News
Inadequate power supplies for telecom services and others
By Sonny Aragba-Akpore.
By Wednesday December 11,2024 the National electricity grid had recorded 12 collapses within the year thus accounting for an average of one per month.
Apart from millions of customers whose homes and offices were cut off electricity supplies, many corporate organizations including telecommunications network providers, manufacturers among others had to cope with the situation making do with their more reliable alternatives which had become more regular than the national grid.
With a paltry 5,000 megawatts of electricity supply by the generating companies (gencos), for the nearly 250 million population, millions of people including corporate bodies have resigned to fate.
Resort to alternative sources of power supplies including renewable energy, solar and heavy duty generators have become a way of life.
Only recently, government officials announced that a tariff hike of upto 65% was underway,a situation the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) frowns at saying this will further compound costs of doing business in general.
Director-General of MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, expressed serious concern in a statement issued in Lagos saying the frequent increases do not meet quality of service.
Ajayi-Kadir stressed that electricity is a crucial input in manufacturing, significantly affecting production costs and product prices.
He emphasised that no nation could achieve substantial industrial development without ensuring energy security.
According to him, any increase in tariff will harm the competitiveness of Nigerian products and businesses.
He warned that the such would worsen production costs, intensify inflationary pressure, and further reduce consumers’ disposable income.
Ajayi-Kadir added that it would increase manufacturers’ unsold inventory, erode profit margins, raise unemployment, and force more private businesses to shut down.
“It was due to the critical role of energy security in Nigeria’s industrial aspirations that the power sector was privatised in 2013. Unfortunately, this privatisation has not delivered the expected results.
But for telecommunications operators,it’s a tale of woes as power supplies account for about 40% of the operating expenditure (OPEX) as critical as equipment because even if equipment is available and no electricity supply to power them,quality of service suffers especially when there is down time.
Nigeria’s unstable electricity grid significantly contributes to telcos’ need for backup diesel generators, further increasing their energy expenses.
Recent reports indicate that Nigerian telecommunication companies (telcos) spend a significant amount on electricity, with estimates suggesting their monthly energy bill can reach up to N56 billion primarily due to reliance on diesel generators to power their network towers, as they often face unreliable grid access; many telcos are now actively exploring renewable energy options to reduce costs.
A major portion of telco electricity expenses is attributed to diesel consumption to power their base stations, with some reports stating that large operators like MTN can spend over N30 billion per month on diesel alone.
To mitigate high energy costs, many telcos are actively investigating and implementing renewable energy solutions like solar and wind power to reduce their reliance on diesel.
For telcos to be Successful and profitable there should be operational efficiency especially of the infrastructure companies or owned infrastructure.
About 40%, if not more , of the operational challenges of the infrastructure companies or operator owned and managed infrastructure is in the cost of energy : diesel or gas, or renewables.
Analysts reason that how the industry is able to survive the cost and access to energy supply, especially for the infracos in a safe and sustainable manner, is the solution that must be tackled in the long run for sustainability of the industry in its oprations, user experience and profitability.
One analyst said there are several generic intervention initiatives by government, local and foreign development agencies and financial institutions, including some commercial banks in the energy sector, especially aimed at promoting renewable energy supply and usage in support of the operational and cost efficiencies of the target sectors.
“These well-intentioned initiatives have been customised in some instances
such as the government policy of energy for the health sector (energise health) or energy for education (energise education) initiatives.”
“These commendable policies work to provide renewable energy solutions to institutions such as primary health centres, Universities, University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres that are generally limited, discretionary, tied to yearly budgets of government, most times apply to federal institutions, and lack maintainance and sustainability instruments.”
Telecommunications sector contributes more than 15% to Nigeria’s GDP and is entirely private sector driven but has an impact on all growth and development direction of the country and because it is perceived as a private sector commercially profitable business there has never been any deliberate intervention to address the critical component of the cost and quality of energy supply to the sector.
Perhaps because of its ubiquitous nature and lack of knowledge of the structure of the sector, there was never an attempt to isolate and address this subject.
Yet the ability of the sector to continue its impact on national growth and development is tied to availability and affordability of energy sustainably.
The country’s telecoms sector, with around 154 mobile subscribers, needs a significant amount of energy. It relies on over 40 million litres of diesel per month, and 34,862 towers in 2022 were dependent on diesel generators due to unreliable grid power.
As more people come online, telcos need more power. Monthly internet usage increased by 579.39 percent from 125,149.86 terabytes (TB) in December 2019 to 850,249.09 TB in September 2024. The amount of energy needed to power data traffic is around 0.17 kWh globally.
However, GSMA noted that it is 0.24 kWh per GB, reflecting the lower energy efficiency of networks on the continent.
According to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), diesel accounts for 35 percent of telecoms’ operating expenses. In October, the average cost of a litre of diesel was N1441.28, meaning telcos spent at least N57.65 billion.
