Egbin Power Honors Employees for Long Service and Outstanding Performance

 AgegePulse Magazine 

...reaffirms commitment to excellence, human capital development. 

In appreciation of its employees’ contributions to the sustainable progress and achievements recorded over the years, Egbin Power Plc has held its prestigious Long Service Award and Employee Recognition Award (ERA) 2024 to honour individuals and teams for their dedication and outstanding performance.

 

L-R, Head of Maintenance, Felix Ebiware; Section Head, Mechanical Workshop, Bashiru Mohammed; CEO, Mokhtar Bounour and HOD, Mechanical Workshop, Akintona Keshinro, all of Egbin Power Plc, during the company’s Long Service Awards 2024.

A total of 144 employees received the Long Service Award for completing a decade with the company as of May 2024. Additionally, numerous employees were recognized with the Employee Recognition Award for their stellar performance over the past year.

 

Recipients of the Long Service Award represented a wide range of departments, including Instrumentation & Control, Mechanical, Electrical, Human Resources, Finance, Subject Matter Expert (SME), Support Services, Technical Laboratory, Workshop, Quality Health Safety and Environment (QHSE), Procurement, Business Operations, Chemistry, and Operations.

While those who received the Employee Recognition Award were individuals recognized for the exceptional qualities displayed while carrying out their tasks, and therefore adjudged winners in the various awards categories.

 

Egbin Power emphasized that the unwavering commitment, expertise, and contributions of its employees have enabled the company to continuously provide safe and reliable power, thereby supporting the socio-economic development of the nation.

 

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer Mokhtar Bounour noted that this milestone celebration reaffirms the company's culture of recognition, creating a win-win situation for both employees and employers and fostering a thriving workplace.

 

“We are celebrating our colleagues who have dedicated a decade of their careers to this company. Their unique blend of fresh talent and seasoned experience has fostered a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, positioning Egbin Power at the forefront of the power generation industry” said Bounour.

 

He added, “Your contributions extend far beyond the walls of this company. By powering homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure, you have directly impacted the lives of millions. The stability you provide allows industries to thrive, communities to flourish, and society to get better.”

 

Bounour further noted that the energy sector is evolving rapidly, presenting new challenges and opportunities. “I have no doubt that with your continued support and dedication, we will navigate this changing landscape successfully and continue to lead with innovation and excellence. As we look towards the future, your expertise and unwavering spirit will continue to be instrumental in powering a brighter tomorrow for Nigeria.”

 

Egbin Power Plc takes immense pride in its dedicated workforce. The Long Service Awards are a testament to the company's commitment to recognizing and rewarding the exceptional contributions of its employees. As they look towards the future, Egbin Power, fuelled by its dedicated team, remains confident in its ability to continue powering progress and shaping a brighter future for Nigeria.

The company affirmed that the Board and Management are committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment that recognizes and rewards employee contributions while constantly strategizing to drive innovation, promote human capital development, and improve operations to deliver positive results for the power sector.

Electricity Tariff: Ikeja Electric Slashes Electricity Tariff For Customers

 AgegePulse Magazine

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has downwardly reviewed and slashed the tariff to N206.80 per kilowatt-hour from the previously approved N225/kWh by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

According to the spokesperson, IKEDC,  Olufadeke Omo-Omorodion, conveyed this information in a notice on Monday.

In the notice, the IKEDC outlined that the revised tariff for Band A customers would come into effect from Monday, May 6, 2024. While assuring a minimum of 20-hour daily power supply for customers on Band A feeders, the DisCo clarified that the tariffs for customers on other bands remain unchanged.

"Dear Esteemed Customers, please be informed of the downward tariff review of our Band A feeders from N225/kWh to N206.80/kWh effective 6th May 2024 with guaranteed availability of 20-24hrs supply daily. The tariff for Bands B, C, D, and E remains unchanged,” the IKEDC stated.

Previously, on April 3, the NERC had revised the electricity tariff for Band A customers from N68 per kilowatt-hour to N255/KWh, exempting other customers from the tariff hike. However, consumers in the Band A category had expressed dissatisfaction with the increase, urging the Federal Government to reconsider the policy.

In a related development, during an investigative hearing before the Senate Committee on Power last week Monday, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, cautioned that failure to implement the electricity tariff hike could lead to a total blackout in the country within the next three months.

