The Federal Government has set aside N700bn from the federation account for the implementation of the distribution of free electricity meters under the Presidential Metering Initiative, according to the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communications and Media, Bolaji Tunji.

In a chat with The PUNCH on Friday, he noted that the PMI was on course with a target to deliver two million meters yearly.

He revealed that the amount reserved for the project had reached N700bn and procurement had started.

He said, “The Presidential Metering Initiative is still on course. Two million meters every year, delivery of the first batch will start by the first quarter of next year. About N700bn provision has been made, and the money is ready.”

The special adviser further revealed that the government would fulfil its promise to deliver 1.3 million electricity meters out of the 3.2 million meters under the World Bank Distribution Sector Reform Programme initiative this month.

“The DISREP programme will commence this month,” he noted.

However, an analysis of the Federal Account Allocation Committee meeting minutes obtained by our correspondent between April and August showed that the government had saved N420bn from a monthly deduction of N100bn.

The amount deducted from the monthly federation revenue before allocation to the three tiers of government was aimed at bridging the metering gap in the country, which currently stands at 50 per cent.

Recall that N120bn was deducted from April revenue as the first tranche for the PMI, bringing the amount deducted from the federation account for the initiative as of August to N420bn.

In May, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said that the government would provide an initial N75bn as seed capital while the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority pledged to inject N250bn annually for the initiative.

The minister also disclosed that the initiative would leverage debt financing from diverse financial institutions to bolster the PMI’s resources.

The Managing Director of Abuja Distribution Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Victor Ojelabi, recently said that the PMI would unlock about N1tn in revenue currently tied up in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry due to a large number of unmetered customers.

Under the initiative, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission announced the approval of N21bn for the 11 electricity Distribution Companies to provide meters for end-use customers at zero cost.

The Distribution Sector Recovery Programme is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the challenges and inefficiencies within Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector.

Recently, the NERC acknowledged that the country’s metering gap remains substantial despite installing 3.03 million meters since privatising the power sector in 2013.

It said 6.15 million out of 13.33 million registered customers had been metered, bringing the metering rate to 46.14 per cent in 2024.

…over author’s detention

The determination of the police to stop activists from protesting the continued detention of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, is creating deep anger.

Despite Ekiti State Police Command’s claim that the decision to prohibit the planned protest was reached to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state, activists have refused to back down and declared Tuesday, December 10 as their preferred day.

In fact, the activists have threatened to extend the demonstration to Lagos, Abuja and the United Kingdom to draw attention to what they termed the illegal arrest, detention and trial of Farotimi.

Ever since officers from the Ekiti State Police Command arrested Farotimi following a defamation petition filed by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, various individuals and organisations have expressed sadness over the development.

Among them is the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which argued that the offence for which Farorimi was arrested had been decriminalised under the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, disclosing that defamation as a criminal law was repealed by the Supreme Court in a case between Aviomoh v. Commissioner of Police & Anor (2021) in 2021.

The rights lawyer, in his book: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ had alleged that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his clients.

Bail application

Unconcerned, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 general elections, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and other rights activists in London have planned a protest for Tuesday when the court hearing of bail application filed by Farotimi’s legal team is schedule to sit.

Although the Police Public Relations Officer of the state’s command, DSP Sunday Abutu, in a statement, said: “any form of unlawful gathering, demonstration or protest is unacceptable as the intelligence report available has it that some unscrupulous individuals have planned to hide under this protest to hijack it and unleash mayhem and create apprehension in the state,” Sowore urged Nigerians to use the demonstration in calling for Farotimi’s release.

Venue

The publisher of Sahara Reporters said this via his X, formerly Twitter, noting that the point of convergence in Abuja will be the Ministry of Justice and Federal High Court, Abuja; Ekiti convergence point is the Police Headquarters Ado-Ekiti ; convergence point in Lagos will be the Afe Babalola Chambers at Emmanuel House, Plot 1, Block 4, CMD/Jubilee Road, Magodo; and meeting point at the United Kingdom is King’s College London.

Sowore stated: “The @PoliceNG can’t ban protests anywhere; we are getting loads of Nigerian citizens to shut down Ado-Ekiti on December 10, 2024, from 7 am. Buses are ready for those coming from out of state.

