Aliko Dangote, the billionaire behind Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate, is determined to end Nigeria’s epileptic power sector with a plan to generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity.

Dangote’s entry into the sector follows a string of failed promises from the Nigerian government.

Adebayo Adelabu, ex-Power Minister, has repeatedly missed deadlines to stabilise the grid at even 6,000 megawatts, a fraction of what Dangote is now proposing.

“We are now going into power… 20,000 megawatts,” said Dangote during a conversation with International Finance Corporation Managing Director Makhtar Diop, adding that Africa’s most pressing needs remain energy, fertilisers, and industrial inputs.

Photo: A coal fired power plant in Hanchuan, Hubei province, China / Getty Images

Enugu State Government has concluded plans to build a 660MW coal-fired power plant in the state.

Governor Peter Mbah disclosed this during a solidarity visit by the leadership of Organized Private Sector Nigeria (OPSN) to him at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

” I am pleased to inform you that in July, we will break ground for a 660MW coal-fired power plant.The outlay in terms of time for building the plant is 24 months. So, our target is to commission that power plant 24 months after the groundbreaking in July,” said Mbah.

Mbah recalled that Enugu State, under his leadership, was the first subnational to set up an electricity market, following the Constitution and Electricity Act amendments that effectively transferred power from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, thus paving the way for states to participate in all the power value chain, namely generation, transmission, and distribution.

The governor allayed concerns normally associated with coal, citing the low sulfur content and high calorific value of Enugu coal, standing at about 7,000 kilocalories per kilogramme.

He said the project was not a knee-jerk decision, as his administration had taken about two years to undertake the necessary studies and also secure coal assets to guarantee unhindered supplies to the plant.

•Mustafa Bello

The former Minister of Commerce and longest-serving Non-Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mustafa Bello, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Bank.

Bello’s appointment was announced yesterday during the bank’s yearly general meeting in Lagos.

In his remark, Jim Ovia stated, “Distinguished shareholders, it gives me great pleasure to address you this morning. This meeting will be the last Annual General Meeting that I will be attending as Chairman of this Bank. In line with the CBN’s corporate governance provision, I am expected to serve for 12 years. Having served for that term, I’ll be retiring at this AGM.

For continuity, the Board met and nominated Engineer Mustafa Bello as the next Chairman.

Engr Bello is the longest-serving Board Member and has a good understanding of the Bank. This appointment has been approved by the Central Bank.

I thank you for supporting me for this tenure. I hope you give him the same support that you gave me. Thank you and God bless Zenith Bank.”