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Chinese President To Visit Egypt As Bilateral Relations Deepen

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Chinese President To Visit Egypt As Bilateral Relations Deepen

China’s President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Egypt for the first time in 10 years, in a move that is expected to deepen economic, trade and strategic cooperation between China and Africa.

Xi will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for talks on expanding their comprehensive strategic partnership and promoting cooperation in important sectors such as trade, investment and infrastructure and security.

The leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international affairs, with a special focus on boosting cooperation between China and African countries against the backdrop of shifting global economic and geopolitical landscapes.

The visit comes on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China, a partnership which has blossomed into one of China’s most important relationships on the African continent.

Bilateral ties have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership since 2014 and cooperation between the two countries has expanded significantly in economic, industrial and defense sectors.

Economic relations have continued to deepen, with Egyptian companies signing 17 export deals worth some 168 million dollars with Chinese buyers last month. The pacts include agricultural products, textiles, minerals and engineering goods.

China remains one of Egypt’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching some $19.52 billion in 2025, the Egyptian Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade said.

Defense cooperation has expanded beyond trade, with the two countries holding the joint Eagles of Civilization 2026 air exercise at Egyptian military bases earlier this month.

The visit highlights Egypt’s emerging role as a strategic gateway for Chinese investment and engagement in Africa, and is a boost to Beijing’s wider efforts to forge stronger partnerships across the continent, analysts say.

The visit is expected to result in new agreements aimed at boosting economic cooperation, opening up markets and supporting development projects that support Africa’s industrialization and trade ambitions.

Eight Killed As Severe Flooding Hits Nepal, Cuts Power Supply

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Eight Killed As Severe Flooding Hits Nepal, Cuts Power Supply

Nepal has sent helicopters to assist in rescue operations after a massive flash flood washed through villages in the Himalayan nation killing at least eight people and damaging roads, bridges and hydropower projects near the border with Tibet.

China’s Xinhua news agency, over the border, reported major casualties and missing people in Tibet’s Gyirong County following a mudslide at a border crossing between China and Nepal.

In Nepal’s Rasuwa district, floodwaters were too high for helicopters to land in the affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure. Officials warned that casualties and property losses could be high.

“There could be heavy casualties or loss of property,” district administrator Narendra Pariyar told Reuters. * “But I cannot say for sure now.”

Pariyar said residents living along the Bhote Koshi river had been advised to move to higher ground after reports of villages and infrastructure project sites being washed away.

A witness told the Onlinekhabar portal, “It all happened suddenly.”*We heard a big sound, like a volcano exploding. Suddenly people started screaming and ran away.”

Nepal’s army said rescue helicopters would be unable to land until floodwaters receded.

It was not clear what caused the flooding. A fatal flash flood on the same river last year was linked to the draining of a glacier lake.

The mudslide also hit China’s Gyirong port, cutting roads, communications and electricity supplies in the Shigatse region near the Nepal border, Xinhua said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered massive search efforts for the missing and called for better monitoring and early-warning systems to prevent future disasters.

Nepal’s Energy Ministry said about 430 megawatts of electricity supply had been affected, mostly from hydropower projects.

Based on official statistics, the affected capacity is estimated to be over 12 per cent of Nepal’s total 3.2 gigawatt hydropower capacity.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said police and military personnel were helping with rescue and relief operations.

“Instructions have been given … to shift the people living in the lower areas to safer places,” he said. *“People living beside the river are advised to be more vigilant and be on the alert.

The Bhote Koshi River originates in Tibet and merges with Nepal’s Trishuli River, which enters India as the Gandak River.

Nine people died and 24 were missing in flooding on the Bhote Koshi last year, destroying a bridge connecting Nepal and China and halting trade and transport for months.

A regional climate monitor later attributed the disaster to the draining of a supraglacial lake in Tibet.

ICRC: 17,000 Nigerians Still Missing Amid North-East Insurgency

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ICRC: 17,000 Nigerians Still Missing Amid North-East Insurgency

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said an estimated 17,000 Nigerians, most of them missing after attacks in insurgency-troubled parts of the Northeast and other conflict zones, remain unaccounted for.

