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  • NERC permits firms to rollout 1.4 meters

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued permits to Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) to roll out 1,400,000 meters.

    The directive, according to a statement that the NERC’s General Manager, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi issued on Saturday, is in line with section 4(3) of the MAP Regulations 2018, to MAPs that were successful in the procurements conducted by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc (“AEDC”) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc (“JEDC”).

    The statement noted that section 4(3) of the MAP Regulation 2018 requires all electricity distribution licensees to engage MAPs that would assist, as investors, in closing the metering gap and thus eliminating the practice of estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (“NESI”).

    AEDC, said the commission, has appointed Mojec International Limited, Meron Consortium and Turbo Engineering Limited to provide 487,000, 213,000 and 200,000 meters respectively while JEDC has appointed the Triple 7 and Mojec International Limited consortium to provide 500,000 meters.

    Read Also: Metering is DisCos’ obligation, NERC insists

    The Commission has directed that the rollout of meters shall commence no later than the 1st of May 2019.  Customers of AEDC and JEDC should expect from the commencement of rollout date for meters to be installed in their premises within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs in accordance with section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018.

    MAPs shall charge a maximum of N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,055.85 for three phase meters.  These costs are inclusive of supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of meters over its technical life.

    The Commission shall monitor closely the rollout plan of distribution licensees and overall compliance with the regulation and various service agreements by the MAP and electricity distribution licensees.

  • INEC’s silence on PDP access to server worrisome, says BMO

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has expressed concerns over the long silence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to claims of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of having access to its backend servers.

    BMO said the long silence was worrisome and frightening.

    Chairman and secretary of the group, Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke respectively said in a statement the claim by the PDP that it had gained illegal access to the servers of INEC through the assistance of some INEC officials was too grave a criminal confession for the electoral Commission to keep mum.

    The pro Buhari group said: “This is most frightening. That INEC is not alarmed or bothered by such blatant claim by the PDP to have procured the hacking of its systems – whether it is false or not- is most worrisome. We would have expected INEC to swing into clearing the air immediately and distancing itself from such a criminal conduct. But INEC has kept a deafening silence.

    “INEC’s silence on this confession of criminality against it is not golden. It is suspicious and carries a weight of taint that must be called out.

    Read Also: INEC sets up committee on Imo North senatorial poll

    “It can be likened to a scenario where a thief says he has robbed a bank and the bank remains silent on the confession of robbery against it, whether its safes and moneys are intact or not. Silence is very weighty in any such instance”.

    BMO said that it knew that the claim by the PDP that it was in possession of results fraudulently fetched from the INEC servers was “a hoax and only an exhibition of the innate fraudulent character of the PDP.

    “For instance, according to the group, the so-called results did not tally with reality, with fundamental errors such as the absence of votes of other political parties that participated during the election. Still, we believe that INEC ought not to be silent in the face of such wild allegations.

    “The very character of the PDP is one of fraud, dishonesty and malfeasance; it is not out of its character to have made moves to procure the hacking into the INEC servers by some of the Commission’s staff.

    “Its Freudian slip of this admission of the stupid attempt, however unsuccessful, must be dealt with and addressed with all sense of seriousness. This, INEC has failed to do.”

    The group said that the recent claim by the PDP to have colluded with INEC staff to have access to INEC’s back-end servers raises serious posers as to an unholy romance between INEC and the PDP.

  • Dangote Group assures Nigerians of good quality products

    Dangote Group has assured Nigerians of good quality and affordable products at the ongoing 30th Enugu International Trade Fair.

    The Corporate Communications Manager of the group in Lagos, Mr. Okey Nwankwo gave the assurance in Enugu on Saturday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the fair.

    The group spokesperson said that all the products manufactured by the company met international standard.

    Nwankwo said that their products were always affordable and also cheaper than every other product both in the supermarkets and open markets.

    “We are participating at the Enugu International Trade Fair because it is the biggest trade fair in the southern part of the nation.

    Read Also: Dangote trains 200 youths in skills

    “As the biggest indigenous conglomerate, we have to market our products and also partner with the good people of the east.

    “The group is also here to bring our products nearer to consumers and also to have time to discuss with our distributors to see the challenges they are facing.

    “We have four companies in Dangote participating in this trade fair which include the Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, flour and the allied industry in charge of salt and seasoning.

