Today being 22nd October 2024 marks the making of history in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in Enugu State as it marks the end of the transition period for the transfer of regulatory oversight from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC).
This historical event is a strong affirmation of the States’ constitutional right to develop the electricity sector in their States, across the value chain of generation, transmission, distribution, or retailing services, including Mini-Grid and Off-Grid electrification solutions.
As the foremost State to initiate and drive this process under the leadership of Dr. Peter N. Mbah, Enugu State has again emerged the first State to commence the development of a sub-national electricity market in Africa as EERC not only assumes regulatory oversight but will also issue licenses.
A distribution license will be issued to the Distribution Company known as Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited, incorporated to take over EEDC’s operations in the State.
The handover ceremony holds Tuesday October 22, 2024 at EERC Headquarters, No. 2 Forrest Close, off Forrest Crescent, GRA, Enugu, at 10 am.
Gov Peter Mbah has become the first Governor in Nigeria to achieve this fit within 18 months of his administration. Gov Mbah has shown class and visionary Leadership in piloting the affairs of Enugu State. While other Governors are busy playing politics with most important enabler towards achieving industrialization,Gov Mbah from day 1 since he resumes duty as the Governor of Enugu ,has remained focused on Good Governance.
GGM and BVI Channel 1 congratulate Enugu people on this unprecedented achievement and hope that Gov Mbah will prioritize the welfare of the people . We hope that Enugu will set a high target of steady ,reliable and affordable electricity within a shortest time .
Barr. Dr. Emeka Emekesiri, founder and vision bearer of the original IPOB before it was hijacked, has responded to General Gowon who said during his 90-year birth day celebration as follows:
“I have always said that if there’s no secession, there wouldn’t be a breakout and there wouldn’t be a question of civil war because it got to the stage that the situation was getting pretty clear that a part of the country, the South-east wanted to secede”.
I read General Gowon’s speech where he decided to hide the truth about the real cause of the war between Nigeria and Biafra. He is labouring in vain to wash and launder his image dainted by the atrocities he and his Nigerian soldiers committed against the Biafrans. He has told us that he was sick after the meeting at Aburi in Ghana and could not make announcement of the Agreement reached between Nigeria and Biafra about confederation or regional autonomy so that every region would govern itself and develop at its own pace.
Gowon said he did not prepare very well for the meeting and did not go with his secretary. He came back from Ghana and became sick because Odumegwu Ojukwu went to the meeting fully prepared and presented a superior argument on Regional Government. It is General Gowon’s failure to implement this agreement for confederation that caused the war.
General Gowon, with due respect, I want to address you as an Elder. You are 90 and do not know when you will depart from this world to face your maker. We expect you to say the truth.
Confederation is not secession. The East accepted the Confederation Agreement but you turned around and violated the Agreement.
Confederation is not secession but a union of self-governing regions just like we have in the UK with four nations in one country.
If Britain could become a Great Britain with four nations called Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, Nigeria can also become a Great Nigeria with six nations created from the existing six geopolitical Regions. This is what the Nigerians want now.
This is why MOBIN submitted the Memorandum to the National Assembly to restructure Nigeria into 6 Regional Governments so that every region will govern itself and develop at its own pace. You confirmed what Ken Saro Wiwa said in his book that he and Chief Biriye and other Chiefs visited you and said they would not go with the Igbo people in the same Region. Therefore, you created Rivers State and Cross River State for them to stop Biafra.
We applaud your master stroke to divide the Eastern Region with political weapon of state creation. Well, now Rivers State and Cross River State are in a different region called South South Region which goes by the name of Niger Delta Region.
They are also suffering injustice, maltreatment, and marginalization just like the South East. They want to be free in their own land to control their resources.
For peace to reign in Nigeria, the country must be restructured to Regional Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made clarifications on the invasion of an Enugu based radio station, Urban Radio 94.5FM on Monday by the operatives of the ant-graft agency.