The update was released Wednesday, ahead of this year’s observance of the International Day of the Disappeared, an annual event observed August 30.

The latest figure is a drop of around 6,000 from last year, when the ICRC said that 23,659 missing persons were being sought by their families.

The latest figure was given during an event in Yola by the Protection of Family Links Delegate at the ICRC Mubi office, Emeline Montel, who said about 3,000 of the missing persons were from Adamawa State.

The figures were based on cases recorded by the ICRC, which helps families trace missing relatives and reestablish contact when possible, Montel explained.

She was talking to journalists during a public sanitation exercise, street cleaning, remembrance and awareness campaign organized by relatives of missing persons and supported by the ICRC as part of activities leading up to the August 30 International Day of the Disappeared.

Relatives of missing people who participated in the exercise said the community clean-up was also intended to highlight the plight of thousands of families whose lives have been ripped apart by the disappearance of loved ones.

Many of the missing were breadwinners and young people trying to build their lives, they said.

Habiba Mustapha, a member of the Association of Families of Disappeared Persons, who took part in the street cleaning in Yola, said the fate of four of her relatives was still unknown.

Gwoza indigene Habiba, who was displaced from Borno State to Adamawa, said her family had faced prolonged emotional and economic hardship due to the disappearance of her relatives.

“The loss of my relatives remains a continuing source of emotional distress and economic hardship. Some of the missing were breadwinners. Our children are out of school. “Look at me here in an entirely new environment,” she said.

Bandits Kill Brother Of Tinubu’s Minister, Triggering Tension

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Bandits Kill Brother Of Tinubu’s Minister, Triggering Tension

Suspected bandits have reportedly killed the elder brother of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

The victim was said to be the Village Head of Galla in Borgu Emirate, Niger state.

The attackers allegedly invaded his palace on Monday, August 24, 2026, an attack that has reportedly thrown the residents of the community into a state of confusion.

Sources familiar with the development told reports that the monarch had earlier warned the bandits to stay away from the community.

His warning, it is said, the criminals took as an insult and returned later to attack him in his palace.

The killing has heightened fear over the security situation in the Borgu Emirate with bandit attacks and other criminal activities reportedly on the increase in recent times.

When contacted, the Niger State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said he had received inquiries about the incident.

However he said he would get back with details after getting the required information.

It was gathered that at the time of filing this report, the police spokesman was yet to issue an official statement confirming the killing or details about the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army troops have rescued 14 persons who were reportedly kidnaped from bandits in Zamfara State.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA by Sector 2 in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state also put an end to the criminals’ plans to carry out another abduction.

The troops are said to have acted swiftly after receiving information on the criminals’ suspicious movements around Magazu village on August 26, 2026.

The troops entered the area and came across a group of armed men who were allegedly trying to kidnap civilians, including motorists, the military said.

The operatives came face to face with the suspected criminals, compelling them to abandon their vehicle and run into the surrounding bushes.

Troops searched the area and found 14 victims already held hostage by the attackers.

One of the victims that was rescued sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and was immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Tsafe, where he was admitted for treatment.

The military said no personnel were killed or injured in the operation.

The military said the latest rescue was part of the efforts of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to disrupt the activities of criminal groups and prevent them from freely operating across the Zamfara State.

The troops also reiterated their determination to protect the lives of residents and motorists and deny bandits the opportunity to carry out more attacks in the area.

2027 Election: Atiku Rejects Debates Excluding Tinubu, APC

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2027 Election: Atiku Rejects Debates Excluding Tinubu, APC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to boycott any presidential debate that does not include President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was reported that Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by his campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo.

Atiku frowned at the practice of organising debates involving only opposition candidates, describing it as untenable and a strategy the APC government has been using to instigate further attacks among the opposition.

According to Atiku, presidential debates should allow both the ruling party and opposition parties to present their policies and programmes to Nigerians.

The statement reads, “Political contest worldwide has always been between the ruling party and the opposition parties. Presidential debates worldwide have also been organised between the ruling party and the opposition.

“The situation in Nigeria today in which presidential debates are organised among the opposition parties only is therefore untenable. This has become a strategy that the failed, incompetent, and corrupt APC government under Tinubu has been using to further instigate the opposition to attack each other while shielding itself from scrutiny by the Nigerian people.