#FreeDeleFarotimiNow 1. Abuja convergence: Ministry of Justice and Federal High Court, Abuja 2. Ekiti parapo convergence: Police Headquarters Ado-Ekiti 3. Lagos convergence: Afe Babalola Chambers, Lagos Address: Emmanuel House, Plot 1, Block 4, CMD/Jubilee Road, Magodo GRA, Lagos 4. London UK CONVERGENCE: King’s College London Address: Strand, London, WC2R 2LS global online and offline revolt against the nigerian judiciary! Date: December 10, 2024. Time: 7 AM West African Time.”

Days after the Central Bank of Nigeria ordered Deposit Money Banks to guard against artificial cash scarcity in the country, findings by Sunday PUNCH revealed that the trend still persists in some parts of the country.

In a circular dated November 29, jointly signed by Acting Directors Solaja Olayemi (Currency Operations) and Isa-Olatinwo Aisha (Branch Operations), the CBN outlined measures aimed at improving cash availability.

According to the circular, the CBN directed banks to ensure efficient cash disbursement through both Automated Teller Machines and over-the-counter channels, warning of penalties for non-compliance.

The apex bank also urged customers experiencing challenges to report incidents with details such as account name, bank name, transaction amount, and date. Dedicated phone numbers and email addresses were released for Nigerians to report difficulties accessing cash.

However, as of Friday, Nigerians in some major cities told Sunday PUNCH that they still experienced significant difficulty obtaining sufficient cash over the counters and at ATMs in some commercial banks.

An Abuja resident, who declined to be named, said his bank only dispensed N5,000 over the counter on Friday.

When asked whether this was a bank-wide directive, she stated that it might be due to the limited cash available, adding that customers were often advised to use ATMs.

He said, “As of Friday, it was just N5,000. But if the ATM is loaded, you can withdraw as much as it dispenses. That’s probably all the bank could afford on Friday. Most times, customers are advised to use the ATM, which dispenses fresh mints.”

Similarly, a United Bank for Africa customer in Abuja said his bank dispensed N20,000 over the counter, while ATMs dispensed N20,000 to customers and N10,000 to customers of other banks as of Friday.

A Zenith Bank official in Delta State revealed that their branch paid a maximum of N20,000 to customers, both over the counter and through ATMs.

“It’s N20,000 maximum. The ATM also dispenses N20,000,” she stated.

A Lagos resident, Tunde Ajiboye, shared on Facebook that he withdrew N20,000 from a GTBank ATM in Ikorodu and later withdrew another N30,000 over the counter at Lotus Bank, also in Ikorodu, on Friday afternoon.

In Akure, Ondo State, the cash crunch was also pronounced. A resident, Oluwaseyi Oluwalade, said he visited an ATM terminal in Akure but couldn’t withdraw any cash.

“I rushed to a PoS operator, but I still didn’t get cash. I was asked to make a transfer, which I did on Friday, but I could only collect the cash on Saturday afternoon,” he lamented.

Another Akure resident, Adeniyi Samuel, who works for OPay, confirmed complaints from PoS operators about insufficient cash in banks.

“Many of our operators rely on filling station attendants or BDC operators to get cash because banks give very little over the counter or at ATMs,” he explained.

In Imo State, residents also decried withdrawal limits.

A resident, who asked to be identified only as Onyekachi, said, “We cannot withdraw more than N20,000 in the banking hall. You spend so much time, only to be given a maximum of N20,000. It’s frustrating.”

A similar scenario unfolded in Abia State, where banks limited withdrawals to between N5,000 and N20,000. ATMs dispensed as little as N5,000 to non-customers and N10,000 to customers.

In Kwara, residents also struggled to access cash.

Ibrahim Taiwo, a resident of Ilorin, said banks paid a maximum of N10,000 over the counter and N40,000 at ATMs. He noted that PoS operators increased their charges by N50 across withdrawal amounts.

In Osun and Oyo states, withdrawal limits varied between N10,000 and N50,000, depending on the bank and location.

Reacting to the situation, a source at the CBN accused some banks of favouring high-end customers by giving them bulk cash at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. The source assured that the CBN was committed to penalising erring banks.

However, a banker in Ogun State accused the CBN of being insincere, claiming, “The amount given to us is not enough to load ATMs for two days.”

A Polaris Bank staff member in Lagos linked the scarcity to the naira redesign policy under former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. He noted that the policy destroyed old naira notes but failed to replace them with adequate new notes, leading to persistent scarcity.

“People are skeptical about depositing money in banks, fearing a repeat of last year’s issues. This is affecting the availability of cash,” he concluded.

