ELECTRIC METERS TO SELL FOR #60,000(punch newspaper)

Electricity meters now sell for N60,000

The cost of acquiring pre-paid electricity meters by consumers in the country has risen due to the fall in the value of the naira following the currency’s recent devaluation by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

A single-phase meter, according to findings by our correspondent, can now be obtained for N39,375, while the three-phase meter now goes for N60,909.

Before now, the single-phase and three-phase meters were selling for N25,000 and N50,000.

However, with the latest development, the cost of the single-phase meter has risen by 56 per cent, while that of the three-phase meter has jumped by 20 per cent.

This means that household electricity consumers, who are majorly the users of single-phase meters, will pay more for the devices in relative terms compared to the users of the three-phase meters.

Our correspondent gathered that the price increase was because most of the meters in the Nigerian electricity market were imported and that the rising exchange rate of the naira to the United States dollar was posing a huge problem to importers of the product.

For companies assembling the different components of the meters locally, the challenge is the same because foreign exchange is needed to import the components.

Confirming the current cost of the meters, the spokesperson for the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, said, “The single-phase smart meter is N39,375, while three-phase meter is N60,901,” adding that the company was no longer installing ordinary prepaid meters.

The spokesperson for the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that the company had not commenced its metering programme yet; but was looking at starting it on or before May.

He said the company was taking its time to ensure that the meters it would introduce to customers met global standard and could stand the test of time.

He, however, urged customers to be patient with the firm.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Powercap Limited, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that because Nigeria was largely a foreign currency regulated economy, the devaluation of the naira would affect imported commodities, electricity meters inclusive.

With the realities on the ground, he said there was no way the pricing of the meters would not be altered.

Ogunleye said, “A lot of inputs have to be imported, and ultimately, those inputs will be passed onto the consumers at the cost plus margins. As a result, the costs of bringing in meters will go up; and there is nothing anybody can do about it.

“It is a priority that must be implemented because the people who are operating in the market will be interested in maximising their revenue. They will not want to encourage any form of income leakages.”

He said by this, whatever pricing the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had fixed would be revisited because it had a little choice as far as granting a review was concerned.

The Powercap boss added, “We have one or two local plants that can produce meters. The high foreign exchange may prompt the government to intervene, and thus make the business more profitable.

“But bear in mind that when it comes to meters like many other electronics, the specification and a couple of other factors between the distribution companies and the meter manufacturers must be adhered in order to drive patronage.”

He said EKEDC was looking at installing prepaid meters that could be monitored from its offices, adding that the move was targeted at ensuring that communication was enhanced between it and the meters, notwithstanding where they were installed.

A text message sent by our correspondent to the Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, to confirm the position of the agency on the matter was not responded to as of the time of going to press, just as a call to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was switched off.

However, the Chief Executive Officer, EKEDC, Mr. Oladele Amoda, during the company’s first quarter meeting with the media on Monday, said it was looking at investing $20m in providing meters to residential users as well as other smaller consumers of electricity.

For its key customer group, he said about $15m would be committed to meter provision, promising that over 300,000 meters would be installed by the end of the metering programme.

DELE MOMODU OPEN LETTER TO DAME PATIENT JONATHAN

Dele Momodu's open letter to Dame P. Goodluck.

