The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued permits to Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation.

The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.

According to a report by the commission, Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states. The total capacity is 100MW.

Also, MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.

Aside from MTN, SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited were permitted to generate captive power.

“Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.

Our correspondent gathered that other licensed companies for mini-grids are Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State. 

Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.

Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.

A permit is issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, maintenance, and where applicable ownership of mini-grids with distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and generation capacity up to 1MW.

The commission disclosed that it issues registration certificates to a mini-grid developer for one or more systems with distribution capacity below 100kW.

“Following the satisfactory evaluation of mini-grid applications, the commission issued three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in 2024/Q1,” the NERC stated.

During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.

A Meter Service Provider is an entity certified by the commission as a manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or installer of electric energy meters and/or metering systems. 

A Meter Asset Provider is an entity that is granted a permit by the commission to provide metering services with roles that may include meter financing, procurement, supply, installation, maintenance, and replacement.

The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).

The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERC–R–001–2024 — Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023—NERC/2023/033 — Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 — MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.

Other are NERC/2023/035 — Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 — Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 – NERC/2024/014 — Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January – September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 – NERC/2024/036 — February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.

During the quarter, the commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.

The departure of numerous multinational corporations from the country due to the challenging operating environment has raised concerns about the potential exacerbation of youth unemployment, HENRY FALAIYE writes

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, boasts a youthful demographic, with nearly 70 per cent of its population under the age of 30. This demographic advantage is often seen as a potential driver of economic expansion. Yet, the actual circumstances reveal a more complex and challenging reality.

In recent years, Nigeria’s economic indicators have suggested a cautiously optimistic outlook, with data indicating a drop in the unemployment rate and fuelling discussions of economic progress.

However, a deeper investigation uncovers a troubling contradiction: a significant portion of Nigerian youths remain unemployed, and lack requisite skills.

This phenomenon, despite the reported fall in joblessness, is a cause for deep concern, signalling a crisis that could have long-lasting effects on the country’s socio-economic fabric.

Despite recent reports indicating a decline in the country’s unemployment rate from 33.3 per cent in 2021 to 32.5 per cent in 2023, the number of young people who are neither working, studying, nor undergoing training has continued to rise.

The Manufacturing Association of Nigeria reported that 767 manufacturing companies shut down and 335 experienced distress in 2023 due to various economic difficulties, including rising inflation, exchange rate volatility, and a worsening investment climate.

According to an economist and former Director of Research and Advocacy at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nigeria, Dr Vincent Nwani, the exodus of multinationals from the Nigerian economy has cost the country a N94tn loss of output in five years.

Nwani said, “If things continue this way and I don’t see anything being done to cause insecurity to stop, illegal taxation, corruption, and uncertainty of foreign exchange rendering companies unable to hedge risk, then I see at least 10 more notable names (of multinationals) that will go. We already have five by the end of May.”

Meanwhile, the youth unemployment dilemma stems from several underlying issues. Firstly, a decreasing unemployment rate does not equate to a surge in job opportunities. Instead, it often signals a drop in the number of individuals actively seeking employment, either because of discouragement or a move into informal, underpaid work that is not captured by official statistics.

The underemployment rate, which measures people working less than 40 hours a week or in jobs below their skill level, has remained high, indicating that many youths are stuck in unstable employment that offers little security or prospects for advancement.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ ‘Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2023’, in Q2 2023, Nigeria’s labour force participation rate among the working-age population was 80.4 per cent, with an employment-to-population ratio of 77.1 per cent.

It mentioned that the combined rate of unemployment and time-related underemployment stood at 15.5 per cent, while the unemployment rate was 4.2 per cent, a slight increase from 4.1 per cent in Q1 2023. Self-employment remained dominant, with 88.0 per cent of workers engaged in it, and only 12 per cent were in wage employment.

One of the primary causes is the mismatch between the education system and the labour market. Many Nigerian youths graduate from secondary schools and universities with qualifications that do not align with the demands of the modern economy.

Also, the curriculum in many institutions is outdated, focusing on theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills that are in high demand. As a result, graduates often find themselves ill-equipped for available jobs, leading to frustration and a sense of hopelessness.

Moreover, the high cost of education in Nigeria is a significant barrier for many young people. The rising cost of tuition, coupled with the economic hardships faced by many families, means that many youths are unable to afford higher education or vocational training.

