Tag Archives: Distribution

Electricity Distribution Companies Lament Energy Theft

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Electricity distribution companies in the country have raised alarm over what it described as rampant energy theft among consumers, especially in rural communities.

The DISCOS also denied extortion in the electricity billing system, noting that consumers were billed based on what was read on the grid.

Representative of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) , Adeniyi David while speaking at the lunch of a new crime reporting and security-management system targeted at tracking and reporting criminal activities, noted that bypass of meters was still at an alarming rate in Nigeria.

“Billing is not based on what consumers are consuming. If you see anybody stealing power, know that he is the one causing the problem; energy theft is the problem. Bypassing of meter is still a problem in the country. If people are reporting the theft and vandalism, then the problem will be low,” he said.

Also, the CEO of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ernest? Mpwaya, noted that the firm had to leverage on technology in order to deliver better services.

He assured that the company would integrate its in-house measure of responding to vandalism of its facilities with the new application, said survival and sustenance of the business was key.

Mpwaya said that the new initiative would provide the firm with additional capacity and visibility to be able to interact with the customers.

The initiative, which involves sending security reports and complaints through Hawk Eye Application, was also intended to reduce the high-level of vandalism of power as well as oil and gas facilities which had negatively impacted the power sector.

Speaking at the launch weekend in Abuja, the chief executive officer of Hawk Eye, Kayode Aladesuyi, disclosed that the free application could equally be used to report security threats and potential dangers in any part of the country.

He said that the firm which developed the application was undertaking the pilot phase of the roll-out with electricity distribution companies to curtail damages done to their facilities and help them improve on their service delivery.

He expressed sadness at the situation where about 150 persons were said to have been electrocuted in 2015, and said that residents can use the opportunity of the application to inform their neighbours of areas that posed risk for them.

According to him, the action of people stealing power can, as well, be reported through the new application.

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Kaduna Electric begins distribution of 50,000 pre-paid meters

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The Kaduna Electric on Monday commenced the distribution of prepaid meters to its customers in Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara State.

The free meters were part of efforts by the company to ensure optimal service delivery.

The Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola, and Governor. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State flagged off the distribution in Sokoto.

In his remarks, Fashola said that the new billing system would curb losses to the power firms, due to inability to collect due rates.

The minister also said the metering system would eradicate the problem of paying for unmeasured electricity by customers.

Fashola said: “They will therefore ensure fair billing system as well as enhance regular power supply.”

In his remarks, Tambuwal said the pre-paid meters would curb the menace of the controversial estimated billing of customers.

The governor added that the system would reduce the cost of using power by residents.

Tambuwal said: “The system will empower the customers to control their usage of power,” he said, adding that it would enhance efficiency in power supply.

“We have also purchased 172 transformers at over N600 million to boost power supply across the state.

“The state government’s Independent Power Project will also soon come on stream, in partnership with KAEDCO.”

According to Tambuwal, the government has undertaken various measures to augment power supply to the state.

He disclosed that the government had collaborated with the Nigeria Energy Support Programme to tap the abundant renewable energy sources in the state.

The governor said the focus would be on wind and solar energy, as well as electricity generation from Goronyo dam.

Earlier, the company’s Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, commended the minister for the “optimal” reforms going on in the power sector.

Abubakar also hailed Tambuwal for his “uncommon commitment” to the issue of power in the country.

One thousand motorcycles purchased for the firm’s sales representatives and metering officials in the four states were also inaugurated at the event.

Buhari Bans Distribution Of Souvenirs At Govt. Events

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The Federal Government has banned the procurement and distribution of bags, T-shirts and other souvenirs at events such as Conferences and Seminars funded by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

In a statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Salisu Dambatta, said President Buhari had approved the ban following recommendations by the Efficiency Unit.

It said the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, forwarded the directive to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministers of Finance and Budget and National Planning, for implementation.

According to the statement, the ban was in continuation of the on-going cost-cutting and efficiency drive in the utilisation of public funds by the present administration.

President Buhari had set up the Efficiency Unit to review all federal government’s overhead expenditure to reduce wastage, promote efficiency and ensure quantifiable savings for the country.

The Minister of Finance, Head of Service of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General of the Federation and Director, Budget Office of the Federation are members of the Unit.

The Unit identified procurement as the area to begin the execution of its mandate of reducing overhead costs and wastage resources.

The Efficiency unit had already recorded success in cutting government overhead cost in areas such as travels, welfare, honorarium, sitting allowance, training, adverts and publicity as well as refreshments.

It had gone a step further to relocate some of federal government’s MDAs into recovered looted properties as ways to reduce overhead cost.

“The directive which is a recognition of the fact that in a period of lean financial resources unnecessary expenditure on overheads such souvenirs are luxuries that the government must eliminate.

“This will enable release of funds for infrastructure and services such as health and education that would have direct positive impact on the well being of the citizenry and promote economic development.

“The directive also contained specific guidelines that would reduce the cost of printing Invitation Cards, Programme of events, Brochures, Folders and Note Pads.

“Among the guidelines are that they should be in black and white and limited to only one page and in the case of Brochures they should be streamlined to contain only essential information,” it said.

Also, the statement said the printing of unnecessary publications and books of short shelf life which have no real value to the concerned public institutions or the citizens has also been banned.

“MDAs were encouraged to save costs by uploading such publications on their websites which has the added benefit of wider visibility,” it said.

Credit: NAN

El-Rufai Stops Free Ramadan Rice, Oil, Sugar Distribution

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Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, has ordered a stop to government’s free distribution of grains during fasting in the month of Ramadan.

The Governor said that his administration would not continue with what he described as the People’s Democratic Party’s culture of sharing state’s resources.

“I have been made to understand that this Ramadan period, we are supposed to have started sharing rice, milk and sugar, but we will not do that,” El-Rufa’i said yesterday at the Government House.

He spoke when the executive members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) visited him.

El-Rufa’i explained that he took the decision to stop the annual tradition of distribution of the products because he does not want government to be involved in religious affairs, more so, according to him, “as the government is broke.

“If his government continues in such direction, the administration will only exist to pay salaries and allowances.

“This beautiful office complex in which we are cost the government about N10 billion.

“The Deputy Governor and I would not have built this when there are many masses-oriented projects yet to be executed, but it has been built, we have to use.’’

“So, we solicit your prayers to be able to stabilise the situation and we hope that things will improve.”

Read More: vanguardngr

NEMA Resumes Distribution Of Relief To Borno IDPs

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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed drugs and other medical requirements to numerous camps housing people displaced by the Boko Harm insurgency in the Borno State.

The camps, 22 in total, are in Maidugiri, the capital city of the terror-riddled state situated in the northeast.

Information officer of the agency in the region, Mallam AbdulKadir Ibrahim, confirmed the distribution of the health material.

He said Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar, was at Yerwa IDPs camp on Thursday to perform the handover ceremony for the drugs to the camp clinic.

Ibrahim said the agency was collaborating with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) had all the basics they required at all times.

“The agency recently conducted a need assessment for the areas liberated by the military with a view of rehabilitating the communities before the return of the displaced persons back to their communities,” added Ibrahim.

The distribution of the material comes a few days after the agency entered into with the Borno State government, on behalf of the Federal Government, to share most of the responsibilities of providing required goods and amenities at the IDPs camps and also be involved in the management of camps.

Borno is the state worst hit by the insurgency the Islamic militant has been waging over the years in the country. More than 13 000 people have been killed and an estimated 2 million displaced.

Credit: CAJ News