    “We also came with our newest product which is Dangote fertilizer; we will educate people on the new fertiliser and the usage,” he said.

    The manager said that they were doing promo in all the products they came with at the fair.

    According to him, if somebody buys two cartons of the noodle, the person will get one extra making it three cartons.

    “The offer is just for the fair and people have been winning fantastic prices like micro waves, blender, electric kettle and others in our stand,’’ Nwankwo said.

    He appreciated Nigerians for their patronage over the years and encouraged them to keep on supporting made in Nigeria products particularly Dangote products.

    The communications manager also commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) for well organised fair especially the constant power supply at the fair.

    He said that in terms of security, that Enugu is very cool.

    NAN

  • Group to FG: Reform almajiri, curb extremism

    The Federal government has been advised to take urgent steps in integrating almajiri boys into the conventional school system as a radical way to stem the tide of extremism and violence in the country.

    Almajiri, a system in much of the  North whereby male children are encouraged by parents to go for Islamic education in distant lands where they become street children fending for themselves away from parental care, is believed to account largely for extremism and violence around the North, as they are often easily used by evil-minded people for anti-social pursuits.

    A coalition of groups which articulated the position on the almajiri system against escalating violent crimes in the country, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s Almajiri integration initiative.

    The Project Manager of ‘Almajiri Is Also A Child’, Iliyasu Usman, made the appeal while launching an advocacy  for the vulnerable children in Yola on Saturday.

    Read Also: Reps pass ‘Anti- Almajiri’ Bill

    He said, the  Goodluck Jonathan administration built many integrated schools across the North to absorb a good number of the traditional almajiri children for combined Islamic cum western education aimed at giving the children all-round education for a more promising future, but the Buhari government has done little to further the initiative.

    Usman reiterated that continuing neglect of the initiative was a mistake, as almajiris have been found to be directly involved in alarming rate of violent extremism around the country.

    As if to give credence to this long held belief that the almajiri system has become a manpower source for groups like Boko Haram, a group notorious for violent crimes in Adamawa State, ‘Shilla-Boys,’ was recently tauted as being notorious for recruiting almajiri boys into their fold.

    Usman said Yola was chosen to start the advocacy due to its large numbers of almajiri tutorial system, and ensured that the over 500 almajiris who attended the launch went home with a bathroom slippers each.

    Adamawa State is said to be home to about 200,000 almajiri destitute children, most of them from other northern states. The number is part of UNICEF’s annual report on Nigeria, which puts 2,711,767 as the number of almajiris from the Northeast, representing 25 per cent of the total 9.5 million almajiri population  in Nigeria.

    This almajiri population represents 72 per cent of the country’s 13.2 million out of school children.

  • PDP Rep to INEC: obey court order, declare me winner now

    The House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Rita Orji has urged the National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obey the pronouncement of an Abuja High Court and declare her the winner of the election.

    The serving member, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters said her prayers was hinged on the pronouncement of Justice Bello Kawo of Federal High court, Abuja on Thursday that the electoral body should go ahead and release the result of the election with immediate effect.

    The court said result should be based on the original results of the election polling booth by polling booth.

    Read Also: PDP, Secondus congratulate Wike, others on victory

    While commending the judiciary for standing up for the common man and in defense of the nation’s democracy, the lawmaker also praised INEC for not allowing some individuals in its employ to perpetrate fraud.

    She said: “INEC should now do the needful by going ahead to announce the  original results of the poll by polling booth by polling booth, if this is done and corrections of the noticed shortcomings carefully done, we will accept the outcome and then the Commission will be left to take necessary disciplinary against its officials.

    “However, if the Commission still go ahead to announce the results of the poll based on the mutilated and doctored figures, we will have no option left  than to head for the Electoral Tribunal to seek redress.

    “The Electoral officers will have to account for all the electoral materials they collected for the conduct of the poll in the Constituency, the Presiding Officer who suddenly assumed the supper power to cancel results or change results at will will tell the tribunal how and where he got those powers”.

    While she expressed confidence of victory at the end of the day, the lawmaker commended the people of the Constituency for their support, while urging them to remain calm and law abiding.

  • Lawyers mobilize 50 counsels to defend Bauchi Governor Elect in Court

    No fewer than fifty Lawyers have voluntarily offered free legal services in defense of the mandate of the Bauchi Governor-Elect, Sen. Bala A. Mohammad at the Election Petition Tribunal .