The unemployment crisis is worsened by the lack of job opportunities for young people. Although Nigeria’s economy, is heavily reliant on the oil sector, it offers limited employment.

Other sectors like agriculture and manufacturing are underdeveloped, and the private sector struggles with poor infrastructure and limited credit access. As a result, many young people are left with few viable options for meaningful employment.

The lack of purpose and direction can lead to increased involvement in criminal activities, including drug abuse, armed robbery, and internet fraud, which are already prevalent in some parts of the country.

Moreover, the disillusionment and frustration among these youths can fuel political instability and violence, as they become easy targets for radicalisation and recruitment by extremist groups.

The phenomenon in Nigeria is also gendered, with young women disproportionately affected. Cultural norms and gender biases often limit the opportunities available to girls and women, particularly in rural areas.

Also, many young women are forced into early marriages or domestic responsibilities, which curtail their access to education and employment.

Experts have warned that the consequences of the growing NEET (not in education, employment, or training) population are dire. Youths who are not engaged in productive activities are more likely to experience poverty, social exclusion, and mental health issues.

Speaking with The PUNCH, a human resources consultant, Mr Tolu Adedayo, said, “As the former President Buhari Muhammadu stated, Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. We have a high level of unemployed youth coupled with a high inflation rate, especially food inflation. It is a big problem and we have not seen a definite plan from the government to roll out an employability plan so that these youths can be absorbed and given meaningful employment.”

He stated that one of the cushioning effects would be the entertainment industry, which has engaged thousands of youths to keep them busy and that religious organisations were also providing a cushioning effect to reduce the spate of restiveness.

According to Adedayo, these are not solving the unemployment challenge, they are just cushioning their restiveness.

He explained that the macroeconomic factor regarding the number of youths is a major concern. “It is a red flag that, if not addressed, could lead to more serious consequences such as a high crime rate, fraud, and insecurity, among other things,” he stated.

He noted that though the Federal Government was trying to provide palliatives, they would not go a long way because they were just a temporary measure.

“Unfortunately, the palliatives are not even going around and even if they get to the right people, how long will they last? Which is not realistic, sustainable and effective considering the long-term effect.

“The government should just declare a state of emergency when it comes to unemployment so that all hands will be on deck. Many of our youths are quite enterprising, so the government can start supporting them with soft loans and grants to engage them and enable them to start something,” he posited.

He added that the government should roll out a comprehensive employment plan or train them with skills acquisition, which are in demand right now, like technical skills and vocational skills. A lot of graduates who have a basic foundation will require some of this training to upskill and be able to get employed and generate income.

“Many of the training and courses received from schools are no longer relevant to what the job market demands right now. At the same time, the government must rejig and review our curriculum across the board, starting from primary schools to tertiary institutions and make it contemporary to meet global best practices because Nigeria is far behind looking at the community of nations,” Adedayo remarked.

Experts have also suggested that youths could be deployed to areas like sports, agriculture, and manufacturing, where the country has strengths to make them productive and contribute to the economy.

The rising number of Nigerian youths who are not in employment, education, or training is a ticking time bomb that requires urgent and comprehensive action. Addressing this crisis will require a multi-pronged approach that involves government, the private sector, civil society, and international partners.

First and foremost, there is a need to reform the education system to make it more relevant to the needs of the labour market. This includes updating curricula, promoting vocational and technical education, and fostering stronger links between educational institutions and industries. By equipping young people with the skills required in the modern economy, they will be better prepared to secure decent jobs and contribute meaningfully to society.

Furthermore, the government must prioritise job creation, particularly in sectors that have the potential to absorb large numbers of workers, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and information technology. This will require investment in infrastructure, improving the ease of doing business, and providing incentives for private sector growth.

Additionally, expanding access to education and training for all youths, regardless of their socio-economic background, is crucial. This can be achieved through policies that reduce the cost of education, provide financial aid, and create more opportunities for vocational training and apprenticeships.

More so, it is essential to address the gender disparities that contribute to the NEET crisis. Empowering young women through education, skills development, and access to economic opportunities will not only reduce the NEET rate but also drive broader societal progress.

