The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has taken enforcement action against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (“AEDC”) for non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for AEDC (the “Order”).

AEDC has been fined ₦200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.

This decision follows a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed that AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the Order, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.

AEDC apologizes for overcharging downgraded Band A customers in Abuja FG increases electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20-hour power supply Why we signed Energy deal with Glodanif – President, Small Scale Industrialists

AEDC is therefore mandated to:

Reimburse all customers in Bands B, C, D and E respectively that were billed above the allowed customer categories/tariff bands provided in the Order.

Reimburse through the provision of the balance of customer tokens that the affected customers would be entitled to receive at the applicable rates and all token reimbursements shall be issued to the affected customers by 11 April 2024.

Report Ad
Pay the sum of ₦200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) as a fine for the flagrant breach of the Commission’s Order.

File evidence of compliance with the directives in a & c with the Commission by 12 April 2024.

The action by the Commission underscores its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices within Nigeria’s electricity sector.

In a viral tweet on X, A satisfied passenger praised Air Peace, showed off jollof rice, plantain chips and other foods Air Peace served him during the flight.

The edibles came even though the airline charged half the price British Airways would charge.

He prayed for God's blessing on Air Peace.

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy has opened up on his marriage.

He revealed that he married for the wrong reasons.

In an interview hosted by reality TV personality Uriel on Inside Scoop with Pulse, the prominent activist claimed that when he married his present wife in his early 30s, but he was searching for the wrong qualities.

According to him, he was looking for a woman who had a nice figure, beautiful and who can sing, since he was going into his hobby, singing.

All the aforementioned reasons however, were all the wrong reasons. He stated that at the time, those attributes were what he desired so much.

Charly further said that now, he wants something different since he is no longer interested in a lady’s beauty, nyash, or breast.

WATCH VIDEO

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has blacklisted several fake loan applications that have been exploiting unsuspecting Nigerians.

The Federal Government endorsed this move, declaring these apps illegal and a menace to society due to their deceptive operations.

These illegitimate loan apps have been causing significant distress through their harassment of users and victims.

Notably, these apps operate outside the legal framework, as they are unregistered with the federal government and have now faced an official ban.

The rise of fake loan apps is a pressing issue in the digital age, where the ease and appeal of online lending platforms have unfortunately also paved the way for fraudulent activities.

Scammers behind these apps lure individuals with the promise of straightforward loan approvals and quick money transfers, targeting those with poor credit scores or limited access to traditional financial services.

Victims, often in dire financial straits, are duped into submitting personal and financial information under the guise of securing a loan.

This sensitive data is then misused for identity theft, financial fraud, or other illegal activities, leaving individuals vulnerable and financially strained.

The CBN’s crackdown on these deceptive apps signals a commitment to safeguarding citizens from digital financial crimes and ensuring a secure environment for legitimate online financial transactions.

Here are the list of fake loan apps that have been blacklisted by the CBN:

EasyCredit

EasiMoni

KashKash

Speedy Choice

GoCash

Soko Loan App

Fast Money

GetCash

Icoin Loan

Naira Plus

9jaCash

LionCash

GMoney

Fast Money

9credit

Swiftkash App

Hen Credit Loan App

Cash Door App

Joy Cash-Loan App

Eaglecash App

Luckyloan Personal Loan App

Getloan App

Easeloan Apps

Naira Naija

Cashlawn App

Easynaira App

Crediting App

Yoyi App

Nut Loan App

Cashpal App

Nairaeasy Gist Loan App

Camelloan App

Nairaloan App

Moneytreefinance Made Easy App

Cashme App

Secucash App

Creditbox App

Cashmama App

Crimson Credit App

Galaxy Credit App

Ease Cash App

Xcredit

Imoney

Naira Naija

Imoneyplus-Instant

Nairanaija-Instant

Nownowmoney

Naija Cash

Eagle Cash

Firstnell App

Flypay

Spark Credit

Luckyloan Personal Loan App

The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has informed members of Abia State PDP caucus that he has no plan to leave the party but will rather stay with others to rebuild it, ABN TV reports.

Speaking during a well-attended caucus meeting held at the new party secretariat at Onyerubi Crescent, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, Dr Ikpeazu, who called for unity of purpose among members of the party in the state to ensure that the party quickly returns to winning ways, stated that the exit of some of his former aides to other political parties remains their personal choice.

“We must all take individual responsibility for our performance in the 2023 elections even as our party is going through self-cleansing at the moment. I will remain in PDP and will never be found wanting in my responsibilities to our party and its rebuilding process.

"Those who want to leave will leave no matter what you do but loyalty is also about the realization that at some point this party has been good to you. It is now time for sacrifice, especially from those who previously benefitted from our party in one way or another as we must all join hands to reposition it," he said.