There were media reports that some operatives of the EFCC invaded a live programme on the station and disrupted activities in the station on Monday.
However, clearing the air on the situation, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale in a statement on Tuesday evening stated that some officers of the commission had gone to the radio station with a warrant to invite one Favour Ekoh, the host of a prime time show on the radio station for an alleged Ponzi scheme that scammed some persons to the tune of N700million, but were prevented from carrying out their lawful duty.
The EFCC alleged that their officers despite showing a warrant of arrest were prevented from arresting the suspect and were locked inside the radio station by the management.
The EFCC statement reads:
On Monday, October 14, 2024, a team of operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, comprising four officers were at Urban Radio 94.5FM, Enugu to invite one Favour Ekoh, host of Prime Time, a programme running at the Station.
Ekoh is being investigated by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in an alleged N700 million Ponzi scheme fraud involving about Fifty (50) victims. According to the victims, Ekoh allegedly lured them into investing in a scheme “Life Trading” in a company, Leverage Index Limited, where they were offered returns on investment of 10 percent of their capital after a period of time.
The victims alleged that after investing their money into the company located at No. 1 Colliery Street, Okpara Avenue, Enugu State, the company closed its office with no return on investment or principal returned to the victims. Ekoh allegedly invited the victims into the business and she remained the only link the victims could hold.
At the Radio Station, operatives of the Commission, holding a warrant of arrest for Ekoh, identified themselves as officers of the EFCC. They informed the Managing Director of the Station, Bamikole Owoyomi, about their mission. However, in a rather strange twist, a staff of the Station called the Chairman of the Radio Station who ordered that the gate of the building be locked in and out, thereby holding the officers hostage. Faced with such hostility, they called for a rescue team which eventually arrested Omoyomi, Ekoh and the two security guards who locked them within the premises of the Station.
Ekoh had to be trailed to the Station for arrest because the nature of the fraudulent dealings necessitated a sting operation that would foreclose her escape or go underground. She was neither arrested while on air nor any disruption of the lawful activities of the Radio Station took place. No equipment of the Station was tampered with and she has since been released after being allowed to make a Statement at the Enugu office. Owoyomi and the two security guards were arrested for obstruction of justice as they initially prevented the operatives from carrying out their official duties. They also made statements to that effect and have since been released.
The EFCC holds the media in high esteem both as the fourth estate of the realm and a critical stakeholder in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, but the precipitate and unlawful obstruction of officers of the Commission from carrying out their duties, by staff of the Radio Station, is unacceptable. Besides, the professional credentials of Ekoh, a principal suspect in a Ponzi scheme to the tune of N700m affecting 50 innocent Nigerians, are questionable. The Commission hereby calls on the International Press Institute, IPI, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, to investigate the conduct of the Station in the light of integrity and ethical professional practice.
According to FMDQ data, the Naira resumed on a good note on Monday, gaining significantly against the Dollar in the foreign exchange market.
The Nigerian currency appreciated to N1552.92 per Dollar on Monday from N1641.27 exchanged last Friday, representing an N88.35 appreciation against the Dollar on Monday compared to the N1641.27 exchange rate on Friday.
The last time the Naira gained this much against the Dollar was on September 26, when it gained N91.32.
The Nigerian currency remained steady at the parallel market and exchanged at N1700 per Dollar, the same rate as last Friday.
In the FX market, the Naira has been fluctuating for several months despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions.
The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) introduced the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) in October 2024 for foreign exchange transactions in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).
The South-East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) says it will protest against Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)’s plan to move its customers in South-East to band A on Nov. 1.
The proposed protest was announced in a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman of SEECA, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, and its National Secretary, Mr Ogubuike Ibeagi, on Monday in Enugu.
The duo said the decision to protest was taken during an extraordinary meeting of the Consultative Assembly of SEECA on Sunday.
Recall that the Acting Managing Director of EEDC, Dr Ernest Mupwaya, had on Oct. 9, while declaring open the company’s Customer Service Week, said the company would systematically transition customers from lower tariff bands to Band A.