The National President of Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, Fasasi Atanda, accused petrol stations, supermarket operators, traders, and other businesses that handle large volumes of cash daily of contributing to the current cash scarcity.

Atanda alleged that instead of depositing their cash earnings into banks as expected, those entities hoarded the money and sold it at inflated rates to cash dealers.

“There is no reason for cash scarcity if there are no saboteurs. There is cash commoditisation. Today, we have saboteurs who are dealing in the sale of cash. They sell cash in bulk; they have their sources, and they buy in bulk and sell. What you can’t get in the banks, you will get from cash dealers.

“We are aware of petrol stations, restaurants, supermarket operators, and others selling their cash instead of depositing it in banks.

“People often wrongly accuse agents of selling cash. Agents are not selling cash, we are servicing the people and the charges are for the cost of data and transportation. In reality, if the government can take care of these costs, agents can render their services free of charge,” Atanda said.

He urged the CBN to engage PoS operators as official agents of cash distribution, adding that this would address the challenge of cash scarcity in the country.

The acting Director of Corporate Communications for the CBN, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to her phone as of press time.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for a minimum remuneration benchmark for medical doctors to curb the mass migration of health professionals seeking better conditions abroad.

Speaking on Saturday after the 3rd National Health Summit (NHS) and the group’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, emphasized the urgent need for standardized pay, improved welfare packages, workplace security, and health insurance to retain doctors and improve health outcomes.

Highlighting disparities in doctors’ pay across states and institutions, the NMA urged the government to ensure fair remuneration while raising concerns about the lack of motivation and mentorship for younger professionals, advocating for an appropriate reward system to sustain the workforce.

He said, “It is a strategy to help Nigeria retain its critical health care workforce and prevent the ongoing ‘japa’ syndrome.

“What it seeks to do is to ensure that every registered doctor who is licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has a minimum remuneration benchmark that you cannot go below, whether the individual is employed in the public sector or in the private sector.

“And even in the public sector, whether the individual is employed by federal, state or local government, and even within those sectors, whether the individual is employed in a primary health sector, hospitals or in other departments and agencies that require the services of a doctor, such as university lecturers, and others such as customs and other security agencies who employ doctors.

“Everyone must comply with that minimum benchmark. It will produce stability, so this is the essence.

“This initiative is also aiming to tackle internal brain drain, where doctors don’t want to serve in local governments, because the pay package is not as good as in state governments, or where some doctors leave state government hospitals to go and work in federal hospitals when they are needed more in the state hospitals.”

The NMA Chief also stated that the Summit underscored the urgent need for an integrated clinical governance mechanism across all health facilities to improve accountability and outcomes.

Addressing policy implementation, the Summit noted the partial and non-enforcement of provisions in the National Health Act (NHA), Audu emphasizing that “Specifically, it advocated for issuing certificates of standards to hospitals as a means to enhance public confidence in healthcare services.

The Federal government has assured that the President Bola Tinubu administration will never do anything to undermine the ideals of participatory democracy in pushing for its transformative reform agenda.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Saturday at the 2024 Annual Public Lecture/AGM and Awards organised by the Kaduna State Chapter, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR.

The event held on the theme ‘Tax Reform: The Role of Public Relations in Fostering Constructive Dialogue for National Economic Renaissance’.

He said the administration has also been very clear that the Executive will listen to, and work with, all stakeholders to ensure that all concerns are duly and comprehensively addressed.

“The theme for the public discuss, ‘Tax Reform: The Role of Public Relations in fostering Constructive Dialogue for National Economic Renaissance’, has brought to the fore, yet again, the place of constructive dialogue as a vital pillar of democracy.

“Society advances by mutually respectful engagements, where we give voice to diverse opinions, and respect those who we disagree with.

“We will certainly not always agree on all issues, perhaps not even on most. But we will always be guided by the fact that the things that unite us, our common humanity, our nationhood, our sense of patriotism, our collective vision for a Nigeria that works for all, will always be more important and more meaningful than our differences of age, religion, region, ideology, gender, culture, and social class.

“The topic before us today is a sensitive yet important and inescapable one: taxation. All over the world, effective taxation is important as a source of financial power for governments to provide social services for their citizens.

“However, there is plenty of reason to believe and assert that Nigeria’s tax administration system has become long overdue for reform, on account of design and implementation flaws as well as the general attitudes of taxpayers toward taxation.
“In light of this, the ongoing review of the country’s tax laws and realities is timely and crucial, especially as part of a larger set of macroeconomic reforms aimed at setting the country on an irreversible path of growth and development.

