The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared N756.74 billion Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for its 11 Distribution Firms (DisCos) to the subsequent five years in their own Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).The projected investment directives were asked due to the DisCos in 2020 via an outstanding tariff inspection program. You will find anticipations of a tariff increase because the DisCos could just create the N756bn fund via the purchase. Sale Mamman, explained in a statement that the growth wouldn’t be significant.According to the data inside distinct orders into the 11 DisCos, the maximum fund endorsement moved to Ikeja DisCo since it obtained N121.9bn to execute its network enhancement goal. It was followed closely by Kaduna DisCo using N114bn goal; Eko DisCo is your third party with N93.76bn cost while Benin DisCo will invest N93.5bn on those investments. Ibadan DisCo would be to shell out N91.1bn, Abuja DisCo will invest N75.98bn, while Port Harcourt obtained N75.5bn as accepted CAPEX.For many others, Enugu DisCo includes N67.4bn approved finance, Kano DisCo will invest N63.1bn investing in community and transformer infrastructure while Jos DisCo obtained N47.2Bn because its authorized investment finance. The cheapest will be Yola DisCo using N27.3 because of the five year investment.
INEC generates addition of 1,235 polling units in Imo
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has generated added 1,235 polling units in Imo, bringing the entire amount of polling units from the country to 4,758.The country INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu made this known while briefing newsmen about the commission’s attempts to expand voter accessibility to polling units on Wednesday at Owerri. Ezeonu said over time, there had been efforts by the commission to make extra polling units to appeal to the attention in new settlements and regions with unmanageable voter inhabitants. He clarified that in 2011, the commission chose to make voting points and voting settlements to deal with the dilemma of overcrowding throughout the election and fresh resolutions not served with present polling units. Ezeonu stated the 1,235 polling units were made by converting existing unemployment points and unemployment point settlements into complete polling units.
Read also: MTN Nigeria stated that banks have been indebted for N40.3 billion
He stated the commission also surged, where necessary, existing or new polling units to areas where they had been more accessible to both voters and unserved areas. He explained INEC equally decongested present polling units by lowering the amount of voters per polling unit. The INEC REC reported the extra polling units were in accordance with the anticipation of this law that provided that “that the Commission set the adequate number of polling units in every Registration region and allot voters to these polling units “Based on him, INEC ran five general elections with the identical group and quantity of polling units created from the defunct National Electoral Commission in 1996 and utilized in 1999.Ezeonu stated the commission will continue to enhance the standard of access to electoral services supplied to voters by ensuring greater access to polling units for individuals with disabilities. The commission has also determined to enhance the health and security requirements at polling units throughout elections so as to abide by COVID-19 protocols in addition to address decreasing voter turnout at elections because of insufficient accessibility to polling units,” he explained. Ezeonu explained that the commission had been project a confirmation exercise and it’d compile the brand new polling units, release their names and delineation information prior to the resumption of nationally Constant Voter Registration (CVR) in June.
MTN Nigeria stated that banks have been indebted for N40.3 billion
MTN Nigeria has stated that banks have been indebted for it to the song of N40.3 billion at the end of quarter 2021 about the account of unstructured supplementary service data (USSD).MTN informed that its digital earnings grew by 101 per cent and fintech earnings by 28.5 per cent as customers continued to embrace more electronic products and services, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, in its Q1 financial report, said the business continued its recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown as the market improved. It, however, said service revenue for the enterprise was largely flat year-on-year (YoY) mainly due to the non-recognition of USSD earnings in Q1. The telecommunications firm said normalised growth (excluding USSD revenue) was 2.6 per cent, adding that”we continue to engage with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the deposit money banks (DMBs) to conclude the operational modalities for the new pricing framework that has been agreed upon for USSD services.”The mechanism for and time of this recovery of the industry-wide outstanding debts that exist for USSD services given to the DMBs form part of the process. At the end of Q1, N40.3 billion has been due to MTN Nigeria. MTN said costs rose by 14.8 per cent, mainly driven by a 19.2 per cent growth in operating expenses arising out of a hastened site rollout and the ramifications of Naira depreciation on lease leasing expenses.
