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TCN Suspends Power Firms For Breaching Market Rules

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced the suspension of three electricity distribution companies for breach of market rules.

The affected companies are APLE Electric Limited, Kano and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Companies.

Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that these rules govern and sanitise the Nigerian electricity supply industry.

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According to her, the Market Operator is mindful of the need to ensure the continued sustenance of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, which requires strict adherence to market rules and the application of sanctions where necessary.

READ ALSO: Electricity: TCN, DisCos Trade Blames Over Sector’s Poor Performance

She said that due diligence was observed by the MO before issuing the suspension/disconnection order, which is in accordance with procedures of the rules guiding the market.

”This is to ensure the preservation of the market and that non-compliant participants are held accountable for their actions.

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”The APLE Electric Limited was found to be in non-compliance with the Market Rules for not having adequate Bank Guaranty and for incomplete payments of APL’s MO’s invoices from September 2022 to February 2023.

”As per the market rules, the MO first sent a request for a bank guarantee to APLE on November 29, 2022,” she said.

Mbah said that the company failed to provide the required bank guarantee, consequently, a Notice of Event of Default was issued to APLE on Dec 7, 2022, for incomplete payment of issued invoices.

READ ALSO: 2023: Insecurity, Erratic Electricity, Fuel Scarcity Persist As APC Seeks Fresh Mandate

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Following the notice of event of default, a Notice of Intent to Issue a suspension order was issued on Dec. 14, 2022, based on the market rules.

“APLE requested a hearing, which was held online on Dec. 20, 2022, where APLE was given an opportunity to show just cause why it should not be issued a Suspended/Disconnected Order.

“After the hearing, a 14-business day notice was issued on March 21 in three (3) national daily newspapers (Daily Trust, Guardian & Thisday) as required by the market rules. Thereafter, a suspension order was issued on April 19, which required APLE to cure its defaults,” she said.

Mbah said that the disconnection order was carried out on April 20 in line with the market rules.

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She added that this order resulted in the disconnection of the Feeders within the APLE franchise area until such a time that they provide the required bank guarantee and settle their outstanding invoices with the MO.

READ ALSO: Reverse Unlawful Electricity Tariff Hike, Group Tells Buhari

Mbah also said that the Kaduna and Kano DisCos were equally found to be in non-compliance with the market rules for not having adequate bank guarantees and for incomplete payments of their MO invoices for the time-line January 2020 to February 2023.

She said that both companies were sent a request for their bank guarantees in line with the market rules, on Feb. 16, 2022, and they failed to provide the required bank guarantees.

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Consequently, a notice of an event of default was issued on March 2, 2022, for incomplete payment of invoices,” she said.

Mbah stated that the notice of the event was followed by a notice of intent to issue a suspension order, issued on May 9, 2022.

Both DisCos requested for hearing which were held on May 31, 2022, (KEDCO) and June 2, 2022 (KAEDCO), where both DisCos were given an opportunity to show just cause not to be suspended/disconnected.

“After the hearing, a 14-business day notice was issued on March 21, 2023, in three national daily newspapers (Daily Trust, Guardian & Thisday newspapers), as required by the market rules.”

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2023: Why INEC Servers Failed To Work – Peter Obi

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has explained why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, servers failed to work during the 2023 presidential election.

He said the ‘establishment of criminality’ made the INEC servers not work during the last last general elections.

Obi stated this, while addressing the issues of the 2023 elections, including the IREV servers, in Canada during the weekend.

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READ ALSO: Underbridge Tenants: Lagos Govt Uncovers Identity Of Ring Leader

The Labour Party flagbearer in 2023 said people must intensify engagement with all the stakeholders to make the system work.

The former Anambra State governor explained that Amazon testified there were no glitches recorded globally on the day of the presidential election.

He said: “Where did we go wrong in the last election? We didn’t go wrong anywhere. We did the right things.

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“But as I can always tell people: when you bring a change, you fight all those who live off the old order. They don’t go away; they gang up. And don’t think it’s a straight race to remove an establishment.

