Following the increase of electricity tariff for customers under Band A category of consumers, some Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction over the haphazard implementation of the hike.
They said customers that are not enjoying up to 20 hours had been lumped up with those enjoying the services.
The situation has led to confusion, protests and complaints, with consumers alleging deliberate exploitation by some distribution companies (DisCos).
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on Wednesday announced a 300 per cent hike in the electricity tariff to be paid by Band A customers.
Their tariff was moved from N68 per kilowatt hour to N225.
The vice chairman of the NERC, Musliu Oseni, who made the announcement, said the increase was to reduce the burden on the federal government following the increase in gas price and the huge collapse in the value of the naira against the United States dollar owing to what the Bola Tinubu Administration called “forex unification.”
However, many electricity consumers who spoke with Daily Trust Saturday, lamented the implementation that saw them paying for what they were not consuming.
Some residents of the Federal Capital City, Abuja and its satellite towns, who get their electricity from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), expressed outrage as some of them in the same neighbourhood were classified on different bands.
Some of the residents, who were placed on Band A, said they might consider relocating to other areas.
Madam Aminat Adeola, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment at Plot A7, Shagari Quarters, Dei Dei, under Bwari Area Council, said the AEDC placed her on Band A while all her co-tenants were placed on B and C.
“I cannot cope with this. This is unfair to me. Why would they put only me on Band A in this compound? This is an area where we don’t enjoy regular power supply. I will first go to complain in their office in Kubwa before I decide on what to do.
“But honestly, this may force me to go and rent a house in another place,” she said.
Another resident in the area, Mrs Iyabo Ganiyu, who was placed on Band A while other people in her neighbourhood were placed on C, said she had told her husband to go and lodge a complaint at the Kubwa office of the AEDC.
Obas Emmanuel, who resides in Kubwa, said he found out that he was in Band A after purchasing a N3,000 electricity token for his meter.
“I was given 12 units instead of 40. That was when I realised I am on Band A despite not getting the Band A (20 hours) electricity,” he said.
He added that he learnt that his area was in Band A before the NERC downgraded his feeder as they were not getting the service.
Yakubu Lawal is another AEDC customer who said he purchased 40 units at N10,000, which, before now, would secure him 135 units.
He also said his feeder in Kubwa was downgraded to Band B and was surprised that he is now being asked to pay for Band A services.
He urged the NERC to look into his plight by asking for a refund for him from the AEDC.
Consumers in states lament
Eze, a web designer, who lives at Kay Farm Estate, Lagos, in an interview with Daily Trust Saturday said, “I normally enjoy regular electricity in my estate, to be honest.
“I woke up yesterday to recharge N1,000 and was surprised to get only four units. Now, I can’t even use the air conditioning system. I am currently using an electric fan.
“I have recharged twice since yesterday, and I don’t think I would be able to cope with this new rate,” he said.
Another resident of Ojodu Abiodun in Lagos who recharged on Thursday, said she got 22 units at N5,000. Another resident in the area also complained of getting 52 units for the same amount although he is oblivious of his band or category.
A resident of Obalende, under the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, said she got 20 units at N5,000 instead of 74 units with bonus included, asking, “How can this be?”
The manager, Goodluck Stores Surulere, who simply identified himself as Dubem, lamented that the increase in electricity tariff would affect his expenditure on power supply.
“I hitherto bought N30,000 worth of units, which lasted approximately two months, but with the current increase, what they would give me will not last for a month. The implication is that we might have to increase the prices of our stocks,” he said.
He said that Eko Distribution Company, which supplies power to his area, only provided electricity twice in a week.
“We hardly have light here. In a week, we may have two days of constant supply, while on other days we run on generators. On average, within those two days, the light may stay between 4 and 5 hours, but most of the time, we run on generators,” he added.
Meanwhile, officials of some of the distribution companies confirmed that there were system glitches in some areas, which wrongly classified some customers not under Band A, saying those customers had been identified and would be refunded.
An official of Eko DisCo said, “We are about doing a message and all the customers wrongly classified are going to be refunded their excess money. We are working on communication, which will go out today (yesterday).
“We have identified the customers and we have pulled them from our system and all of them would be reached out to,” the official said.
However, Kingsley Okotie, the spokesman for Ikeja Electric, in an interview with our correspondent, said it was not true that some consumers were wrongly classified under Band A as they were thoroughly reviewed before the implementation of the new cost reflective tariff.
He said, “I am not aware of such complaints about being wrongly classified under Band A feeders under IE network. The exercise was thoroughly reviewed before classifications under Band A got regulatory approvals. But I can assure our customers that we will live up to their expectations in terms of the hours of supply in line with the feeder arrangement.
“We have also put in place rapid response teams to speedily resolve complaints as they arise. We appeal to our customers to give us maximum co-operation to ensure the success of this tariff regime, a game changer that will ultimately lead to improved service delivery for all,” he added.
It’ll be difficult to pay – Kebbi residents
Some residents of Gesse Phase 1, GRA and the new settlements at the bypass in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, have complained about the recent increase in electricity tariff.
Those who spoke to our correspondent alleged that they were already paying heavily before the increase.
One of them, Alhaji Abubakar Abbas, told our correspondent that he and others in the area were made to pay hugely on a monthly basis.