As of the end of 2022, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said there were 34,862 towers and 127,294 base stations in the country. According to industry sources, each base station has two generators. The telecoms industry spent N2.09 trillion on operational costs in 2022, based on the last data uploaded by the NCC.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, confirmed the current diesel consumption, stating, “It will be over that now.” According to Harmanpreet Dhillon, Airtel Nigeria’s chief technical officer, the telco spent N28 billion on diesel in May 2024.
During a media roundtable, Dhillon said that the company was exploring hybrid solutions—lithium batteries and solar—to lower its energy bill.
Experts recently noted that companies could save up to 30 percent on energy costs by adopting renewable energy solutions and other technologies.
“The biggest constraint in the telecom industry is high energy cost. If the government had continued to fulfill its part of the bargain it made in the early 2,000s to provide 18 hours of electricity, the heavy logistics and the capital we spend today from powering sites would not be there,” said Adebayo of ALTON.
By January 13, 2025, Nigeria could boast of 23 power-generating plants that are connected to the national grid. These plants are known as generation companies (GenCos).
Some examples of GenCos in Nigeria include Egbin Power Plc: Located at Egbin Power Station, Egbin Town, Ikorodu, Lagos State
First Independent Power Limited: Located in Trans-Amadi Port-Harcourt, Afam, Omoku, and Eleme
Geregu Power Plc: Located on Itobe Ajaokuta expressway, Kogi State
Other power companies in Nigeria are Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, Sapele Power Plc (SPP), and Transcorp Power Limited.
They are managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) a body responsible for managing the electricity transmission network in Nigeria. The TCN is fully owned and operated by the government.
In 2024, the power generation capacity in Nigeria was 5,528 megawatts (MW). This was an increase of 30% from the average generation capacity of 4,100 MW in 2023.
There are 11 distribution companies in Nigeria.These include Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc. (EEDC): One of the 11 distribution companies in Nigeria
Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc: An indigenous electricity company that distributes and sells electricity ,
Kano Electricity Distribution Plc (KEDCO): A distribution company in the north-western geopolitical zone of Nigeria ,
Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc (YEDC): A distribution company that supplies energy to Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, and Yobe states
BEDC Electricity PLC is a distribution company that supplies electricity to a wide range of customers in Southern Nigeria
These companies are supplied with electric energy by the transmission companies on a daily basis.
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 31 abductees and neutralized two terrorists, including a suspected kingpin, during separate operations in Katsina and Kebbi states.
The military also arrested two suspected terrorists and recovered ammunition, a motorcycle, camouflage clothing and other items during the operations conducted on September 14 and 15, 2026.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16.
According to the statement, troops in Katsina rescued 10 kidnap victims, comprising three males and seven females, after responding to distress reports from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities in Funtua Local Government Area.
The troops reportedly launched a hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon the victims.
Among those rescued was an infant.
The victims were subsequently taken into military custody for necessary assistance and further action.
21 Victims Rescued in Kebbi
Also on September 14, troops operating in Kebbi State responded to a distress call following the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa Local Government Area.
Acting on intelligence, the troops launched a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa, where they reportedly engaged the terrorists in a heavy exchange of gunfire.
The terrorists were forced to withdraw from the area, allowing the troops to continue their operation and rescue 21 kidnapped victims.
The rescued civilians were later reunited with their families.
Terrorist Kingpin Killed in Katsina
The following day, September 15, troops in Katsina reportedly foiled an attempted terrorist attack on communities in Matazu and Kankara local government areas.
Acting on intelligence, the troops moved towards a suspected terrorist hideout and engaged the group with superior firepower.
The military said two terrorists were killed during the encounter, including Abbah Alhassan, whom it identified as a known terrorist kingpin.
Other terrorists reportedly escaped into the surrounding bush.
Troops recovered 10 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a cutlass, camouflage clothing and suspected Indian hemp from the area.
Two Suspects Arrested
In another operation on September 15, troops arrested two suspected terrorists around the Yantumaki general area of Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Preliminary interrogation reportedly indicated that the suspects were associated with a suspected terrorist kingpin identified as Mannori.
The suspects remain in military custody while investigations continue.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrate its continued efforts to rescue kidnapped civilians, disrupt terrorist networks and restrict the movement and operational freedom of armed groups across its area of responsibility.
The task force also commended residents for providing security-related information and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the nearest security agency.
By Gloria Ikibah
The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.
The transmission, carried out on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, marks the next stage in the ongoing constitutional alteration process and was undertaken pursuant to a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., said the Bill was transmitted to the state legislatures in compliance with the provisions of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Under Section 9, a bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
The state legislatures are therefore required to consider the proposed constitutional amendments in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.
Although the Constitution does not stipulate a specific timeframe within which state Houses of Assembly must respond to a constitutional alteration bill, the National Assembly said the state legislatures are expected to communicate their decisions within 30 days of receiving the Bill.