Electricity Consumers to Pay More On Prepaid Meters From N67,055...

 AgegePulse Magazine

Emerging report indicates that Power consumers are going to start paying more for prepaid meters, as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has hiked the cost of the commodity.

It was gathered in Abuja, on Monday, that the Commission had increased the price for a three-phase meter from N67,055 to N82,855.19, while the cost of a single-phase meter was raised from N36,991 to N44.896.16.

The new prices were contained in a memo signed by the NERC Chairman, Prof. James Momoh, pegging the new price pursuant to section 19 (d) of the Meter Asset Providers, MAP, regulation.

However, the introduction of the MAP model, according to Stakeholders, is yet to adequately address the meter demands of customers.

Providing reasons for the increase in meter cost, Prof. Momoh was said to have explained that the hike in foreign exchange rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was a contributory factor.



His words: “In arriving at the approved unit costs, the Commission has considered the recent changes in foreign exchange approved by the CBN, and the applicable rate available to importers of meter components or fully assembled meters through investors and exporters’ forex window.”

Figures from the Commission showed that out of a total of 8,310,408 registered active electricity customers, only 3,704,302 (44.6 percent) have been metered.

This indicates that 55.4 percent of end-user customers are still on estimated billing.
Page36News

Electricity: Lagos Assembly Charges distribution companies On Regular Power Supply

...demand better deal for constituents during and after the lockdown.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has tasked the power Distributing Companies within Lagos territory, to be more humane in the discharge of their statutory duties, ensuring Lagosians enjoy considerable power supply, within and after the COVID-19 pandemic period.

This charge was made through a Joint Committee of the House constituted by the Speaker, Rt Hon.Mudashiru Obasa to make an oversight visit to the two Distribution Companies; EKO and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in order to fine tune means through which people can get power supply, while they comply with the stay at home directives in place.

The Joint Committee which comprised of House Committee on Energy and Mineral resources and; that of Information, Security and Strategy headed by Hon.Folajimi Mohammed with the mandate to visit the distribution networks (DISCO)in Lagos state.

Speaking after the visit, the Joint Committee Chairman Folajimi Mohammed appraised the situation, which necessitated the visit as peoples comfort need to be guaranteed while observing the stay at home order through steady power supply.

"During the COVID-19 period we have seen that there is an order for a lockdown, and this has caused a lot of discomfort to our constituents,to this end we were asked to visit the DISCOs and find out issues as to why there has been insufficient supply of electricity to most parts of Lagos State.



"One thing was pertinent about the meeting, they DISCOs accepted and admitted the flaws, however, they urged that we look at this holistically considering different value chains within the sphere of the departments, so as it is, we can't necessarily put most of the blame on the DISCOs.

"However, we have asked that they give us a road map as to how they want to ensure effective distribution of power to the people.

" I am glad that Ikeja DISCO has honoured the request by giving their words and promised to appoint people who would directly relate with us at the House of Assembly for onward transfer to our constituents whom we represent.

"We can't but appeal to our constituents to be calm at this time ,we understand these are tough times and from the reports and what we have been shown they have actually generated full capacity , but, they still have Infrastructural challenges, so we need to understand that without those infrastructure in place most things would not be done.

"So I would only try to appeal to the people and all constituents to kindly bear with them as they have been looking at the best way to profer solutions to this hardship.

Hon. Tunde Braimoh, the House Chairman on  Information,Security and Strategy in his own submission after the parley noted that it is of essence for the general public to own the available infrastructures as the energy theft is causing people a lot of needless stress.

"Government is about the people we are not just there for aggradisement or grandstanding of being in government,we must be purposefully useful and effective to the people that we serve.

"The supply of electricity power is one of the basic yearnings of our people because electricity remains the most important innovations of humanity in the last one thousand years and nobody  can joke with the importance of electricity.

That is why we have to come out to interact with the EKODISCO having inundated with a series  of complaints about; no electricity supply,excessive billings,outright disconnection and all of that and we need to be more sympathetic or empathetic rather to the plight of the people in this pandemic situation because people cannot go out to work,economic power is low and of course staying at home too should be as comfortable as possible and without electricity that will be a mirage.

That's why we are out here to interact with the Managing Director of EKODISCO and we have had a very useful discussion with him.