“HE Atiku Abubakar, as the leader of the coalition of opposition parties and leaders, is left with no other choice than to make his appearance in any presidential debates conditional on the participation of President Bola Tinubu and the APC. There is no hiding place for APC in 2027.

“HE Atiku Abubakar is willing to engage the Nigerian people through interviews, townhall meetings, press conferences, and any other forum of interaction with the people but will not participate in any arrangement that will pit the opposition against itself and give undue advantage to APC.

“HE Atiku Abubakar, therefore, challenges President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate which will provide an opportunity for both the ruling party and the opposition parties to address Nigerians on their policies and ways to achieve those policies so that Nigerians can make an informed choice for the 2027 elections.”

Nigeria Trip Ends in Tragedy as Russian Chess Official Dies of Malaria

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Nigeria Trip Ends in Tragedy as Russian Chess Official Dies of Malaria

Russian chess official, Sergei Indeikin, has died at the age of 36 after reportedly developing a severe form of malaria following a work trip to Nigeria.

Indeikin, who served as an operational manager and delegate of the International Chess Federation, FIDE, travelled to Abuja earlier in August for the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.

FIDE’s coverage of the competition confirmed his presence in Abuja, where he was listed among the officials involved in the tournament. The championship was held from August 1 to 8.

FIDE announced Indeikin’s death on August 23, describing it as the result of a “sudden illness” without publicly identifying the specific medical condition.

However, Russian business newspaper RBC, citing Indeikin’s mother, Tatiana, reported that he had contracted a severe form of malaria while on the work trip.

His mother said he was taken to hospital after returning to Perm, but his condition had already deteriorated significantly.

“It was a very rapidly progressing illness. The most severe form,” she was quoted as saying by RBC.

Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty, AIF, also reported that Indeikin travelled to Abuja before proceeding to Uzbekistan, where he began experiencing health problems.

His father, Alexander, told the publication that information provided by his son’s colleagues at FIDE suggested that malaria could have been responsible for his condition.

Indeikin later travelled through Moscow to his home city of Perm, where his health reportedly worsened. An ambulance was called and he was subsequently admitted to hospital, but efforts to save his life were unsuccessful.

AIF reported that relatives and colleagues believed he contracted the illness during his time in Nigeria.

The newspaper also quoted medical expert Professor Alexander Lukashev as explaining that malaria can be transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito in Nigeria and other tropical regions.

Other Russian media organisations, including Lenta.ru, reported that Indeikin was bitten by a mosquito while attending the chess tournament in Nigeria and that the bite was suspected to have transmitted the malaria parasite.

Indeikin had been involved in FIDE events since 2021 and played a role in organising several major international competitions, including World Championship matches, World Cups, Candidates tournaments and World Rapid and Blitz Championships.

FIDE described him as an important member of its operations team who travelled extensively to help ensure that major chess events were successfully organised.

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

However, while Indeikin’s family and several Russian media reports have linked his illness to severe malaria allegedly contracted during his trip to Nigeria, FIDE has officially attributed his death only to a sudden illness and has not independently confirmed malaria as the medical cause of death.

Fuel Subsidy Controversy Deepens as Economists, IPMAN, PETROAN Weigh In

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Fuel Subsidy Controversy Deepens as Economists, IPMAN, PETROAN Weigh In

Economists and stakeholders in Nigeria’s petroleum sector have weighed in on the ongoing debate over fuel subsidy amid volatility in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and other petroleum products.

It was reported that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, recently reignited the debate over fuel subsidy after declaring that he would restore the policy if elected president in 2027.

Atiku proposed the return of fuel subsidy as part of his economic recovery plan for Nigeria.

According to him, his proposal is based on subsidising fuel from crude oil production rather than refined petroleum product imports.

Atiku’s stance represents a major shift from his earlier position since 1999, when he advocated the removal of fuel subsidy.

The ADC presidential candidate’s position has stirred reactions from the incumbent administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other opposition leaders.

It was reported that President Tinubu’s first major policy announcement after assuming office on May 29, 2023, was the removal of fuel subsidy, which became widely associated with his remark, “fuel subsidy is gone.”

