NIGERIAN NOTCH

Experts have faulted the reviewed Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), with the development still generating dust and debate among stakeholders in the electricity industry. The conversation, which centres on poor metering exercise in the sector, further exposes weak capitalisation and underinvestment which have left a yawning gap in the provision of basic infrastructure in the country’s Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). NERCs new order to the 11 distribution companies pushed tariffs up by double of what consumers were paying even though for the year 2024, the federal government said it would bear the burden for end-users. While the government is taking up the N1.6 trillion burden, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company’s budget in the 2024 appropriations only showed a subsidy plan of N450 billion, which means that the government may have to raise the funding locally or from the international market amidst...

…URGES CUSTOMERS TO UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION AHEAD OF THE UPGRADE As part of the implementation for the STS prepaid meter upgrade, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has announced plans to go live with the Token Identifier (TID) rollover by end of February 2024, and urged its customers to update their information, as a prerequisite for the meter upgrade. The company developed and deployed a link through which its customers can update their information by simply clicking on the link and accessing it by providing their meter number, after which they would validate their mobile number and email address. The Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who made this known in Enugu over the weekend, while chatting with newsmen stated that the process is simple and emphasized that it is a requirement for customers’ meters to be upgraded. According to him, the upgrade is compulsory for all prepaid meter customers, and they must comply to avoid losing ...

DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, Anambra State PPRO Anambra State Police Command has advised the reading public to disregard the misinformation being peddled in the Press by the Counsel to one Bonny Okonkwo, a criminal suspect who was arrested and detained for Criminal Defamation. He said that the allegation that he was arrested at the instigation of Sir Emeka Offor is pedestrian and false. The Police need not be instigated to do its job. A citizen against whom a crime is committed has the right to complain to appropriate authorities and the Police is mandated by the Constitution to investigate such crime. He however stressed that due process was followed in the arrest and detention of the offender for thorough investigation. Even while in detention he persisted in his crime through the use of an electronic device until he was properly searched and denied use of the gadget. "His detention was on the order of the Court. It is therefore both legal and proper. The police spokesperson...

The Federal Capital Territory Police anti-kidnapping squad, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, successfully rescued five out of the six Al-Kadriyar sisters abducted from the Bwari area of Abuja in early January. The kidnap victims from Zuma 1 area in the Bwari Area Council were rescued from the Kajuru forest in Kaduna State around 11:30 pm on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Also freed were four members of lawyer Oladosu Ariyo family, the wife and three other children, kidnapped in the Dutse area of the capital. The kidnappers killed Folashade Ariyo, a 13 year old, who was initially kidnapped with them, just as they killed one of Al-Kadriyar’s daughters, identified as Najeeba. She was a 400 level student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. FCT police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the news and commended the efforts of the security operatives involved in the rescue mission. Expressing gratitude to Inspector-General of Police IGP Olukayode Egbetokun for deploying ...

The Lagos State Police Command has revealed that some desperate Nigerians asked the police to declare them wanted in order to apply for asylum abroad. The Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin made this revelation in a statement via his X handle on Saturday. ‘Please, declare me wanted!’ I was stupefied. I blinked and looked at him again. ‘What did you say,’ I asked. ‘Please, I want you to declare me wanted,’ he repeated. ‘Why do you want to be declared wanted,’ I inquired, amused. ‘Actually, I am applying for asylum at xyz… — SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) January 20, 2024 Hundeyin said he was stupefied when a Nigeria asked that the police declare him wanted so that he could apply for asylum. He stated, “‘Please, declare me wanted!’ I was stupefied. I blinked and looked at him again. ‘What did you say,’ I asked. “Please, I want you to declare me wanted,’ he repeated. “Why do you want to be declared wanted,’ I inquired, amused. “Actually, ...

...... Declares Support For Tinubu's Style Of Governance The budding Young Progressives Party, (YPP), which pulled a huge upset in Akwa Ibom State during the 2023 general elections, on Friday folded up and its structures across the state collapsed into the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in a rare demonstration of solidarity to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Governorship candidate of the party, Senator Bassey Albert, deputy governorship candidate, Retired AIG Asuquo Amba, State Executive Committee of the party led by the State Chairman, Mr Nyeneime Andy, its Elders' Council, chapter and ward officers and the entire executive council of the Akwa Ubok Abasi campaign organisation numbering over 10,000 paid a solidarity visit to the Senate President at his country home in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area, and declared their support for President Bola Tinubu.  YPP formed barely seven months to the 2023 general election, was the fastest growing Party in...

The Nigerian Army (NA) has announced the commencement of its online application for 2024 Direct Short Service Commission Course (DSSCC). The Army, in a brief statement posted on its official social media handles, said the application exercise, which kickstarted on Friday, January 19, 2024, would end on Friday, February 23, 2024, urging eligible applicants to visit its recruitment portal for enlistment. The post stated that the application is free and is open to all civilians and serving military personnel. It, however, said only serving military personnel sponsored to civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces shall be considered. The post partly reads; “This is to inform the general public that the online application for Direct Short Service Commission Course 28/2024 has commenced. Application starts 19 January 2024 and ends 23 February 2024.   “All applications must be submitted online not later than 23 February 2024. Visit recruitment.army...

Nigerians have not stopped reacting to the Police’s warning against the use of the catchphrase, ‘No gree for anybody’, even after they explained the reason for the warning. In their statement, they described it as slang capable of causing crisis. Here is a simple catchphrase which people are applying even in their spiritual lives; no gree for anybody, even the devil. It has entered the fashion industry. You need to see the gele (head tie) now trending. It’s wider than an umbrella.Many believe it’s simply about maintaining your beliefs; not allowing influence from others. Netizens have been worried that the NPF is chasing shadows instead of intensifying efforts to stop bandits, terrorists, criminals and bad eggs in the police force. So, rather than chasing the 2024 catchword users about, Nigerians are inviting the police to adopt it in their operations; No gree for any criminal, bandits, terrorists, etc. This is pop culture and the youths are bound to coin more. It’s left fo...

Says Akwa Ibom Would be Delivered To APC In 2027 President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has called for immediate commencement of reconciliation within the rank and file of the party, noting that the party needed to be united towards the 2027 general elections, for a better electoral outcomes. He mandated Chairman of the party in  Akwa Ibom State, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, to set up a reconciliation committee to address the differences rocking the party in the state. Akpabio stated this on Friday while addressing a Stakeholders' Meeting in Uyo. He vowed to reunite the party so that it would be positioned to take over the state reins of government in the  state in 2027. According to Akpabio," a situation where someone will be in one party and be working for another party will not be tolerated. We will make sure that APC in Akwa Ibom State is one, we will give people the option that either you belong to us or to them. There should not be any in-between. We are going ...

Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), has unveiled Nigeria’s plan to invest a staggering $3.1 trillion in transitioning from fossil fuel to cleaner and renewable energy. The announcement was made during the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. According to Lokpobiri, the nation has allocated $1.9 trillion for its energy transition plan, with an additional $1.2 trillion earmarked for the renewable energy initiative by the year 2060. This comprehensive strategy underscores Nigeria’s commitment to embracing sustainable energy practices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. During the forum, Lokpobiri, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other global leaders, emphasized Nigeria’s dedication to responsible fossil fuel exploration. The country intends to leverage cutting-edge technologies to meet its energy needs while aligning its energy policies with the expectations of the Organisation of t...