Your Excellency please let me start by emphasising the fact that this is my very first letter to you since destiny elevated you and your husband to the highest positions in Nigeria. It may be the last before your tenure expires on May 29, 2015, and another begins with you or someone else in the saddle. Despite all the controversies engulfing you and your husband, I had resisted the temptation of writing you in the past for several, if not many, reasons. Kindly permit me to expatiate a bit.
I’m a great admirer of strong, confident and energetic women who cannot be bullied by the galaxy of male chauvinists that litter the political landscape of Africa. As someone who was brought up by my amazing mum, Omo Arotiwebiojo, an unlettered woman and petty trader, I knew what it took to survive in a particularly difficult terrain. Indeed, whilst some have impugned you for your so-called lack of command of the English language, I have remained partial to you because, like most of us, English is not your first language, and your contributions have enriched our home-grown lexicon! I can therefore imagine what you and our dear beloved President must have gone through together, in thunder, lightning, rain and sunshine. The hurly-burly of life must have thrown you hither and thither when there was no one else around to share in your secret pain and anguish. But it must have pleased God in His infinite mercy to raise you and your husband up, like Jesus did to a dead Lazarus, as original examples of uncommon transformation
I must say, Ma, that I have a soft spot for you for other reasons. I was told on good authority that you were a more formidable politician and mobiliser of people and resources than your husband. A few of your friends often regale how you have been a solid pillar and a rock of Gibraltar behind the love of your life, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. It is said that you’re willing to sacrifice your all for his sake and he has also reciprocated by according you humongous respect and granting you such vast powers that make onlookers see you as a de facto President in your own right. To God be the glory.
I vividly recollect your relationship with the former First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. You gave her tremendous respect and your taciturnity was legendary. Not much was heard from you at that time and not many, except probably Bayelsans, ever suspected that you had so much buried inside your heart and that you were only waiting for the opportune time to vomit them. Even in the days of tribulations when the cabal held sway and grabbed our nation by the jugular, you and your husband handled the volatile situation with maturity and remarkable equanimity. Some of us were ready to fight your battle, and risked our lives, because we saw you as the underdogs who must be rescued from the fangs of the political hyenas. We were further emboldened by the facts of your husband’s man-in-the-street story, a fairy-tale of sorts about a man from the Otuoke manger who had no shoes. We were not just titillated but fascinated by such flashes of inspiration.
Against all odds, your husband became the substantive President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria after the demise of President Yar’Adua. Nigerians were happy about the smooth transition of power and they even boasted that for the first time we had not just another graduate but a PhD holder as President. Sooner than later, as time sped by, it was time for your husband to run his own race. Nigerians from all walks of life queued behind him and he won without much ado. The goodwill he garnered was awesomely massive and the people were very expectant about the “fresh air” promised by him. Of course, to whom much is given, much is expected.
It is nearly four years since that momentous occasion and it is time for a re-examination and re-election. But what should have been a simple walk-over for your sweetheart seems to have developed k-leg. While your husband and those close to him would want us to believe he is Nigeria’s best President ever, many Nigerians feel he has under-performed and would want to try someone else. I have seen you and your husband waka up and down this nation campaigning like no man’s business. Many have likened the exercise to a student engaging in last minute agberu (memorising) after failing to do so all along. This is the crux of my epistle to you today.
I have read and heard so much about you as a very powerful First Lady. I know that when you are at that level, not many people can tell you the gospel truth. No one wants to offend those in power. But I have decided to tell you the bitter reality once and for all. I’m not writing out of any malice, since none can exist between us. But for the sake of posterity, which I know beckons as always; the fact must be told to you. The summary of what I’m about to say is that you and your husband have frittered away most of your goodwill. Had you retained your humility in power, may be you could have avoided this commotion and conundrum of trying to achieve in two months what you couldn’t in about five years. You would probably have avoided the tragedy of trying to manipulate the electoral process, buying more time and doing a catch-up on lost grounds.
If the actuality must be told Ma, the whole trouble started the day you publicly ridiculed the Governor of your home state. It was reported that you yanked a microphone out of his hands and lambasted him like a recalcitrant school boy. In order not to cause mayhem right there, the Governor was said to have left you to your tantrums and went home quietly like a penitent student. That day, you sowed the seed of discord that would later germinate and snowball into a consuming fire. Though the Governor and your husband like true gentlemen chose to carry on their damaged relationship as if all was well, but the worst was on the way.
