Federal government has increased the prices of both single-phase and three-phase prepaid electricity meters.

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced this in a circular dated November 11, 2021.

The new prices, according to the circular, will take effect from November 15.

The circular titled ‘Review of the unit price of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations’ was addressed to managing directors, all electricity distribution companies and all meter asset providers.

The commission said the upward review of meter prices is due to “the recent changes in macro-economic parameters.”

In the document, the regulator raised the price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44,896.17 to a revised price of N58,661.69.

It also increased the price of a three-phase meter from the current cost of N82,855.19 to a revised rate of N109,684.36.

“In arriving at the approved unit price, the Commission had, in particular, only considered changes in foreign exchange and inflation since the last review of June 2020,” the circular reads.

“This price review is subject to change upon the conclusion of the procurement process under phase 1 of the National Mass Metering Program. This price review is effective from 15th November 2021.”

NERC noted that all costs are exclusive of value-added tax (VAT).

This implies that consumers will pay more than the stipulated prices to procure the meters from electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

At the current VAT rate of 7.5 percent, a single meter will cost an additional N4,400 to sell at N63,061.69, while a three-phase meter will cost an extra VAT of N8,227 to sell for N117,911.36.

The Cable

Barely a month after collecting N11 million as ransom for the release of 20 people they kidnapped in Gatawa, bandits on Wednesday returned to the town and abducted five people.

They are now demanding N500,000 as ransom for the release of the victims, multiple sources in the town have said.

Gatawa, in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, was until recently one of the communities in the state spared by the bandits.

But the town has now come into the focus of attacks by the outlaws.

In Wednesday’s attack, a resident who asked not to be named over security concerns, said the bandits did not kill anyone but were ”only interested in raising funds”.

“They came in the early morning around 8 a.m. when most people were just coming out of their houses. They shot severally into the air before they started taking people hostage. When they gathered a number of people, they decided to let all the women go but went away with five men. After they left, they sent a message that we should gather N500,000 as ransom,” the source said.

He said Gatawa is among the communities asked by the bandits last month to contribute N20 million as ransom for those kidnapped from the communities. He said Gatawa town contributed N11 million at the time.

A university lecturer and journalist, Mansur Isa, confirmed the situation to this newspaper.

“The bandits have directed the people of Gatawa between today (Thursday) and Monday to bring the ransom. Every household has been taxed N2,500 but the money may not be enough so they are now reaching out to people from the town who reside elsewhere so they can realise the money on time,” Isa said.

Residents said the bandits also directed another community in the area, Tarah, to pay N7 million as its own levy.

Usman Tarah, a resident of the town, said the bandits sent a message on Tuesday and people started gathering the cash.

“Bandits that we believe to be loyal to Bello Turji have asked us for seven million naira. The neglect of the worsening insecurity in some parts of Sokoto by governments is not only giving the bandits unhindered opportunity to kill and steal, but guaranteeing easy recruits into banditry. What we are witnessing now is only the tip of an iceberg of a devastating sequel,” Tarah said.

Mohammed Shehu, another indigene of Tarah, said they were surprised when they got the message from the bandits directing them to raise the ransom, because none of their people was kidnapped.

“We don’t know why we were asked to pay seven million naira by the bandits and they too did not say anything as to why we are being taxed. But you know we can’t ask questions,” he said.

Police spokesperson in Sokoto, Sanusi Abubakar, did not pick calls to his phone or respond to SMS seeking his comment for this report.

PT

About 50 masked persons, armed with different weapons including guns, cutlasses, and axes have reportedly attacked residents and business owners in Agbaakin community, close to Mowe, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that during the two-day raid, the hoodlums destroyed property in the community, attacked passersby and broke into homes and shops to dispossess residents of their valuables.

According to the aggrieved members of the community, the armed men also took advantage of the tension created during the attacks to rape housewives and whisked away two residents to an undisclosed location.