Earlier in his address, the state PDP Chairman, Rt Hon Asiforo Okere thanked members who have remained steadfast in supporting the party, especially after the 2023 elections, and reminded members that the party still maintains a majority at the state House of Assembly even when the election was conducted same day with Governorship election that the party lost.

He announced that the National Working Committee of the party has extended the tenures of elected ward executives by 3 months in acting capacity and the constitution of 3 committees to handle Peace and Reconciliation, Way Forward and Finance.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Abia Central, Col. Austin Akobundu, stated that while people were free to leave and join a political party, the PDP in Abia State is a movement that nobody can kill.

On his part, elder statesman and member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu called for unity and stated that the time for blame game is over as there were no factions in the party, and that leaders and members have learned from the 2023 experience and must be ready to bounce back. According to him, “It is now time to reposition the party and ensure that young members find comfort and space to contribute to the party and leadership in the state."

The whistleblowers who initiated the investigation, detention, and subsequent trial of Binance Holdings Limited executives have expressed concerns about threats to their safety and the safety of their families.

The group urged the Federal Government to consider providing them with state protection.

The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and Niger Delta Youth Council have written a letter to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja calling for action.

The group maintained that they are the petitioners and whistleblowers who brought to light the blatant misuse of the Nigerian financial system orchestrated by Binance Holdings Limited.

The National Coordinator of Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, Amb. Solomon Adodo, and the National Coordinator of Niger Delta Youth Council, Engr. Jātor Abido, jointly signed the letter on Wednesday, March 28th, 2024.

The letter reads in part: “We write as the petitioners and whistleblowers that revealed the brazen abuse of the Nigerian Financial system being perpetrated by Binance Holdings Limited to notify you of the present threat to our lives and seek protection from the State through your express Presidential directive.

“We are presently in deep shock and panic as to how the detainee managed to escape without a trace.

“We are also aware that the Binance Team have a very significant financial war chest which we can never match.

“Our fears also stem from the fact that we blew the lid on the terrorism financing/serious operations carried out through the Binance platform.

“We are, therefore, at very significant risk alongside our immediate families.

“We have nowhere else to run than to the Nigerian government for whom we undertook this daring patriotic task.”

Controversy has begun to trail the death of 42-year-old Udosen Glory, who reportedly died in a road accident in Akure, Ondo State, last month, following calls for a discreet investigation into her death by her friends.

Her friends maintained that there was more to her death than the claim of auto crash as the cause, as they disclosed that some of her body parts were missing, suggestive of a ritual killing.

Glory, who would have turned 43, on May 8, 2024, was a graduate of Industrial Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure and an entrepreneur. She was said to have left her abode in the Ajah area of Lagos, to Ogbomosho, Oyo State, on a business trip.

However, apprehension set in after several calls to her mobile line were not answered.

Explaining what she described as a mysterious twist, one of her friends who spoke exclusively to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said, “On March 3, 2024, she called me with a new Airtel line, informing me that she went on a business trip to Ogbomoso for an interior decoration/painting job. She told me she would be leaving for Akure, Ondo state, on March 5, 2024, to visit one of her sisters she identified as Shade.

“ On March 7th, she posted her pictures on her different social platforms, thanking God for journey mercies to Akure.
Apprehension

“Later, we realized we hadn’t heard from her for a while via the Whatsapp platform she created. It was unusual for her to stay that long without saying a word about the group, being the admin. All attempts to reach out to her proved abortive. After a while, I decided to reach her on the new line she called me with. and a lady picked it up and said it was the wrong number. But I overheard some people whispering in the background.

“Other people also dialled that number and the lady kept saying it was the wrong number. At one point, the lady at the other end stopped responding to our calls.

” We contributed some money and reached out to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC to track the line. Through that effort, we were able to contact the lady that Rose G had a business deal with in Akure. But she denied meeting with her

“On our way to report the matter to the Police, someone called me on the phone from a police station located between Ore Expressway and Shagamu, informing that an accident happened on March 8, 2024, involving a lady named Rose G. He said she slumped.

Suspicion

Meanwhile, the lady who earlier denied having met Rose G was discovered to have called a man who was Rose G’s acquaintance, requesting her (Rose G)full name, explaining that her Pastor requested the name because he wanted to pray for her.

“ We suspect there is more to the sudden death of my friend. We are appealing to the Police to investigate her death to give her justice. This is because her eyes and breasts were missing. Besides, by the time we went through her phone, we discovered that she contacted the lady who denied seeing her”.

A video of the corpse made available to Vanguard confirmed the missing parts.

However, when Vanguard contacted the lady accused of having denied being with the deceased, she admitted to having seen her.