    This was disclosed by a group known as the Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBOLAC )

    BOBOLAC said the development was in response to the decision by the outgoing Governor of Bauchi state, Muhammad Abubakar and the All Progressive Congress, APC, to challenge the victory of the Governor Elect.

    In a press statement  made available to newsmen on Saturday , the convener of the group , Shipi Rabo Esq said ” We convey our assurances to his Excellency The Governor- Elect and indeed the people of Bauchi state that we are deploying the services of not less than 50 counsels which include some very senior colleagues and successfully tested hands to compliment the efforts of the legal team to defend the peoples mandate in terms of the impending election petition to be filed by Governor Abubakar ”

    ” Having said this , we also wish to observe that Governor Abubakar ‘s latest move to go to to tribunal in respect of the election smacks of double speak ( and with due respect to him and the APC ),  insincerity. This is because as we have had occasions to observe, Governor M.A. was among the first people to call on Wazirin Adamawa Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to concede defeat in the presidential election and take the result in good faith”

    Read Also: Three lawyers accused of assaulting EFCC detective

    “The issue here is that our own Makama Babba in Bauchi is for all intent and purposes not walking the talk. Having initially conceded defeat and congratulated Kauran Bauchi knowing fully well that it is the wish of the people; Mr. Abubakar should have stick to his words. That is how statemen behave”

    Shipi stated though that the group has no problem   with the governor going to the tribunal saying it is a welcome development   which will afford it to use its God-given skills to defend the people’s mandate as given to the Governor-Elect”

    “What we consider wrong is the governor portraying the whole matter of going to the tribunal as being the decision of so, so and so person while in reality it is not”

    It would be recall that the outgoing Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar  disclosed last week that  his party, the All Progressives Congress has assembled four SANs to challenge his electoral defeat in court.

    Abubakar who returned to the state after spending over one week in Abuja  making consultations with the Presidency and the national leadership of the APC, backed down on  his earlier decision to concede defeat.

  • FG set to inaugurate school feeding programme in Ekiti

    All is now set for the inauguration of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme of  the Federal Government in Ekiti, the News Agency of Nigeria  (NAN) reports.

    Mr Ademola Obanise, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Home Grown School Feeding programme, gave the indication in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday while inspecting cooking materials to be distributed to selected vendors that would be engaged under the initiative.

    The governor’s aide  said pupils between Primary One and Primary Three would be fed under the programme, adding that the state government had keyed into the Federal Government initiative.

    Read Also: Ekiti Assembly confirms 13 commissioner-nominees

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr James Owolabi, said government had prioritised the feeding programme for the pupils to start benefitting immediately.

    He, however,  clarified that the feeding exercise would be carried out once in a day.

    Owolabi emphasised the need for a balanced diet for the pupils, saying this would help in no small measure to refresh their memories for quick assimilation.

    NAN reports that the school feeding programme is part of a N500 billion funded Social Investment Programme announced by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The administration had said the programme was aimed at tackling poverty in homes as well as improving the health and education status  of children and other vulnerable groups.

    NAN

  • Abia APC counters moves to reappoint Enelamah minister

    The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disassociated itself from the moves by the President Muhammadu Buhari government to name Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, current Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment as a member of his new government.

    The party who accused Enelamah of being less concerned with activities of the party in the state in the last three years, also called on the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to ensure that Abia gets a minister who is committed to the interest and growth of party in the next Federal Cabinet.

    The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Comrade Benedict Godson while addressing journalists said that most of the problems faced by the party in the state during the last election were due to Enelamah’s non-commitment and lackadaisical approach to the party’s issues.

    “We have a minister on paper, but nobody feels his Impact. Throughout the campaigns, he showed no interest. He supposed to help in the building of this party, but he has remained unconcerned and lackadaisical to the interest of APC. He’s practically not an APC member.

    Read Also: SAN faults transfer of Abia APC tussle suit

    “Now he is being projected again to return as a minister which should not be so. We disown him because he’s a saboteur to our party here in Abia. His attitude is serving the interest of the opposition.

    “We call for his immediate removal and as for the plans of reappointing him, we wish to tell the presidency that APC is too big with so many qualified members for us to be appointing none members.”

    Speaking further, Godson said, “Enelamah is not a member of our party and should not be appointed as a minister again. No APC member in Abia knows his way about.