“Every month I paid nothing less than N60,000, sometimes N70,000, so with the recent increase, it will be difficult to cope with my electricity bills,” he said.
The industrial area of the town, along Kalgo, and some areas at the bypass are said to be on Band A, and some business owners at the area complained that they may find it difficult to pay for the new tariff.
“Our businesses around here are no longer doing well because of the recent economic situation. I am not sure many of us would be able to pay the new tariff,” Suleiman Babagoro, who owns a mini rice mill in the area said.
Customers will bear the brunt – Kano tailors
Alhaji Abdulhameed B. Adamu, a tailor in Badawa Quarters, Kano, said, “The increase in electricity tariff will force us to increase our charges. A set of plain cloth with no decoration, for which we hitherto charged between N1,500 and N2,000, will now jump to N3,500 and N4,000.
“Also, a set of cloth with decoration that we charged between N3,000 and N6,000 for sewing, depending on the type of decoration a customer chooses, will now cost between N7, 000 and N8,000,” he said.
Ice block makers at Sharada Industrial Estate also described the latest increase as “unprecedented, shocking and devastating.
Abubakar Abdullahi Umar said most of them became confused when they heard of the increase.
He said he used to pay about N500,000 monthly to settle electricity bills before the latest development, and wondered how they would cope.
“We are just discussing this increase because we are all confused. Everybody is lamenting. How do you explain over 300 per cent increase to a customer? Certainly, we will transfer the cost to those patronising our products,” Umar said.
When contacted to speak on the disparities witnessed in some areas, the Head of Kano Distribution Company’s Corporate Communication, Sani Bala, could not be reached. But an official who does not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak, explained that it is basically technical when customers on other bands were charged using Band A threshold, adding that this can easily be rectified.
Only 1.5 million customers will be affected
Speaking on the widespread complaints by Nigerians, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja Friday, said the tariff hike would ultimately benefit the poor.
He said that from the policy formulation perspective, the recent increase would affect just 15 per cent of electricity consumers in Nigeria.
He said that based on the latest statistics, there are a little above 12 million customers in the sector but this would only affect about 1.5 million customers.
He said the remaining 10.5 million customers would continue to enjoy government’s subsidy at 70 per cent.
The minister added that the federal government was investing heavily on infrastructure, which will ultimately lead to better services, assuring that even manufacturers would have a fair deal compared to what they currently spend on diesel to power their machinery.
“A journey of thousand miles starts today,” the minister said.
NERC fines AEDC N200m
The NERC vice chairman, Oseni, said yesterday that the AEDC was fined N200 million because it implemented the new tariff for all customers.
He said this was a breach of trust, and that the fine against the company was to sound a warning that erring DisCos would be punished.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja on Friday, he said the N200 million would go to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
“What led to that is that some customers have complained that they are not enjoying 20 hours of supply, they went to vend and they were charged the new rate.
“The Abuja scenario that led to this is unpardonable. The AEDC was saying it was an error. Why didn’t they make an error that would reduce the tariff for all customers? he queried.
He said that in the second scenario, after the review, what the DisCos did was to try and protect their revenue and have three options.
“One was to shut down the platform until they effect the rate change. The second option was to limit the amount the customers can vend, and the third one was to change the tariff for Band A before they will start to clean the system to know who are actually on Band A,” he said.
When contacted for a reaction on the fine, AEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Mimi Angyu, did not respond to calls or messages sent to her line.
[DailyTrust]
FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said that Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ART) project is now 97 percent completed and will be ready for commissioning by May 29.
Addressing newsmen after an inspection tour of the Metro Station in Central Area and the station at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, April 5, Wike said President Bola Tinubu had approved the schedule for the inauguration of projects to celebrate his one year in office.
He said;
“We are very happy. We are almost 97 per cent completed. All works are ongoing to make sure that the May delivery date is a reality. I believe this is one of the projects Mr President would like to inaugurate because it is very key to the development of the economy.
“For me, it is a dream come true, and we are happy that after all said and done, the metro line will be put to use for Nigerians, come May 29.
“I am really impressed with the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC. The company has assured us that all the renovation works on the stations will be ready before the commissioning date”
On whether the rail lines would be extended to areas experiencing high traffic, the minister said;
“I am not committing anything now, because we are taking everything step by step. We have to first of all, consider the financial implications. Linking areas like Nyanya are important, no doubt about it. We will talk to the contractor to see what we can do, but for now, there is no commitment.”
Former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia has come hard on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, advising him to reduce his propensity for power and greed and allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to do his work.
According to him, an undying inclination for power is tormenting Wike and serving him unstable moments.
Omehia made this assertion in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday in response to the live television interview which the former governor of Rivers State and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike hosted in Abuja recently.
DAILY POST reports that Wike had at the media parley, in Abuja, on Tuesday, described Uche Secondus, Sen George Sekibo and other PDP leaders in Rivers State as “expired politicians and buccaneers” owing to their support for Fubara.
Reacting, Omehia described Wike’s uncontrolled outbursts as product of a confused mind, saying Wike’s anger was that his ambition of a 3rd tenure has crashed and the people of Rivers State have realized that his quest for power is personal and not for the interest of Rivers State or the South-South at large as claimed.
