News

BEDC Debunks Rumour, Says No Free Electricity Yet

Published

4 years ago

May 11, 2020

The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) PLC, has debunked the speculation making the round that the proposed 2 months free electricity supply for all Nigerians has taken effect.

The National Assembly, with a view to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in the nation had proposed 2 mouths free electricity for Nigerians.

However, reacting to the insinuation that the proposed 2 months free electricity has become effective, the management of BEDC noted that the proposal is yet to be implemented, and as such customers should continue to pay their bills.

BEDC management, further reacting to the development that some customers in part of its coverage states of Delta, Edo, Ekiti, and Ondo states were engaging the services of electricians to reconnect after being disconnected for non-payment of electricity bills on the excuse that Federal Government has promised free electricity, stated that no decision has been taken by the Federal Government on the proposal.

The managment added that nobody is even sure of the date of implementation, stressing that electricity supply to customers presently is not free.

BEDC pointed out that prepaid customers need to vend energy token to avoid service disruption when they run out of energy units, while postpaid customers need to settle outstanding bills to avoid disconnection.

“This is so because if the free electricity palliative measure is approved, it will not cover the past bills. Customers are therefore advised to manage their energy consumption at this critical period to avoid accumulating huge bills that may be difficult to pay in the event that the measure is eventually not approved,” BEDC said further.

While stating that it completely aligns with the plans to ensure palliative measures including free electricity supply, BEDC management pointed out that it was in view of the need to ease the hardship that it has increased significantly power availability to several customers in some locations across its franchise states, as it has suspended the rotational load management schedule for power supply.

The distribution company assured customers that it shall continue to provide quality service across its touch points and improve availability of electricity supply to alleviate the hardship faced by customers during the coronavirus pandemic period.

BEDC management therefore appealed to customers to continue to pay their bills as the status quo remains pending further directive on the proposed free electricity proposal.

It warned that anybody caught in the act of illegal reconnection will be arrested and prosecuted in line with existing electricity regulations.

News

Edo 2024: EPIA Calls For Establishment Of Ministry Of Edo Indigenous Affairs

Published

47 mins ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

Ahead of the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Edo indigenes under the auspices of Edo Progressive Indigenous Association (EPIA), a.k.a. Edo Indigenous Movement Worldwide, has called on the candidates of various political parties to include in their manifestos the establishment of Edo Indigenous Commission or Ministry of Edo Indigenous Affairs in order to gain Edo indigenes’ support worldwide.

This call was contained in a press release signed by President of EPIA, Dr. Omogiade Enoyiogiere Edokpolo.

According to the release, “this will help to prioritize the interest of Edo indigenes in the areas of employments, contracts, empowerment, and promotion of Edo heritage.

“This will also help in eliminating marginalisation of Edo indigenes in Edo lands by the State government and foreign investors in the State. It will also go a long way in promoting promoting the local content Act of Nigeria.

“So, we are calling on all political candidates of various political parties to take seriously, issues concerning the empowerment of Edo indigenes, thereby prioritizing Edo indigenes in their portfolio through setting up of the above Ministry or Commission.

“This is the only way that Edo indigenes will support them in the forthcoming governorship election, considering the fact that Edo Indigenous people for decades, have suffered so many set back in terms of marginalization of its Indigenes and has also been less prioritised in the areas of contracts, employments, bursary, medical aids, and order benefits entitled to them, just to mention a few, both in government space and the various multi-billion foreign companies and investments in the State.

The said ministry will help to monitor and serve the interest of Edo Indigenes at large.

The press release also added that Edo indigenes need a technocrat that has promising track records and global exposure, above all, that have excelled in his chosen career to take over from Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

News

JUST IN: EFCC Hands Over Recovered Assets To Enugu Gov

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday, handed over 14 recovered assets to Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State.

During the handing over ceremony held at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, Olukoyede revealed that the assets recovered by the commission was forfeited to the Federal Government.

He added that the EFCC began an investigation into the development since 2007, and had achieved the conviction of persons in relation to the matter.

He also noted that the President, Bola Tinubu, ordered the handover of the assets which includes – real estate, radio and television transmission equipment, and medical facility, amongst others, to the Enugu State Government, following a request by the EFCC.

Details later…

News

Multichoice Hikes DStv, GOtv Prices

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.

The company reviewed prices in its packages across the board. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024.

With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ gone up N19,800 to N25,000 while the Compact package increased from N12,500 to N15,700.

The Comfam package moved from N7,400 to N9,300. Yanga package moved up from 4,200 to N5,100 while Padi package increased from N2,950 to N3,600. HDPVR was increased from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.

Meanwhile, the Gotv Supa+ package moved from N12,500 to N15,700, Supa package from N7,600 to N9,600, and Max package from N5,700 to N7,200.

While the Jolli package was jacked up from N3,950 to N4,850, the Jinja package moved from N2,700 to N3,300, and Smallie package from N1,300 to N1,575.

The company implemented an upward review of prices in December 2023, days after announcing a $72m loss in its financial statement for the third quarter of the year.

Checks on the company’s reviewed price list then showed a 20 per cent per cent hike in the company’s packages across the board.