The policy took effect immediately, with attendant economic effects, as petrol pump prices rose significantly, contributing to higher inflation and increased living costs.

It was reported-+ that petrol prices rose from a national average of N545 per litre to between N1,230 and N1,299 per litre in Abuja and its environs as of August 24, 2026.

Three years after the removal of fuel subsidy, the Tinubu administration said the country saved N15.8 trillion from the policy between June 2023 and December 2025.

Read Also: A New Dawn in Benue: The People Are Finding Their Voice in the Labour Party

According to the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, the Federal Government, states and local governments received N5.43 trillion, N6.52 trillion and N3.88 trillion, respectively, from funds mobilised through fuel subsidy removal.

He, however, noted that during the period under review, the Tinubu administration incurred additional expenditure of N30.64 trillion on wage adjustments, debt, infrastructure and electricity subsidies.

Meanwhile, Atiku criticised the Tinubu administration’s breakdown of fuel subsidy removal savings as unsatisfactory, insisting on the return of the policy if elected president.

However, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, disagreed with Atiku over the return of fuel subsidy.

Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Rivers State on Monday, the former Anambra State governor said the savings from subsidy removal had been mismanaged by the Tinubu administration.

“I subscribe and maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds shouldn’t be the reason for not removing it,” he said.

Economists and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, in separate interviews, provided fresh perspectives and shared their positions on the fuel subsidy debate.

Don’t return to blanket fuel subsidy – Oyedokun
Professor of accounting and economist, Godwin Oyedokun, while reacting, urged the Federal Government to focus on targeted subsidies for vulnerable Nigerians and productive sectors rather than returning to blanket fuel subsidy.

Oyedokun said the debate over fuel subsidy should go beyond the politics of the 2027 general elections, noting that while the return of subsidy could provide immediate relief to Nigerians, it could also recreate the fiscal challenges associated with the policy.

According to him, Atiku’s proposal could lead to lower costs of petrol, transportation and food in the short term.

However, he warned that a blanket subsidy could bring back the fiscal burden, leakages, smuggling and corruption that contributed to the unsustainability of the former subsidy regime.

“President Tinubu’s continuation of subsidy removal has the potential to improve government finances and create resources for infrastructure and social investment.

“The problem is that Nigerians who have borne the pain of higher fuel and transport costs are yet to see a sufficiently clear and measurable social dividend from the savings,” he told in an interview on Monday.

Oyedokun said the central issue should not be whether Nigeria should have fuel subsidy or not, but how the government can cushion the impact of reforms on vulnerable citizens.

“Therefore, the real issue is not simply subsidy or no subsidy. Government should subsidise vulnerable Nigerians and productive sectors rather than indiscriminately subsidising petrol.

“Savings from subsidy removal should be transparently channelled into mass transportation, electricity, healthcare, education and targeted social protection,” he added.

The economist stressed that Nigerians should not have to choose between economic stability and affordable living standards.

He said the success of the Tinubu administration’s fuel subsidy removal should ultimately be measured by whether the sacrifices Nigerians are making translate into improved living conditions.

“Nigerians should not be forced to choose between economic stability and affordable living.

“The real test of the Tinubu reform is whether the sacrifices Nigerians are making today will translate into a better standard of living tomorrow,” he said.

Oyedokun also urged political parties preparing for the 2027 elections to present voters with clear, costed and transparent energy policies.

He cautioned against turning fuel subsidy into an electoral slogan, saying Nigerians deserve to understand how each party intends to address fuel affordability while maintaining fiscal sustainability.

“Ahead of 2027, political parties should present Nigerians with clear, costed and transparent energy policies rather than use fuel subsidy merely as an electoral slogan,” he said.

Fix Nigerian refineries, not fuel subsidy return – IPMAN
The spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, said the debate over fuel subsidy should focus on the revival of Nigeria’s refineries, including the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

Ukadike said restoring the country’s refineries and petroleum infrastructure would boost competition and help reduce petrol price volatility.

According to him: “All these things are negative. The issue before this President is the restoration of all the refineries that are working in Nigeria. The restoration and revival of all the pipelines.

“The restoration and revival of the 21 depots in Nigeria.

“Whether we remove subsidy or not does not arise because competition will calm down the price volatility and reduce price drastically.

