The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) says it will partner with LPV Technologies to promote renewable energy access and youth empowerment across the region.

Miss Usoro Akpabio, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SSDC, disclosed this on Monday during a tour of LPV Technologies’ solar panel manufacturing plant in Lagos.

Akpabio said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on clean energy transition, local content promotion and regional industrialisation.

She said the engagement followed a previous meeting with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), where the commission identified LPV Technologies, a solar panel manufacturer, as a potential indigenous partner.

“Part of what we are driving from this visit is skills transfer for our youths.

“Renewable solar energy is here to stay, and it is a cleaner and safer way to power our environment,” she said.

According to her, renewable energy will help address power challenges in the South-South, supporting key sectors such as health, education and social services.

Akpabio added that SSDC would establish solar training hubs in collaboration with LPV Technologies to build capacity for solar installation, maintenance and production.

“The advantage of training youths through local players like this is accessibility and sustainability.

“It will also reduce dependence on imported solar products,” she said.

Akpabio noted that supporting local manufacturers would cut import costs and enhance logistics within the region.

She stressed that LPV Technologies met global standards in production and quality assurance.

“I am impressed with the level of technology deployed here; every product has a 25-year lifespan warranty; this shows the company’s commitment to quality,” she said.

In his remarks, Mr Nzan Ogbe, Managing Director of LPV Technologies, said the partnership would support SSDC’s efforts to expand energy access in rural communities.

Ogbe said the company’s current production capacity stood at 100 megawatts, with plans to increase to 300 megawatts within six months.

“Our equipment can produce 180,000 solar panels a year, and we are presently producing 300 panels daily,” he said.

He said the firm would also collaborate with SSDC to establish mini-grids, solar training centres and distribution hubs across the South-South states.

Ogbe added that LPV Technologies had achieved its first export of Nigerian-made solar panels to Ghana and was expanding into Togo, Cameroon and Benin Republic.

He said the company’s local production model was designed to shorten supply chains and ensure affordable, high-quality solar solutions for Nigerian consumers.

Rivers State Government, under the visionary leadership of the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh is committed to prioritizing the health of Rivers residents as they ensure no resident is left behind in accessing affordable quality healthcare in fulfilment of the government’s #Health4AllRivers mandate.

Following an earlier directive to delist all the enrollees of RIVCHPP who were registered without the National Identification Number (NIN), which is a prerequisite as demanded by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the management of RIVCHPP to liaise with the relevant authorities to see to it that all enrollees remain on the health insurance scheme to continue to enjoy unfettered health care services.

Based on the interest and commitment of the governmen, the Executive Secretary of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala held a strategic meeting with the coordinator of the Rivers State office of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sir Chris Itodo, and representatives from the office of National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) to address the issue of how RIVCHPP’s enrollees, without NIN, can get theirs with ease.

According to a statement by Dr. Agala, after the strategic meeting, arrangements have been concluded for officials of NIMC Front End Partners to commence facility-based registration, of especially RIVCHPP enrollees, beginning from Tuesday, 21st October, 2025, starting from RIVCHPP- accredited Primary Health Centres in Port Harcourt Local Government Area.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary has, therefore, called upon all Heads of Health facilities to take note of the development, and to ensure that they mobilise all enrollees registered in their facilities to be available to complete their NIN registration on the days slated for their facilities.

Dr. Agala also reiterated that based on the above, the office will make public the days when the NIN registration exercise would hold for the different facilities in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary further appealled to all enrollees and heads of health facilities to make the best use of this window of opportunity that the government has extended to everyone to get their National Identification Number with ease at the different public health facilities throughout the state to continue to enjoy the services of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

The Ondo State Government on Monday began the disbursement of N2.39 billion to the state retirees who retired from the civil service in the between 2016 and 2017.

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in his remarks at the official commencement of payment to the retirees, said that retirement was not an end, but a dignified transition; a well-earned season of rest, reward and respect.

He disclosed that similar payment was made to local government retirees, adding that it was the solemn duty of his administration to ensure that the benefits accruing to retirees were paid promptly, fairly, and transparently.

According to him, since assumption of office, my administration has made remarkable strides in upholding the welfare of pensioners, senior citizens, and all residents in the state.

“My administration has maintained regular and sustained monthly release of ₦180 million to defray gratuity arrears, providing timely relief to pensioners in meeting essential needs, especially those with health challenges and other related critical needs.

“This disbursement is a continuation of a well-structured and credible process designed to ensure equity in the payment of gratuities.

“We have, therefore, adopted the year of exit from the public service as the singular condition for qualification, thereby eliminating ambiguity and ensuring that every retiree receives what is rightfully his or hers without any hindrance or ill will.”

The governor assured that his administration remained resolutely committed to building and sustaining a legacy of compassion, fairness, and accountability.

“We wish to reiterate our commitment to clearing all backlogs of gratuity obligations as we proceed in this administration. Our retirees deserve empathy, honour, and respect for their years of service to the state.

“This is not merely an act of favour; it is both a moral and constitutional obligation that we hold dear and a testament to our abiding faith in the implementation of policy thrust,” he added.

Earlier, Mr Olubunmi Alade, Permanent Secretary, Pension Transitional Department expressed appreciation to the governor for the good work and love for the state workforce and pensioners.

Alade commended Aiyedatiwa for keeping the hope of retirees alive by releasing money for prompt payment of gratuity and pensions.

“This is the first time government is attending to two full years at a goal in the history of Ondo state,” he said.

Mr Johnson Osunyemi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners(NUP), Ondo State Council,
expressed appreciation to the governor on behalf of the pensioners.

Hearing in the police suit against Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, on Monday, suffered set back as court activities at the Federal High Court in Abuja came to a halt.

As at 9:30am, when reporters got access to the premises of the high-rise building that houses no fewer than 13 courts, all the courtrooms were under lock and key.

Although very few court workers, lawyers, litigants, and private guards of the court were seeing in the premises, no judge was sighted.

There were heavy security deployments with water cannons in and around the intersection between Gana Street and Shehu Shagari Way by Nicon Hilton Hotel, the popular NITEL Junction at Wuse 2, Federal Secretariat environs, National Assembly Junction, to Asokoro District leading into Presidential Villa.

Movement of vehicles was disallowed and many pedestrians were denied walking through the restricted areas, while police fired tear gas in some places.

Justice Mohammed Umar had, on Friday, fixed today for the respondents in the ex-parte motion filed by the police, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), to show cause why the interim order made by the court should be vacated.

Justice Umar had restrained Mr Sowore, the 1st respondent, and others from protesting in some sensitive areas in Abuja, including the Aso Rock Villa, today for the release of detained Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The judge also barred the protesters from anywhere close to the villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Others named in the interim order include Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation, Take It Back Movement (TIB), for the Transformation of Nigeria Or Any Form of Organisation or Any Other Person(s) Acting Either Express or Implied Instruction or Any Other Organisation or Group With the Like Intention; and Unknown Persons as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively.

The judge had granted the ex-parte motion moved by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of FRN on Friday.

The judge also made an order of abridgement of time “within which the respondents will respond to the application on notice to cause the ex-parte order be set aside on Monday, the 20th of October, 2025 at 9.00am.”

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 20 for hearing of the motion on notice.

The ex-parte motion was marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025.

In the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion deposed to by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the officer averred that if not granted, the protest might threaten the national security.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, had planned toorganised the protest for the release of Kanu.

Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ACC), had begun mobilisation for what he called a planned peaceful protest against Kanu’s detention.

However, there have also been ongoing calls for political solutions to Kanu’s trial who is facing alleged terrorism offence at the Federal High Court before Justice James Omotosho.