programme of reform for oil and gas that will excite investors, improve governance and strengthen protections for host communities and the environment.
We can expect the pace of change in technology only to accelerate in the decade ahead. Coupled with our young and vibrant population, this offers huge opportunities if we are able to harness the most productive trends and tame some of the wilder elements. This is a delicate balance with which many countries are struggling. We are seeking an informed and mature debate that reflects our rights and responsibilities as citizens in shaping the boundaries of how best to allow technology to benefit Nigeria.
During my Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2019, I promised to lay the enduring foundations for taking a hundred million Nigerians out of mass poverty over the next 10 years. Today I restate that commitment. We shall continue reforms in education, health care and water sanitation. I have met international partners such as GAVI, the vaccine alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who support our social welfare programmes.
I will continue to work with State and Local Governments to make sure that these partnerships deliver as they should. Workers will have a living wage and pensioners will be looked after. We are steadily clearing pensions and benefits arrears neglected for so long.
The new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development will consolidate and build on the social intervention schemes and will enhance the checks and balances necessary for this set of programmes to succeed for the long term.
I am able to report that the journey has already begun with the passage and signing into law of the 2020 Appropriation Act. As the new decade dawns, we are ready to hit the ground running. Let me pay tribute to the Ninth National Assembly who worked uncommonly long hours to make sure that the 2020 budget scrutiny is both thorough and timely.
The close harmony between the Executive and Legislature is a sharp contrast to what we have experienced in the recent past, when the Senate kept the previous budget for 7 months without good reason just to score cheap political points thereby disrupting the budgetary processes and overall economic development plans.
Our policies are working and the results will continue to show themselves more clearly by the day. Nigeria is the most tremendous, can-do market, offering extraordinary opportunities and returns. Investors can look forward with confidence not only to an increasing momentum of change but also to specific incentives, including our new visa-on-arrival policy.
They can also be certain of our unshakeable commitment to tackle corruption. As we create an environment that allows initiative, enterprise and hard work to thrive, it is more important than ever to call out those who find the rule of law an inconvenience, or independent regulation an irritation.
We are doing our part here in Nigeria. We will continue to press our partners abroad to help with the supply side of corruption and have received some encouragement. We expect more funds stolen in the past to be returned to us and they will be ploughed back into development with all due transparency.
This is a joint initiative. Where our policies have worked best, it has been because of the support of ordinary Nigerians in their millions, numbers that even the most powerful of special interests cannot defy. I thank you for your support. Transition by its very nature carries with it change and some uncertainty along the way.
I encourage you to be tolerant, law abiding and peace loving.
This is a new year and the beginning of a new decade – the Nigerian Decade of prosperity and promise for Nigeria and for Africa.
To recapitulate, some of the projects Nigerians should expect to come upstream from 2020 include:
47 road projects scheduled for completion in 2020/21, including roads leading to ports;
Major bridges including substantial work on the Second Niger Bridge;
Completion of 13 housing estates under the National Housing Project Plan;
Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Enugu international airports to be commissioned in 2020;
Launching of an agricultural rural mechanisation scheme that will cover 700 local governments over a period of three years;
Launching of the Livestock Development Project Grazing Model in Gombe State where 200,000 hectares of land has been identified;
Training of 50,000 workers to complement the country’s 7,000 extension workers;
Commissioning of the Lagos – Ibadan and Itakpe – Warri rail lines in the first quarter;
Commencement of the Ibadan – Abuja and Kano – Kaduna rail lines also in the first quarter;
Further liberalisation of the power sector to allow businesses to generate and sell power;
Commencement of the construction of the Mambilla Power project by the first half of 2020; and
Commencement of the construction of the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 gas pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos – Lagos pipeline in the first quarter of 2020.
Thank you very much!
President Muhammadu Buhari
State House,
Abuja.
1st January, 2020
MiddleBelt Reporters 