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Why Party Members Are Resigning – Sule Lamido

“It’s a long-distance journey anywhere in the world. Go and check anywhere, whether you are looking at what happened in India, with Mandela in South Africa, or America. No change has happened overnight, it takes time.

“I urge all of you, if you really want change, we have just begun. We just have to continue from where we are.

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“Yes, there might be one or two things we will correct, those things we will correct. I assure you we are correcting them without naming them.It’s not going to be easy.”

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INC Vows To Internationalise Ijaw Struggle

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The Ijaw National Congress (INC) says time has come to internationalise the “Ijaw struggle” beyond rhetoric.

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, INC, said this in a communique of the 2024 edition of the Ijaw National Day celebration held in Bayelsa.

Okaba said that the vexatious factors that provoked grievances between the late Maj. Adaka Boro and the federal government in the improper management of the oil political economy of Nigeria, have remained unmitigated.

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He noted that the situation had worsened with its attendant impunity.

READ ALSO: Ijaw Not Biafra, Count Us Out Of Your Planned Attack Military, INC Warns IPOB

According to him, the Ijaw environment continues to bear the brunt of petroleum resources exploitation-related pollution without concomitant remediation or reparations of the heavily despoiled ecosystem.

Instead, Ijaw communities still face the adverse effects of uncontrollable spills, perennial flooding, ocean encroachment and so on,” he said.

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The INC president noted that at different forums, it had been made clear that the Ijaw agenda of self-determination was premised on resource and environmental justice.

“What all Ijaw people seek is for a fair, just and justifiable reward for our resources and sacrifices.

“The Ijaw Congress has articulated a set of prescient conditions for its continuous commitment to the Nigerian project and these include restoration of true federalism (fiscal federalism).

READ ALSO: Ijaw Group Tackles OPC, CSO Over Call For Review Of Tompolo’s Surveillance Contract

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“Devolution of power and repel of all obnoxious and discriminatory environmental and resource related laws (Land Use, PIA), as well as restoration of Ijaw Territory as non-balkanised, administrative and politically generated unit(s).

“This is for the reassurance and promotion of Ijaw developmental pursuits by creating at least two additional states, more local government areas and wards for the Ijaws.

“Remediation of our massively polluted and endangered environment and the enforcement of adherence to international environmental best practices by IOC’s operating in Ijaw territories,” he said.

Okaba also demanded for the relocation of the administrative headquarters of all oil companies and their subsidiaries to their operational bases in Ijaw territory and Niger Delta.

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READ ALSO: Ijaw Demand Environmental Clean-up Before IOCs Exit Niger Delta

He further called for proper funding and management of the Interventionist Agencies such as the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Niger Delta Development Commission.

We call for the promotion of modular refineries owned by our people.

“We also want a balance in appointment at the federal levels (the civil service, military and oil companies) as well as equitable distribution of critical infrastructure, to reflect the true principles of federal character.”

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He said it was against this backdrop that the theme of the 2024 Ijaw National Day “Re-Invigorating Our Resolve to take the Ijaw struggle for Self-determination beyond Rhetoric” was derived.

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Drake Gives Condition To Quit Music As Feud With Kendrick Lamar Thickens

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US rapper Drake has vowed to quit his music career if allegations regarding a secret daughter are substantiated.

The controversy started when rival artiste Kendrick Lamar, in his diss track ‘Meet The Grahams,’ levied accusations suggesting Drake’s involvement with an 11-year-old secret daughter.

Lamar branded the Canadian rapper a “deadbeat” for purportedly neglecting his paternal responsibilities

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Renowned American media personality Akademiks, however, disclosed rapper’s response to the allegations during a recent broadcast.

According to Akademiks, Drake denied the claims, going as far as promising to leave the music industry and work for Akademiks if any evidence of the alleged secret daughter emerged.

During his Saturday night show, Akademiks shared the rapper’s direct message, stating, “Drake hit [texted] me, he said, ‘Ak, if you or anybody can prove that I have an 11-year-old daughter, I’ll quit rapping and come work for you.’”

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