“Not only will it drive competition, it will also reduce the dependency of exports on dollar exchange.”

Ukadike further advised Atiku to focus on reviving Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity rather than advocating for the return of fuel subsidy.

“I also believe that Atiku Abubakar should also do some homework and understand that it is not bringing back subsidy that is our problem. Get the refinery to work again,” he told.

Fuel subsidy return means lack of love for Nigeria – PETROAN president
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, also criticised calls for the return of fuel subsidy, describing the policy as a “loss of opportunity” for Nigeria.

Gillis-Harry said previous administrations borrowed nearly N2 trillion to fund fuel subsidies instead of investing the funds in human capital and national development.

According to him, the subsidy regime deprived Nigeria of resources that could have been deployed to develop the country.

“The subsidy that we were operating under all the administrations was a stark loss of opportunity for the future of Nigeria.

“How? So, we were borrowing nearly N2 trillion to pay subsidy, not to develop Nigeria, not to develop human capacity, not to do anything, prior to the President’s arrival on the 29th of May, 2023.

“And for a man who was ready for the job, he declared subsidy is gone. And it is gone to today,” he said.

The PETROAN president noted that subsidy removal was discussed by all presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 election.

He argued that any attempt to restore the subsidy would undermine Nigeria’s interests.

“Now, subsidy removal was a subject of discussion by all the presidential candidates. So, if there is a reason why any one of them is thinking to say subsidy will be brought in the back, it shows that they don’t love Nigeria. They don’t love Nigeria,” Gillis-Harry said.

He also questioned how the government would finance a proposed reduction of petrol prices to N500 per litre.

“Where is he going to get the money to reduce it to N500 per litre? So, he’s going to go back and go to China and get a loan of a billion dollars,” he said.

A New Dawn in Benue: The People Are Finding Their Voice in the Labour Party

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A New Dawn in Benue: The People Are Finding Their Voice in the Labour Party
~ Leadership you can trust ~
~The Okanga impact ~
By Enyigwe Peter Ogaba
Today, Benue State, Enone is witnessing a political awakening that cannot be ignored.
From the streets of our communities to the villages, towns and cities across the state, the message is becoming clearer: the people are yearning for a new direction, a new hope and a new political home.
The massive movement into the Labour Party is more than just the changing of party membership cards. It is a reflection of the feelings, aspirations and expectations of ordinary Benue people who want a political platform that gives them a voice and makes their dreams matter.
People are moving because they want to be heard.
They are moving because they want leadership that remembers the farmer in the village, the young graduate searching for employment, the trader struggling to keep a business alive, the civil servant working tirelessly to provide for a family, and the vulnerable citizen who simply wants security, dignity and opportunity.
This is not merely about politicians. This is about the people.
The political atmosphere in Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo has continued to experience significant realignments ahead of 2027. Rep. Philip Agbese’s movement from the APC to the Labour Party, for example, was publicly explained by him as a decision driven by the wishes and interests of his constituents.
And as more people gather under the Labour Party umbrella, one message must remain at the heart of the movement: politics must be about service, not selfishness; unity, not division; development, not empty promises.
The people of Enone deserve a government and political leadership that understands their pain and respects their dreams.
They deserve a future where our young people do not have to abandon their homeland in search of opportunities elsewhere.
They deserve farms where farmers can work without fear, schools where children can learn in dignity, hospitals where lives can be saved, roads that connect communities, and an economy that gives every hardworking citizen a fair chance to prosper.
Therefore, this massive decamping should not simply be celebrated as a political victory.
It should be regarded as a solemn responsibility.
Every person joining the Labour Party is bringing along a hope. Every supporter is bringing a dream. Every decampee is saying, in one way or another, “I believe Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo can be better.”
That belief must never be betrayed.
To those joining the movement, let your decision be guided by conscience, peace and the genuine interest of Benue State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Do not allow political differences to destroy friendships, families and communities. Elections will come and go, but Enone will remain our common home.
Let us build a political movement where the voice of the ordinary man is respected.
Let us build a movement where young people have a future.
Let us build a movement where women are empowered, farmers are protected, workers are valued and communities are developed.
Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo is not hopeless. Enone is not forgotten. Enone is rising.
The massive movement into the Labour Party is a reminder that when people become convinced that a better future is possible, they will rise, speak and take a stand.
This is not just a decamping.
It is a declaration of hope.
It is a declaration that the people matter.
It is a declaration that the future of Benue must be built by people who genuinely believe in Benue.
And above all, it is a declaration that a new political chapter is beginning.
The people have spoken.
The people are moving.
The people are hopeful.
The people are ready.
Forward ever, Labour Party.
Forward ever, Benue State.
Forward ever Benue State labour party Chairman, Hon. Ochonu William Okefie
Forward ever Hon. Philip Agbese