Also, HR Analyst Victor Oyesina, said, “Nigeria must urgently address youth unemployment by revamping its education system to focus on practical skills that match market demands. The government should aggressively promote entrepreneurship by providing easier access to funding, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and fostering innovation hubs across the country.”

According to Oyesina, massive investment in digital infrastructure and technology-driven industries is essential to creating sustainable, high-impact jobs.

Meanwhile, he explained that establishing strong partnerships between the government, private sector, and international organisations could help scale up efforts and ensure the long-term success of those initiatives, providing a clear pathway to economic stability for the nation’s youth.

He asserted that tackling corruption and creating a business-friendly environment would attract significant investment, driving large-scale job creation for the youth.

“Tackling youth unemployment in Nigeria also demands implementing extensive public works and infrastructure projects that can quickly employ a large number of young people,” he added.

However, Oyesina mentioned that the rising youth population in Nigeria, despite a falling unemployment rate, is a clear indication that the country’s youth were being left behind in the march toward economic development.

“If left unaddressed, this crisis could have severe consequences for Nigeria’s future, threatening social cohesion, economic growth, and political stability.

“All stakeholders must come together to tackle this issue head-on, ensuring that every young Nigerian has the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their country,” he emphasised.

Due to the current economic crunch in the country, payments by Nigerian students for the new academic session starting in September, this year, in universities in the United Kingdom have dropped by 65 per cent compared to last year, a report by the Financial Times of London has said.

The report also indicated that payments by students from India also dropped by 44 per cent, compared to last August.

The two nations are among the top three contributors to the League of International Students in the United Kingdom.

The paper, quoting data from Enroly, a web platform used by one in three international students for managing enrolment, said there was a 35 per cent drop in deposits for places on UK university courses overall by foreign students this month, compared to August 2023.

‘’Some will likely need to take further significant action to secure their financial sustainability,’’ said Paul Kett, senior education and skills adviser at PwC UK.

The number of international students applying to UK universities has remained far below recent levels, despite signs of a slight recovery this month, leaving some institutions facing financial crisis.

This shows a slight improvement in May when the drop was 57 per cent, compared with a year earlier.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said last month that the new Labour government wanted to welcome international students.

She criticised the negative rhetoric of the previous Conservative administration which successive Tory ministers had deployed as they tried to cut overall migration figures.

The data showed a significant decline in students from Nigeria and India, two of the three largest international markets for UK universities.

Deposits from Nigerian students fell by 65 per cent, and from Indian, students were down by 44 per cent, when compared to August 2023.

Smaller markets, such as Kenya and Nepal, showed increased demand against a year ago.

Jeffrey Williams, Enroly’s Chief Executive, said the “early signs” of recovery reflected efforts by the new government to stabilise immigration policy.

“Concerns regarding the potential elimination of the postgraduate route work visa have been assuaged,” he said, adding that this had been helped by “continued political uncertainty” in other markets such as Australia and Canada.

Harry Anderson, Deputy Director of Universities UK International, the sector lobby group, said the international environment remained volatile for universities as they continued to look to diversify the range of countries from which they recruit students.

Labour has so far retained the Conservative’s ban on most graduate students bringing family members, which Anderson said would still present competitive challenges for UK institutions.

“Most of our competitor destinations do allow students to bring their family members, and most of the growth in recent years has been in postgraduate taught courses where students typically tend to be older and have family members.

“Still, the hope is that stability signalled by the new government will benefit the next admissions cycle after the turbulence of the last 18 months. But the sector needs to be working hard with embassies to communicate this,” Anderson added.

The regulator, the Office for Students, has already started to prepare for a potential wave of university insolvencies, advertising for a contract of up to £4million for professional services companies to handle restructuring programmes.

It made the move after financial accounts revealed over-optimistic assumptions about the growth of overseas’ recruitment in the next few years.

In its annual report this May the OfS accused universities of “optimism bias” for using projections of 35 per cent growth in international entrants in 2022-26.

Meanwhile, a recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s balance of payment compilation spanning the first six months of 2023, showed that Nigerians spent $896.09million on foreign education, with a large chunk going to the UK.

Foundation courses in the UK go for between £10,000 and £15,000 and an average student would need about £8,000 for other expenses yearly.

