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Electricity Consumers Express Divergent Views On New Tariff

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Some stakeholders have ex
pressed divergent views on plans by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to review electricity tariff from Feb.1.
While some told newwsmen in Lagos that the new tariff regime was good, others said it should be suspended until all consumers were metered.
It was gathered that NERC, on Jan. 6, said the takeoff date of the new electricity tariff regime (MYTO 2015) still remained Feb. 1.
According to reports, NERC, had on Dec.20, 2015, increased the cost of power consumption by an average of N9 per unit for all classes of consumers.
It also abolished the contentious fixed charge for all electricity consumers.
The Chairman, Citizens Access to Electricity Initiatives (CATEIN),  Mr Abdul-Salam Fashola, urged NERC to stop any increment and have audience with the stakeholders in power sector.
Fashola said that consumers on estimated billings, who were paying outrageous amounts as bills, would now be expected to pay more.
He advised that prepaid meters should be given to all consumers and that power supply should be regular before the commencement of new tariff regime.
The Chairman, Lekki Jakande Roundabout Estates Association,  Mr Patrick Samuel, commended the stoppage of fixed charge, saying that it was a good decision.
“The Discos have been using fixed charge to extort consumers on the pretence that meters are not available or they fix high rates for meters which consumers can’t afford.
“Yet consumers don’t ever get the power even with the fixed charges.
“It was expected that on the purchase of the Discos by private investors, knowing that over 65 per cent of consumers do not pay bills, the Discos should have done mass importation of affordable meters and install all their consumers.
“Rather than investing in what they bought and building on them, they are more into collecting loans for other purposes without investing into improved services,” he said.
Samuel said he was against any increment, urging the new investors to put their places in order and give quality services before the government would give them right to increase tariff.
“That will just be a rip off; it’s too early for that.
“ Let them give good services to justify any increase in tariff because I can assure you that if they increase the tariffs now, half of what they rake in will not go into power,” he said.
The Managing Director, Energy Solutions Ltd., Mr Yomi Kolawole, said that the proposed increment would enable the Discos to replace their old equipment.
He advised consumers to cooperate with the current administration by allowing the new tariff to commence.
Kolawole, however, commended NERC for the removal of the fixed charge since the monthly charges could not be justified.
The Chairman, Iponri Housing Estate Housing Residents’ Association, said that the proposed increment was good if power supply would be available.
“If we should consider the amount of money spent to fuel our generator on daily basis, we will see that it is better to pay more on regular electricity supply than to pay what we are paying and no light.
‘We should give the current government the benefit of the doubt by allowing the new tariff regime to commence.
“I am aware of many good jobs done by the new minister of power, land and housing when he was governor of Lagos State and I believe that he is in power sector to transform the sector,” he said.
He also commended NERC for removing fixed charge from the monthly billing, adding that the Discos were using the rate to exploit their consumers.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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