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DISCO Installs Pre-paid Meters In S’East

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The Enugu Electricity
Distribution Company (EEDC) had started to roll out tamper-proof pre-paid smart meters to checkmate customers tampering with electric meters in the South-East.
Head Communications of EEDC, Mr Eugene Anionwo, who disclosed this on Sunday in Enugu, said the move was to curb revenue losses in the region.
“We will install new tamper-proof-pre-paid-smart meters on pole tops with a customer interface unit in customers’ premises to check customers tampering with the meters”.
Anionwo said that the new EEDC’s Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) programme would include two types of meters, depending on the customer’s class.
He said that the price for the meters ranges from N39,375 to N68,901.
He also said that customers who wished to advance money to EEDC for their CAPMI meters would receive a discount on their bills.
The discount, he said would be spread for 36 months stressing that the opportunity would enable them recover their money at 12 per cent interest rate per annum.
“EEDC is pleased to announce that, with our new tariff approved by NERC and beginning in February 2016, we have decided to eliminate all fixed charges to our customers.
“The new tariff takes into account the elimination of these fixed charges, as we will now be billed for energy only.
“At the same time, we are introducing our CAPMI programme, which will allow our customers to obtain their meters now and no longer wait for meters to be received.
“This  CAPMI programme gives EEDC’s customers the option of advancing funds to EEDC for the purchase and installation of their meters within 45 days.
“EEDC’s customers that choose not to advance funds for their meters under CAPMI will be metered during our larger comprehensive metering programme. “Any funds received will be reimbursed with interest as credits against energy bills,” he said.
Anionwo advised EEDC’s customers that wished to participate in CAPMI to visit its district offices to complete form 74 and obtain further details.
He said that after completing the form, EEDC would survey the customer’s prmises to confirm the type of meter such customer would need to pay for.
“EEDC is dedicated to improving the supply of electricity to its esteemed customers, ending estimated bills, and addressing all service problems,” he said.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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