“The FCT Minister thought that he would continue to control and abuse the resources and governance of the state but God, through the people, resisted the impeachment plot by his members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Wike is notorious for lying against anyone, anytime and disrespects elders at will, so there is no surprise about his outburst and criticism against innocent personalities in Rivers State.
“Wike speaks from both sides of his mouth, he says something today and denies it tomorrow like a clown. I am not a buccaneer and my capacity to contribute to the growth and development of my state and country is not impaired.
“I wonder why he is pained by our support for the Governor and the Federal Government under President Tinubu. Does he want us to perpetually be at political war with everybody, even long after elections are over and governance taken over? Is it not madness?” Omehia queried.
He noted that Wike’s excesses, inconsistencies and hallucinations had reached a shameful peak and advised him to face his job in Abuja as the state was not missing his presence and nuisance value.
[DailyPost]
Four people have been feared killed and 20 others injured when members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites clashed in Kaduna.
The Nation gathered the Shi’ites trooped out in a large number on Friday for a peaceful procession to mark the International Quds Day in the state capital when the law enforcement operatives, particularly the Nigeria Police, stormed the scene to disperse the procession.
The Shiites assembled near the Katsina roundabout along Ahmadu Bello Way prior to the arrival of the Police, who attempted to disperse them.
This situation caused tension and unease among the citizens, especially those with businesses situated along Ahmadu Bello Way as shots were fired by the police to disperse the protesters.
Eyewitnesses said shots were fired during the clash and in the process, four members of the IMN were killed, while about 20 others were injured.
Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hasan confirmed that three Police personnel were injured during the incident and taken to the hospital for treatment.
ASP Hassan also debunked the allegations that the Police operatives killed members of the IMN, noting that no live ammunition was used to dispense the procession.
Speaking earlier during the procession, one of the leaders of IMN, Professor Dauda Nalado, said the Quds day is celebrated annually during the month of Ramadan.
According to him: “The great global leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imaam Ruhullah Al-Musawi Al-Khomeini, Invited Muslims and non-Muslims with humanity at heart to show solidarity with the innocent and oppressed people of Palestine and against the brutality of the usurper, apartheid, and the illegal state of Israel. The imam declared the last Friday of each Ramadan as the International Quds Day.
“Since 1980, the Quds in Britain, France, Sweden, America, Germany, Canada, Australia, and numerous countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, etc. The Islamic movement, under the leadership of his Eminence Sayyid Dr. Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H), has been observing this event for decades in Nigeria.
“In fact, one of the reasons of the Zaria massacre executed by the Buhari regime in 2015 was to kill Sayyid Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and crush this noble movement for justice, all due to the staunch support for the Palestinian course. Hitherto, the public could recall that on 25 July, 2014 Nigerian soldiers attacked the Quds Day procession in support of Palestine in Zaria, resulting in the assassination of 34 people, including three biological children of this great African leader.” He added,
“For six months now, the Zionist State has killed almost 33,000 Palestinians and wounded almost 80, 000, of whom more than half are women and children. They have destroyed buildings and turned Gaza City into rubble. They have violated all international human rights rules and committed war crimes with impunity.’
“It is pertinent to remind us that since the illegal state was carved out in 1948, the Palestinians have been subjugated and subjected to oppressive rule, controlling and humiliating every aspect of their daily lives. This current brutality by the Zionists was launched after a retaliative “Aqsa storm operation” by the Palestinians on 7th October 2023. These developments signal the final blow to Zionism.”
He called on all people and nations with humanity to condemn the genocide against the Palestinian population and stop it saying, “Unfortunately, the United States and the United Kingdom are supporters of this genocide.”
He thanked South Africa and the axis of resistance comprising Iran, Lebanon (Hizbullah) Syria, Iraq, and Yemen for their support and condemned the continued brutal genocide of the Palestinian population and support the oppressed people of Palestine in their just struggle.
He called on the Nigeria to severe diplomatic ties with the “genocidal Zionist”state of Israel and also called for a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive package for the freedom of Palestine.
[TheNation]
Black marketers make brisk business amid queues, NNPC says Apapa depot empty
Queues will ease off before Sallah break next week, say MEMAN, IPMAN
Petroleum marketers say the non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit in filling stations located in Lagos and Ogun states is as a result of shortage in supply.
Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed that there were no products in its Apapa depots.
Saturday PUNCH reports that long queues resurfaced in filling stations across the two states on Friday, creating fear of impending fuel scarcity.
Our correspondents, who went round some parts of Lagos and Ogun states, reported that the queues of desperate motorists in some of the filling stations affected the free flow of traffic.
At the Oando filling station in Alapere, Lagos, commuters were held in traffic as motorists struggled to buy fuel. The station stopped dispensing fuel later in the day.
There were long queues at the Conoil filling station, while the TotalEnergies station in the same area was not dispensing fuel to customers.
It was observed that many stations did not dispense fuel and this increased the pressure on the few ones where the product was available.
The NNPC station at Fadeyi did not sell petrol as of noon on Friday, while the NIPCO station recorded a long queue of vehicles waiting to get Premium Motor Spirit.
There were also long queues of motorists at the AP filling station in Onipanu.
The Mobil filling stations at Palmgrove, Alausa and Mile 2 areas of the state did not open for business.
The Enyo filling station at Ojodu junction had long queues when one of our correspondents got there.