He said the move would enable the electricity users to enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of electricity supply daily.
However, the SEECA officials said that EEDC had not complied with the order of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to refund South-East electricity consumers the N11.86 billion owed them for overbilling between Jan. and Sept. 2023.
They said the protest would not be physical to NERC, EEDC and Aba Geometric Power Limited, offices but through the use of their network to inform and mobilise all the traditional rulers and Presidents-General of communities to seize from payments for electricity and stay in darkness.
According to them, EEDC has not owned up to repairing and providing transformers, wires and cables, poles, prepaid meters and other equipment used in the chain of their electricity distribution.
“Our resolution this day is that from Nov. 1, there will be an indefinite strike by all electricity consumers in the Southeast for ‘banding’ of electricity consumers in the South-East.
“The strike includes no prepaid metre to all estimated billed consumers, bulk and Community billing, and no payment; we demand for a uniform tariff to all electricity consumers in the south-east.’’
They further called on EEDC and Aba Geometric Power Limited to as a matter of urgency, take stock and begin an assemblage, repair and replacement of all bad transformers and begin to provide wires, cables and poles as required by NERC regulations.
“We are calling on them to refund all over-billed consumers to the tune of N11.86 billion as investigated and ordered by NERC.
“As soon as our indefinite strike starts, we encourage the NERC and Federal Government to advise the EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric to seize from their supply of electricity to all consumers of electricity in the South-East until the above-required rules of engagements are met,” they said
As of October 7, 2024, the exchange ratefor the US dollar (USD) to Nigerian Naira (NGN) in the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black market, has reached N1,680 for 1 USD.
This exchange rate is typically obtained from the most recent data provided by Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, who play a key role in the informal foreign exchange market.
The rates in the black market often differ significantly from the official rates set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) due to the varying dynamics of supply and demand within the informal market.
On the same day, October 7, 2024, the black market buying rate for the US dollar stood at N1,675, while the selling rate was recorded at N1,680.
These rates are subject to frequent changes throughout the day, influenced by a range of factors including prevailing economic conditions, market speculation, and government policies.
The fluctuations in the dollar-to-naira exchange rate within the black market are indicative of ongoing economic challenges and a persistent shortage of foreign exchange in Nigeria.
In contrast to the black market rates, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) maintains an official exchange rate, which as ,of today, is set at N1,657 per USD.
The significant disparity between the official CBN rate and the rates in the parallel market underscores the intense pressure being exerted on the naira.
This gap between the two rates also reflects broader challenges in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market, where demand often outstrips supply, leading to volatility.
The black market, though unofficial, serves as a barometer for the real-world value of the naira, especially in times of economic uncertainty.
The ongoing fluctuations in exchange rates are a symptom of deeper economic issues, including limited access to foreign currency, which has been exacerbated by various domestic and international factors.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in stabilizing the naira amidst a turbulent forex market, where the official and parallel market rates continue to diverge.
In a resounding victory, the Action Peoples Party (APP) has emerged as the dominant force in the just-concluded local government elections in Rivers State. The party claimed victory in 22 out of the 23 local government chairmanship seats across the state.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) made the official announcement following the completion of vote collation in 22 local government areas. RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), declared the results at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The election was held across 6866 units in the state, with 18 political parties participating. The RSIEC chairman praised the conduct of the election, describing it as smooth, credible, and transparent. Despite concerns over possible disruptions, Enebeli noted that the election process was largely peaceful, with voters and political parties demonstrating a strong commitment to the democratic process.
Justice Enebeli commended the people of Rivers State for their peaceful participation, which ensured a largely violence-free election across most local government areas. He assured the public that the results for Etche Local Government Area, along with the 319 councillorship positions, would be announced upon the conclusion of collation in those areas.
