General
2019: My Plans for Delta South in Senate—Uduaghan
The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 Delta South senatorial candidate, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has said he wants to represent Delta South at the Senate in 2019 because of his desire to pursue quality legislation that will lead to the development of the district and the Niger Delta region.
Releasing his manifesto in Warri, Delta State on Friday, Uduaghan, who is the immediate-past governor of Delta State said he hinged his manifesto on four pillars which he called the JEW+P (Jobs, Empowerment, Wealth plus Peace).
In his words: “I salute you, my good people of Delta South Senatorial District. I seek your mandate and support to represent you at the Senate.
“Over the years, I was actively part of and at a time, head of a team that managed the development of Delta State. In those years the Delta State government through its various organs embarked on projects and programs in the areas of peace, human capital and infrastructure development that will lead to job creation and poverty alleviation. In doing this, we faced a lot of constraints. These constraints were mainly in the areas of non-existent extant laws to control the various processes that were put in place to fast-track the development.
“Efforts to bring peace and security to the area were mainly through engagements at various levels and the use of force. Both methods have led to a temporary peaceful environment. However, to attain a level of job creation and alleviation of poverty in the region that will lead to permanent peace, prosperity and a sense of well-being, there must be laws enacted to fast-track the processes of industrialization, wealth creation and a peaceful environment. These are the laws I seek your mandate to bring up at the Senate.
MY MISSION
“My mission therefore at the Senate will be focused on four pillars which I call the JEW+P (Jobs, Empowerment, Wealth plus Peace).
JOBS
Poverty alleviation through the creation of Job Opportunities for the people of Delta South at all levels.
EMPOWERMENT
Creation of Industrial Empowerment for the people of Delta South through the promotion and encouragement of indigenous participation, as well as, the use of homegrown technology in the oil industry.
WEALTH
Championing the creation of Enduring Wealth for the people of Delta South through the promotion of Community part-ownership of major and minor oil companies.
PEACE
Promotion of Enduring Peace in Delta South through the involvement of local and community people in security and peacekeeping.
Do you know why the Jews prosper and flourish anywhere they are? They patronize their own. We can build a new Delta South Senatorial district by creating an environment that employs our talents and utilizes our God-given resources to flourish as a people.
As a former Secretary to the Delta State Government and a former two-term Executive Governor of the state, and also as I be Delta pikin, I know and understand your pains and your needs. You need room to express your God-given talents. As governor, there were a lot of things I wanted to do to open up opportunities and bring economic development to you that I could not do because I was constrained by the laws of our country. This was what fired my desire to represent you at the Senate. We come from a senatorial district that is massively endowed, and all we need to do is to use our imagination, and with the cooperation of our brothers and sisters from other parts of Nigeria, we will drive a New Vision for the people of Delta South Senatorial District. A New Vision that fully explores and exploits our strengths and endowments.
CREATION OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The unemployment level in Delta South Senatorial District is embarrassing, given that the region is the economic hub of Delta State hosting up to 72% of high impact industries, especially in the oil and gas sector. As a result of policy and security challenges which were beyond the state government, many of these industries were either shutdown or were operating way below capacity; therefore, many of the oil service companies in particular that used to give employment to a lot of our people, especially the youth were either shutdown or forced to relocate. For example, the major oil companies for so many years did not prospect for new oil fields and this caused a major disaster in the employment, economic and social life of the people of Delta South Senatorial District.
I believe that focused legislative interventions in the Senate can deal with these challenges and launch Delta South Senatorial District into a phase of development and expansion that will meet the demands of our people. Delta South Senatorial District can be galvanized and developed into the industrial base of the state by taking advantage of the oil and gas and the maritime sectors to create jobs for men, women and youths.
We are also endowed with arable lands that we can use to drive active investments and participation in agriculture and agro-processing. However, over the years, our lands, air and sea have been highly polluted by the activities of the oil industry, especially old pipes, sabotage and oil theft. The review of our extant laws to make them more effective and formulation of new laws in the areas of the environment to prevent further pollution of our air, lands and sea and also to clean up the already polluted environment will be needed to enable every relevant authority do the needful. This will encourage investments in agriculture and agro-processing.