It was the same scenario at Eterna filling station at Oworonshoki, Northwest in Oju-Elegba, TotalEnergies and MRS in Surulere.
The NNPC, Mobil, TAS, NIPCO, Enyo, As-Salam and other filling stations along the Mowe-Ibafo route in Ogun State did not sell petrol too.
Similarly, the Capital and Enyo filling stations at Berger did not sell PMS as at the time of filing this report.
The Rain Oil and NNPC stations in Ibafo, Asese and Mowe areas had long queues of motorists, while other stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were shut.
The situation affected the number of commercial vehicles on the roads.
At Mile 2, some young men engaged in the sale of the product in jerrycans at N800 per litre.
Commercial motorcyclists, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH, said they had been buying from the black marketers since Wednesday.
A customer on the Ikotun Idimu Road in Lagos, who gave his name as Mr Ejiogbu, said, “I just noticed there are long queues in filling stations around here and I don’t know why it is only the NNPC station that is dispensing fuel in the area.
“I started noticing the scarcity and queues everywhere two days ago and I don’t know why.”
It was observed that the scarcity has started affecting transport fares.
A trader, Mrs Ada Herbert, said, “Ikotun to Cele Express used to be between N400 and N500, but today, drivers pegged it at N600; I don’t know if it was as a result of the fuel scarcity.”
At the Mobil filling station at First Gate along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, there was a short queue of motorists waiting to buy fuel in jerrycans.
One of the fuel attendants said the station managed to get fuel after three days of no supply.
“They just came to supply fuel for us now. We didn’t have fuel for over three days. I don’t know why they didn’t bring it earlier. What matters is that we have fuel to sell now,” the attendant, who declined to give his name, said.
Motorists also queued up to buy fuel at the Mobil station at Alakija, where PMS was sold fuel for N605 per litre.
The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, had said on Monday that there was a little hiccup in the distribution of the product and expressed optimism that normalcy would be restored after the Easter break.
Fashola stated, “Yes, I think there was a little infraction in supply. The Easter holidays from Friday to Monday also added to the situation. I think from Wednesday it will ease off.
“There was little problem with supply even before the holidays. There was a little hiccup in supply, and the holiday added to it. I am sure will start getting better after the holidays.”
However, the situation seems to be getting worse four days after the Easter break.
NNPC, marketers speak
The spokesperson for the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, in a message on Friday, confirmed that there were queues at NNPCL stations, saying there were no products at the company’s Apapa depots.
According to him, the NNPCL has carried out a review and there is no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
Soneye stated, “There were no products at our Apapa depots. We have carried out a review and there was no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
“It is only the NNPC Retail stations that have queues due to our price differential.”
However, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria differed with the NNPCL as it confirmed queues at its filling stations.
The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, said there was low stock over the Easter weekend for some of the members, adding that this resulted from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at its depots.
Isong said this led to outages in some retail outlets during the past week.
However, he stated that the depots were currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and would continue to do so throughout the weekend.
Isong said, “Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the recent concerns about fuel scarcity. We understand the importance of addressing these issues promptly and transparently to provide clarity to the public.
”There was low stock over the Easter weekend for some MEMAN members resulting from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at our depots.
“This led to outages in some retail outlets during the past week. Depots are currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and shall continue to do so through the coming weekend.
”Moving forward, we want to assure the public that supplies have resumed and all MEMAN members are collaborating closely to expedite the distribution process. Members are working tirelessly at our depots, including extended hours and weekends, to ensure that retail outlets are adequately stocked.
”Our collective goal is to eliminate fuel queues and stabilise the supply chain before the upcoming Sallah holidays next week.”
Fashola also confirmed that the depots had started loading fuel.
He said, “It is good not to allow queues to occur at all because to arrest the queues usually takes a little time. But from what I saw yesterday (Thursday), over 400 trucks went to the MRS depot to load fuel. So, I am very confident that the queues will soon ease off. You know when it starts, we have to double efforts to address the situation.
“Like I said before, there was a little shortfall in supply and the Easter holidays compounded the issue for us. But with the way they have started working yesterday throughout the weekend, I am sure by Monday we should have a relief.
“When things like this happen, people will start engaging in panic buying. You see people with jerry cans going to stations to buy fuel just to keep. This is very bad and dangerous. People must be sensitised to this.”
He debunked rumours that marketers were hoarding fuel because the Federal Government wanted to reduce prices.
[Punch]
The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to fight President Bola Tinubu in at least two courts, Saturday Vanguard can report.
The prospects of the battle are to be staged in the courts of the land where El-Rufai expects to clear his name of the allegation of being a security risk, and also in the court of public opinion where political actors expect him to be a major barricade to the president’s re-election in 2027.
The stage for the coming battle follows what both friends and foes of the former governor assert as his public humiliation by the Tinubu administration of being a security risk unfit for ministerial office.
In a way that has garnered public interest, Mallam as he is fondly referred to by his close associates, has excited the political class with gyrations across the North in the last two weeks.
Besides two public meetings with the Social Democratic Party, SDP chiefs, the former governor has consolidated his identity with the political opposition with a visit to the suspended lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi.
The proclivity towards the opposition follows what friend and foe describe as the public humiliation served on the former governor.