The battle for the soul and control of your state would later spread to Abuja where your husband began to see the Governor as an enemy who must be cut down to size. In the process of trying to achieve that dream, more Governors joined the fray and in a jiffy, the centre could no longer hold. I do not want to go into some obvious details as I’m sure you know about the intrigues of power more than me. But I must give one more example of how you laid the foundation for today’s grand alliance against your husband.
Let me put it this way. Never in the history of Nigeria have I read of a First Lady responding to criticisms in the frontal manner you attacked Professor Wole Soyinka over an issue that you could easily have ignored. That singular act of unrestrained combativeness was one of your worst public relations gaffes. Wole Soyinka is one of those global icons that you can’t take on and win. If for nothing, here was a man who at about 76 years of age trekked under the scorching sun of Abuja to defend the rights of your husband when many of the acolytes around you today were nowhere to be found. You were not supposed to repay such selfless gestures with verbal blows. That was when you finally lost me and I’m sure many others.
Let me remind you that virtually all Nigerian leaders have been disparaged at one time or the other. It is one of the heavy prices to pay in compensation for the privileges of leadership. Just imagine how much some of us attacked President Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Sani Abacha and others over the June 12 crisis. None of their wives ever hit back at the critics no matter the degree of provocation. In fact, they acted perfectly normal and even tried to build bridges of friendship instead of bombing the castle. I remember with fond memories, Dr (Mrs) Maryam Ndidi Babangida, who remained graceful to the very end. Mrs Maryam Abacha endured the most blistering attacks against her husband in life and death. She has since reconciled with many of her husband’s vociferous enemies. Hajia Turai Yar’Adua was subjected to virulent criticism by many, and I confess I was one of her knockers in the dying throes of the cabal, but she wisely kept her own counsel and declined to join issues with anyone. When it dawn on her that the battle was lost and won, she packed her baggage out of Aso Rock without as much as a whimper
If Justice Fati Abubakar was a selfish woman and a poor adviser to her husband, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, she would have insisted that they should not quit power within the one year he promised to hand over to a democratically-elected President. That government had more than enough resources to buy the ubiquitous array of mercenaries but General Abubakar chose to go in peace and not in pieces. It was such a rarity in Africa and till this day the General is still enjoying a standing ovation for his vision.
I must also mention specifically Mrs Stella Obasanjo, whose husband has always had a running battle with the media and yet she maintained steady media frenzy in her own kingdom. She was everyone’s friend and continues to be fondly remembered even in death. I recollect one occasion when we travelled to Beverley Hills, USA, with her, and her simplicity just wowed everyone. She made sure we jumped in the cars and buses and headed out to a night club owned by Don Cornelius. She was so down to earth. On her last trip to Ghana before her unfortunate death, I had gone to pay her a visit at M-Plaza hotel where she and President Obasanjo stayed. Despite my frosty relationship with her husband, we sat in one corner chatting away as the President attended to his own visitors. She never got involved in our endless battles with Baba. I have cited these examples to show that you and your husband are not alone in the barrage of criticisms and attacks. You must rise up way above such pedestal. But sadly, you have not been able to allow any comment pass you by, no matter how mundane.
I decided to write this open letter after the spate of vocal terror you deployed in the last few days against your husband’s opponents. In case some praise-singers told you lies that what you did was right, I wish to assure you that you’ve done almost irreparable damage to your husband’s presidential campaign. I will now proceed to paraphrase about three of those satanic verses that escaped from your tongue this week alone, but not in any particular order.
The first shocker was when you said before a crowd that those shouting the mantra of Change are not serious and that as a matter of fact they should be stoned anywhere they shout Change! I thought it was a joke until the video went viral. The next one was when you spoke dispassionately about how your husband should be praised and thanked for improving the welfare of the menacing Almajiri kids in Northern Nigeria but you then went astray by insensitively and inconsiderately saying that the Northerners are fond of bearing children with reckless abandon and throwing them on the streets to fend for themselves. You went further to say such things don’t happen in the part of Nigeria you come from. I think that wasn’t very nice or tactful.
The last straw for me was when you declared matter-of-factly that your husband’s main challenger, Major General Muhammadu Buhari should not be voted in because he is “brain dead”, according to you. That was extremely malevolent and sinister, to say the least. It is not an elegant language to be used by any lady not to mention the First Lady and certainly not about a former Head of State of the same country that you are governing and from whose citizens you are seeking a second term in office. However, I believe that this may have been an innocent quip. Whilst some may be willing to forgive such naivety, it is essential for you to quickly assure Nigerians that you meant no harm and that despite the ill-feeling and bitterness that politics and electioneering may engender you wish no evil to any man least of all your husband’s leading rival and contender. There is nothing wrong in admitting your mistake of commission or omission. It is actually a sign of strength.
In conclusion, I think you need to offer urgent apologies for those unguarded, unbecoming statements and try to be more circumspect in the future. One of your best appellations that I love most sincerely is that of Mama Peace. Please, don’t change it to Mama War …!

