News

Ekiti Govt Issues BEDC Seven-day Ultimatum Over Power Outage

Published

9 months ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

Ekiti State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company to restore electricity supply to the Ago Aduloju community or face litigation.

The state government, in a letter to the Coordinator, BEDC Electricity Ekiti Limited through the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utility, Prof Mobolaji Aluko and the Attorney General, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN), dated August 8, 2025, said failure to restore electricity supply to the community three months after was a breach of agreement and duty.

Aluko and Apata, according to a statement in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, noted that “Issues such as money owed to BEDC/BEDC Electricity Ekiti Limited, a schedule of paying back the money, de-bulking of the community transformer to allow for individual prepaid metering and community payments for meters and their installation had been discussed and agreed upon by the parties.”

The state government expressed regret that the Ago Aduloju community had continued to be deprived of electricity supply for three months due to the failure of BEEL to restore the electricity supply for ‘various untenable reasons’ and after many fruitless appeals and visits by the parties to the DISCO’s headquarters.

It stated, “BEDC Electricity Ekiti Limited has an obligation to energise the community, being one of the distribution company’s primary responsibilities and services to the public, coupled with the agreements reached at the meeting of 8th May, 2025 between representatives of the company and the community”.

The state government added that the company’s “persistent refusal to restore electricity supply to the community is a clear breach of agreement and its duty. This has led to untold hardship for dwellers in the community because of the persistent total blackout being experienced there”.

Consequent upon this, the state government said it had issued “a seven-day ultimatum to the BEDC Electricity Ekiti Limited to renew its stand and restore electricity supply to the community, failure of which we shall have no option but to ventilate our grievances in the court of law.”

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.