"He had been able to let us know what efforts they have been doing and I can say by and large they have been very altruistic and public spirited in their mode of operation.  I just need to appeal to our people to understand them because they too have a lot of limitations.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral resources Mr Olalere Odusote who was present at the two parleys enjoins Lagosians to comply with the stay at home order and remain safe, assuring that all their issues with power supply are being handled seriously by the state government.

"The people should be rest assured that the state government would continue to work with the electricity distribution companies,to ensure that their power supply is not adversely affected by any actions that the government is taking during the pandemic,especially due to restriction of movement.

"Electricity companies are committed to continue in carrying out their services as well as they have been carrying it before the pandemic .

"The Lagos state government will continue to support the distribution companies,Lagosians are enjoined to stay at home, if you don't have any essential business outside of your home,stay at home because the more you stay the less likely it is that you could contract or be infected with any COVID.

"Lagosians are urged not to worry about electricity supply because that is being taken care of as well as it was before the COVID and perhaps even better." Said Odusote .

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer EKODISCO Mr.Adeoye Fadeyibi, gave a clear cut view of how things are in the sector urging people to know that they are also with them in the situation at hand.

"I think estimated billing itself is something that is pressure on the system as a whole,so I think one of the things that we have done significantly which you can see is the ramp up metering. "The MAP initiative has been a good thing and try and just increase the number of meters that we install into the system to close the gap.

" Lagosians like to have the right information so when you look at it and look at our customer base it is probably more than 80 percent that has been metered already, so when you look at the remainder that we have is to continue to try and get this metering in place and also to get the distribution transformers metering done.

The Chairman Ikeja Electric Mr Kola Adesina,appreciated the fact that the lawmakers think of the vulnerables and poor masses in the society.

"Seeking solution for life during and after COVID is quite commendable, as an organisation we are quite aligned with the Honourable members and we would do everything humanly conceivable to ensure that not only we have light but we have light in a steady manner.

"The charge in energy will be made available but more importantly we would want our people to conserve energy, when you are not using any appliance please switch them off,that way you preserve the electricity but if you go beyond what you require and start to use electricity beyond your need then you are likely to cause system failure and the feeder will trip and you won't have electricity.

"So whenever you are not in a room or the house please  switch off appliances, that way, light can be made readily available to Majority of our people.

JUST IN: Nigeria suspends plan to increase electricity tariff

AgegePulse Magazine

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will not proceed with the increment of the electricity tariff scheduled to take effect from April 1.

The latest announcement on Tuesday by the regulatory agency on its Twitter handle says, “There shall be no increase in tariff of end-use customers on April 1, 2020.”

The NERC spokesperson, Usman Arabi, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the agency authored the post on its Twitter handle.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the plan to increase the electricity tariff.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement, said that such an action would only add more pains to Nigerians amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact.

NERC had in December 2019 disclosed that it would increase tariff from April 1, 2020.
A large part of Nigeria is on lockdown as the country joins the rest of the word to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools have been shut nationwide while many state governments have restricted movements in their states.
Nigeria has recorded 135 cases of the virus at the time of this report.

PremiumTimes

POWER OUTAGE: NATIONAL UNION OF ELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES SUSPENDS STRIKE

AgegePulse Magazine

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has suspended its strike embarked upon on Wednesday to draw federal government’s attention to the plight of its members.

Following a meeting with officials of the federal government, the union accepted to discontinue the one-day old strike.

According the National President of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who confirmed the outcome of the meeting to THISDAY, the workers’ grievances were conclusively addressed.

He said that all the concerns of the union and its members were addressed at the talks which lasted till the wee hours of today.

“We have concluded deliberations and all issues were addressed but we are awaiting implementation. Meanwhile, our strike action is suspended,” Ajaero said.

Following the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum issued by NUEE to the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to implement their demands, and the failure of the minister to dialogue with the union before the ultimatum which lapsed midnight Tuesday, a nationwide blackout was imminent as electricity workers began indefinite strike Wednesday morning.

The strike led to the shutting down of most of the offices of Distribution Companies (Discos) across the country.


 (THISDAY)

Electricity: FG’ll pay ‘failed investors’ N736bn to repossess Discos

...Review power sale but don’t politicise exercise —ECAN

AgegePulse Magazine

The Federal Government is considering repossession of 10 electricity distribution firms as one of the options to rescue the nation’s beleaguered electricity industry.