    “He has never attended any APC meeting. He kept saying he is a democrat and not a politician, but the issue here is if people didn’t bring out themselves to work, campaign and mobilize for APC would he be waiting for appointment now?

    “If everyone had remained nonchalant, unconcerned and relaxed as he was and claimed that they’re all not politicians, would APC had won the election? We must call a spade a spade you cannot reap where you didn’t sow.

    “We are saying that he should be replaced with a real APC man who believes in the interest of the party and has worked for the growth of the party. He was used against us by the opposition who usually celebrate that Abia APC is missing in the Federal Executive Council and that they have the man’s support in the state.

    “We are therefore calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, our Party Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the leader of our party in Abia, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu to look into this matter and safe the party from impending trouble should Enelamah be reinstated.

    “Another issue is that this minister is also from the same constituency with Nigeria’s ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Dr. Uzoma Elizabeth Ikechi Emenike who also doesn’t do anything for the party after getting appointment with the platform of APC. There are many qualified APC members all over Abia.

    “How can this party grow to the desired level when people who ought to make things easier believe that they can get appointed to any position by sitting on the fence? We can on all those concerned to look into this matter and save our party for future opportunities ahead.”

  • Unemployment: Nigeria needs skillful youths – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said that Nigeria at this point requires the youths to be highly skillful in order to solve the problem of unemployment, security and youth restiveness.

    The President, who was a Visitor at the 31st Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), stated that the era of handing certificates to graduates without self-sustaining skills is no longer sustainable.

    Buhari who was represented by the State Minister of Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, observed that the growth and establishment of new industries to absorb the graduates is rather too slow.

    Read Also: Buhari for Jordan, Dubai events

    According to him, “there is a need to re-double efforts in turning out graduates with self-sustaining, globally competitive skills and talents for the realization of national goals of building a free, democratic, just and egalitarian society, a united, strong and self-reliant nation”.

    He continued that, “our universities are also challenged to key into modern trends in Computing and Information Technology, Cyber security, artificial intelligence, solar and alternative energies and modern biomedical technology, which is where the future is headed”.

    The President assured that, “on our part as government, we remain committed to changing the negative narratives of our universities by making effective and efficient policies that will place our higher education at the right pedestal”.

    He disclosed further that the Federal Government has completed the energy audit of 37 Federal Universities and is set to award the contracts for the commencement of Independent Power Plants in those Universities, “when completed, it will put an end to the perennial problem of power challenge in all Federal Universities in Nigeria”.

    Earlier in his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Francis Eze, said that the University within the available resources has continued to provide facilities and equipment for effective teaching, learning and research.

    He however noted that the University urgently needs a befitting Senate building, staff quarters, a sustainable power supply and refurbishment of existing old buildings and other facilities.

    Meanwhile, 2,506 were awarded with degrees with 42 bagging First Class Honours.

     

  • Association condemns abuse of children in orphanage homes

    The Association of Vulnerable Children, Widows and Elderly Home Operators in Africa has condemned the physical abuse of children in orphanage homes across the country..

    The association called for the prosecution of anyone caught abusing or molesting any child.

    It’s Africa President, Princess Ononiwu stated this during its national meeting and inauguration ceremony of members of Nigeria branch in Abuja.

    According to her, a lot of physical and emotional abuse of children are taking place in most orphanage homes in the country.

    She urged the Federal Government to monitor activities of home operators through the Social Welfare Department of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    Mrs. Ononiwu said the association is ready to collaborate with the government to bring perpetrators to justice.

    Read Also: Children prevent robbers from stealing dad’s car

    She said: “One of our aims is to monitor, watch and report to the government about what is happening in orphanage and elderly homes. A lot of homes are doing what government said we should not do.

    “We are operators. We know who is who. We know those who are doing the right thing and we know those who are just doing it for the money.

    “This association is trying everything possible to make sure we go into the field, fish out some of these homes that are giving orphanages bad names.”

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator of the association, Mrs. Chinenye Fubara, said she is moved by the passion to improve the lives of orphans.

    “I want to see the lives of children in orphanages being improved all over Africa. We have put up programs to visit homes, to create necessary awareness. We have plans to sanitise so many homes so that the operators will know what they are supposed to do.

    “We are also planning to organize quiz competition for children in orphanage homes in the FCT. We want to bring them together so that they can brainstorm and improve their lives,” she added.