Electricity Grid: NISO Pushes For Stronger Stakeholder Collaboration

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Electricity Grid: NISO Pushes For Stronger Stakeholder Collaboration

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has called for increased collaboration among the stakeholders of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to enhance the stability, reliability and resilience of the country’s electricity grid.

The call was made by Abdu Bello Mohammed, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO in his opening remarks at a two-day workshop on “Strengthening Grid Stability: A Collaborative Workshop for NESI Stakeholders” in Jebba Power Station.

“The power system continues to operate under complex conditions, including generation and transmission constraints, changing demand patterns, frequency excursions and voltage-security challenges,” Mohammed said.

Sudden generation or load losses, inaccurate forecasting and scheduling, faults, inadequate system inertia and the response of generating units during system events can cause frequency disturbances, he said.Electricity Grid: NISO Pushes For Stronger Stakeholder Collaboration

“We need accurate operational information, sufficient frequency and voltage control resources, efficient reserve management and strict adherence to the Grid Code to maintain stability of the electric power grid,” said the head of NISO.

Mohammed also stressed the need for improved coordination between NISO, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Generation Companies (GenCos), Distribution Companies (DisCos), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), policymakers and other stakeholders in the industry.

“System planning will become more and more important as Nigeria develops new generation projects, transmission infrastructure and other greenfield investments,” said Mohammed.

He said the successful integration of such projects would require a careful assessment of transmission capacity, system strength, operational flexibility, reserve requirements and future electricity demand.

“The workshop was expected to yield practical measures including enhanced frequency and voltage control, greater coordination in system disturbances and better alignment between immediate operational needs and long-term grid expansion plans,” NISO chief said.

He reiterated NISO’s commitment to ensuring a stable, resilient and responsive electricity grid that would support Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

FIFA Faces Growing Calls For Reform As Footballers Turn Up Pressure On Infantino

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FIFA Faces Growing Calls For Reform As Footballers Turn Up Pressure On Infantino

A group of current and former footballers have joined the growing calls for change at the top of FIFA, as pressure continues to mount on the world governing body’s president, Gianni Infantino.

Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre led the intervention on Monday with a statement titled “Enough is Enough!” The 48-year-old, who serves on Fifa’s 16-member Players’ Voice Panel, shared the message on 𝕏, where it received support from England defender Lucy Bronze, former France international Emmanuel Petit and ex-England goalkeeper David James.

The players said they shared “the same concerns as the millions of fans around the world”, while criticising Infantino’s controversial plan to sell stakes in major football competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

“We have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa’s current leadership,” the statement read.

“For too long we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.”

The group called for “structural change” within FIFA and demanded a greater role for players and supporters in the way football is governed.

“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football. Recent events have made silence impossible.”

Silvestre’s involvement has increased the significance of the growing opposition, given his role within FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel, which the governing body established to help monitor and advise its efforts to tackle racism in football.

The latest criticism comes as Infantino faces mounting opposition over the FIFA Forward Enterprise controversy. Several football confederations and national associations have withdrawn their support, while UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has also said he expects Infantino to resign or face a challenge when FIFA holds its next presidential election in March. The football associations of England, Wales and Scotland have also withdrawn their support for the FIFA president.

However, Infantino continues to receive backing from some quarters, with former Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o defending his leadership.

“I remain convinced that for us as Africans, this project was something that could have been incredible,” Eto’o told CNN on Monday.

“It would have reset the balance of power in football to ensure that our talent doesn’t disappear and end up playing for other nations.

“Infantino has changed football. He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions. He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that.”

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