The APP’s dominance in the election is seen as a significant political shift in Rivers State’s local governance, as it claimed victories in the majority of the local councils. The chairmanship winners from the 22 local government areas are as follows:
Vincent Reuben Obu – Abua/Odual
Chibudom Ezu – Ahoada-East
Iyekor Ikporo – Ahoada-West
Mrs. Tonye Oniyide – Akuku-Toru
Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile – Andoni
Dr. Sule Amachree – Asari-Toru
Dame Anengi Barasua – Bonny
Dr. Harry Agiriye – Degema
Chief Brian Gokpa – Eleme
David Omereji – Emohua
Monday Dumiye – Gokana
Israel Abosi – Ikwerre
Martins Nwigbo – Khana
Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo – Obio/Akpor
Prince Isaac Umejuru – Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni
Ishmael Oforibika – Ogu/Bolo
Dr. Igwe Achese – Okrika
Promise Reginald – Omuma
Enyiada Cookey-Gam – Opobo/Nkoro
Gift Okere – Oyigbo
Ezebunwo Ichemati – Port Harcourt
Matthew Nenubari Dike – Tai
The only local government area left for announcement is Etche, which is expected to be declared after the collation process is completed.
Justice Enebeli expressed satisfaction with the overall success of the election, emphasizing that despite challenges, the elections were conducted in a safe and orderly manner. He assured that RSIEC would continue working diligently to conclude the remaining results and provide a final comprehensive report on the elections.
The Enugu State Government has demolished yet another property linked to kidnapping activities in the state, warning landlords that it would not entertain any excuses in enforcing relevant laws of the state mandating the government to bring down any property linked to such evil acts.
Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State provides, “If the building or structure owned by the offender or any other person, who knows or ought to reasonably know that the building or structure is so being used for that purpose, the building or structure shall be demolished or forfeited to the State Government.”
Speaking to newsmen at the site, the Executive Chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Hon. Uche Anya, explained that the mansion located at Amaebo Owelli Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA of the state, was said to be used for keeping victims of kidnapping.
According to him, the video of a male kidnapping victim, who had several AK-47 riffles pointed at his head in May 2024, was recorded in the same building, but security agencies were able to track the building, rescuing the victim, while also apprehending most of the criminals and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.
“What you see here today is the continuation of the war of the Enugu State Government against all manner of criminality. Today, we are here to take down a kidnappers’ den. The property you see us taking down right now is a place where horrendous criminal activities happened.
“For instance, on 25th of May 2024, some deadly kidnappers abducted a man in Enugu, brought him here, stripped bare, even naked to his red boxers, bound him, pointed guns at him, and forced him to start talking to his family to request for money. They posted that video to his relatives.
“They held him down, but to the glory of God and the commitment of Governor Mbah, who is giving his all to security, the government and security agencies, through our state-of-the-art security system, were able to see what was happening in this rural community.
“Security agencies moved to the place. Every other person was arrested, but the kingpin escaped to Ebonyi. We tracked him to Ebonyi, and he escaped to Lagos where the Enugu State Government and the security agencies caught up with him.
Several AK-47 rifles, semi-automatic weapons and all manners of ammunition; dozens of proscribed and offensive weapons were recovered.
“Interestingly, the kingpin of the gang that did this nonsense was a member of the same gang we went after somewhere at Ogbeke Nike.
“To those who say why not convert these properties to good use, we want these to serve as a deterrent in accordance with the law. The Enugu State Government does not want anything that will remind us of the deadly criminality. We just want to put it out of our minds. We do not need to acquire a criminal’s property to use it to serve the public. We bring it down and we do our own thing. We do not want to profit from their criminality,” he stated.
Calling for vigilance on the part of property owners, he said, “So, this is a warning to every landlord. The Enugu State Government will never accept it as an excuse. I am in Australia. I am in America. My brother-in-law took people to my property. Every landlord, once you put up a house in Enugu, we hold you responsible for any criminality that happens in your property; and once it becomes a violent crime, kidnapping, killing, armed robbery, we will take down the property in line with the law that was made by our predecessors. We will enforce it to the letter.
