News

BEDC Introduces Service-Based Tariff

Published

5 years ago

September 11, 2020

Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc says it has introduced Service-Based Tariff (SBT), a system whereby customers enjoy certainty in a minimum of hours of power availability and pay appropriate rates for service rendered.

The new tariff regime is in line with the outcome of customers’ feedback from the tariff review held by Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and DisCos at various locations across the country earlier this year.

Briefing newsmen on Friday in Benin on behalf of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Director, Abu Ejoor, Executive Director, Commercial, said the new SBT affects customers that enjoy electricity for at least average of 12hours per day, adding that those enjoying less than 12hours will continue to pay at old rates until end of the year.

According to Ejoor, under the new service dispensation, customers under BEDC franchise areas have been dis-aggregated into various clusters on hours of supply and using number of hours of daily availability as a measure to determine the tariff rate.

He disclosed that customers have been clustered/Banded into A to E, just as he said Band A will see customers enjoying minimum electricity supply of 20 hours; Band B: minimum electricity supply of 16 hours; Band C: minimum of 12 hours power supply; Bands D and C: minimum of 8 and 4 hours respectively, stressing that customers on lower Band can also move to upper bands.

“The new tariff regime also provides that customers can move to upper bands of more power availability as their quality of service improves, and accordingly pay the appropriate tariff,” Ejoor said.

While addressing the new changes, the distribution company promised to proved the needed funding require for investment in reinforcing feeders, transformers, protection equipment, and other component to bolster improved service .

His words, “The needed funding require for investment in reinforcing feedersA Service-Based Tariff whilst addressing the changes in macroeconomic indices-forex, inflation, cost etc, would also provide , transformers, protection equipment, and other components to bolster improved service defined in terms of hours of supply indicated by availability, reliability, and quality for improvement in electricity supply.”

He noted that the new SBT fits into the BEDC existing predictable load management system, adding that the company has also come up with additional modalities to reduce the frequency of power interruption in customers’ residences.

While lamenting that BEDC receives low generation of Nigeria grid, the Executive Director noted that this forced the distribution company to resort to load shedding in order to manage the power available to all its customers.

“BEDC receives 9% of generation of Nigerian grid i.e 360MW as against total requirements of 1,400MW. The challenge for BEDC remains to supply a system whose potential load is over 1,400MW with only 250 to 360MW. BEDC was forced to do massive load shedding to manage the very small power available to all its customers,” he said.

Mr. Ejoor assured customers of BEDC commitment to rapid improvement in service quality for those customers who currently receive low power service and subsequently graduate them to appropriate band upon service improvement.

He further disclosed that BEDC is collaborating with Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to provide technical improvement in areas where BEDC has interface challenges and constraints in order to ensure that locations with lower than 12 hours daily power availability witness rapid improvements within next year.

News

Edo Govt Bans Kabaka’s Firm, Others From Collecting Revenue

Published

19 minutes ago

August 6, 2025

Editor

Edo State Government has banned private firms earlier authorised to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) to collect revenue in the state.

The state government said the ban became necessary due to reports of violation of terms of operations given to them earlier.

In a public announcement, Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said the ban also extends to Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant earlier engaged to enforce compliance.

Ikhilor, while frowning at the activities of the private firms, noted that the “era of using unions as fronts to harass, intimidate, or extort drivers and road users in the name of revenue collection is over.”

The statement partly reads: “The Edo State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has observed with grave concern the alarming resurgence of illegal revenue collection by certain unions and organizations under various guises across the State.

“It has become clear that some of these groups, previously given limited authorization to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) under clearly defined terms, have grossly violated the conditions of their engagement and resorted to cash collections, extortions, social harassment and intimidation.

“Specifically, the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ANNEWAT, and Drivers on Wheel, are hereby banned with immediate effect.

“These unions are not authorized to collect any form of dues, levies, taxes, or charges from motorists, drivers, traders, or any member of the public in Edo State.

“This ban also extends to Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant earlier engaged to enforce compliance.

“Credible reports reaching the people-loving Governor, indicate that the firm and its workers have become complicit in widespread extortion and abuse of mandate, thereby betraying the trust reposed in them by the State.

“The Government considers these actions as acts of economic sabotage, social oppression and a direct affront to law and order.

“All activities of the aforementioned unions are suspended indefinitely.”

The SSG, while noting that “no individual or group under any of these unions is permitted to collect any form of payment from motorists or road users,” advised “all motorists, drivers, and road users not to pay any cash or comply with any form of illegal levy imposed by these banned entities.”

He disclosed that “the Commissioner of Police and all relevant security agencies have been duly notified and directed to arrest and prosecute any individual or group found violating this directive.”

News

17-year-old Nigerian Named World Best In English At 2025 TeenEagle Finals In London

Published

18 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

…Outperforms over 20,000 participants from 69 countries

Nafisa Aminu, a 17-year-old student of Tulip International College, Yobe State, has emerged world’s best in English at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.

The 17-year-old was named the World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

The TeenEagle competition is an internationally recognised contest that tests English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills, attracting students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking nations.

Nafisa’s triumph was confirmed in a statement by the head of her family, Hassan Salifu, who attributed her success to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the state government.”

Representing Nigeria, Nafisa outperformed over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, a historic feat that has thrust her into the global academic spotlight and brought honour to Nigeria.

News

FG Promotes 30 Senior NCoS Officers To Assistant Controller General

Published

18 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections.

The announcement was made in a press statement signed by the NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, on Tuesday.

“The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 Controllers of Corrections to the prestigious rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections,” the statement read.

Abubakar noted that the promotions were made in line with CDCFIB’s commitment to “merit-based advancement, professional excellence, and the continuous strengthening of leadership within the Nigerian Correctional Service.”

“Among the newly promoted officers are twenty-seven general duty officers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and operational competence in various formations across the country.

“In addition, three professional officers have also been elevated in recognition of their outstanding service and specialized contributions in the areas of Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Public Health,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the promotion exercise was said to align with the ongoing reforms in the Service, a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement credited the reform momentum to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose efforts were described as “unwavering” and “unprecedented.”

Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, congratulated the newly promoted officers, charging them to rise to the responsibilities of their new roles.

“I urge them to redouble their effort to service delivery, strategic leadership, and the core mandates of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates,” he said.

He further stressed that the promotions are not merely rewards for past service but “a call to higher responsibility in line with global best practices in correctional management.”

“The Service remains committed to building a motivated, disciplined, and professional workforce capable of meeting the complex demands of modern corrections and public safety,” Nwakuche added.