This is coming ahead of the scheduled final performance review of the private firms that bought into the distribution companies carved out from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria.


However, document available to one of our correspondents shows that the Federal Government would require up to $2.4bn (N736bn) to repossess the privatised distribution assets from the core investors if it finally takes the decision.

Giving clue that it could recover the assets from the core investors, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in a document sighted by one of our correspondents has described the co-owners of the distribution companies as ‘failed investors.’

The distribution and generation companies carved out of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria were handed over to private investors on November 1, 2013, following the privatisation of the power sector by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.


The Transmission Company of Nigeria, which is responsible for electricity transmission, is still fully owned and operated by the government.

The PUNCH had on Friday reported that 17 of the nation’s 27 power stations had been forced to shut down some of their units on the back of low demand by Discos, worsening the blackout being experienced by millions of customers across the country.

The President, Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, Mr Chijioke James, told one of our correspondents in a telephone interview that there was a need to revive the power sector.

He said, “It is a welcome development that by December, there will be a review to know how the core investors who took over the power assets have performed. It is based on that feedback mechanism that the government can make an informed decision, which should not be political because the power sector is a very strategic sector for the economy of our country.


“Therefore, in taking any decision, they should have the overall national interest at heart, and not make the same mistakes made in the past. We will love to see a situation where things are done based on merit.

“The Discos that are doing well should be supported and encouraged to do more; those who have failed should be shown the way out.”

Punch

Electricity: Senate supports reforms, re-capitalisation of DisCos

AgegePulse Magazine

 The Senate says it wants a robust power sector road map that will include the generation, transmission and distribution segments in a holistic picture on how to resolve power supply challenges.

The Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, who disclosed this at a quarterly press conference in Abuja, said that was aimed at further expanding and stabilizing the grid.

A statement by TCN said the Senate also declared its support for the proposal to recapitalise the Distribution Companies (DisCos). It advised that the 40 per cent holding of the Federal Government as stipulated in the Power Privatisation Act 2005 might be more beneficial if it was sold to foreign investors with technical know-how.

DailyTrust

Pre-paid meter: Manufacturers double production capacity to meet NERC’s deadline – Balogun

AgegePulse Magazine

Mr Kola Balogun, Chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company Ltd., (MEMMCOL), Lagos says indigenous meter manufactures have commenced massive production of meters.

 This he said was to meet the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC’s) directive of May 1, rollout deadline. Prepaid Meters   Balogun disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

NAN reports that on April 5, NERC issued permits to Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) to rollout new meters, not later than May 1.

According to him, manufacturers have also concluded to commence three shift production activities to actulise the NERC’s directives in meeting the May 1 deadline. “We will be producing a minimum of about 70,000 meters monthly on three shift production operations to support the May 1 actulisation.

“Manufacturers have taken bold steps to double production capacity in areas of employment capacity, raw materials and effective services to meet NERC’s May 1,” he said.

The Momas boss said that manufactures had commenced recruitment of more personnel to fill in for the three shifts, to be able to work round the clock to meet up the metering gap. The decision, Balogun said, had created more job opportunities for Nigerians. “We (meter manufacturers) have been able to take youths off the streets to start working with us.

 This will also boost the economic growth of the country. “It will also reduce the congestion of human capital at the labour market. “I want to assure electricity consumers that, the May 1 rollout of metering is visible and achievable. Consumes should look up to the timeline of May 1.” Balogun lauded the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, for the bold step he took in addressing metering gap and power challenges in the country. He also commended chairman of the NERC and its commissioners for their immense contributions toward the commencement of meter rollout in May 1.

According to him, meeting metering gap will be a new dawn in the power sector. “Meter manufacturers commended the Federal Government initiative toward ending metering gap in the country and ensuring all electricity consumers within discos were metered to abolish estimated billings.“ Balogun, however, urged government to support more indigenous meter manufacturing companies to excel, saying that MEMMCOL, for example, was an example of the local content policy of the government. “MEMMCOL is 100 per cent local content, employing young and enterprising Nigerians and equipping them adequately with requisite training locally and internationally.” Balogun said that bridging gap in metering in the country would put an end to metering challenges faced by customers. He expressed delight that MAP programme was introduced to ensure that consumers only paid for electricity they actually consumed.

Balogun said that MAP regulator rightly knew there were no free meters and, however, provided for third party to finance those meters for acquisition of such assets under terms issued by NERC.