A landlord in the community, Ibrahim Meshioye, said the kidnapped victims had yet to be reunited with their families, adding that residents deserted their homes due to the insecurity occasioned by the incessant attacks on the community.

Meshioye said, “Around 2pm last Friday, about 30 hoodlums, who wore black masks and armed with weapons such as guns, cutlasses, axes and daggers, stormed Agbaakin community to attack residents and business owners. They came in commercial vehicles, mini buses, private cars and shot into the air.

“Everyone scampered to safety but some were unlucky. They robbed residents, business owners and passersby of about 15 phones, cash and other valuables. They operated for over one hour, stole and destroyed a lot of property belonging to people in the community. When they were leaving, they kidnapped two residents, Akorede and Monday.

“We have yet to see the kidnapped victims but we reported the invasion at the Mowe Police Station. Surprisingly around 3pm on Monday, this set of armed hoodlums, more than 50 of them, attacked the community again.”

Meshioye said during the second attack, the assailants used cutlasses and axes to inflict injuries on farmers and stole their goods, adding that they allegedly raped two housewives.

The 43-year-old said, “The second attack was more intense; and the people involved were more than those who attacked last Friday. A lot of men were not around as they had gone to work. Some men also abandoned their homes as it appeared that the hoodlums were aiming at kidnapping them

“They broke into homes, robbed residents and raped housewives whose husbands were not at home. After raping one of the victims, they stole her phone and money. After the attack, we saw them crying and had to rush them to a nurse for treatment.

“The matter was reported to the Area Commander in the Obafemi Owode LGA. People have deserted their homes because of the situation; I have abandoned my house; my family is scattered everywhere despite having a house in the community. We want the government and police to come to our rescue.”

One of the victims, a nursing mother of two, told our correspondent that three hoodlums raped her in her shop while her baby cried.

She said, “I was in my shop when about 10 of the criminals that attacked us entered. They robbed me of my Infinix phone, N25,000, and the N50,000 my husband kept with me. After that, they started making advances to forcefully have sex with me but I resisted them. They were armed with guns, cutlasses and axes and said they would kill me if I didn’t cooperate with them. They spoke in Yoruba and English but I can’t identify them as they wore masks. I struggled with them but they overpowered me. They removed my pants and raped me. I was raped by three men. My baby was crying but they continued.”

The nursing mother’s husband, while shedding tears, demanded the arrest and prosecution of the suspects who perpetrated the crime.

However, overwhelmed by the insecurity in the community, the residents reported to a human rights organisation, Balanced Measures Impact Initiative.

A video clip in possession of our correspondent showed one of the bullets reportedly fired by the hoodlums. Pictures of some of the injured victims were also sighted.

The state Chairman, BMII, Taiwo Yemi, urged the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, to intervene and restore normalcy to the community.

 He said, “There are laws to govern how people behave in society. The residents said the attacks were instigated by someone but how can someone just bring people to attack residents in the community? He used the people he brought to chase everyone out of the community.

“He said the community belongs to him; what the concerned residents want is that the Governor and the Commissioner of Police should intervene. They want security so they can return home.”

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, had yet to respond to calls and a text message sent to his mobile phone as of the time this report was filed.

Punch

Federal government says it is exploring the possibility of setting up a border security force in the future to secure Nigeria’s porous border areas.

National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, a retired major general, disclosed this in Paris at the Nigeria international Partnership Forum held on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum.

The event, attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and business leaders from Nigeria and France, was organised to spotlight Nigeria’s immense trade and investment opportunities.

Monguno noted that Africa’s porous border had remained a major source of concern as it aided smuggling of prohibited items and irregular migration as well as other trans-national organised crimes and human trafficking.

“Nigeria is bordered to the North by Niger Republic, to the East by Chad and Cameroon and to the South by the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean and to the West by Benin Republic.

“However, Nigeria vast land and maritime borders are incredibly porous and poorly managed and this placed further responsibility on the border security agencies.

“In this regard, the Nigeria Customs Service had developed the E-Customs strategy while the Nigeria Immigration put in place an integrated border management system.