The National Assembly, however, stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.
According to the Clerk, the timeframe is intended to promote an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional amendment process while respecting the constitutional independence of the state legislatures.
What the Constitution Requires
Nigeria’s Constitution sets a deliberately high threshold for constitutional amendments because changes to the country’s supreme law require approval beyond the National Assembly alone.
In addition to the required approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, Section 9 prescribes other legislative requirements depending on the particular constitutional provisions being altered.
The process generally involves the introduction and passage of the alteration Bill by the National Assembly before it is transmitted to the state legislatures for consideration. The resolutions of the state assemblies are subsequently communicated to the National Assembly for the next stage of the process.
The requirement for state-level approval gives the 36 Houses of Assembly a constitutionally recognised role in determining whether proposed amendments can proceed.
The National Assembly said it recognises this responsibility and respects the independence of the state legislatures in considering the Bill.
National Assembly Seeks Coordinated Process
In the statement, the Clerk said the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state assemblies’ constitutional responsibilities rather than interfere with their legislative processes.
“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution,” the statement said.
It added that the process would be guided by due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature.
The National Assembly will await the resolutions of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before taking the subsequent steps required under the Constitution.
The transmission of the Sixth Alteration Bill comes amid continued efforts to amend aspects of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, a process that requires cooperation between the federal and state legislatures because of the constitutional threshold for altering the nation’s supreme law.
The statement was signed by Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., Clerk to the National Assembly.
News
REVEALED: 11 Nigerian-Born Lawyers Hit by U.S. Disciplinary Actions Over Professional Violations
At least 11 Nigerian-born lawyers practising or based in the United States have faced suspension or other disciplinary measures over alleged or established professional violations, according to disciplinary records cited in a report by The Peoples Gazette.
The cases span several years and involve different jurisdictions and regulatory bodies, including state bar authorities, U.S. immigration authorities and the Board of Immigration Appeals.
The disciplinary matters range from unauthorised practice of law and failure to meet professional obligations to alleged misrepresentation, neglect of clients’ cases and mishandling of client funds.
The sanctions are not identical, and the grounds for disciplinary action vary from one case to another. Some of the lawyers have also reportedly been reinstated, while others remain suspended or have not been reinstated.
Below is a summary of the lawyers and the disciplinary actions reported against them.
1. Aloysius O. Ejimakor
Aloysius O. Ejimakor was suspended from practising law in New York for nine months in 2004 following disciplinary proceedings over alleged false claims concerning his professional qualifications.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice document, the Office of General Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review commenced proceedings against him in July 2003.
The proceedings alleged that Ejimakor violated federal regulations by making false statements concerning his qualifications.
The report states that he had not been reinstated following the suspension.
2. Abiola O. Adesioye
Abiola O. Adesioye, based in the District of Columbia, was suspended in July 2025 by the Board of Immigration Appeals from practising before the board, U.S. immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security.
The suspension followed an order issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on March 25, 2025.
According to the report, disciplinary counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security jointly petitioned for her immediate suspension under applicable federal regulations.
The Board of Immigration Appeals granted the petition pending the final resolution of the disciplinary proceedings.
3. Emelike Nwosuocha
Emelike Nwosuocha, who died on July 21, 2024, aged 64, faced disciplinary proceedings before his death.
According to the report, he was posthumously suspended for three years in 2024 over professional misconduct.
The disciplinary matter included an alleged failure to provide an affidavit required under an earlier suspension and failure to pay attorney fees owed to a defendant in a medical negligence lawsuit.
In 2023, Nwosuocha had reportedly received a six-month suspension after failing to respond to a disciplinary grievance.
The relevant disciplinary authorities subsequently affirmed the suspension.
4. Michael Ozulumba
Michael Ozulumba, who is based in Massachusetts, was reportedly suspended from practising before the Internal Revenue Service and the Executive Office for Immigration Review for two years.
The reported disciplinary findings involved professional misconduct, neglect of client cases and misrepresentations.
However, the supplied material contains a reference to a 2027 board decision. Since that date is still in the future as of September 16, 2026, that portion requires independent verification and has therefore not been treated here as an established past event.
5. Michael Imevbore Ojo
Michael Imevbore Ojo, based in Houston, Texas, was suspended from practising law for 12 months by the Evidentiary Panel of the District 4C05 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas.
The disciplinary action reportedly involved alleged violations of Texas professional conduct rules, including neglect, failure to communicate with clients and failure to cooperate with a State Bar investigation.
Troops rescue 31 abductees, neutralize terrorist kingpin in Katsina, Kebbi
NASS Transmits 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to 36 State Assemblies
REVEALED: 11 Nigerian-Born Lawyers Hit by U.S. Disciplinary Actions Over Professional Violations
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