El-Rufai according to multiple sources despite his immense contributions both strategically and financially to the emergence of Tinubu as president had pledged not to serve in the new government.
The former governor had reportedly preferred a sabbatical in academia.
He was, however, courted by the president with a plea to help revive the energy sector. Even before his ministerial announcement, El-Rufai it was gathered had started laying down plans and processes to tackle the sector. His preparation flowed from his years as director-general of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, where he was involved in the energy reform programmes of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
However, to the shock of all El-Rufai was dropped during the Senate ministerial screening on the claim that he failed security clearance.
The shock of the failure to get a security clearance numbed several political actors given his strategic role in moving the hands of Northern governors to back Tinubu ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC convention. Besides, it was gathered that the former governor played key roles in facilitating the election of the president in some Southwest states not controlled by the APC.
A senior government official from one of the Southwest states on the condition of anonymity said:
“He played a key role in funding us in my state and I can tell this because I was personally involved,” the official from one of the Southwest states said.
Besides the significant contribution as attested by the official from the Southwest State, El-Rufai in the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari administration also shocked many with his decision to, along with others challenge the Federal Government over the naira redesign project of the federal government.
Defending why he opposed the Buhari government on the naira redesign policy, El-Rufai had claimed it was meant to instigate the polity against the APC by those around the former president who failed in their bid to stop Tinubu from getting the presidential ticket.
“They also sought to achieve any one or more of the following objectives: create a nationwide shortage of cash so that citizens are incited to vote against APC candidates across the board resulting in massive losses for the Party in all the elections.”
However, despite his stellar role in helping Tinubu to power, a source close to El-Rufai disclosed that the camp of the former governor believed that it was wrong for him to have been so publicly humiliated and to have been tagged a security risk.
One of the confidants of the former governor told Saturday Vanguard:
“You think Mallam will allow this tag to abide on him? I can assure you that he is going to clear his name in court.
El-Rufai is a man who has many contacts internationally and he is not one to allow his reputation to be smeared by the reason given by the Senate of being a security risk,” the source said in revealing the prospects of court action to enable the former governor to clear his name.
Besides the resort to the court of law, the former governor it was gathered is also mobilising to play a role against Tinubu in the court of public opinion ahead of 2027.
Whether El-Rufai would stand as a candidate or mobilise against the president in 2027 in the same way he did in supporting him in 2023 is, however, a matter that is yet to be determined.
Saturday Vanguard reports that the strategic facilitation provided by El-Rufai to Tinubu came after he had in the past lampooned Tinubu as a godfather. He had at a lecture in May 2019 averred that it was possible to defeat the godfather of Lagos.
A year later at a webinar to commemorate the 63rd birthday of Rauf Aregbesola in May 2020, El-Rufai had said that Tinubu was not his man.
While congratulating Aregbesola, El-Rufai said, “I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new criminal charges against Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The 26-count charge borders on accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage on his associates.
The charge sheet, marked ID/23787c/2024, and dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria.
The EFCC alleged that Emefiele was guilty of abuse of office between 2022 and 2023 in Lagos.
The former CBN governor will be arraigned on Monday, April 8, before Rahman Oshodi, judge of an Ikeja high court, in Lagos.
The commission alleged that Emefiele “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians”.
The EFCC further alleged that Emefiele, between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians”.
Emefiele was also alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians”.
Emefiele’s co-defendant was alleged to have collected $110,000 for Emefiele as a reward for allocating foreign exchange by the central bank in favour of one Raja Punjab in November 2020.
According to the charge, the offences committed contravened Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Emefiele is currently facing a 20-count amended charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.
In July 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Jim Obazee, former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), as a special investigator to probe the activities of the CBN and related entities.
On December 22, 2023, Obazee’s team submitted its report to Tinubu — revealing alleged fraudulent activities and malfeasance in Nigeria’s apex bank.
In the report, the special investigator’s panel accused Emefiele of consenting to the “unlawful removal” of $6.23 million from the vault of the apex bank’s Abuja office.
[TheCable]
The federal government announced on Friday the reasons behind the sudden national increase in electricity prices, citing its inability to continue providing N2.93 trillion in power subsidies this year.
The information was provided by Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, at a media conference in Abuja that was organised by Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The Minister of Power made the point that raising the price of energy has become necessary in order for the federal government to cut spending and use the money saved to strengthen the nation’s supply and generation of power.
Adelabu clarified, however, that the 15% of electricity users who receive at least 20 hours of electricity are not impacted by the new tariff increase, and the 85% of users who do not reside in Band A would still receive subsidised power supplies.
The minister stated that the government subsidy will decrease from approximately N2.93 trillion to N1.5 trillion as a result of the small rate hike, freeing up funds for additional investments in the power industry to enhance generation, transmission, and distribution.
The minister clarified that in order to prevent worsening the situation of Nigerians, the administration of President Bola Tinubu was hesitant to eliminate all electrical subsidies due to its empathy for their suffering.
“We cannot remove 100 subsidy because of the suffering of Nigerians. We cannot allow our people to suffer.
According to Adelabu, the cost is still less than that of alternative energy sources like solar and diesel.
The minister also revealed that several projects had been completed in accordance with the 2018 agreement Nigeria and Germany struck to enhance the nation’s electricity supply.
