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The Federal Government yesterday approved a whopping $3.5 billion equivalent of N525 billion for the construction of a new 700 KV SuperGrid aimed at shoring up power generation capacity to 7000 mega watts by April 2011.

The approval which was endorsed by President Goodluck Jonathan, after a meeting with the Presidential Action Committe on Power (PACP), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja is completed in four years.

Ima Niboro, special adviser on media and publicity said in a statement that “$3.5 billion power project is expected to fulfill Nigeria’s need to transmit increasing amounts of power across vast distances which the existing 330/132KV grid cannot meet”...

Niboro stated that “in granting approval for the SuperGrid President Jonathan directed that it should be funded as a federal asset with additional financing from private investors and international finance and development agencies”.

“The SuperGrid which will run along the same route as the existing 330/132KV grid will also address Nigeria’s future energy challenges including transition to more sustainable energy sources, reduction of power loss per transmitted megawatt and improving power voltage profiles across the country,” he stated further.

The presidential spokesman said “the huge advantage of the 700 KV supergrid over the existing 330/132 KV grid is that it will significantly reduce the huge amount of power currently lost in transmission”.

He said that “without the supergrid, the quantum of power lost in transmission will continue to increase as more power progressively becomes available for evacuation from new and rehabilitated generating stations. Periodic systemic failures will also become more frequent”.

Niboro said “Nigeria’s available generation capacity will rise to 6939 MW by April next year and 14019 MW by December 2013.In another development, President Jonathan will on Thursday, August 26, 2010 present a new roadmap for the reformation of Nigeria’s power sector to the country’s private sector”.

He said President Jonathan will on Thursday, August 26, 2010 present a new roadmap for the reformation of Nigeria’s power sector to the country’s private sector

According to him “President Jonathan will seize the opportunity of the event in Lagos to acquaint members of the private sector with fresh investment opportunities inherent in the power sector reform programme and invite greater private sector support for the programme”.
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While millions of Nigerians have been in grief mode since the Super Eagles' 2-2 draw with Tunisia put the nation's chances of qualifying for the South Africa 2010 World Cup in jeopardy, the players went partying all night on Monday, painting the city of Abuja red.Party like you don't careShortly after they were rescued from irate fans who threatened to deal with them at the National Stadium, Abuja, and then at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, where they stayed, the players shook off the experience and put on their dancing shoes.While some went to the nightclub at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, others went to Tukano, a members-only nightclub located in the Asokoro area of Abuja, where members pay about half a million naira annually. The players were allowed into the club on personal recognition.However, the team's captain, Nwankwo Kanu, and other players including Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Seyi Olofinjana stayed home.Mo' money, mo' problemsAlso, contrary to what the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) told the media, the players were not paid a $10,000 bonus after the 2-2 draw with Tunisia; instead, they got the money before the match. NFF officials say this was so because they wanted the players to be highly motivated.Some good that did us, as motivation was far from the pitch on Sunday. If anything, the Eagles played like nothing was at stake.The reason the NFF had to hire private buses to take players and officials from their hotels to the stadium has also been revealed.According to NFF sources, the players have been using ‘Ekene Dili Chukwu' luxurious buses all through their stay in Abuja because the two Marcopolo buses the NFF bought in the run up to this match packed up only days after purchase. Both buses were reportedly supplied by a friend to top officials of the federation.Efforts to confirm these stories yesterday were unsuccessful. The federation's secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba's phone rang severally, but he did not pick up, same as its image maker, Ademola Olajire. They also did not reply text messages.Together, foreverIn related news, the NFF's president, Sanni Lulu, has vowed to swim or sink with embattled Eagles' coach, Shaibu Amodu.Nigerians have called for the sack of Amodu; but, speaking at a seminar for referees in Abuja yesterday, Lulu said all hope of the Eagles qualifying for the 2010 World Cup is not lost, and that Amodu will not be sacked.Lulu also said he has no plan to seek re-election, as he is only concerned with the Eagles' qualification and the development of Nigerian football.Lulu and other officials of the NFF, and its supervising body, the National Sports Commission, will be at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja today to explain the Eagles' sloppy performance on Sunday and how the team can still qualify for the World Cup.Also, the technical committee of the NFF will meet today to review Amodu's match report.Tunisia currently tops the group with eight points; Nigeria has six. Both have games, home and away, against Kenya and Mozambique. While Nigeria will host Mozambique and play Kenya away, the Tunisians are away with Mozambique and will host Kenya.
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