“The full details of the new tax bills are available in the public domain. One must commend the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reform for an excellent job in this regard, in terms of public engagement so I will not attempt to go over these details again here.

“What I will say is that it is very inspiring and heartwarming to see Nigerians from all walks of life coming out to express their views and opinions on these matters of critical national importance, as such is the very essence and meaning of democracy.

“In spite of the challenge of trust deficit that tends to crop up around matters of governance in Nigeria, we have still been able to have what can be adjudged as robust debate on this sensitive issue.

“President Tinubu has also been very clear that the Executive will listen to and work with all stakeholders to ensure that all concerns are duly and comprehensively addressed.

“We will continue to ensure open lines of communication and engagement with the National Assembly and all other stakeholders on these taxation bills.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s electronic payment statistics have shown that, between January and June 2024, 252.06 million transactions, which amounted to N2.19tn, were carried out via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes.

This is a significant milestone compared to the full-year data for 2023, which showed that N4.84tn was transacted via USSD codes across 630.6 million transactions.

The N2.19tn recorded in the first half of 2024 represents 45.3 per cent of the total value of USSD transactions in 2023 and 40 per cent of the total transaction volume for the same year.

Initially developed by telecom companies for providing airtime and subscription services, the USSD service has been widely adopted in the banking sector because it does not require an Internet connection.

USSD codes continue to play a crucial role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion strategy, offering a platform for users with limited internet access to make quick and convenient transactions.

This is especially important in rural areas, where internet connectivity remains unreliable.

However, this form of transaction has been threatened by over N250bn debt, which has been a contentious issue for the past six years, prompting past interventions from the Central Bank of Nigeria under Godwin Emefiele’s leadership and the former Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, but no lasting solution has been reached.

The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, earlier lamented that banks have been profiting from USSD services without fulfilling their payment obligations in the last six years.

Last month, The PUNCH reported that telecom operators in Nigeria were seeing some progress in the repayment of the N250bn debt tied to Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services, with smaller banks beginning to settle their obligations.

However, tier-one lenders responsible for the bulk of the debt are yet to make significant payments.

At the time, the ALTON chairman disclosed that while some repayments have been recorded, they fall short of expectations.

While USSD remains a dominant channel amidst existing challenges, other electronic payment methods have also seen substantial growth.

Automated Teller Machine  transactions have experienced a remarkable volume, with N12.21tn transacted in the first half of 2024 for 496.44 million transactions.

Point-of-sale transactions are also significant, indicating the country’s ongoing shift towards cashless payments.

A newly wedded couple who were returning from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry alongside 16 other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries following a multi-vehicle collision on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State on Saturday.

This was confirmed in a statement by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, on Saturday.

Taofiq stated that the accident occurred when an LT bus developed brake failure while at speed and collided with a mini truck.

The impact of the collision was said to have led to the occupants of both vehicles sustaining varying degrees of injuries including fractured limbs.

He identified the vehicles involved as a mini truck with number plate AGL 22 YE and a commercial LT bus with number plate BFG 204 XF.

Taofiq said, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, in collaboration with emergency response agencies, today orchestrated the successful rescue of 18 individuals involved in a serious vehicular collision on the Third Mainland Bridge, near Ilaje, heading towards Iyana Oworonsoki.

“Among the victims were a newlywed couple returning to the mainland from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry.

“The accident, which involved a mini truck (AGL 22 YE) and a commercial LT bus (BFG 204 XF), was attributed to a brake failure on the LT bus, which was travelling at excessive speed. The bus collided with the mini truck, which was moving slowly due to mechanical difficulties.

“A total of 16 passengers seated in the rear of the LT bus, 11 women and 5 men, sustained significant injuries and were swiftly transported to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre near the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for urgent medical care.”

He added that two of the victims suffered severe injuries after being trapped in the wreckage of the LT bus and “Were extricated with the combined efforts of LASTMA personnel, emergency responders, and concerned bystanders. These victims were later rushed to Gbagada General Hospital for specialised treatment.”

Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy for the injured victims while urging road users to always exercise caution on the highway.

Bakare-Oki who spoke through Taofiq stressed that the ongoing enlightenment by the LASTMA’s Female Elite Corps is aimed at promoting safety on Lagos roads ahead of the festivity.