Vanguard

We were not elected to only pay salaries, governors declare

• Resign if you can’t pay, workers tell govs

Olusola Fabiyi and Eniola Akinkuotu

Governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, have said that they are not elected to only pay salaries of civil servants.

They argued they were also elected to provide good roads, electricity, education and other necessary amenities for the people.

They said there was no way they could perform magic if there were no funds to work with.

They therefore called for the examination of the national income in the last 14 years to enable them to agree on the contentious issue of minimum wage implementation.

Chairman of the NGF, who is also the Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, made their position known to journalists after the meeting of the governors in Abuja on Wednesday night.

One of our correspondents reports that the committee working on the minimum wage is almost concluding negotiations on the matter.

The Federal Government had set a September date to roll out a new minimum wage for workers.

The Nigeria Labour Congress is proposing a minimum wage of N65,000 for workers, but the governors are insisting on the gradual implementation of the new wage,  if eventually approved.

Yari said it was a pity that state governors had been limited to the payment of salaries alone in their respective states.

He said the lack of funds had hindered them from carrying out their responsibilities in other sectors such as health, electricity, education, roads, among others.

On minimum wage, he said, “We have a committee of six which represents us in discussions in the committee headed by the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige.

“The committee has yet to give us the final report. They have given us an interim report that at the Federal Government level, over 82 per cent is being spent on overheads which cannot move the country forward in terms of infrastructure development and development that we need now.

“So, on our own part, we are saying we are going to look at how our income is taken from our final account from 14 years ago so that we can come up and stay in the middle.”

DARKNESS LOOMS AS NUEE LAYS SIEGE AT IKEJA ELECTRIC

   
                                             
Customers of Ikeja Electric Plc (IE) may once again experience the discomfort of extended darkness as members of the national Union of Electricity Employees have laid siege at the Company Headquaters in Alausa Ikeja and all its other offices across Lagos.

The Union members who claim that the picketing of IE followed the disengagement of about 40 members of staff, have forcibly shut down operations at the offices thereby resisting access to IE personnel and customers who  have attempted to gain access to the offices.

According to Ikeja Electric, the recent separation of staff, was due to varying actions which are not in furtherance of the overall company objectives.
This protest in coming in the heels of the promotions of about 300 employees last week and the recruitment of over 500 new employees in the past one year. The promotion exercise cut across all cadres of staff, including members of the respective Unions in the organization.

Speaking on the development, Head Corporate Communications Felix Ofulue, questioned the motive for embarking on the protest which he described as self serving.

“When NUEE chooses to cripple socio-economic activities of over a million households, for issues that can be resolved through dialogue, one then wonders if the motives are as selfless as they claim. How do you plunge a country’s commercial nerve center into darkness because of a few of your members who have been separated from the business for cogent reasons. It is really appalling. It’s an abuse of privilege to picket.” he said.

“Imagine that our employees  in Alausa Injection Sub Station were chased out of the facility by the Union and they had to shut down 9 Feeders that supply power to Ikeja and its environs on safety grounds. This has resulted in an immediate blackout for at least 3000 customers”, Ofulue concluded.

He further apologized to customers for the disruption of service by NUEE and promised that they will continue to work with stakeholder to ensure that the company continues to improve and provide quality service to our customers”.

3 Remanded in Prison for Stealing Ikeja Electric cables

Three suspected vandals, Kabiru Musa, 20; Abubakar Mohammed Umar, 25 and Rayyali Ibrahim 23, have been remanded in Kirikiri Prisons Lagos for damaging and stealing armored cables from a transformer belonging to Ikeja Electric Plc, at NEPA Coop Estate in Ijede, Ikorodu.

The trio were arraigned at Agbowa Magistrate Court in Ikorodu following their attempt to cart away with cables they had severed from the transformer. They pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when they appeared before His Honour Magistrate A. O Ogbe on Thursday, July 26, 2018. 

According to the charge sheet, the trio did conspire among themselves “to commit felony to willful damage and stealing and thereby committed an offense punishable under the section 411 of the criminal law, laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

The charge further stated that they “willfully and unlawfully interfered with Ikeja Electric Distribution Company’s Electric Transformer thereby disconnecting its Step-Down cable and Upriser Cable with intent to steal and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 340 of the criminal law, laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2015. “On the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District the suspects did steal 24 meter of electric transformer armored cable value Sixty Five Thousand Naira (N65,000) property of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 280(2)(a) of the criminal law, laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2015,” the charge read.

