By HENRY OLADELE

The Senior Pastor of the Conquerors Assembly, Rev. Hezekiah Duro-Aina, on Sunday said that Christians should not do certain things, including taking of alcohol and plaiting of hair by men.

“There are some things that are normal for people to do and these things are not sins, per say, but because of where you, a Christian, are in God, you don’t want to do them because you don’t want to make Him unhappy,” Duro-Aina.

He said in Lagos that avoiding such things would enable non-Christians to believe such Christians preachings about Jesus Christ.

The cleric preached at the church’s Sunday service at Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the senior pastor preached on ‘How to Maintain Intimacy With God’.

“ We, Christians, are meant to be different from the world, we are not supposed to be the same as the world.

“I can’t plait my hair and go on the streets and want to preach the Word of the Lord. It is my head that people will be looking at,” he said.

According to Duro-Aina, alcohol intake does not glorify God.

“When you take it, you lose self control and it affects your liver and kidney.

“You cannot be in a beer parlour drinking beer and preaching the gospel. There are some things you don’t do because of your love for Jesus Christ,” he said.

The preacher admonished Christians to draw closer to God.

“Your proximity with God is determined by you and not God or the devil. It is you.

“You can decide to draw closer to God and He will honour that decision by making Himself available for you.

“God is always available for those who desire Him. When you hunger for God, He will show up for you, according to Psalm 63:1.

“Whatever price you need to pay, pay it to be in God’s presence.

he said. (NAN)

Heat, blackouts push Abuja residents to the brink

By Constance Imasuen

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are groaning under the combined weight of intense heat and persistent power outages, saying the situation has made restful sleep almost impossible.

A cross-section of residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday described the current weather conditions as unbearable, noting that the epileptic power supply across many communities has worsened their plight.

In areas such as Kubwa, Orozo and Kuje, residents said electricity supply has been irregular for months, forcing families to endure long, hot nights without fans, air conditioners or other cooling devices.

Ms Edna Awe, a resident of Kubwa, said the unstable power supply in her area has left her exhausted and frustrated, as the intense heat has made sleeping comfortably a daily struggle.

Awe said that power has not been stable in her area for months adding that she has been unable to sleep comfortably because of the unbearable weather condition.

“I am appealing to authorities concerned with power supply that they should try and do something about this pathetic situation,”

“The regulatory agencies must check the activities of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to ensure that consumers get value for their money,” she said.

Mr. Samuel Odey, also a resident of Kubwa, expressed deep concern over the persistent electricity challenges, emphasising that nearly every aspect of modern life depends on a stable power supply.

He described the situation as alarming, noting that most daily activities revolve around electricity and that its absence disrupts virtually everything.

According to him, life becomes significantly difficult without power.

He explained that even while at home, he is unable to relax or carry out basic tasks because there is no electricity.

Odey described the situation as a wake-up call to the government and other stakeholders in the power sector, urging them to take urgent and decisive action to ensure a steady and reliable electricity supply.

Similarly, Mrs. Vivian Olotu, who lives in the Orozo community, said power supply in her area is highly inconsistent.

She explained that residents sometimes go two to three days without electricity, a situation that has become particularly distressing due to the intense heat.

She lamented that children are unable to sleep comfortably at night.

“Even, when families resort to using generators, the noise makes it difficult to rest.

“I am appealing to the government to make every possible effort to address the longstanding problems facing the power sector,” she said.

Mr. Udo Asuquo, also a resident of Orozo, said the inadequate power supply is taking a toll on both his health and his small business.

He revealed that the intense heat and lack of electricity prevented him from sleeping well, which in turn affected his ability to concentrate.

Asuquo added that the little business he relied on to feed his family suffered because there of no stable electricity to run it properly.

“The situation, is deeply troubling and leaves me uncertain about what steps to take next,” he said.

In Kuje, Mrs. Angela Pam described the heat as severe and overwhelming.

She said that at times, members of her household are forced to remain in their corridor until about 1 a.m. just to get some fresh air before going indoors.

Pam noted that the practice exposed them to security risks, given the prevailing safety concerns in the country.

Like other residents, she appealed for urgent intervention to ensure a steady and reliable electricity supply.

Meanwhile, the AEDC had attributed the persistent poor power supply to low power generation currently being experienced nationwide.

The reason given by the AEDC for the power situation, notwithstanding, residents have continued to call for swift and sustainable solutions to ease their hardship. (NAN)