Read also: Breaking: 42-year-old person, Suspected Sponsor Of Imo evil attacks arrested- Nnamdi Okafor
It pointed out that the overall increase in expenditures was partially mitigated by the comparatively moderate expansion of 7.8 per cent in the expense of sales following the suspension of new SIM sales and activations. As a result, MTN said its EBITDA rose by 19.1 per cent, supported by revenue growth, together with the EBITDA margin expanding by 0.9 pp to 53.1 per cent. Going forward, the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said that the company’s 2021 priorities remain unchanged, with a clear focus on sustaining double-digit earnings development, driving 4G network growth and positioning our fintech company for accelerated growth to unlock its full price. Toriola said the acquisition of an extra 800MHz spectrum positions us to deliver improved service speeds to Nigerians in service of the Government’s broadband initiative.”We will continue to maintain our expense efficiency programme to reinforce our financial standing and encourage margins. We stay in dialogue with all the DMBs on a pricing alternative for airtime sales commission while diversifying our airtime recharge stations to offer our readers more choices to buy airtime and stay connected.”We will pursue deeper and stronger stakeholder relationships and enhanced shared significance throughout our stakeholder ecosystem while ensuring that our actions align with the Government’s growth schedule. MTN said after the commencement of both SIM sales and activations, the initial run-rate of developments could be slower than usual as a result of new procedure requirements, system limitations and loss of qualified places for SIM registration. The company said this may affect the rate of developments in the short term,”we’re optimistic that the current procedures underway will entrench a stronger and sustainable enrollment procedure as we reaccelerate subscriber growth over the medium term.”As the economy continues its steady recovery in the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted the business in 2020, we expect that the base effects will partially influence our commercial and monetary trends in the remainder of the year. Although access to foreign exchange remains a constraint, we strive to minimise its influence on the business. Ultimately, we’ll continue to manage and invest in the resilience of the enterprise and networks since we monitor the longer-term economic potential consequences of this pandemic.”
Breaking: 42-year-old person, Suspected Sponsor Of Imo evil attacks arrested- Nnamdi Okafor
A 42-year-old person, identified as Nnamdi Okafor in the Amanachi community at the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo country, has been detained by security operatives for allegedly diluting the new fatal attacks in the nation. In a few of the strikes, policemen, police stations and other government centers, such as the Owerri Correctional Centre, are targeted. SaharaReporters media in accordance with Vanguard, Okafor was detained at Aboha-Ohi about Lifeline Assembly, Owerri/Orlu Road at Imo state.
Read also: Incorporate Buratai, other past service chiefs in security architecture, group tells Buhari
It was observed that security operatives were observing Okafor for a while prior to his arrest. The defendant was identified as a manager of Pecubel Hotel at the nation. A source told Vanguard: “Nnamdi Okafor is from Amanachi neighborhood at Orsu Local Government Area of Imo country, that he had been detained in April, approximately Lifeline Assembly at Aboha-Ohi together Owerri /Orlu Road at Imo.”Okafor, man, 42 decades.
He is the manager of a single Pecubel Hotel and contains a pharmaceutical outlet in Lagos. The newspaper also said others were detained in relation to the lethal strikes in Imo with among those ring leaders’ names awarded as Izuchukwu Ohaeri. He was stated to be 31 Decades and out of Isiwenke, Amakohia at the Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo state.
Wema Bank celebrates 76 decades of customer satisfaction
Wema Bank is commemorating its 76th anniversary, starting from yesterday. The longest surviving indigenous Nigerian bank started operations in 1945 as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited. It turned into Wema Bank in 1969 after a change in possession. From these humble beginnings, Wema Bank currently operates the largest digital lender in Africa, fully being used in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
To commemorate the landmark with its loyal customers, Wema Bank would engage the bank’s faithful customers on social websites with various giveaways in the coming weeks. Commenting about the 76th-anniversary activities, Head, Marketing, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, Funmilayo Falola, said the bank has excellent reasons to observe by appreciating customers’ loyalty over time.
Read also: Senate commends Buhari for assenting to Banks, Financial Institutions Act 2020
“For the past 76 years, we’ve consistently made our clients’ dreams, our dreams, and their objectives, our goals. We left their pride our number one priority. As we continue the relationship and grow together, we are honoured to keep our promise of providing innovative strong solutions to satisfy their different wants,” she said.
Shun drug abuse, violence – Adaeze Ezissi, anti-drug abuse campaigner
Adaeze Emmanuella Ezissi, an anti-drug abuse campaigner has urged Nigerian youths to shun drug abuse and the violent life it leads to for the sake of their health, wellbeing and future and for the sake of the country.
In a press statement she issued in Abuja Ms Ezissi who is currently putting finishing touches to her book on ‘Combating Drug Abuse Among the Youth’ charged Nigerian youths to remember the link between drug abuse, political violence, criminal lifestyle and all manners of insecurities, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
In her view “the well established connection between drug abuse and political thuggery and criminal conducts is enough warning for youths to toe the path of decency and engage in acceptable behaviourehavior and attitudes. This is because if you fall victim to drug abuse not only will your life be totally ruined, you will also be a disgrace to your family and an embarrassment to the nation”.