May God continue to bless you and yours.

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Fire Destroys Television Station During Network News

It was a tragic situation in Benin City, the Edo state capital on Saturday night, March 7, 2015, as the Benin based Independent Television,ITV) was forced to go off the airwaves after parts of the television and radio station were gutted by fire.

Making the disclosure on Sunday was the Head of News at the station, Mr Abiodun Mudashiru, while speaking with journalists on the unfortunate happening.

According to Mudashiru, the fire incident started a few minutes after 9pm which happened to be the time when the TV station was airing network news.

He added that a combined team of fire fighters from the Edo State Fire Service, the University of Benin Fire Service and the Military Fire Service, prevented the fire from destroying the entire building.

“The incident occurred during the network news. Some people heard a noise that sounded like an explosion and they decided to investigate. In the process of doing that, the roof came down. Before we could do anything, the whole place was in flames,” Mudashiru told newsmen.

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However, some staff of the station who talked to journalists on the matter alleged that the incident was caused by hoodlums.

The Independent Television is owned by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

It was gathered that a delegation of Edo PDP leaders including its state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, former deputy governor of the state, Lucky Imasuen, and coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, were among those who visited the scene of the incident.

PDP Not Well Prepared For The Elections – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party were not ready for the upcoming general elections.

The statement was issued by the Rivers State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, on March 8, 2015 in Port Harcourt, Punch reports.

According to the chairman, the development was making the PDP to continue to set different booby traps to scuttle the elections.

Ikanya assured that the PDP’s rejection of the card reader that was tested successfully by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 8, 2015, was a vivid sign that the ruling party was not ready for the elections.

READ ALSO: INEC Runs Field Tests Of Card Readers In 12 States

Ikanya also accused the PDP of planning to rig the upcoming elections and linked the missing 14,000 Permanent Voter Cards in the state to the desperation of the party.

“The rejection by the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan of the card reader machines which INEC has successfully tested and intends to use for the March 28 and April 11 general elections did not come to us as a surprise because the PDP as a party has not prepared well for the polls.

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“It (the PDP) had hoped to rig its way to victory as usual and has purchased and hoarded the PVCs of many Nigerians but has been frustrated by INEC’s ingenuity in introducing the card reader machines, which has disorganised its rigging plot.

“We can now understand why 14,000 PVCs of the Rivers State electorate have been declared missing by INEC as these are some of the cards stolen by the PDP in its bid to rig the elections,” Ikanya added.

READ ALSO: 2015 Election: Why PDP Is Opposed To Card Readers – APC

State Assistant Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Samuel Nwanosike, expressed his disagreement with the state APC. Reacting to the accusations he insisted that though President Jonathan and the PDP were ready for the election, the issue of using the card readers during the election would disenfranchise many voters.

Meanwile, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has also declaimed against the use of card readers. According to him, INEC plans to use them as a fraud capable of destroying the elections.

