Effective immediately, Governor Hope Uzodimma has suspended all activities connected to the operations of Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) till further notice.

He did on Monday, November 10, 2025, following report of an incident that occurred in Owerri, linked to ENTRACO operations, which claimed the life of a person and left another in critical situation in the hospital.

Governor Uzodimma said he was not unmindful of other recent ugly incidents where the mode of operations of ENTRACO was brought to question by members of the public.

However, the Governor warned that immediate suspension of ENTRACO operations is not a license for members of the public to take traffic, environmental, and other laws into their hands as those found to be in violation of such laws will pay dearly for it.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser Media to the Governor
November 10, 2025.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasised the need for Africa’s vast youth population to assume leadership roles across the continent.

He stated that young people must recognise that they are no longer merely the leaders of tomorrow, but of today.

Obasanjo urged the youth to channel their large numbers positively to bring about the long-awaited transformation in Africa.

His remarks came as former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), said that United States President Donald Trump’s “guns-a-blazing” threat over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria should serve as a wake-up call for the country’s leaders to intensify efforts against insecurity.

Both made their statements on Monday at the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat, themed “Africa and the Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East”, organised by the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Ekwutosblog reports that the annual lecture attracted participants from across Nigeria and other African countries.

It will be recalled that Trump recently threatened possible military intervention in Nigeria amid allegations of large-scale violence against Christians. He declared that he had directed the Pentagon to prepare “possible action” if the Nigerian government failed to curb the killings, warning of aid suspension and a potential “guns-a-blazing” attack.

Addressing the youth, Obasanjo said, “You are leaders of today because if you leave tomorrow in the hands of leaders who are there today, they will destroy it; you won’t have your tomorrow.

“You can see that happening almost everywhere. Cameroon just had an election. My brother, Paul Biya, is 92. So, what are you going to do with the youths, or are there no youths in Cameroon?”

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday in Abuja, assured the technical contractor handling the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), Siemens Energy, of the government’s full commitment to improving the country’s electricity supply and enhancing the livelihoods of its citizens.

At a meeting at the State House with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director of Middle East and Africa, President Tinubu noted that the power sector remains central to stimulating the economy, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.

The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the coordinating minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, attended the meeting.

The President stated that the completion of the phased power project will give Nigeria a place of pride on the continent by harnessing the latent potential in human and material resources across various sectors.

“There is no industrial growth or economic development without power. I believe that power is the most significant discovery of humanity in the last 1,000 years.

“I appreciate the partnership on the initiative. The progress of the project to date is notable, and we can feel it. But it is not where we want it to be.

“We appreciate the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens. The investment you are making and your commitment align with the future of this country.

“Our education, our health care and our transportation all depend on energy and without power, it is an impossible objective. We are taking it very seriously,’’ he added.

The President also directed the expansion of some major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply.

“We are all inspired and happy. This is what we want to achieve on the continent. We want everyone to see the glory of our economic recovery and banishment of poverty,’’ he said.

The President assured the delegation that the government will continue to provide the needed resources for the power project.

The Power Minister, Adelabu, stated that the power sector had achieved many critical milestones, including the decentralisation and liberalisation of the sector.

He noted that the President signed the Electricity Act 2023, and a National Integrated Electricity Policy was developed after 24 years, attracting more than $2 2billiopn of fresh investments.

The minister noted that the policy had resulted in the activation of fifteen state electricity markets.

“Since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, an event you personally attended alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the PPI has recorded notable milestones across its implementation phases.

“ Under the Pilot phase (Phase Zero), we have achieved significant infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements that are already impacting grid stability and reliability across the country.

“Siemens Energy has successfully delivered and commissioned 10 units of 132/33kV mobile substations, three units of 75/100MVA transformers, and seven units of 60/66MVA transformers across key load centres nationwide, which have added 984mv of transmission capacity to the grid,’’ the minister stated.

Adelabu informed the President that in December 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved the commencement of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One, Batch One of the PPI.

The minister stated that the scope encompasses the upgrade, installation, and commissioning of five key substations situated in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.

“I am pleased to report that plans for civil works mobilisation across all five locations have been finalised, concurrent manufacturing of the required equipment is ongoing, and two of the five substations are targeted for completion by the end of 2026.

“ As we consolidate the gains from the Pilot Phase and Phase One-First Batch, we are also preparing to advance to Phase One-Batch two, which has a scope for the construction of new substations and the upgrade of existing ones across key load centres nationwide. Collectively, Phase One -Batch Two of the PPI comprises a total of six (6) Brownfield and ten (10) Greenfield substations with a cumulative impact of 4,104MW”.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated that the completion of the PPI will enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create more jobs for the youth, and reduce poverty.

The leader of the Siemens delegation, Siersdorfer, stated that two out of the five substations under construction are expected to be completed by December 2026.

He noted that a training centre was already under construction to ensure the training of local talents in electrical engineering, create more jobs, capture local content, and transfer technology.

“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,’’ he stated.

He informed the President that the PPI will transform Nigeria into a regional power hub, reflecting the depth of relations between Germany and Nigeria.

“Nigerian professionals will be engaged directly in the five project sites in Batch 1 for the site works, while thousands of jobs will be enabled in the local communities through purchased services, accommodation, and transportation, among others. These will further reflect the strength of our partnership and the viability of the roadmap we have built together,’’ Siersdorfer noted.

The German Ambassador’s representative, Johannes Lehne, assured President Tinubu of further support and collaboration with the German government.