ILLEGAL REFINERIES AND INDUSTRIAL EMPOWERMENT
I know that pragmatic legislation in the Senate can secure legality for the use of indigenous technology for small-scale oil refineries. Scattered all over the Delta South Senatorial District, as it is in many parts of the Niger Delta, are illegal refineries that make use of local technology that is damaging the environment, including soil, water and air pollution which has resulted in the soot crisis in our communities and cities. The legislation of laws in this area will guarantee best-practices and create jobs for men, women and youths in the region, directly and indirectly, in the value chain of crude procurement, refining, petrochemicals, product marketing, logistics, hospitality and other ancillary services.
About 6,000 illegal refineries were reportedly destroyed by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in 2015. Some of these “refineries” were actually rickety science projects that are over-glorified by calling them “oil refineries”. However, among the thousands of illegal refineries, there must be some that are well set-up. Should a country that cannot put its four “legal” refineries in full working order afford to destroy its own indigenous refineries? Illegal refineries should be done away with, but those youths and women should be engaged in better set-up refineries. The illegal refineries that are being destroyed offer a lot of employment for the youths and women, which in turn, relieve the government of the burden of providing jobs for them.
I believe that there has to be a rethink towards the concept of “illegal refineries”. The so-called “illegal refineries” are a testimony of the ingenuity of Nigerian youths and women in their ability to creatively innovate, driven by the daily challenges of their existence. The ingenuity that has been exhibited by the operators of the so-called “illegal refineries” should constitute the foundation of technological breakthrough.
As the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for the promotion and encouragement of indigenous technology in the oil industry and also legislative backing to recognize and reform non-conventional refineries.
EFFECTIVE DISPOSAL OF SEIZED CRUDE
It is no secret that there is a high level of illegal bunkering activities in the Delta South Senatorial District like it is in other parts of the Niger Delta. There has been a lot of government security measures to arrest the situation. These measures have led to the seizure of stolen crude in various vessels, especially the wooden Cotonou boats. The current practice is for security operatives to burn these boats with the confiscated crude or dispose of seized crude oil on the high seas and the creeks. This is assumed to be the best way to discourage crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. Sadly, the destruction of seized crude has not only failed to solve
the problem but has contributed immensely to the degradation of the environment. Destruction of seized crude by burning or disposal at sea pollutes the land, air and water. Furthermore, it is a colossal waste of the nation’s natural resource.
I believe that the nation needs to evolve an effective way to disposing of seized crude without destroying it. This will achieve a three-pronged benefit for: (1) the oil industry, (2) the Niger Delta environment, and (3) the nation’s revenue.
Seized crude would be more beneficial to all if it is effectively
channeled back into the oil industry. For instance, it can form part of the stock made available to registered non-conventional refineries or even sent to the nation’s conventional refineries for processing into petroleum products. This will help the country generate revenue from seized crude, service the oil industry and reduce environmental pollution.
I also believe that effectively disposing of seized crude without destroying it will:
1. Reduce pollution of the air, land and water in the Delta South Senatorial District;
2. Enhance the availability of crude oil to registered
non-conventional refineries operating in the Delta South Senatorial District;
3. and generate revenue for the country as a whole.
As the Senator Representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for legislative backing to evolve effective ways of disposing seized crude that will be beneficial to the community, the environment and the nation.
SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
I am certain that articulate legislative intervention in the Senate can accommodate the youths of Delta South Senatorial District within the security architecture of the region. Community-based policing which entails professional security operatives working hand-in-hand with indigenes of the area to solve problems of crime and disorder is a recognized strategy of keeping peace and order worldwide.
Professional security operatives are usually deployed from
the central commands at the national level to Delta South Senatorial District. Most times, this entails posting of people who know very little or nothing about the terrain, to manage the security of the area. The result, in many instances, is poor security in the creeks.
The terrain of the Niger Delta has always proven to be a great challenge to conventional security forces. This has made their operations quite difficult and sometimes frustrating. As a governor, I started the Delta Waterways Security Committee made up of many of our youths who understood the terrain and could guide the security forces through the creeks when the need arose. These youths who were part of the communities were able to gather intelligence which helped the security agencies preempt planned security breaches arising from community hostilities and sometimes criminalities.
I propose that the local youths and community people should be involved in securing the pipelines and the keeping of peace and order.