“It is necessary to observe that both strategies place premium on employing technology to complement other existing physical border security arrangements,’’ he said.

The NSA noted that as part of efforts to strengthen border security, a tripartite joint border patrol team comprising Nigeria, Niger and Benin Republic was recently established to curb the increasing scale of smuggling of prohibited items as well as irregular migration across the nation’s borders

He said the step taken had greatly reduced the scale of nation’s transnational organised crimes.

Monguno said piracy and sea robbery had been of serious concern in the region and continent at large.

Specifically, he said the Gulf of Guinea had been identified as a very dangerous sea route for merchant, oil tanker operating vessels due to the threat of piracy.

He said the frequency of the incidences had resulted in the negative global assessment of the maritime concerns.

Monguno, however, said the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other maritime security agencies, had been able to significantly curb the scale of piracy and sea robbery in the region.

According to the NSA, there had been no case of piracy or sea robbery all through the third quarter of 2021 till date.

He compared the feat to the second quarter of 2021 which recorded only three pirate attacks and one sea robbery incident.

“This is largely due to the Nigeria’s Naval operations which have sustained aggressive anti-piracy patrols leveraging on maritime domain awareness assets mainly the Falcon 1 and wireless capability assets.

“The assets have facilitated numerous interception of maritime criminals and by implication improve the security of waterways for commercial activities.

“These achievement is further complemented by implementation of harmonised operations procedure for the arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and persons in Nigeria maritime environment,’’ he said.

Monguno said with the achievement recorded, the International Maritime Bureau global piracy report of July 14 indicated the lowest number of piracy and sea robbery incidence against ships since 27 years.

He said the report was corroborated by the Defence Web, in its October.15 report of maritime security which noted a further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against ships since President Buhari appointed a new Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo.

“This development is achievable by the Nigerian Navy’s consistent presence at sea and conduct of sea exercises with regional and international partners, particular USA, UK and other countries, to ensure the security of Nigeria maritime environment,’’ he said.

In his presentation, Babagana Kingibe, President Buhari’s Special Envoy to Chad and Lake Chad Basin, underscored the need for investment in the youth and bridging the gap between the poor and the rich as panacea to the unrest in some parts of Africa.

Kingibe said African leaders and the business community must show commitment to peace and security to attract investment to the continent.

NAN

Senators from the Southsouth geo-political zone have kicked against moves by the Senate to include Lagos, Ogun, Bauchi and others that have attained the status of oil producing states into Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

The senators raised the objection, yesterday, during the consideration of a Bill for an Act to amend the NDDC Act sponsored by Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos West).

Senate Deputy President Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central),  Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South) and George Sekibo(PDP, Rivers East) lampooned the move, just as Omo-Agege described Adeola as a classic meddlesome interloper and advised him and his cohorts to intensify efforts for the creation of Southwest Development Commission.

According to  Omo-Agege, Urhoghide and Sekibo, NDDC was created to address the environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the region.

They asked Adeola to pursue the establishment of a commission to address developmental issues in the Southwest instead of seeking to make Lagos and others members of NDDC. 

Despite the stiff opposition to the bill by the senators from the oil producing region, the bill seeking for an amendment to the NDDC Act to accommodate the said states, scaled second reading.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, then referred the bill to the Peter Nwaoboshi (APC, Delta North) for further legislative action and report back at plenary in four weeks.

The bill, sponsored by Adeola seeks the inclusion of Lagos, Ogun, Bauchi and others that have attained the status of oil producing states into NDDC.

The nine states captured in the NDDC Act are Cross River, Edo, Delta, Abia, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Ondo. 

In his lead debate on the general principles of the bill, Adeola noted: “Following the discovery of oil in Bauchi, Lagos and Ogun, these states have officially joined the league of oil producing states in Nigeria following the discovery of crude oil in Alkaleri LGA,  Bauchi; Badagry, Lagos, and Ipokia, Ogun State.

