President Bola Tinubu has returned to the country after his weeks of annual leave in the UK. The aircraft carrying Tinubu taxied into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Saturday evening after his working leave. “The eagle has landed,” presidential aide Dada Olusegun wrote on his X account. “Welcome home, Mr President.” The eagle has landed. Welcome home Mr President 🔥 pic.twitter.com/A7JeaEVa3c — Daddy D.O🇳🇬 (@DOlusegun) October 19, 2024 President Tinubu was welcomed by a team of government officials, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; his Chief of State Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu among others. ‘Well-Rested, Ready To Go’ Tinubu was received by top government officials. Gbajabiamila said now that his principal is back, Tinubu’s government will focus on fine-tuning its policies. “The kind of work he’s been doing in the last year and a half requires some rest and he’s gone on his back now and he’s well arrested, rejuvenated,” the former lawmaker said. “Again, it was even just a working holiday anyway. So, he was working and resting at the same time. Now that he’s back in Nigeria, all hands are back on deck and he’s ready to go.” He said, “Nigerians will begin to see the fruits of his labor and our labor. And so, I mean, just let’s be we all expect expectant and hopeful and we live in Renewed Hope and Mr President is back in Nigeria to continue the good work he’s doing.”The two-week working leave is part of his annual leave. Tinubu left the country for the United Kingdom on October 2 in what the presidency described as a working leave and a time of reflection about his administration since taking over the reins of leadership in May 2023. Nigerians Raise Concern But about ten days later, President Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters Kabir Masari said his principal had left the UK for France. On October 16, Vice President Kashim Shettima also left the country for Sweden where he went on a two-day visit to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the European nation. That move raised concerns among Nigerians with key political leaders like the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections Peter Obi faulting Tinubu and Shettima’s absence. “While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absence from the Villa, there is no vacancy in the presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems,” Obi wrote on his X handle. ‘No Leadership Vacuum’ Despite the discontent over their absence, the presidency said there was no vacuum in leadership. “It is important to note that the President and Vice President are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away,” presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said in his defence of the duo’s absence. “There is no leadership vacuum in the country.”

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, has said discussions are ongoing to transfer the management of the national grid to Independent System Operator in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023 to engender more discipline in grid management. NERC also revealed that an explosion incident at the Jebba transmission station was the cause of the latest national grid collapse that occurred early Saturday. According to the commission, efforts to restore supply have progressed significantly, with power restored in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of 1 pm on Saturday. For the third time in one week, the national grid collapsed again on Saturday morning leading to a mass power outage. Recall that the grid tripped off on Monday and on Tuesday when it was being restored. The NERC, in a statement posted on its official X handle, acknowledged the recent rise in grid disturbances that have resulted in significant outages. The statement read, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outages in several states, thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability. “Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 08:15 hours and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load. “However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 13:00 hours, in 33 states and the FCT.” It further noted that an investigative public hearing to identify immediate and remote causes of recurring incidences of grid disturbances and widespread outages will be conducted very soon. “In line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function out of Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is ongoing with the expectation that an Independent System Operator would engender more discipline in grid management and optimised investment in infrastructure. “In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing to identify immediate and remote causes of recurring incidences of grid disturbances and widespread outages. “The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate,” it added.

Sunday 20 October 2024 Minimum wage deadline: No action in 26 states as Labour blows hot I will continue to be a problem to Atiku, Peter Obi, PDP govs — Wike National grid collapses third time in one week Okada riders kill ASP in Lagos Tinubu, Shettima’s frequent foreign trips raise eyebrows CBN allocates N1.73tn for food imports in six months Multiple national grid collapses threaten minister’s 6,000MW pledge EndSARS anniversary: Protest leaders demand implementation of panel reports State House food budget grows by 20% in three years APC sweeps Kaduna LG poll Reject bill to arm FRSC, Nigerians tell National Assembly Police record 2,000 complaints against officers Jigawa probes suspended commissioner accused of adultery Abdulrazaq approves N70k minimum wage for Kwara civil servants NERC to hold public hearing on recurring grid collapses Abuja Principal Murdered At Home Soludo Shuns Ofala Festival As Rift With Obi Of Onitsha Deepens Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

A journalist working with OrderPaper in the National Assembly has been freed by the Department of State Services over wrongful reporting. The journalist, Edna Ulaeto, was reportedly taken into the custody of the secret police on Friday but was also immediately released following the quick intervention of the International Press Institute, IPI. A statement by the Nigerian chapter of the IPI, signed by its legal adviser and Head of Advocacy, Toby Soniyi, confirmed the release of the journalist. The statement said, “The Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute is pleased to announce the release of Edna Ulaeto, a staff member of OrderPaper, from the custody of the Department of State Security. “Ulaeto was arrested on October 18, 2024, but was released the same day thanks to IPI Nigeria’s swift intervention. “The reporter had inaccurately reported this week that DSS operatives invaded the Nigerian National Assembly as part of a purported plot to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio. “The DSS expressed concerns that OrderPaper’s publication posed serious national security threats and caused significant local and international embarrassment. “The agency said it sought to understand from the reporter the reasoning behind the inaccurate reporting and potential sources of false information aimed at destabilising the country. “IPI Nigeria acknowledges the DSS’s concerns and appreciates their decision to release Ulaeto. “We are hereby emphasising the importance of adhering to journalistic ethics and accurate reporting. “While OrderPaper promptly issued a retraction and apology, we understand DSS’ argument about the damage already done to it and the country. “We urge journalists to always verify information before publishing and refrain from sensationalism. Truthful reporting is crucial for a stable society,” IPI said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria says the national grid has been restored after experiencing a temporary disturbance at about 8:15 a.m. on Saturday. TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. Mbah said that TCN engineers at Jebba successfully carried out switchings by isolating the faulty current transformer. She stated that the engineers had also reconfigured the busbar arrangement, restoring the power supply to the station and other parts of the grid. Mbah reported that according to the information from the National Control Centre, the bus section of a current transformer exploded at the 330kV Jebba Transmission Substation. “As expected, the protection system was activated, which promptly opened the busbars to curtail the explosion, thereby preventing the outbreak of fire and further damage to adjacent equipment. “The action of the protection system led to a temporary disturbance on the grid,” she explained.NAN.

Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, has suspended Auwal Sankara, the state commissioner for special duties, over an alleged affair with a married woman. On Friday, the Kano state Hisbah board said Sankara was arrested at an uncompleted building over an alleged illicit affair with a married woman in Kano. Reacting to the allegation in a statement, the commissioner dismissed it as “false, malicious and baseless.” Sankara vowed to take legal action against those behind the allegations, adding that their aim was to damage his reputation. In a statement on Saturday, Bala Ibrahim, secretary to the Jigawa state government, said the commissioner would be suspended pending an investigation into the allegations. “The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation,” Ibrahim said. “We take all allegations seriously and are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government.” THE FIVE-MEMBER PANEL In another statement, the state government announced that it has constituted a five-member committee to investigate the allegations against the commissioner. The committee is to be chaired by the secretary to the Jigawa state government. Other members are Sagir Ahmed, commissioner for information; Lawal Danzomo, commissioner for basic education; Usman Jahun, special adviser on security matters; and Adamu Garin, private secretary to the governor. The committee is to submit its report in two weeks time. The state government said the allegations led to “significant embarrassment and degradation to the reputation” of the government