News
Power supply: FG targets 10 million meters installation in five years
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
In a bid to meet the Presidential Metering Initiative, the Federal government said it has targeted a minimum acquisition and installation of two million meters annually within the next five years.
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during a facility tour of Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
Adelabu, who identified metering as one of the infrastructure deficits militating against steady electricity in the country, lamented that Nigeria’s metering gap is over seven million which is about 47 per cent metre penetration.
He said that President Bola Tinubu-led administration is committed to bridging the metering gap in the country through the Presidential Metering Initiative.
He said, “The major deficit is metering penetration, which today is less than 50 per cent of total customers in electricity consumers.
“We have 13 million registered electricity consumers whose meters have not been installed today. So, we have about seven million meter gap, that is about 47 per cent meter penetration. That is the major issue in the sector, if you do not metre customers, you cannot bill them and if you do not bill you cannot collect.
“So, it’s affecting the sector and there are losses and the collecting end of the losses is metering and we believe it is a major hiccup in the power sector.
“A lot of Nigerians pay on the estimated bill, this is not only unfair, but it is also unjust, it is evil because in the estimated bill, there is no transparency; there is no sincerity.”
He noted that “Nigerians are complaining and the metering is an avenue for Distribution Companies to make for their lost revenue. And we have made a lot of numbers of DisCos to make a lot of refunds to customers.
“So, we are saying that the best way to go is to reduce this meter gap. President Bola Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda vows to do anything that will impact positively the life of the people.
“And we have a target of a minimum of acquisition and installation of two million metres annually over the next five years. That is the minimum target we are given. That is 10 million metres and we are already taking steps to achieve this in terms of funding, and recovery strategy.”
Speaking while giving a brief presentation of the company, the General Manager, Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services, Mr Tolulope Ogunkolade, said that the company which was established and commissioned in 2017 has made significant progress.
He said, “We have undergone equipment upgrades across all the segments of the factory since 2022. We are consistently going to produce and maintain 99.9 per cent quality assurance
“We also planned to bring up robots because to produce 2.3 million meters in 12 months comes with a lot of manpower requirements, but by the time we integrate robots into our operations, it will definitely give us that mileage to accomplish the target within 12 months period.”
News
Stop importation of fake fuel to Nigeria, professionals in Europe tell Tinubu
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE), has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, as a matter of urgent national importance, stop the dumping of tainted Petroleum Products, otherwise known as fake fuel, being imported into the country.
Tinubu is the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources of the most populous African country, Nigeria, and a major player in oil production in the world.
Despite being major oil producer, Nigeria still battles with importation of refined products, which over 150m end users largely depend on. The nation’s refineries – Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt have remain in comatose, despite the many interventions of the present administration in billions of dollars.
Aside the allegation of frustrating the only viable local refinery, Dangote, the oil cabals have also been accused of encouraging importation of off-spec and adulterated products into the country, the allegations National Assembly Joint Committee is currently investigating.
In a press statement signed on Wednesday by the Global President of ANPE, Mr. Solomon Ola, the Nigerian Professionals in Europe are calling on President Tinubu to cause an urgent investigation of the recent trend of infiltrating the Nigeria’s market with product capable of putting lives of the people in great jeopardy.
The group warned that, “Importation of the sanctioned-tainted petrol into Nigeria would no doubt have diplomatic consequences, bearing in mind the sanctions that the Price Cap Coalition, comprising the European Union, the United States, the G7, and Australia, imposed on Russian-sourced crude and petroleum products”.
The statement read, “The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has followed developments in Nigeria’s petroleum industry with concern, given the absurd positions being canvassed by some stakeholders regarding the safety of the country and citizens regarding the quality of products being retailed.
“ANPE has consequently decided to urge President Bola Tinubu, as a matter of national interest, to use his mandate as the country’s chief executive to halt the designation of Nigeria as a dumping ground for foreign-sourced tainted, adulterated, and questionable petroleum products.
“We are sad and alarmed by recent developments in Europe, from Russia to Malta and every part of Europe, our home country has become a lucrative destination for the dumping of adulterated petroleum products such as PMS popularly known as petrol, which industry experts have tagged as fake fuel.