Involvement of the people of Delta South Senatorial District in security will:
1. provide employment and economic empowerment for the people;
2. enhance the operations of the Federal security agencies in Delta South Senatorial District as the professional security operatives would be helped to effectively gather intelligence and also to navigate the area by locals who are familiar with the people and the terrain;
3. reduce the level of crime and criminality in Delta South
Senatorial District of Nigeria; and
4. promote a conducive atmosphere for doing business in Delta South Senatorial District.
As the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for legislative backing for the inclusion of the youths of Delta South Senatorial District in the security architecture of the area.
CREATION OF ENDURING WEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: 5% COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OF COMPANIES IN THEIR DOMAIN
The management of Nigeria’s oil industry will remain at the centre of the Niger Delta crises in the country, until the government evolves a realistic and permanent solution. This practical solution will be best premised on addressing the very heart of the matter. One of the reasons Nigeria’s Niger Delta crisis has persisted is related to disharmony between the oil companies and host communities. On the one hand, the host communities tend to make the operational environments of the firms in the oil industry hostile because of perceived or obvious unfriendly disposition of the oil companies to their host communities. While on the other hand, many of the oil companies are unhappy with their host communities on the ground that the host communities do not show understanding of the realities plaguing the oil companies. The above scenario is an indication that the problem in the Niger Delta, which significantly affects the Delta South Senatorial District, is an issue of mutual distrust and suspicion. By extension, therefore, if this mutual distrust and suspicion are addressed, there is hope for lasting peace and development in the oil industry and the host communities.
I firmly believe that one way to achieve lasting peace and development
in the Niger Delta is by community participation and ownership in Nigeria’s oil industry. When communities in the Niger Delta (including those in the Delta South Senatorial District) are allowed to be actively involved in the ownership and management of oil firms domiciled in their areas, they would have firsthand experience of the prospects and challenges in the oil industry and become more realistic in their expectations from them. This will STABILIZE the Niger Delta.
I believe that community participation and ownership in the oil industry will:
(1) enhance the security of infrastructure of the industry in the Delta South Senatorial District as the communities would not be hostile to their own economic interest; (2) create jobs for the people;
(3) benefit the participating communities and their environs by opening up opportunities for the establishment of service firms at second and third tier levels; and
(4) enhance effective management of the oil industry in the Delta South Senatorial District in particular and the Niger Delta, in general.
As the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for legislative backing to recognize community participation and ownership in the oil industry.
OTHER AREAS
In addition to the above, as Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District of Nigeria, I will push for:
1. Legislation on Constitutional role for Traditional Rulers.
2. A collective agenda in the Senate to review extant laws bordering on Peace, Security and Prosperity of the Delta South Senatorial District and
3. provide good and effective representation through a strategy of synergy and feedback with the people of Delta South Senatorial District. To achieve this, we shall hold town hall meetings every six months.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged all 19 presidential candidates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish details of their assets and liabilities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group also urged the candidates’ spouses, and where applicable, their unmarried children under 18, to do the same.
It further advised the candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets and publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the election.
The organisation called on the candidates to instruct their parties, campaign organisations, agents and supporters not to offer or distribute money, gifts or other material inducements in exchange for votes.
The presidential candidates are President Bola Tinubu (APC), Mr Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Mr Peter Obi (NDC), Senator Sandy Onor (PDP), Mr Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Mr Donald Duke (PRP), Mrs Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick (NDP), Mr Chukwu Anita Zugwai (YPP), Mr Rufai Adekunle Omoaje (AA), and Mr Adenuga Sunday (Boot Party).
Others are Mr Memeh Samuel (DLA), Mr Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu (ZLP), Mr Okereke Sunday Chibuzor (LP), Mr Okereke Iken Esther (NRM), Mr Abbas-Bin Aliyu (ADP), Mr Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (NNPP), Mr Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP), Mr Seyi Makinde (APM), and Mr Yusuf Kabiru (APP).
In an open letter to the candidates dated August 8, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged them to “go beyond the bare legal minimum and voluntarily embrace higher standards of transparency, accountability and integrity in seeking Nigeria’s highest elected office.”
SERAP said candidates seeking Nigerians’ mandate to exercise constitutional powers over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions should be willing to subject their personal financial affairs to reasonable public scrutiny before asking for votes.