“By virtue of this, the states are entitled to the 13 per cent derivation that is due to oil producing states, according to the provision of Section 162 Sub-Section 2 of the Nigerian constitution.”

In his contribution, Urhoghide said: “I am not particularly against the sponsor of this bill. I just believe that the bill should be properly posited. Today, what each state gets from the 13 per cent derivation is a function  of production.

“Today, Gombe is fast becoming a host community, Bauchi and some other states. But to say these states belong to Niger Delta is not possible.

“If the idea is you want to share out of the 13 per cent derivation, they are at will as long as they produce oil but to say they must belong to Niger Delta, it makes mockery of the idea in the creation of NDDC.”

On his part, Omo-Agege said: “We look forward to the day when indeed all states in Nigeria will not only produce oil but produce one form of mineral resource or the other.

“What this lead debate clearly shows is that my colleague from Lagos is a classic meddlesome interloper. The NDDC is a regional development commission. We must draw a distinction between the NDDC and the oil and mineral  producing commission.”

On his part, Sekibo said: “I congratulate these states where my friend said they have discovered oil. What I don’t know is that whether the oil is in commercial quantity and they are exploring them for sale and the money going to Nigerian coffers. That one, he has not expatiated on that one.

“Are they exploring oil, are they refining oil in these places and has the oil caused any devastation in that environment? The purpose of the NDDC is not just because they found oil there, it is because the place has been so devastated and there is a need to see how they can remedy the place and because that place is so backward.

“Each time there is a law to support a backward people, to support people who are suffering, Nigerians will come out after a couple of years to dampen the strength of that law.

“There is nothing wrong that they are given their 13 per cent derivation, that is if funds from those oil are now in the US, they are exploring them, are they?”

Vanguard

Police have arrested 14 persons in connection with the raid on the home of Mary Odili, a justice of the supreme court.

During a briefing on Thursday, Frank Mba, force public relations officer, said the suspects include a fake chief superintendent of police (CSP), a journalist, and an Islamic scholar.

Mba said 10 other suspects, including two military personnel, are currently at large.

“The inspector-general of police (IGP) ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident,” he said.

“Earlier on, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice had also submitted a written petition into the office of the IGP, requesting a robust and discreet investigation into the matter, with the aim of unravelling the identities of the persons involved, their motives, and perhaps, the authorities, if any, behind them.

“The case was subsequently handed over to the force intelligence bureau on the instruction of the IGP.”

On October 30, security operatives — made up of soldiers and police officers — stormed the Abuja residence of the supreme court justice over an allegation that illegal activities were going on there.

The search warrant was granted to one Lawrence Ajodo — identified as a chief superintendent of police — who is now said to be an impostor.

Documents seen by TheCable had revealed that the warrant presented by security operatives to search Odili’s residence bore a wrong address.

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice; and Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairman, had denied authorising the search.

A magistrate court in Abuja had also revoked the warrant presented by security operatives to search the house.

Usman Baba, the inspector-general of police (IGP), had subsequently ordered an investigation into the incident.

The Cable

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has revealed that of the 4,860 recorded prisoners who have escaped from various custodial centres nationwide since 2020 to date, 954 have been recaptured; leaving 3,906 on the run.

He also disclosed that his ministry, as well as the National Identity Management Commission, has adequate data on all inmates in the country, adding that escaped inmates could run but not hide for long.

Aregbesola said these on Thursday during a media briefing organised by the Presidential Media Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the biometrics of all custodial inmates in the country have been taken and will enable the tracking of escapees.

He said, “This is the advantage of the state. How long can they continue to run from the state? The state is a patient vulture. You can run but you cannot hide. We have their biometrics. Whenever and wherever they appear to transact any business, their cover will be blown.

“I will also like to inform Nigerians that we have captured the biometric information of all inmates in the facilities of Nigeria Correctional Service working in partnership with the Nigerian Identity Management Commission.