Magistrate A. O Ogbe adjourned the case till next month for hearing while the three suspects have been moved to Kirikiri Prison for failure to meet the bail conditions. In his reaction, Head of Corporate Communications for Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue, confirmed that vandalism, theft of electricity materials and energy theft through meter bypass and illegal connections, remain a major challenge facing the company.

According to him, these illegal activities further sabotages the company’s efforts to provide excellent service delivery as customers will be affected by the extended power outage resulting from these unpleasant activities. He commended the security agencies for providing dependable support and for the role they play in protecting IE infrastructure against vandalism while he further urged the Community Development Association (CDA) chairmen and members of the public to assist the DisCo in safeguarding the electrical infrastructure in their respective communities.

Supply Prepaid Meters To Customers, Fashola Tells DisCos

...FG promises to invest 72bn on procurement of equipment for unused 2,000MWs electricity

The Federal Government has committed to invest N72 billion on the procurement and installation of equipment to help distribute unused 2,000 megawatts  of electricity to consumers in the country.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing said this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said the 2,000MWs was from the 7,000MWs that GENCOS could generate and the 5,000 MWs that DisCos could distribute.

Fashola, however, said the problem presently was that the DisCos could not distribute all the power that was available.

This, he explained, was leaving the sector with an unused capacity of 2,000 MWs, with an approximately 1,150 MWs projected to come in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

He said the government had advertised the process of procuring the equipment and was encouraging responses from original equipment manufacturers, which were being evaluated.

The minister, who expressed worry over the activities of some operators, said the government was acting and would not relent to salvage the challenges in the sector.

“The number of complaints coming to government for meters, which the DISCOs should supply, and for estimated billings, and mass disconnections when no everybody is owing cannot continue.

“Government must act, and will do so, the DisCos bought these assets with their eyes opened, and they must compete to deliver or exit.

“Small businesses which need very little power are not getting enough because the DisCos cannot take the power to them.

“The investment of GENCOs is threatened because they cannot utilise the capacity they have installed.’’

Fashola, therefore, urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in line with the law to prevail on the DisCos to improve their distribution equipment and capacity to take up the available 2,000MWs.

He said NERC should enforce the contract of DisCos to supply meters and act to ensure urgent speedy supply and installation of meters to eliminate estimated billing and promote efficient industry market structures.

“DisCos should stop threatening private entrepreneurs from entering the market to supply consumers whom the DISCos cannot supply.

“NERC should license such persons subject to terms and conditions in order to promote competition and private sector participation and avoid a private monopoly of power.’’

He said Section 71(6) of Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), dealing with terms and conditions of licenses clearly shows that no exclusivity or monopoly was intended for a license holder such as GenCos or DisCos.

“If we take into consideration that after five years of privatisation, there are still people and businesses that do not have power or enough power.

“Common sense and public interest demand that we must not resist ordinary people, small businesses like shops and markets from seeking alternative sources of energy.

“If the DISCOs are not resisting the generator sellers who are contributing to pollution, what is the logic of resisting small entrepreneurs bringing mini gas plants to supply a market need?.

“I am not unmindful of concerns about loss of market or customers by DISCos but this must be balanced against our national interest.

“My belief is that as their businesses become steady and improve, they will be in a position to use their economies of large volumes of power to buy out or outprice these small entrepreneurs.

“For now, our developmental needs cannot wait for businessmen who are not yet ready to serve.

“National interest, public good, the need to support small businesses, provide access to power for ordinary people and increase productivity inform the policy statements that I have made, and I expect NERC to act with dispatch.’’

(NAN)

Today's Headlines

*AgegePulse * .. The mouthpiece of Agege/Orile Agege
Headlines Today* [Mon-20-Nov-2017]*

Lagos to get 24/7 power supply in 2018 Ambode

Lagos Speaker, Obasa, Other Dignitaries Felicitate with Alake of Egbaland on his 12th Coronation Anniversary.