“Nigerians should not be asked to choose between candidates on the basis of who can spend the most money. They should be able to choose on the basis of policies, competence, integrity, character and their vision for Nigeria,” the organisation said.
SERAP said voluntary pre-election disclosure would enable voters to assess potential conflicts of interest and significant sources of wealth, strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and provide a baseline against which future changes in assets could be assessed if a candidate is elected.
“The 2027 presidential election presents an opportunity for political leaders to show that public office is a public trust. Candidates who voluntarily disclose their assets and reject vote-buying can show that they are prepared to uphold the transparency and accountability they promise to deliver if elected,” it said.
The organisation also cited constitutional and international provisions in support of its call, noting that although the 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their asset declarations before an election, it embodies principles of transparency, accountability, integrity in public office and meaningful participation in government.
SERAP noted that the Constitution already requires elected public officers, including the President, to declare their assets and liabilities.
It cited Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule, which requires public officers to submit declarations of their properties, assets and liabilities, including those of unmarried children under 18, as well as Section 140(1), which requires a person elected President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of office.
On vote-buying, the organisation said the persistent use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters was a major threat to electoral integrity.
“We are also concerned about the persistent use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters. Vote-buying directly undermines the constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to the people,” it said.
SERAP cited Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which provides that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, as well as Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said criminalises bribery and related conduct intended to procure the return of a person to elective office or the vote of an elector.
It added that vote-buying was particularly harmful amid poverty and economic hardship because it exploits economic vulnerability and risks turning a constitutional political right into a financial transaction.
It, therefore, urged the 19 presidential candidates to publish their assets and liabilities before the election, including relevant assets and liabilities of their spouses and unmarried children under 18, and disclose the legitimate sources of significant assets, including business interests, investments, real property, substantial gifts and inheritance, while protecting legitimate personal security and privacy.
The organisation also asked the candidates to commit to updating their public declarations if elected and explaining material increases in wealth; publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery; instruct their campaign organisations and political associates not to distribute money, gifts, food, transportation benefits or other material inducements in exchange for votes; report credible allegations of vote-buying involving their campaign organisations to the appropriate authorities; and sign and publish a public integrity pledge committing themselves, their parties and campaign organisations to peaceful, transparent, accountable and corruption-free elections.
“The choice before Nigerians in 2027 should be a choice based on ideas, policies, competence and integrity—not on who can spend the most money or conceal the most wealth,” it said.
**Tasks Board to Prioritise Improving Livelihoods of Nigerians
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The newly inaugurated board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has been advised to prioritise the well-being and economic progress of ordinary Nigerians in every decision it makes.
This charge was given by the Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, when he inaugurated the board, which has the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, as chairman, and Mr Abba Aliyu as its chief executive.
Mr Tegbe described the board’s constitution as consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s drive to strengthen governance and accountability across public institutions.
He further described the agency as an institution for expanding opportunity, noting that every mini-grid, solar home system and electrified market, school, health centre or farm represents an investment in human capital and economic inclusion.
He pointed to REA’s existing programmes, the Energising Education, Economies and Agriculture Programmes and the Africa Mini-Grids Programme, as evidence of that strategy at work, and noted that the Board, constituted under Section 130 of the Electricity Act, takes office at a defining moment for the organisation.
On governance, the Minister drew a clear line between the board’s non-executive role of strategic direction and oversight and management’s responsibility for day-to-day execution.
He noted that the board meets quarterly to review performance while management retains operational latitude between meetings, subject to full accountability.
Mr Tegbe commended Mr Fayose’s record as a former Governor of Ekiti State, assuring of the Ministry’s continued partnership and a description of electricity as an instrument of inclusion, opportunity and prosperity.
In his remarks, the board chairman described President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Mr Tegbe as a statement of seriousness rather than a routine appointment, a signal that the administration would settle for nothing less than a lasting solution to Nigeria’s power problem.
He called the Minister a technocrat whose technical depth and managerial competence have already produced a positive turning point for the sector, affirming that REA’s leadership was proud to work with him on that effort.
Airport sustainability is no longer a separate environmental project. It is becoming part of daily operational planning, procurement, infrastructure development, and airline partnership discussions. For many airports, the main pressure is to reduce emissions on the ground, improve airside efficiency, and prepare for stricter environmental expectations, while continuing to support aircraft reliably every day.
The challenge is that infrastructure does not change overnight.