As part of the N2.3 billion agreement between the two countries, Siemens provided three mobile stations and ten power transformers for installation.
This is in response to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) being fined by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday for falsely classifying all customers as Band A customers as soon as the federal government announced the pricing rise.
Speaking at a news conference that was attended by the ministers of power and information, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, vice chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, announced the sanction on AEDC.
Additionally, Dr. Oseni issued an order to all other distribution companies in the country to either fully reimburse their consumers for whatever excess money they charged them by Thursday of the following week, or face harsh penalties.
Oseni issued a warning, stating that discos must attend to electrical users as soon as possible or face severe penalties under applicable legislation.
This coincides with the fact that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) was penalised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday for falsely classifying all customers as Band A customers as soon as the federal government announced the rise in tariff.
[OpinionNigeria]
Speaking at a news conference that was attended by the ministers of power and information, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, vice chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, announced the sanction on AEDC.
Additionally, Dr. Oseni issued an order to all other distribution companies in the country to either fully reimburse their consumers for whatever excess money they charged them by Thursday of the following week, or face harsh penalties.
Oseni issued a warning, stating that discos must attend to electrical users as soon as possible or face severe penalties under applicable legislation.
This coincides with the fact that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) was penalised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday for falsely classifying all customers as Band A customers as soon as the federal government announced the rise in tariff.
The minister said, “Let me reassure every Nigerian that this review is a strategic step toward a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable electricity sector. It lays the groundwork for significant improvements in service delivery, infrastructure development, and economic prosperity. Our focus must therefore remain steadfast on ensuring that the electricity sector’s transformation benefits all Nigerians, supports our industries, and propels our nation towards its bright future.
“You would also recall that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 into law to further strengthen the governance structure in the Power Sector and mandates the GENCOs to set aside five percent of their actual annual operating expenditure from the preceding year for the development of the host communities. The Act also removed Electricity from the Exclusive list to empower state government to generate and distribute electricity to residents,” Idris said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Monday, April 8, 2024, arraign the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele at the Ikeja State High Court in Lagos for alleged abuse of office over allocation of billions of United States dollars.
Emefiele alongside his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, will be arraigned on 26 counts before Justice Rahman Oshodi.
The charge, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
EFCC alleged that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of abuse of office.
The commission alleged that Emefiele “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”
EFCC, further alleged that Emefiele between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
Emefiele was alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”
In count four, the sum involved was $370,872,893.01.
Emefiele’s co defendant Omoile was alleged to have November, 17, 2020, in Lagos, whilst acting as an agent accepted from Raja Punjab through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of $110,000, for Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, gifts as reward for allocating foreign exchange by the Central Bank in favor of Raja Punjab’s employer.”
According to the charge the offences committeed contravened Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, thanked the Central Bank Investigator, Mr Jim Obazee, for his services, officially closing the months-long investigation.
“Subsequent to the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read Friday evening.
The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu thanks Jim Obazee as special investigator of the CBN at conclusion of investigation.’
Tinubu noted that with the investigations closed, all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies have since begun conducting follow-up action.
The President commended Mr. Obazee for the dedication and professionalism he exercised in handling the complexities of this critical national assignment.
He thanked the CBN investigator for answering the call of duty while wishing him success in his future endeavours.
On 30 July 2023, the President appointed Jim Obazee, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, as a special investigator to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria and related entities.
2027 Election: El-Rufai Prepares Legal Battle To Clear Name, Confront Tinubu After Security Risk Tag Allegation
AFOLABIThe immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to fight President Bola Tinubu in at least two courts, according to Vanguard report.
The prospects of the battle are to be staged in the courts of the land where El-Rufai expects to clear his name of the allegation of being a security risk, and also in the court of public opinion where political actors expect him to be a major barricade to the president’s re-election in 2027.
The stage for the coming battle follows what both friends and foes of the former governor assert as his public humiliation by the Tinubu administration of being a security risk unfit for ministerial office.
In a way that has garnered public interest, Mallam as he is fondly referred to by his close associates, has excited the political class with gyrations across the North in the last two weeks.
Besides two public meetings with the Social Democratic Party, SDP chiefs, the former governor has consolidated his identity with the political opposition with a visit to the suspended lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi.
The proclivity towards the opposition follows what friend and foe describe as the public humiliation served on the former governor.
El-Rufai according to multiple sources despite his immense contributions both strategically and financially to the emergence of Tinubu as president had pledged not to serve in the new government.
The former governor had reportedly preferred a sabbatical in academia.
He was, however, courted by the president with a plea to help revive the energy sector. Even before his ministerial announcement, El-Rufai it was gathered had started laying down plans and processes to tackle the sector. His preparation flowed from his years as director-general of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, where he was involved in the energy reform programmes of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
However, to the shock of all El-Rufai was dropped during the Senate ministerial screening on the claim that he failed security clearance.
The shock of the failure to get a security clearance numbed several political actors given his strategic role in moving the hands of Northern governors to back Tinubu ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC convention. Besides, it was gathered that the former governor played key roles in facilitating the election of the president in some Southwest states not controlled by the APC.
A senior government official from one of the Southwest states on the condition of anonymity said:
“He played a key role in funding us in my state and I can tell this because I was personally involved,” the official from one of the Southwest states said.
