- The Nigerian government has approved a multi-billion hydro electricity dam project in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the state governor, Namadi Sambo has said.
The approval of the power generation comes barely a week after Nigeria’s power utility company shut down four power plants due to gas shortages in the country.
Mr Sambo said that the town would be one of the areas to benefit from the project when completed. The dam project, which initially cost N5 billion and was designed to supply water but was later reviewed to also generate electricity to parts of the state. Current cost is estimate at N11 billion.
Nigeria, which has been experiencing power outages in some parts of the country, may get worse as gas shortages plague the power production firm in the country. The power generation has dropped to 2 700 Mw from 3 710Mw at the end of last year.
The power shortages have been widely blamed on the inadequate gas supply to the various thermal plants leading to the drastic short-fall in power generation countrywide.
The Federal Government is banking on the opportunity to get 1,345mw lifeline from a number of ongoing power projects such as the National Integrated Power Projects (1110mw), Wind Farm Power Project (10mw) in Katsina and LPFO/Gas thermal generation plant in Kaduna (215mw) to realise the 6,000mw target not later than March this year.
A nation of more than 140 million people is expected to feel the hitch with the inadequate gas supply that has led to a loss of over 80110Mw.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.