USA Provides $767,512 Grant for Renewable Energy Deployment in 25 Communities

The United States of America has announced a fresh grant of $767,512 (241.6 million Naira) to support the development of renewable energy in Nigeria.

The grant, which was received by Community Energy Enterprises Limited (CESEL), a private Nigerian company, is for the development of solar micro grids in 25 communities across Nigeria in Bayelsa, Ondo, Ogun and Osun states. CESEL, and its American counterpart, Renewvia Energy Corporation, signed the $767,512 agreement to provide solar energy for the communities on ‘pay-as- you-go’ basis.

The CESEL Managing Director, Patrick Tolani, signed the agreement on behalf of his company while Clay Taber, Managing Director of Renewvia, signed for his firm, at the Power Africa office in Abuja.

The MoU signing was witnessed by Power Africa Coordinator, Andrew Herscowitz, and the United States Agency for International Development mission director in Nigeria, Michael Harvey.

USA Provides $116,000 Grant To Preserve Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage

The United States of America (U.S.A) Embassy in Abuja has announced  a grant of $116,000 (about 36.6 million Naira) through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation programme, for the preservation of cultural heritage in Nigeria.

cultural heritage

The grant would enable Nigerian cultural institutions to improve the storage areas for collections in 10 Nigerian museums.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the grant was signed between the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.

The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation supports projects in more than 100 developing countries around the world.

Projects include the restoration of ancient and historic buildings, assessment and conservation of rare manuscripts and museum collections, preservation.

It also include protection of important archaeological sites, and the documentation of vanishing traditional craft techniques and indigenous languages.

Two Soldiers Demoted & Imprisoned For Maltreating Physically Challenged Man

Sequel to the video clip of two soldiers maltreating a physically challenged man on the streets of Onitsha, Anambra State, last Tuesday, in line with our zero tolerance of infringement of human rights by troops, those involved; Corporal Bature Samuel and Corporal Abdulazeez Usman of 82 Provost Company, have been arrested, summarily tried based on 2 count charges and found guilty.

Consequently, both have been sentenced to reduction in rank; from Corporal to Private Soldiers and 21 days Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) respectively, which includes forfeiture of 21 days pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army has also reached out to the victim of their unjustifiable assault, Mr. Chijoke Uraku (alias CJ), as widely reported by the media.

We wish to reiterate our avowed determination to ensure that troops conduct themselves in the most orderly and professional manner at all times. Any act of indiscipline would not be tolerated.

You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman
Director Army Public Relations
10 February 2017

Source: Aso Rock Villa