Lagos APC leaders urge members to embrace unity

Residents of Orile want Hon. JS Babatunde to fix Amoo Road

Orile-Agege LCDA gets infrastructural boost

Fire guts Ayobo Garage, Agege.. As Egunjobi visits scene to console victims

Agege Hip Hop Stars, Small Doctor, Junior Boy, MC SureBoy, others show love to fans

RenewElephant Cup: Sarafina FC first to qualify for Q/Final

LASG seeks cooperation, promises to compensate property owners


*Punch Newspaper*

PDP chair: Fayose seeks shadow election for S'West aspirants


Lamidos group dismisses Buharis govt as disaster

Prof. Olunloyo dies at 74

FG has abandoned Bayelsa, says Dickson

PDP, Buhari congratulate Jonathan at 60

Defiant Mugabe says hell preside over party congress in Dec

Obaze rejects Obianos victory in Anambra governorship poll

BVN: Banks frustrating anti-corruption war, FG, AGF tell court


LASG seeks cooperation, promises to compensate property owners

FG hails global endorsement of Nigerias anti-terrorism fight

Lions Club, friends raise funds for Olusola Dada Dialysis Centre

Ogun monarch laments attacks by herdsmen

French police officer kills three before committing suicide

Wasteful oil search in the North


Southern senators to hold confab on restructuring

Anambra defeat: Makarfi brought ill-luck to PDP, says Kashamu


*Vanguard Newspaper*
Buhari, APC felicitate with Jonathan at 60

PDP chairmanship: Fayose calls for shadow election among S-West aspirants

Human trafficking, Illegal migration, threat to national security ' Saraki

Anambra election: Obaze rejects results as INEC declares Obiano winner

SSANU raps FG's stance on workers'welfare

Delta LG polls: PDP flags off campaign

How we uncovered 40 illegal refineries in Edo, by CP Kokumo

IVF, solution to infertility problems 'Oyetunji

CDS warns new naval ratings against support for secession

Why Africa must copy China's industrialisation drive by IGU

NGO hails Anambrarians, police, others on violence free poll

Save Imo courts from total collapse ' Chief Judge

Nigeria exports $9.7m, earns N69bn from solid minerals ' NEITI

Apapa gridlock worsens, Ambode's taskforce yet to take off

AWARD: Ambode accepts Transparency Nigeria's nomination

The only way N-Delta can enjoy its oil wealth is to join APC ' Ojougboh

Why I didn't implement 2014 Confab report ' Jonathan

2018: Joining APC is like leaving Jesus Christ for satan ' Fayose


*The Nation Newspaper*
BVN: Govt accuses CBN, banks of shielding rogues

Mugabe adamant

Wife stabs son of ex-PDP chair Bello to death over text messages

Obiano re-elected Anambra governor

Fayose: aspirants for chairman must unite

Aisha Buhari honoured in Morocco

Woman in court for alleged stealing fraud

Boy jailed for defiling minor

My husband tied me to tree

Agent in trouble

ASUP strike shutdown Delta polytechnics

CFAO inaugurates assembly plant

Equities lose N144b as investors await CBN decisions

Unsafe executive acts on the roads

Govt needs to address harmful regulations to enhance growth

Tranex N238.6m rights issue records 90.5% subscription

Kia begins healthcare centre's renovation

NNPC: crude-for-product arrangement on course


*Thisday Newspaper*
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Breaking: Fire guts Ayobo Garage, Agege

... As Egunjobi visits scene to console victims

Information reaching Agege Pulse says about seven shops situated inside Ayobo Garage, Agege have been consumed by fire.

It took the combined efforts of some Good Samarithans and officers of the Lagos State Fire Service to arrest the inferno from spreading beyond the seven shops.

Agege LGA Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi who was alerted about the inferno by Ward C, Agege Councillor, Mr Hassan Ala rushed to the scene. He was accompanied by Hon Bisi Adedoku, and the Special Adviser on Special Duties to Executive Chairman, Alhaja Ramot Sanni.

On arrival, we learnt that Egunjobi preached peace and acceptance of fate to shop owners who have been consumed by grieve of the ugly incident.

In addition, Egunjobi and his team used the medium to address the issue of theft that was obvious as some hoodlums try to take advantage of the fire incident to steal some goods of the victims.

It was learnt that the source of the sudden fire outbreak was unknown. Some of the affected traders who spoke to Agege Pulse said the incident was like magic adding that there's been no electricity supply to the complex for about six (6) months.

Other traders claimed to have lost millions of Naira to the fire. One of them who is a distributor of all kinds of soaps said she'd just received new stocks which amount to several millions of Naira.