By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has made a pledge to electricity generating companies known as Gencos on the payment of 50 per cent of a N4 trillion debt to avert a promised halt in electricity generation in the country.

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, made this promise on Thursday, saying that while the government can’t pay the entire N4 trillion, it would clear N2 trillion before the end of the year.

Business Post reports that of the N4 trillion owed, N2 trillion is for electricity generated in 2024, while around N1.9 trillion represents legacy debts.

On Monday, GenCos threatened to shut down the country’s power generation over the debt owed by the federal government.

The GenCos lamented that the mounting liabilities were crippling their ability to operate and threatening a total shutdown of electricity generation in Nigeria.

Mr Adelabu said the government has put in place measures to defray the debt through budgetary allocation and promissory notes.

“Almost all of the debt is inherited, while about half came from 2024.

“There are plans under way to clear the debt; while I am not sure that the debt will be cleared 100 per cent, it will be paid gradually.

“The modes of payment are of two ways: we have some budgetary allocation that will facilitate cash payment, and we are also in discussion with Gencos to get them some promissory notes. I can tell you that before now to the end of the year, we are going to pay close to N2 trillion of the 4 trillion,” he said.

He also revealed that Nigeria has achieved a 35 per cent reduction in electricity subsidies following a tariff increase implemented last year for some users.

The government last year eliminated subsidies for the 15 per cent of customers classified as premium users of electricity, including households and businesses consuming larger amounts of electricity under Band A, meaning they paid higher than other classes from Band B to E.

Mr Adelabu said this targeted tariff adjustment has yielded significant results, with “the market generating an additional N700 billion  in revenue, reflecting a 70 per cent increase.”

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The presidency has informed that Nigerians that the absence of President Bola Tinubu remains temporary and was not missing in action.

In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was disclosed Mr Tinubu should return to the country next week.

Some days ago, President Tinubu left the shores of the country for a “working visit” to France but later left the European nation for the United Kingdom at the weekend.

In the statement today, Mr Onanuga said his boss “remains fully engaged in Nigeria’s governance even though he is away in Europe.”

According to him, “His absence remains temporary and in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks.”

The spokesman said Mr Tinubu “has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.”

“His return to Abuja and the resumption of duties at Aso Villa will follow the conclusion of the Easter holiday,” he declared.

“The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership.

“We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption,” the statement noted.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and Kogi State could not hide their joy recently over the distribution of some food items to them by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF).

The N16 billion Annual National Food Intervention programme was launched last month by the organisation to support the poor and the vulnerable persons across Nigeria.

At the flag off on Tuesday in Abuja, the Senior Special Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Ms Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, said 10,000 bags of 10kg rice were donated to the FCT for distribution to the beneficiaries.

According to her, the initiative is to support governments at all levels to cushion the effects of economic challenges in the country, noting that it started in 2024 when the company donated food worth N15 billion to all the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

She described her boss, Mr Aliko Dangote, as someone who is passionate about giving back to society, especially the needy.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, who was represented by Ango Abdullahi Suleiman, said the government appreciates Mr Dangote’s gesture, saying the businessman has contributed enormously to the economic development of Nigeria, while promising to ensure that the food items reach the poor.

In Kogi State, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Rabietu Okute, said 40,000 bags of 10kg rice have been received from the ADF and distributed to the poor and vulnerable persons in the state.

On the distribution process, she explained that it followed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s directive, with a committee set up to ensure the food items reach vulnerable residents across the state.

Mrs Okute stated that the distribution was flagged off in the state on March 26, 2025.

“We shared the 40,000 bags of rice through the 21 Local Government Areas. The LGAs also shared the product to the 239 wards.

“Before this, a committee of 12 persons per Local Government was set up, and the state government moblized the committees. The products were distributed to vulnerable groups like the union of disabilities and the 23 orphanages in the state,” she said.

In his remarks, the General Manager for Community Affairs and Special Duties at Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, who supervised the distribution on behalf of ADF, said the food donation to Kogi would further boost the relationship between the company and the state.