“As I speak to you, the government has taken over this property. That is why we are tearing it down. The title deed is revoked. The government of Enugu State will probably put up a clinic or something that will be more beneficial to the people of Owelli Court.”
The Mbah Administration has been carrying out a demolition campaign on properties linked to kidnapping and violent crimes to serve as a deterrent, insisting that no criminal would be allowed to enjoy the proceeds of crimes in the state.
Recall that the state government had also in August demolished properties linked to kidnapping at Ogbeke Nike and Nkwubor Nike both in Enugu East LGA, recovering cache of arms and ammunition.
Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara has insisted that his state’s local government election scheduled for Saturday must go on, adding that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun will have to order his men to shoot him to stop the poll.
He made this known on Friday while addressing a gathering in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
According to the governor, the IGP has no legal backing to prevent him from accessing the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Speaking to the congregation, Fubara said, “When it comes to the issue of Rivers State it becomes different, you are not ashamed to call yourself Inspector General of Police. Enough is enough, I will be here and if I go back and if I hear anybody complain, I will come here because this is my property.
“You don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering.
“Try it and part of your history as a wicked IGP would include killing Fubara. I think that I have given you enough respect and to all Rivers indigenes, elections must hold; anything that wants to happen should happen.
Prior to this development, the Rivers State Police Command had vowed not to allow the Local Government Election to go on.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko titled ‘Proposed October 5th, 2024 Local Government Chairman Election’, the Command confirmed being in receipt of a restraining order preventing the police from providing security during the LGA elections.
The Command also said it is aware of the 30th September 2024 judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court which barred the Police Force from participating in the election.
Iringe-Koko added that the Force Legal Department has advised that the court ruling takes precedence.
BVI Channel 1 online can authoritatively confirm that a detailed memo for changing the current Nigeria political structure to autonomous Regional administration was actually submitted to National Assembly by Barr Emeka Emekesiri ,the Chairman of MOBIN Initiative.
In a statement made available to our Reporter , Barr Emeka confirmed that National Assembly acknowledged the receipt of the memo on Regional Government in writing.
The statement reads in full ”We would like to use this medium to address the issue of Regional Government as submitted to the National Assembly by MOBIN. I confirm that MOBIN presented a detailed Memorandum to the National Assembly to restructure Nigeria into 6 Regional Governments just like the Great Britain which has 4 Regions so that every region will govern itself and develop at its own pace. We have the soft copy of the Memorandum submitted to the National Assembly. The National Assembly acknowledged the Receipt of the Memorandum from MOBIN and appreciated the efforts of MOBIN in profferng solution to the national problem.
We have heard a rumour that Senator Bamidele and a few others are opposing our proposal for Regional Government for the fear that it would amount to giving the Easterners the Biafra they are asking for. We have not confirmed this rumour. However, if it is true, it means that in effect, he does not want the Yoruba and other ethnic nationalities to be free and govern themselves on their own land just because such political arrangement will help the Igbo to govern themselves by whatever name they call themselves.
Therefore, if the rumour is true, in the mind of Senator Bamidele, instead of allowing the Igbo people to be free, let all ethnic nationalities including the Yoruba remain trapped in one Nigeria controlled by the Fulanis.
It’s unfortunate that Senator Bamidele and others who have the same mindset could be so hateful to the Igbo people. Keeping Nigeria as it is presently structured does not help anyone. The Yoruba are not better off. The average northerner is not better off. Those benefitting from the present structure are the criminal politicians holding Nigeria in captivity.
Senator Bamidele and others who hate the Igbo are too late. The Igbo Intelligentsia finished the work in 1995 when we created the 6 geopolitical Regions to give every region its own separate identity. They were short-sighted and did not know where we were going. Whether they like it or not, all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria shall be free. It’s just a matter of time” the statement concluded .