“Expressing deep sympathy for the injured, LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, wished them a speedy recovery. He also underscored the importance of observing speed limits and maintaining vehicles in optimal condition, particularly the braking system, to prevent such tragedies.

“Mr Bakare-Oki further highlighted the intensified public enlightenment campaigns led by LASTMA’s Female Elite Corps, which aim to educate motorists—especially commercial bus operators—on safe driving practices before, during, and beyond the festive season,” Taofiq stated.

Emergency responders at the scene of the incident, according to Taofiq, were LASTMA personnel, LASEMA, LASAMBUS and the police.

The Pastor-in-Charge of Youth Province One, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Joseph Palace, FESTAC, Lagos, Leke Adeboye, has declared that fueling the free buses providing transportation between Lagos and Ogun States to Nigerians cost the church over N63m in just seven weeks.

The initiative, spearheaded by the church, involved 10 buses shuttling commuters between key routes in Lagos, including 7up, Victoria Island, FESTAC, CMS, Ikorodu and Mowe in Ogun State.

Adeboye told our correspondent on Saturday that in addition to covering transportation, RCCG ensured the welfare of drivers and volunteers who utilised the waiting period to preach messages from Open Heavens, the church’s daily devotional also cost N10m.

He revealed that each bus carried 80 passengers per trip, completing two daily trips, five days a week.

Also, over the period, the buses transported an estimated 56,000 people, cutting down commuting costs significantly for Nigerians of all backgrounds, including Christians, Muslims, atheists, military personnel, students, and law enforcement officers.

According to Adeboye, this initiative saved each passenger an average of ₦40,000 weekly.

“The buses were accessed by everyone, regardless of religion or social status. It was our way of easing the financial burden on Nigerians. Fueling alone cost over N63m.

“The free buses were entered by all, Nigerians and non-Christians, Muslims, traditionalists, atheists, Twitter warriors and abusers and accusers of the church. Students, military persons and everyone from all works of life.”

“The buses have also served students, military personnel, and law enforcement officers—both in and out of uniform—as well as less privileged groups like area boys and agberos, we spent N10m on this.

“The free bus initiative has been open to all Nigerians and even non-Nigerians, irrespective of their faith or status. It is a testament to the church’s commitment to serving humanity without discrimination. 10 buses x 80 souls x 2 trips per day x 5 working days a week. What number did you get?, ” Adeboye said.

The province, in September, announced in a statement that “The initiative aims to ease transportation costs while also providing spiritual care and guidance.

The statement disclosed that buses will depart from Mowe, Ibafo, Berger, and 7UP at Car Park C (near Redemption City) to CMS, as well as from Festac, RCCG Joseph’s Palace, Apple Junction, to Victoria Island and Lekki.”

Nigerian music star, Davido has finally broken his silence following Wizkid’s shades on social media.

The drama began when Davido announced his upcoming album, “5ive,” and a new single, “Fund,” featuring Chike and Odumodu Blvck.

Wizkid, seemingly unfazed by the news, took to Twitter to post a cryptic laughing emoji.

The tweet, which has since been deleted, sparked a frenzy among fans, with many 30BG enthusiasts calling out Wizkid for his perceived shade.

Undeterred by the criticism, Davido responded with a tweet that grabbed the attention of many.

The DMW boss shared lyrics from “Unavailable,” a track off his fourth studio album, “Timeless.”

The lyrics suggest that Davido is impervious to the opinions of others.

In his words:

“And I sorry for who wan, who wan Who wan gbe my matter s’ori.”

See the post below:

A few days back, Wizkid appeared to have reignited tension on social media by throwing a hot shade once more.

Starboy who has been on the tail of his colleague, Davido for some months took to his X handle where he posted a suggestive and derogatory statement that triggered buzz online.

Without mentioning any name, Wizkid wrote: “I tell you b4 Oloshi! Only inside ur house!”

Although the statement wasn’t directed to anyone, cybernauts swung into action, concluding that Wizkid was referring to Davido.

This is in light of a previous tweet in which Wizkid ruthlessly slammed Davido, stating that he’s 001 in his home alone.

Wizkid had said:

“Naija is a place the rich weaponize poverty so u carry all these broke boys in real life and get dem visa so they worship u and not tell u abt yourself. Call u 001 u delusional fuck aye u idiot! The only time u’re 001 is when u’re in your house. U’re not 001 of nothing but instagram followers! U don’t make money than any body in Nigeria in music! Cheap guy! Everything about u screams cheap!”