The lady who identified herself simply as Folashade, in a telephone conversation with Vanguard, said “ She (late Glory) called me on the phone while she was in Ogbomosho, working. She said she would be visiting Akure to process her results. When she arrived, she went to school. Later, we met and spoke. Thereafter, she left for Lagos, and that was the last time we spoke.

“ When I heard about her disappearance, I went to inform my Pastor and we prayed”, she said.

Also contacted was the sister of the deceased, Stella. She disclosed that the remains of Glory had been buried.

Says with student loan scheme, brighter future awaits Nigerian child

Nigerian students will not lack funds for education — Reps

Assure bottlenecks depriving students from accessing loan already removed

President Bola Tinubu has said though he does not have the magic wand, his administration would fix the economic challenges confronting the citizenry.

He also assured that the path to take the Nigerian child out of poverty has been cleared with his signing into law of the Student Loans Re-enactment Bill.

The President spoke Wednesday night when he hosted members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, and the Independent Campaign Council to Iftar at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is even as the Chairman of House of Representatives’ Committee on Student’s Loan, Gboyega Isiaka also assured Nigerians of the present administration’s resolve towards ensuring adequate funding of the Student’s Loan scheme for the benefits of students.

The country’s inflation rate has been on a steady rise since the Tinubu administration ended the petrol subsidy regime and unified the exchange rate in 2023.

In its latest report, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said inflation rose to 31.7 per cent in February 2024, up from 29.9 per cent in the previous month.

The President, who also noted the country’s capacity to generate revenue was getting better, said: “It is the hard job that you promised the people of Nigeria when you were campaigning for me, you promised them a good result. Didn’t you? That is it! I have to work for it. No magic wand.

“I campaigned on hope, I have to rest on that hope, and push for that hope for the joy of everyone of us.

“The economy is looking good. Don’t worry about that… we know we have the challenge of inflation, it is okay, we will bring it down. We are reengineering, our revenue is getting better.”

The president said Nigeria was regaining its respect and sovereignty around the world, saying “not that we have to go there and hire them to do the job for us, we are doing it ourselves.”

”Whatever is happening to us, we have to solve it by ourselves. It is your effort, your thinking, your resourcefulness, your investment, your dedication and hard work that can only get us there.”

On the student loan scheme, the President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said: “The only thing that can fight poverty is education. Today, I signed the bill for the Student Loan Scheme. Imagine the children of the poor; what about people going through the mud, fishing in the ponds?

“How do you tell their children that their future will be brighter? It is only through education that we can fight poverty. A promising future awaits our children.”

He used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that the economy was being steered onto the path of sustainable growth and broad-based prosperity for Nigerian families in all parts of the country.

Speaking further, Tinubu said: “The economy is looking much better. Yes, we have challenges of inflation but we will bring it down. When the exchange rate was going haywire, it looked like we were asleep, but we worked on it diligently, and it is going down; it is getting better.

“Borrowing was higher a year ago but today, we are reengineering the financial landscape, and our revenue is expanding. And we are taking up our sovereignty and earning our respect back in the comity of nations.”

Acknowledging members of the PCC and ICC for their rigorous efforts toward his election, the President said: “It is your footwork and footprints that made me the President. I campaigned on hope, and you promised Nigerians hope and a good result when campaigning for me.

“There are a lot of expectations. I, therefore, have to work hard for it. There is a windy road we are traveling. We have to navigate carefully. Otherwise, one ends up in the bush, and that is all I have been focused on.

“It is your effort, resourcefulness, and dedication that has brought us here. The results will not come suddenly, you have endured the campaign, you must endure more, and I assure you that a very bright light beckons for you and your children. Nigeria will prosper, and we will all reap the benefits. We will work with determination and persistence.”

While urging citizens to continue to have faith in Nigeria by supporting his administration to succeed for the benefit of all, President Tinubu noted that “Europe and America did not get to where they are today in one day, but through persistence and hard work, which take time and consistent focus.”

“Pray for Nigeria, think Nigeria. This is not play time. Let us believe in ourselves. We must ask questions. What is happening to our solid minerals? No rival wants you to be bigger than them.”

Nigerian students’ll not lack funds for education

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives also assured that all obstacles in the way of securing the loan had been cleared for the benefit of Nigerians

Chairman, Committee on Student Loans, Gboyega Isiaka, who gave the assurance in Abuja yesterday, disclosed that the quantum of funds required for successful implementation of the Student Loan would be drawn from one per cent of all revenues accruing into the federation account.

He said: “The patriotism and determination to make sure that this is a sustainable success still made the executive and Mr. President in particular, to present those far-reaching amendments which has not become law.

“The law has amended so many shortcomings in the 2023 law in the area of fund that we have. Now, we have a known corporate entity that is called Nigerian Education Trust Fund. We now have an institution that is strong, sustainable and comparable to what we have in different parts of the world and going by all that will come into it.”