Anti-Buhari protesters at Chatham House were paid —Graham(punch newspaper)

Nigerian freelance journalist in the United Kingdom, Mrs. Rose Graham, whose footage of anti-Muhammadu Buhari protesters at Chatham House two weeks ago has now gone viral, tells TOBI AWORINDE that she was not paid by the All Progressives Congress for her support

What happened at Chatham House on March 26, the day of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s talk?

I had never been to Chatham House; that was my first time there. I was given a description and saw a young, dark-skinned man. I just knew he was going there, so I followed him. When I got to Chatham House, right in front of the building, I saw the demonstrators getting ready. I felt General Buhari was not in yet and that it would be embarrassing for him because these people would put their placards in his face. I then told myself that before his arrival, I would quickly find out from the people why they were there and allow them to vent their anger about the military rule in the 1980s.

I wanted to find out if that was the reason why they were doing what they were doing. There is something I have come to notice: A lot of Nigerian youths do not understand and they are not concerned or do not want to know anything about those who rule them. Sadly, most of us are more interested in the latest fashion, cars, hairstyles, music, movies. We often complain: ‘We don’t want this old man. Obama was 22 years old when this guy was president; why does he want to be there again?’ But are we doing what we’re meant to be doing? That was why I walked up to them.

I first chatted with them and made myself familiar, before I went back to speak to them with my phone so I could get their responses on tape.

How many of them did you find protesting?

I am sure they must have been up to 25. After a while, the crowd grew larger. Later, APC supporters, made up of some activists that I know personally—family men and women—also gathered. The APC supporters were quite older than the youngsters who were protesting against the General. The youngsters came with music and they were beating drums.

At a point, they were making a lot more noise than the APC supporters. It was around then that I walked up to them to tell me why they were protesting, if they knew the person they were protesting against, and why they were taking a stand.

What led you to believe it was a rented crowd?

There was a lady there that I interviewed who I had met before. I had been introduced to her sometime in the past by my husband and we hit it off and promised we were going to meet again. But, as it turned out, there hadn’t been time for us to meet because of my baby. That was why I had not had time to see the lady. I know what she does; she is someone who usually organises people.

Based on an interview I had with her and another lady in a separate video from the one that went viral, it was clear that there was a collaboration. When I inquired from the other lady, she confirmed that she provides such services for people who require them and she seemed to be doing very well. I don’t know if the protesters were paid for that particular rally, but that is what I and a number of others have been able to piece together.

I walked up to them expecting them to say ‘No, we were not paid to stand here. We are just doing it out of our love for our country.’ But they did not even know who they were protesting against. As a result, APC supporters came together because they did not want the General to be embarrassed. They got there very early as well, came together, got their placards and they were also singing and chanting solidarity songs.

Social media is awash with allegations that you were paid by the APC to make the now-viral video of anti-Buhari demonstrators who could not defend their acts of protest. Has any party approached you either for support or to threaten you?

Yes, and I will refer you to what I have already made available for public consumption. I have been pushed and asked to work for President Goodluck Jonathan and that I should bring a budget. They said I should not worry; if I wanted to come to Nigeria, they would bring me. They told me that I would stay at so-and-so hotel and do this and that in exchange for compensation. But those were conservations on the phone. The ones that I put out there were sent to my inbox.

When I showed them to my husband and told him I didn’t want to be party to any of this, he told me what to tell them. So, I wrote a reply telling them that this was not what I was cut out for. I engage people; let us talk about how we can turn Nigeria around, because eventually the old politicians will step aside and we must rise to the occasion. Or are we going to let their children take over from where they left off? Are we going to let them claim Nigeria like it is their birth right to rule over us? No. If we are talking about 170 million people and we have well over 60 million youths, what are we doing? Or do we want the intelligent ones among us to be carrying bags for the old politicians and smiling to the bank? No. Instead, we should also step in to see the kinds of contributions we can make.

JEGA MUST GO-OPC

National co-ordinator of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams, has called for the immediate sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega. 