Besides the significant contribution as attested by the official from the Southwest State, El-Rufai in the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari administration also shocked many with his decision to, along with others challenge the Federal Government over the naira redesign project of the federal government.
Defending why he opposed the Buhari government on the naira redesign policy, El-Rufai had claimed it was meant to instigate the polity against the APC by those around the former president who failed in their bid to stop Tinubu from getting the presidential ticket.
“They also sought to achieve any one or more of the following objectives: create a nationwide shortage of cash so that citizens are incited to vote against APC candidates across the board resulting in massive losses for the Party in all the elections.”
However, despite his stellar role in helping Tinubu to power, a source close to El-Rufai disclosed that the camp of the former governor believed that it was wrong for him to have been so publicly humiliated and to have been tagged a security risk.
One of the confidants of the former governor told Saturday Vanguard:
“You think Mallam will allow this tag to abide on him? I can assure you that he is going to clear his name in court.
El-Rufai is a man who has many contacts internationally and he is not one to allow his reputation to be smeared by the reason given by the Senate of being a security risk,” the source said in revealing the prospects of court action to enable the former governor to clear his name.
Besides the resort to the court of law, the former governor it was gathered is also mobilising to play a role against Tinubu in the court of public opinion ahead of 2027.
Whether El-Rufai would stand as a candidate or mobilise against the president in 2027 in the same way he did in supporting him in 2023 is, however, a matter that is yet to be determined.
Saturday Vanguard reports that the strategic facilitation provided by El-Rufai to Tinubu came after he had in the past lampooned Tinubu as a godfather. He had at a lecture in May 2019 averred that it was possible to defeat the godfather of Lagos.
A year later at a webinar to commemorate the 63rd birthday of Rauf Aregbesola in May 2020, El-Rufai had said that Tinubu was not his man.
While congratulating Aregbesola, El-Rufai said, “I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”
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Despite the public outcry trailing the recent 230.8 per cent rise in electricity tariff for premium power consumers nationwide, the federal government yesterday, hinted that it plans to extend a similar measure to every Nigerian who has access to on-grid electricity.
The government said it would convert the entire power sector into a single band from the current six, with cost-reflective prices being fully implemented in the next three years.
Speaking during a weekly briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said the recent development was the first step in government’s plan to completely remove subsidy payment.
Also, yesterday, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) sanctioned the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for violating its order on customer classifications.
However, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF); former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, have faulted the recent increase in electricity tariff by the present government led by President Bola Tinubu.
In a separate document seen, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), stressed that with the increase in tariffs for Band A customers from N68 to N225, it has succeeded in saving about N1.4 trillion from what it stated was the projected N3.2 trillion subsidy for 2024.
At the current price of N225, it argued that premium customers would be paying less than half of what they would otherwise spend if they deployed other alternatives like diesel-powered generators.
But Adelabu maintained that it no longer makes sense for the government to continue paying close to 70 per cent of electricity subsidy for Nigerians, explaining that to ensure the current economic downturn does not harshly impact the lower wrung of the society, government would embark on the gradual phase-out of underpayments for bands B-E and then lifeline.
Adelabu, said the federal government had spent about N2.9 trillion on electricity subsidy.
He said the government was still subsidising 85 per cent of electricity supply in the country despite increase in tariff for Band A customers.
He said the government remains pro-poor in its power policy because it is subsidising nothing less than 67 per cent of the cost of producing, transmitting, and distributing electricity in Nigeria.
He said the government is not ready to aggravate the sufferings by refusing to adopt 100 per cent withdrawal of subsidy on electricity
“This tariff review is in conformity with our policy thrust of maintaining a subsidised pricing regime in the short-run or the short-term with a transition plan to achieve a full cost reflective tariff for over a period of, let us say three years.
“It is because of government sensitivity to the pains of our people that will not make us migrate fully into a cost-reflective tariff or to remove subsidy 100 per cent in the power sector like it was done in oil and gas sector.
“We are not ready to aggravate the sufferings any longer which is why we said it must be a journey rather than a destination and the journey starts from now on, that we should do a gradual migration from the subsidy regime to a full cost-reflective regime and we must start with some customers.
“This is more like a pilot (scheme) for us at the Ministry of Power and our agencies. It is like a proof of concept that those that have the infrastructure sufficient enough to deliver stable power, those enjoying 20 hours of light should be the ones to get tariff added,” he pointed out.
Adelabu, argued that anybody that goes into any business intends to first recover cost, then if possible, make some profit, explaining that the moment a business cannot cover costs, the sustainability of such business is doubtful and will be run aground.
He observed that if the federal government was to pay the about N3 trillion subsidy for this year, it would be more than 10 per cent of the national budget for 2024.
“The power sector is just a single sector out of so many sectors that government has to attend to. We have works, we have housing, we have education, we have health, we have defence and so on that are all competing for this meagre revenue from the government.
“So it will be very insensitive on our part to force or compel government to continue to subsidise at that rate of almost N3 trillion for the power sector alone. We just have to be realistic and considerate. We also must ensure that the regulators are independent and there is consequence management,” he stressed.
With a little above 12 million registered electricity customers nationwide, Adelabu said the recent increase would only affect about 1.5 million customers.