Full electrification remains an important direction for aviation ground operations. Fixed 400 Hz power, electric ground support equipment, charging infrastructure, energy management systems, and cleaner stand concepts are all part of the future airport. But in practical terms, many airports are still working through phased investment plans. Grid capacity may be limited. Charging points may not yet cover all operational areas. Remote stands, maintenance zones, cargo aprons, and temporary operating areas may still depend on mobile equipment.
This is where the sustainability conversation needs to become more realistic.
Airports do not have to wait for a complete infrastructure transformation before reducing emissions. There are practical steps that can be taken now, especially in aircraft ground power. The key is to look at emissions reduction as a staged process, not a single final destination.
One of the first areas to assess is the age and efficiency of existing diesel ground power units. In many operations, older GPUs continue to provide essential support because they are mobile, familiar, and independent from fixed power systems. But older diesel platforms may no longer fit the expectations of modern airport sustainability strategies. They can become harder to justify in procurement discussions, environmental reporting, and long-term fleet planning.
Replacing outdated diesel equipment with lower-emission alternatives can be a meaningful step. A modern diesel GPU with Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine technology, for example, can help operators reduce the environmental impact of ground power while keeping the operational independence that many stands and service areas still require. This does not replace the need for electrification. It helps bridge the gap while infrastructure continues to develop.
That bridge matters because airside operations are rarely uniform.
A major hub may have fixed power at many contact stands, but still rely on mobile GPUs for remote aircraft positions, maintenance activities, irregular operations, or construction phases. A regional airport may not yet have the capital or grid capacity for large-scale electrification. An MRO facility may need mobile power that can move between aircraft, hangars, and outdoor working areas. A ground handler may need equipment that supports mixed aircraft types under high turnaround pressure.
For these environments, sustainability must work in real conditions. A solution that looks good in a strategy document but does not support the daily operating model will not last.
Decision-makers should therefore evaluate aircraft ground power through several practical questions. Where is fixed power available today? Where is it planned next? Which stands still require mobile equipment? How many hours do diesel GPUs operate per day? Which aircraft types are supported? Are units oversized, outdated, or difficult to position? Is the equipment aligned with current emissions standards? Can it support cleaner operation where grid power is available?
These questions often reveal that the best path is not a single equipment choice, but a balanced fleet strategy.
Fixed power should be used where infrastructure is mature and operationally reliable. Battery-powered equipment can be introduced where duty cycles, charging plans, and climate conditions are suitable. Lower-emission diesel and plug-in hybrid ground power units can support areas where independence, runtime, and flexibility remain critical. Together, these solutions allow airports to reduce emissions without weakening operational resilience.
Plug-in hybrid utility power functionality is especially relevant in this transition phase. When external utility power is available, the unit can operate with reduced fuel use. When it is not available, the same equipment can continue supporting aircraft independently. This gives airports and operators more flexibility as infrastructure develops stand by stand, rather than forcing a complete change before the airside environment is ready.
Compact design also plays a role in sustainable operations. Airports often focus on emissions, but space efficiency is part of the same discussion. Crowded aprons create movement challenges, increase operational friction, and affect safety. A compact mobile GPU that provides the required output without adding unnecessary equipment bulk can support cleaner, more organized, and more efficient aircraft servicing.
This is why modern ground power procurement should not be based only on output figures. Power rating matters, but so do emissions performance, footprint, maneuverability, serviceability, spare parts strategy, operating environment, and fit with future infrastructure plans. Airports need equipment that can serve today’s operation while remaining relevant as sustainability expectations continue to rise.
For a deeper look at how this transition applies to aircraft ground power, ElectroAir has outlined its view on lower-emission ground power and the practical role of modern mobile GPUs in supporting airport sustainability before full electrification is possible. The company’s ElectroAir APA-100 is one example of this approach, combining compact mobile design, Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine technology, and optional plug-in hybrid utility power for operators that need both reliability and a more future-conscious path.
The next stage of airport sustainability will be built through practical progress. Some changes will come from major infrastructure investment. Others will come from better equipment decisions, smarter fleet planning, and the replacement of outdated assets with more efficient alternatives.
For airports, the priority is not to choose between today’s operation and tomorrow’s goals. The priority is to connect them. Ground power is one of the places where that connection can already begin.