According to Premium Times, Adams a supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed this while speaking at his organisation’s Eledumare Festival in Lagos on Sunday, March 8.

Among the reasons for his call, Adams said Jega has failed to explain how INEC was able to successfully distribute 90 per cent of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in North East despite the insurgency in the region.

READ ALSO: Lagos Will Vote Jonathan – Gani Adams

“I Otunba Gani Adams is using this forum to call for immediate sack, removal or retirement of Professor Attahiru Jega, the chairman of INEC on the basis of PVC distribution, introduction of card reader and creation of 30000 bogus and fraudulent polling units in the northern part of Nigeria against the southern part,” he said.

Adams also voiced his opposition to the use of card readers for the general elections, saying, “We have not heard how card readers contributed or added value to any major election in the world.

“To me, it’s an attempt cleverly being injected by Jega to cause delay, confuse voters and prevent majority of voters in exercising their franchise on that day”. 

The electoral agency had explained that the decision to use card readers was to limit electoral fraud by ensuring that only true owners of legitimate cards could use them to vote. The All Progressives Congress (APC) who supports the use of the readers, has repeatedly alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its supporters, do not want the readers used so as to perpetuate electoral fraud.

Despite INEC announcing it had dropped the plan to create additional polling units after the announcement last year, Adams accused the INEC chairman of proceeding with the plan.

READ ALSO: OPC Coordinator Okays Postponement Of General Elections
 
“In his ingenious but highly fraudulent stride at rigging the election, Professor Jega has gone through the back door at creating an additional 30,000 polling units not known to law and designated as voting centres to deceive people having been heavily criticised by distinguished and eminent Nigerians,” he said.

While calling for Jega’s sack, Adams urged the federal government to begin the search for a new INEC chairman.

“The new chair can come from anywhere. He can come from the north or south. I’m not choosing for the President, but Jega should go” he said.

Last week, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, also a major supporter of the president, supported the sack.

It would be recalled that the head of OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, said that six million members of the group have resolved to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan at the forthcoming presidential polls. 

We Are Marching For Revolution, This Is A Common Sense Revolution - Tinubu

Ahead of the March 28 presidential election, the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the electorate, especially the youths, to resist attempts by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the elections Vanguard reports.

The National leader who spoke at the 9.2 kilometre-man-march, tagged, “One Million-Man March- Walk For Change,” in Lagos State, yesterday said the gale of change blowing across the country would sweep away the vices presently rocking the country.

According to Vanguard Tinubu said the PDP- led government shifted the polls from February to March, thinking the month of March will not come, and urged the people to fight for their freedom with their votes.

READ ALSO: Anti Buhari Protesters Were Hired

“I thank you all for the way you turned out to walk for your freedom and marched for change. You all know that they postponed the election earlier scheduled for February 14th to March. Now we are marching for that change,” he said.

“We are marching for Buhari and Osinbajo and all other APC candidates. We are marching for revolution and this is a common sense revolution.”

In his address, the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said Nigerians were tired of failed promises by PDP and are ready to throw out anyone that is troubling the ship of the nation from sailing smoothly.

The APC governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said at the gathering, “We told Lagosians that we will do a one – million-man-match and we have achieved it. They could shift the day of the election but they cannot shift our destinies.

READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode Says Buhari Really Has A Dead Brain

“The only party that can give you a prosperous future is the APC. They have saying they will do everything to rig the election to retain power but you know that? All powers belong to God. 21 days from now we will embark on prayers and fasting. We will go to the mosque and churches nothing can stop our destinies.”

Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Hon. Olamilekan, APC candidates contesting for Lagos East, Central and West senatorial districts, urged the electorate to ensure the collection of their permanent voters’ Cards, PVCs, and not risk losing their brighter future by selling the PVCs.

Meanwhile PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has strongly criticized the solidarity rally in support of APC National leader, Bola Tinubu.

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