Ms Ezissi who is also the Chairman of the local organizing committee of an upcoming Summit on Drug Abuse put together by CERANY which is headed by Barr Chuks Aka-Madu, lamented that Nigeria may soon have a wasted and lost generation of drug addicts if all hands are not on deck to stem this evil scourge.
While commending the Federal government in its bold and ambitiodrug abusedrug abuse initiatives and the NDLEA for its innovative and proactive war against drug abuse and trafficking, she still believes that a lot more still needs to be done.
She thus called upon all stakeholders and indeed every Nigerian to join the campaign against drug abuse because it is everybody’s war and not that of the government alone.
To this end she emphasized that attention should be focused on “reaching out to very young children who are not yet exposed to drug abuse, mounting an aggressive public enlightenment campaign on the evil effects and consequences of drug abuse, counselling vulnerable entities and those who are already drug-dependent and mapping out strategies for the treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of those weaned out of drug abuse into society’s mainstream”.
Incorporate Buratai, other past service chiefs in security architecture, group tells Buhari
Following worsened security situation across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to integrate Lt. Gen T.Y Buratai (rtd) and other immediate past service chiefs into the nation’s security architecture.
According to the Patriotic Front of Nigeria (PFN), Buratai and other former military heads “still have a lot to offer the country in this critical point of our existence”.
The group said the nation must tap into its wealth of experience now more than ever, adding that failure to do so could further exacerbate the tension in the country.
In a statement signed by Alhaji Lateef Alli, its national secretary, a former House of Reps member, the PFN said it would be uncharitable for them not to be a part of the security architecture in the country.
While admitting that the retirement of the ex-servicemen brought the nation to its current state, Alli called on President Buhari to make amends by incorporating them into the military before things get out of hand.
Read the full statement below:
The Patriotic Front of Nigeria is issuing this press statement in light of the recent happenings across the country regarding the security of lives and properties.
The situation indeed calls for concern from all well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders. It is on the heels of this patriotic duty that the Patriotic Front of Nigerhass calling on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, to, as a matter of urgency and national interest, incorporate the immediate past service chiefs into the security architecture in the country.
We hold the firm conviction that the immediate past service still have a lot to offer the country in this critical point of our existence occasioned by the recent upsurge in acts of religious and ethnic tension across the country.
We wish to use this medium to remind President Muhammadu Buhari of the enviable track records of the former service chiefs, particularly the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ( Rtd).
Our position is hinged that recent events across the country have thus indicated the enormous sacrifices of the immediate past service chiefs that culminated in ways too numerous to mention in addressing the various security challenges in the country at the time.
We must consequently admit that the immediate past service chiefs know more and quite more than many know. Therefore it would be uncharitable for these individuals not to be a part of the security architecture in the country.
The danger of refusing to leverage on their wealth of experience remains that the country would continue to grapple with insecurity as experienced in most parts of the country in recent times.
The Patriotic Front of Nigeria wishes to reiterate that the change of service chiefs at a time like this was indeed a strategic error given the peculiarities of the time.
This fact we must admit and consequently do all within our means to ensure that those with the requisite knowledge, experience and capacity are incorporated into the security architecture in the country without delay.
The Patriotic Front of Nigeria calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to act in the country’s overall interest before things get out of control. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has the constitutional mandate to decide the membership of the security architecture in Nigeria.
Consequently, the Patriotic Front of Nigeria is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to incorporate the immediate past service chiefs into security architecture to leverage their experience in addressing the security challenges across the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari wishes to be reminded that the urgency of time requires proactive actions. And this request, in our considered opinion, would be beneficial to the country at large.
Lagos Govt. withholds the N25m donated to viral amputee hawker
Lagos State Government has withheld the money donated to Mary Daniel, the Oshodi amputee hawker who recently went viral.
Daniel recently became a sensation after pictures of her selling water at Oshodi went viral on social media. Daniel in an interview, claimed she lost a leg in an accident that killed all other passengers, including her parents when she was a teenager. She also claimed to be fending for a baby and an aged grandmother. She said she had to drop out of school and hit the streets to make ends meet.
Her touching story prompted many Nigerians to donate money to the tune of N25 million to her bank account, which was made public. However, it has now been found that she did not lose her leg in an accident and neither is her father dead.
Daniel was exposed after those who staged her story started threatening that they would reveal the truth unless she gave them their share of the money.
Confirming the development, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu said, “There were irregularities and lies in the account of her life she gave. It was discovered that contrary to her claim that her parents died during an accident that left her amputated, it was discovered that her father is very much alive and that she was amputated from birth.
It was also discovered that her presence in Oshodi was staged. Those working with her played on the intelligence of Nigerians to get donations for her. It came to light when the people started threatening her. She promised some N500,000 others different amounts and was planning to return to her home state when the information leaked.