Adedeji Adeleke, father of Afrobeats star Davido, has made a whopping contribution of N1 billion to the Centenary Endowment Fund of a Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church in Lagos.

The announcement was made during a thanksgiving service on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Lagos, held in memory of his late mother, Esther Adeleke.

Adeleke expressed that the donation was made in honor of his mother, the late Mrs. Esther Adeleke, who was a revered figure in the C&S Church.

“On behalf of our late mother, senior mother in Israel, late Mrs. Esther Adeleke, we want to contribute to the centenary endowment fund, the sum of N1 billion,” he stated.

Esther Adeleke, originally from Akwete in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, was the founder of a C&S Church in Ede, Osun State. She held the esteemed title of Senior Mother-in-Israel within the church, a role now carried on by her daughter, Modupe Adeleke-Sanni.

This generous donation underscores the Adeleke family’s deep ties to the church and their continued commitment to preserving Esther Adeleke’s legacy.

Pastor Abel Damina has described as false the popular Christian slogan of ‘What God cannot do doesn’t exist’.

This is just as he said that he is not jealous of Pastor Jerry Eze, who is famous for having come up with the slogan.

He said this in a teaser for the upcoming episode of the Honest Bunch Podcast.

“What God cannot do does not exist is not the truth. People think that I am jealous of Jerry Eze. It is not about sentiments, it is about knowing what the truth is.

“I believe in miracles, I believe in healing, but not this ‘arrangee’ that we are seeing today. Most of those crutches are the same.

Damina also touched on the topic of tithes, noting, “Why are you asking for tithes? If you read the book of acts, nobody paid tithes to anybody, Jesus didn’t pay tithes, Jesus didn’t receive tithes.”

A former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke has said that a lot of quacks are involved in politics in Nigeria.

He lamented that Nigeria is suffering because of the calibre of politicians in the country.

Duke stated this in Abuja, on Saturday, on the sidelines of the 2024 teens career conference titled ‘The power of music’

The conference was organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Everlasting Arm Parish, Garki.

The former governor urged the political class to make concerted efforts to restore the hope and pride of youths in the country.

He stated that majority of Nigerian youths are not looking within the country for a better future as they have turned their attention to other climes.

Duke stressed the need to eliminate quacks who saw politics as a means of livelihood rather than a means of service.

According to him, “Hope is an eternal, effervescent power to create hope in the young ones that their tomorrow will be better than today, just as their today ought to have been better than yesterday.

“Politics could be the most elevating vocation, but a lot of quacks are involved in it right now, so they have brought it down to the lowest level.

“When politics is right, it elevates everything; it elevates medicine; it elevates your livelihood; when we complain about the country not being good, it is the politician.

“So, if you have the right politicians, we will have the right country; so, it is the most noble of vocations, but unfortunately full of quacks.”

He said the high inflation rate in the country is due to the cost of energy and tasked the political class with addressing the energy crisis by converting gas flaring to support the economy.

Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has revealed why she fell in love with her husband, singer Adekunle Gold.

The mother of one revealed that she fell in love with her husband because of his graphic designing and photoshopping skills.

She disclosed this while hailing Gold after he successfully edited a water bottle out of Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya’s photo on X on Saturday after the chess master asked for the favour.

Reposting Gold’s edited version of the chess master’s photo, Simi wrote, “This was why I fell for you. I don’t know who sent you to start singing.”

DAILY POST recalls that Adekunle Gold was a sensational photoshopper before he got signed to Olamide’s record label, YBNL Nation, after designing the label’s logo.

Gold got married to fellow singer Simi on January 9, 2019, in Lagos. The couple welcomed their first child, Adejare, in 2020.

Shola Ogudu, the first babymama of award-winning singer, Ayodeji Balogun aka Wizkid, has opened up on getting pregnant and having her first child and son, boluwatife.

The single mother of one, in an interview with Maria Chike on the Mums Next Door podcast, revealed that she didn’t know she was pregnant until she was five months gone.

According to her, she didn’t have any symptoms until she got to 5 months, and then her tummy began protruding.

Shola stated that she had an stress-free pregnancy because it was one devoid of any symptoms, expect  that she had to do away with her body spray and perfume during that period.