“Therefore, we have the capacity and are tracking all escapees from our facilities. In addition, we are working with and have shared the details of escapees with INTERPOL, to check the risks of cross border movements.”

Aregbesola said 465 inmates were running various degree programmes across the country, adding that 85 of these were running postgraduate programmes including four who were studying for their doctoral degrees.

He said 560 inmates had been enrolled for WAEC/NECO examinations while 2,300 were enrolled for adult literacy classes in several custodial centres.

The minister assured Nigerians that the challenge of obtaining passports will soon be over as he announced that a total of 2,742,207 passports have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service in the last two years.

His words, “It is important to inform you that we have witnessed growing demand for the Nigerian passport both locally and by Nigerians in diaspora. A total of 2,742,207 passports of different categories were issued between 2019 to date.

“The year-on-year increasing growth rate is however putting a lot of pressure on the current processing structure and resources and further justifies the need for a reform in the passport application and processing system in line with the current reality.”

The minister announced that since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, not a single case has been recorded in the custodial centers.

He said that his ministry was aware of the challenges Nigerians face in processing passports, adding that efforts were being made to deal with the problem.

He stated, “I am pleased to inform Nigerians that the ministry has taken substantial measures to address the issue of shortages of the e-passport booklets.

“This year alone, the ministry approved a special deployment of over 600,000 passport booklets, the largest of its kind ever done, to cushion the effects of shortages being experienced.”

On measures taken to tackle corruption, the minister noted the recent sting operation carried out by the Acting Comptroller-General of the NIS, Isa Jere, at the Ikoyi Passport Office, saying that reforms such as a new appointment management system are being put in place to root out corruption.

Aregbesola also stated that 174,000 jobs had been created for Nigerians through the administration of Expatriate Quotas and Business Permits.

Quizzed on the ministry’s response to the collapsed multistoried building in Ikoyi, Aregbesola said the Federal Fire Service did not duck its responsibility but responded as early as possible for the rescue operations.

Punch

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday said the demeanour of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government towards activities of terrorists suggests it is complicit in the insecurity plaguing the country.

It said Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi, who has been canvassing amnesty for the bandits is only re-echoing the same views held by Buhari before he became president.

The group said this in Lagos at a press conference with the theme: ‘Fixing Nigeria, Before the Fall’, addressed by its leader, Ayo Adebanjo.

It said: “The entire country is burning. The Northeast was already aflame before the coming of Buhari, its peoples rendered as pawns in the power games of the northern elite, who allowed Boko Haram to fester. Indeed, Buhari protested about the onslaught on Boko haram, and for those who might have paid attention, Gumi’s interventions are merely aping what Buhari used to say before he gained office in 2015. But what used to be confined to the Northeast, has today become pan Nigerian.

“Buhari regime has treated them with kids gloves, and have blithely labelled them as bandits, businessmen, vandals, and even recently as area boys. Train track bombers, who were clearly intent on the derailment of a passenger train, are labelled as vandals in a clear advertisement of the complicity of the Buhari regime in the terrorist, led insurgency, ravaging Nigeria.”

Afenifere said Buhari has failed to act on security reports detailing sponsors of terrorism presented him.

“Retired Navy commodore Kunle Olawunmi is on record as saying the security services had submitted a report to Buhari since 2017 and that a list of the names of the major sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria is one of the several pieces of information in that file. Several of these positively identified terrorists and terrorist sponsors, are today in government at the highest level, and many more are serving senators and governors.”

The group also said Nigeria negotiated and agreed to by the founding fathers had died. It said Buhari’s endless arrogance and his manifest incompetence have killed what is left of fractured Nigeria and that the ethnic nationalities must renegotiate the current structure before it implodes.

“To be sure, the Nigerian state that was negotiated before independence in 1960, the one that was birthed and named on  October 1, 1960, is long dead. It was mortally wounded in January 1966 and was then slaughtered in July of 1966. Its funereal obsequies were held between 1966 and 1970. The Frankenstein that was cobbled together in place of the dead nation that was agreed, has survived this long on the back of repression, lies, illusions, and outright delusions.