I had to attach some policemen to her to prevent any attack on her when she went to the bank. We suspected those people might follow her but everything went well as they were not seen. Presently, the state government is preventing her from accessing the money. The government does not want a situation where it will become a trend for people to cook up stories, manipulate the people to get donations.”
From Warlord to Farmer: Retson Tedheke shares his passion for a new Nigeria, where a future is assured
Life in itself many say is a struggle to survive and to make your impact on humanity. This was the reason for Retson Tedheke to join the arm struggle against military incursion into the creeks of the Niger-Delta, the rich region whose communities remain ravaged by activities of oil exploration. A wealth whose value remains invisible in the communities where they are produced.
After many years in the creeks of the Niger Delta in arms struggle against the government, armed with economic sabotage, a struggle many militants believe is for the restoration of their community’s glory, Retson Tedheke has found a new lease of life in the peaceful and serene community of Ga’ate, in Nasarawa state, where his vision for a brighter Nigeria is helping him mobilize and motivate young Nigerians to build a sustainable future through the agricultural value chain.
As the rains prepare to begin for the year, Retson is in a hurry to get the green house done in record time for the production of vegetables and other temperate crops. In the midst of all these, his vision for one indivisible humanity, especially among Africans, remains very clear.
The Nigerian Farmers Group and Cooperative Society which sits on 1000 hectares of land 75 km from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has in just 4 years become a model for how modern and organic agriculture can be practiced in Nigeria.
From land preparation, cultivation, planting/ breeding to harvesting and processing, the NFG assures the nation of food security.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the farm is providing electricity to the community in addition to schools and a clinic in addition to a massive 500M cubic liters’ irrigation dam which also serves in the dry season.
With the diverse ethnic groups in the community, mutual respect for people and their beliefs form the basis of work ethics here.
Considering his family background, especially having a father who has attained the highest height in academic pursuits by becoming a professor, one wonders what attracted him to militancy in the creeks.
An avid reader, with an enviable collection of books, Retson lives his African ideology daily.
“One of the biggest advantage and knowledge for the creeks is knowing that violence accomplishes nothing but builds more enemies I ran away from the creeks because I was going to be killed anyways.
“When we started from the creeks our insight was a revolution that was premised on liberating our people. But then all of us forgot that the revolution that was to free our people from the insanity of the oil industry in creating a western hegemony a process where the west still dominates but we become tools for the west in using our own people to furnish and build their own society at the expense of our own communities.
“Development is a function of arms struggle as it is a function of national growth. While arms struggle will give you the power of the gun, the national development will give you the power of ideology and a focus of national development and growth. So I got to that moment where I asked the question should we continue to use arms as a means of intimidation or we drop the arms and begin to think about our people but once you drop the arms and begin to think about your people, you create the enemies that do not want you to.”
Retson, together with a few friends, obtained a credit facility with which they started on a small scale. Over time they have integrated the project into a farm community where everything is produced.
“Nigeria is 200 million in population and counting they need to feed; they need to sleep in shelters they need to have water. It is now beyond the population but the component of the economy capable of sustaining that population” he says.
In the last few years, Nigeria has suffered devastations from conflict between indigenous farmers and migrating herders, leaving a death toll of unimaginable proportion, as a result of struggles for greener grazing areas in the central and southern states, as the Sahel region continues to dry up due to desertification. Retson’s farm has become a model for ranging, with the addition of Frisian bulls and crossing with the local breeds, there will no longer be need for herders to graze openly.
Agriculture according to Retson has always been the foundation of real national development and economy globally. On the calls for restructuring giving the myriads of issues in Nigeria, he thinks it is all about implementing workable solutions and not dancing to the gallery.
The hydroponic plant on the facility has made it possible for grasses to be grown for the animals within 7 days, mostly from grains gotten from the farm.
Today, the farm has moved from just an idea to a reality, where dreams of many young Nigerians are being realised. Adamu Ga’ate who doubles as a staff of the farm as well as the liaison between the farms and the community with the help of Retson has secured admission into the university where he hopes to equate his experience, passion and career. And so is the story of many others working to make a decent living on the farms.
how yams are preserved traditionally at the barn
As Nigeria’s population expands, the need to focus more on ventures such as farming has become imperative. More importantly, when young minds are positively engaged, it is difficult for politicians and anarchists to rent their minds for sinister motives.
“Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho, Shekau and the rest dominate the minds of many because we have chosen to focus more on petty bigoted sentimentalism, parochial sentimentalism. Think about it… how is my ethnicity going to put food on the table? You want your own country fine and good, you want to secede fine, but what is the guarantee that those your politicians stealing your money in Nigeria would not do same in your new country?
For Retson, life is continuously under construction and the time to stop isn’t just yet.