“Our association is concerned that the petroleum products in question are still being dumped in Nigeria even after industry experts have warned about their substandard nature, which poses material and economic risks to Nigerians whose vehicles and equipment could be damaged by dirty fuel.
“Fake fuel also has negative implications for the environment in addition to the associated dangers that the fumes from these products pose to public health, a situation that the Nigerian government would find exceptionally challenging since such a health burden would further stretch already lean public finances.
“Importation of the sanctioned-tainted petrol into Nigeria would no doubt have diplomatic consequences, bearing in mind the sanctions that the Price Cap Coalition, comprising the European Union, the United States, the G7, and Australia, imposed on Russian-sourced crude and petroleum products. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Price Cap Coalition forbids transactions on crude oil and petroleum products of Russian Federation origin unless they are transacted at or below $60, a price band that the products imported into Nigeria routinely violate even when the products are of Russian origin.
“A third concern for our association is the absurdity of importing relatively pricier petrol into Nigeria when more affordable and quality options are available from local refineries. This insistence on flooding Nigeria with bad petrol is equally bad for the economy. It is actively sabotaging President Tinubu’s economic policy.
“Things have gone so awry that Nigeria has become the toast of European companies peddling these products, which cannot be sold in other African countries such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, South Africa, Angola, Kenya and others. The collaborators of these European firms back in Nigeria collude to force these products on citizens of our dear nation for the sole purpose of profit-making.
“ANPE is consequently alerting Mr President and calling for caution while demanding that he directs the relevant authorities to urgently investigate and stop this illegal trade that places the nation and citizens in jeopardy”.
News
Indicators of hunger: N200 Sachets Of Rice Now In Nigerian Markets As Bag Hits Over N90k
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
In a bid to make rice more affordable for Nigerians, sachets of rice have been reintroduced into the market, following the surge in prices of the staple food.
The media learned that a 50kg bag of local rice now costs between N78,000 to N90,000 in the country, depending on the location and brand.
These values are higher than the average Nigerian’s monthly earnings.
The country’s minimum wage is now set at N70,000, and many institutions, both private and public, have yet to adopt it.
This situation, among other reasons, is why eating rice has been a luxury in many Nigerian households.
The media has further learnt that an indigenous rice producing company, Big Bull, has started manufacturing sachets of their products to enable Nigerian populations to eat rice.
The company fixed the price at N200 per sachet.
In July, a publication by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed continual increase in prices of food items.
According to the release, as of June 2024 , the average price of 1kg beans brown (sold loose) stood at N2,292.76.
This represents a rise of 252.13% in price on a year-on-year basis from N651.12 recorded in June 2023 and a 14.11% rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,009.23 in May 2024.
Also the price of Tomatoes (1kg) increased on a year by year basis, with a significant price of 320.67% from N547.28 in June of last year (2023) to N 2,302.26 in June 2024.
295.79% from N 510.77 in June 2023 to N 2,021.55 in May 2024.
On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 52.87% from N 1,322.36 in May 2024 to N 2,021.55 in June 2024.
The highest average price of 1kg of Tomato was recorded in Abuja at N3992.61 while the lowest was in Kebbi State at N1200.
Also 1kg of yam tuber sold highest in Lagos state at N 3,376.54, while Adamawa recorded the lowest price at N1100.
Gombe recorded the highest average price of 1kg Garri white sold loose at N 1,619.27, while the lowest was reported in Taraba at N900.
News
Army Checkpoint attacked by armed men in Abia, Claiming Lives of Two Soldiers
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint early on Wednesday at Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area, killing two soldiers.
A military source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around 6:18 am. The gunmen arrived in a white Lexus (350/400) model, although the exact number of attackers could not be confirmed.
Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by the irredentist group Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network.
During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep used in the attack. However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”
The Joint Task Force appealed to residents of the South East, particularly those in Abia State, for credible information to help track down the fleeing attackers and combat criminal elements in the region.
The force reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property in line with global best practices and the rules of engagement.
(PUNCH)
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