“But Buhari has finally killed it by his endless arrogance, his manifest incompetence, and his vile ethno-religious agenda, with which he is dangerously strangling the insufferable Frankenstein.”

Adebanjo said there is an urgent need to convene a Sovereign National Conference of ethnic nationalities to discuss the future of Nigeria.

Sun

Police in Ogun State have arrested three suspected kidnappers while they were trying to collect ransom on two victims abducted at Abule Oba, along Alamala in Ayetoro, Yewa North local government area of the state.

The suspects, Abubakar Sodiq, 26,  Ibrahim Kuaki, 24, and Muhammadu Dio, 22, were arrested on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

The arrest followed a report lodged at the Ilupeju divisional headquarters that two men, who had gone to work at Abule Oba Alamala along Ayetoro road, were kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The police public relations officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta on Thursday.

Oyeyemi said that upon the report, the DPO Sabo Ilupeju mobilized his men in collaboration with men of the Nigeria army and the Social Orientation and Safety Corps( So-Safe) for aggressive bush combing in search of the victims and the suspects.

“While the exercise was going on, the operatives received information that the suspects had contacted the families of the victims and asked them to bring ransom money somewhere in the area.

“Having received the information, the operatives swiftly moved to the area and laid ambush for the hoodlums. Not quite long, the hoodlums appeared to collect the ransom and the operatives engaged them in a gun duel.

"Having realized that they were about to be overpowered, they took to their heels but were hotly chased and three amongst them were apprehended.

Other members of the gang escaped with gunshot injuries which made them eventually abandoned their victims, who were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.” the police PRO said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the anti-kidnapping unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department.

The CP also directed that the escaped members of the gang be looked for and brought to justice.

He appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals, to inform the police if anybody with gunshot injuries is seen in their area.

Senate has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s loan request for $16,230,077,718 billion, €1,020,000,000 billion, under the 2018-2020 External Borrowing plan.

It also approved a grant component of $125 million (USD), and the request to the Bank of Industries for the issuance of €500 million but no more than €750 million Eurobond in the International Capital Market.

The upper legislative chamber’s approval to the loan requests was, however, accompanied by a resolution that the terms and conditions of the loans from the funding agencies, be forwarded to the National Assembly prior to its execution for approval and proper documentation.

The president had requested the facilities in an addendum to the 2018-2020 borrowing plan in September.

The World Bank, African Development Bank (ADB) and French Development Agency (AFD) are among the funding agencies. Buhari had said the loans would stimulate the economy and create jobs.

In July, the National Assembly approved $8.3 billion and €490 million loans as initial requests in the 2018-2020 borrowing plan. While presenting a report yesterday, Clifford Ordia, chairman of senate committee on local and foreign debts, said the projects to be funded from the loans were ongoing.

He said the projects would stimulate a “rebirth of commercial and engineering activities and the consequent tax revenues payable to government as a result of these productive activities will increase.”

“It will be recalled that the senate at plenary in July 2021 approved financing for projects as recommended by the Committee above whilst the Committee continued further legislative action and consideration of the outstanding request. Subsequently, on the 15th of September 2021, President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria read another communication from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, containing an addendum to the 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan of $4,054,476,863, €710,000,000 and grant component of $125,000,000 for various projects and same was also referred to the committee for further legislative action.

“The committee notes that a good number of the projects in respect of which financing is being requested under the 2018-2020 external borrowing (rolling) plan are mostly ongoing projects and programmes in respect of which external borrowed funds have been spent in the past, including loans and grants. The committee found as a fact that out of over $22.8billion approved by the National Assembly under the 2016-2018 external borrowing rolling plan, only $2.8 billion, that is 10 per cent has been disbursed to Nigeria. The committee observes that these projects, some of which require additional financing, will have a great multiplier effect on stimulating economic growth through infrastructure development, job creation, poverty alleviation, health care and improve our security architecture.”

Sun