She revealed that she was still energetic enough to go to her school in Benin Republic until she was eight months and two weeks gone. In Shola Ogudu’s words:

“My pregnancy, I was pregnant for four months, to be honest, because I didn’t…. I was pregnant till I was four months gone. I didn’t have any symptoms. I don’t know the myth behind it; the moment I found out, my tummy just went big.

The rest of the pregnancy was good because I was going to University. I schooled in Benin Republic. I was going every week and coming home weekend till I finished my final exams. I stopped going to school at eight months, two weeks. The only difference was my tummy was big, but I had no symptoms or anything. It was my body spray and perfume I had to do away with”.

 

Watch her speak below:

Jude Okoye, the long-time manager of the defunct P-Square group, has revealed the sharing formula of the group proceeds following fraud allegations against him and Paul by Peter.

He explained that P-Square’s proceeds were shared between him, Peter and Paul.

He stated that he took 40 per cent while the duo took 30 per cent each.

Speaking in an Instagram live session on Saturday night, Jude Okoye denied the allegations leveled against him by Peter that he diverted P-Square’s royalties worth millions of dollars into a private account. Jude explained:

“I went to the EFCC office with just Paul. I didn’t go with my lawyer. I gave them all the documents, an officer looked at it and asked if Peter signed. I pointed at his signature for him. I showed him the CAC certificates used in opening both Square Records and Northside Entertainment.

“They were like, you’re even more than P-Square. I said I don’t understand what you mean. They said, look, you’re entitled to 40 per cent shares while the duo are entitled to 30 per cent each. I said, well, I’m not supposed to say it with my mouth, you can see for yourself.”

He said he also presented a memorandum of understanding, MOU, to the anti-graft agency to prove that they all agreed on a sharing formula.

“They [EFCC officers] started asking me some irritable questions like where I got the money to build my house in Ikoyi,” Jude recalled, noting that the building was partly financed by selling his house in America and borrowing money from colleagues.

“I have not been with P-Square for the past eight years, since 2016,” Jude stated, revealing that the rift between the twins began in 2013 and continued until the group officially split in 2016.

According to Jude Okoye, the situation worsened in 2021 when the brothers attempted a reunion, which ultimately failed due to unresolved differences.

He added that several prominent Nigerians had attempted to reconcile P-Square in the past but failed. He said:

“Emeka Offor, the late Ifeanyi Uba, Dantata, Atiku, Peter Obi, governors, ministers, our village king, etc have all tried to reconcile Psquare to no avail,”

Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, says Nigeria’s woes stem from its leaders, and not the country’s constitution.

Lamido said this in reaction to a call by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen who visited President Bola Tinubu and canvassed for a new constitution.

Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, who led the group, had urged the president to convene a constituent assembly to draft a people-centred constitution for the country.

In an interview with THISDAY on Sunday, Lamido said the flaws in the 1999 Constitution’s implementation are a result of human error, not inherent weaknesses in the constitution.

“If you see smoke from the chimney and it is polluting the entire environment, and it is very black and you are choking from the smoke, what you have to do is to find out where the smoke is coming out from,” the former governor said.

“Don’t blame the chimney; calm down and find out the source of the smoke. Find out the problem and deal with it. The symptoms are only a manifestation of something that has gone wrong. Why do you blame the constitution?

“The constitution does not reason like human beings. It cannot contain every solution to your problems. It is supposed to guide you and not solve your problems.

“The people who are supposed to operate and implement the constitution are Nigerians. Now tell me who is doing the right thing in Nigeria: From the motor parks to the schools to the banks.

“So why are we running away from our own shadow? How many constitutions do we need to have before we get it right? After any problem, we shout ‘amend the constitution.’ How many new constitutions do we need to have?

“So no matter what you write as a constitution, so long as the operation is subverted, it can’t work. Look at the country, people are fighting each other: in the south-east, south-west, south-south, north-east, north-west. Clans are fighting each other; anywhere you go, people are fighting each other. Is it the constitution or because of the operators?

“It is not the constitution; it is the operation of the constitution. There is no perfect human being or perfect constitution anywhere in the world but we the operators.

“In other climes, constitutions become good through the way they are managed. So we cannot run away from our shadows. No matter how fast you run, your shadow will follow you.”

Lamido added that the country’s challenges “lie in the attitude and character of those who operate the constitution”.