The remaining 10.5 million customers, he said, would continue to enjoy government subsidy at about almost 70 per cent, until it is gradually phased out.
He emphasised that if the Discos are able to comply with the service level agreement, which is 20 hours for Band ‘A’ at the minimum, it is still far cheaper than the alternative source of diesel and petrol generators.
“You will agree with me that the average cost of generating a kilowatt hour of power today, using diesel and petrol generator is not less than N450 to N500 because of the capital investment of purchasing the generator, the daily operational fuelling of the generator and the intermittent servicing of these generators.
“The cost is not less than N500. So, if we are putting the tariff at N225, I believe it is more than 50 per cent cheaper than running alternative power sources,” Adelabu maintained.
He stressed that for the first time in many years, government was taking a bold step to address the fundamental issues confronting the power sector, including liquidity and pricing challenges.
The minister emphasised that the sector had been deprived of the required liquidity to keep it running on a sustainable level and is therefore no longer attractive to investors.
“Even the operators don’t have enough liquidity to invest in enhancement of their infrastructure. The generator companies cannot pay the gas companies, which is the raw material that they use to generate power. The generator companies cannot service their equipment.
“It got to a level that they cannot even pay the salaries of their workers because of the accumulated debt in the sector due to lack of liquidity and commercial pricing.
“And I believe that previous administrations have shied away from addressing this. It is a tough conversation, but we must have it at a point if we are serious about stable power sector in this country,” he added.
He assured that it might be painful in the short run, but the gains will come very soon and will be permanent.
At the moment, he stated that all Nigeria’s gas pipelines are bad as a result of vandalism, leading to a lack of adequate pressure in the gas pipes.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the men working with President Bola Tinubu of pushing the economy into deeper crisis even as he said reforms being introduced by the administration lacked human face.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election stated this in a statement criticising the recent hike in electricity tariff, saying it will impose additional hardship on already suffering Nigerians.
“The President’s men are pushing the economy into a deeper crisis. His reforms are without a human face,” Atiku said in the statement.
The former PDP presidential flagbearer also emphasized that the increment on electricity tariff will have negative impact on the manufacturing industry.
He therefore advocated the need for the government to understand the root cause of the inefficiencies in the power sector before unleashing another dose of reforms, insisting that it was time to revisit the privatisation exercise that produced the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
Atiku also accused the government of adding another reforms without adequate notice and without sufficient post-reform plan to mitigate the associated pain on the people.
He said the upward review in electricity tariff comes at a time when Nigerians were going through excruciating difficulties occasioned by the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS and floating of the Naira.
While noting that the government has not successfully dealt with the pains associated with the implementation of those measures, Atiku said the hike in electricity tariff will create more difficulties for the citizens as inflationary pressures are elevated.
“Our manufacturing sector will similarly be impacted negatively. Not only are they paying higher interest rates on their bank loans but also paying more for diesel, paying higher wages as a result of the new minimum wage,” he noted.
He then charged the president to ensure that his reforms are introduced in sequence with measures in place to mitigate associated pains while holding the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) responsible for enhanced delivery.
“Tinubu must (a) ensure that these reforms are sequenced, (b) implement measures to mitigate the pain, and (c) hold the NERC responsible for ensuring improved service delivery,” Atiku said.
The President of the 8th Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is not interested in becoming the National Chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP), a top aide of the former Kwara State governor, Akintoba Fatigun, has revealed.
Saraki is one of the leading candidates being touted from the North-Central zone of the country as the likely next PDP national chairman to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who was forced out of office by a court order in 2023. Ayu hails from Benue State, same North-Central as Saraki.
But, Fatigun, a political adviser to Saraki, in a chat with newsmen on Friday said his principal wasn’t contemplating occupying the PDP national chairman position, describing Saraki’s decision on the matter as a “cast in rock”.
He added that the former Senate President has since communicated his ‘no show’ decision to the North-Central leadership of the biggest opposition party.
Recall that the North-Central zone has called on Amb. Iliya Damagum to relinquish the acting national chairmanship seat and allow the emergence of a substantive national chairman from the region where the party originally zoned the position to in 2021.
The PDP had fixed April 18, 2024, for its crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where the modalities for choosing the next national chairman of the party would be discussed and adopted.
President Bola Tinubu has thanked Mr. Jim Obazee, for his services as the Special Investigator of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other related entities, declaring that the investigation has officially come to a close.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement quoted the President as commending Mr. Obazee for the dedication and professionalism he exercised in handling the “complexities of this critical national assignment.”
Ngelale said, “Subsequent to the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed, with all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies already conducting follow-up action.
“The President thanks Mr. Obazee for answering the call of duty while wishing him success in his future endeavours.”
Recall that President Tinubu in July appointed Obazee, former Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), to investigate the activities of the apex bank under Emefiele.
Following the findings of Obazee and his team, the former CBN Governor is already facing charges in court.
The report presented to the President against the former CBN Boss highlighted unauthorised funding of offshore bank accounts, fraudulent cash withdrawals from the CBN vault, gross financial misconduct involving the former governor and his Deputy Governors, substantial fixed deposit holdings amounting to £543.4 million, among others.
The report also highlighted manipulations in the Naira exchange rate, irregularities in the e-Naira project, unauthorised printing of new currency denominations, and substantial expenditures on legal fees.