News
P/Harcourt DisCo revenue hits N5.2bn in August – MD
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has recorded N5.2 billion in revenue collection in August from N4.3 billion in the preceding months.
The Managing Director of PHED, Dr Benson Uwheru, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the company grew its revenue by N900 million in bill collection.
He said the N5.2 billion revenue was the highest revenue collected by the company since it started operation in 2012.
He said: “Upon resumption in July, PHED bill collection was N4.3 billion, and by Aug. 31, we hit a new milestone in the history of our collection to N5.2 billion.
“We achieved this within a short period by remodelling our core values and adopting the TRICE model of Teamwork, Reliability, Integrity, Customer service and Excellence,” he said.
Uwheru said in spite of the growth that the company still fell short of N7.4 billion billed energy revenue target for the month of August.
“This shortfall is due to energy theft, meter bypass by some customers and the refusal of some customers to vend (pay) for electricity used.
“In the last six months, about 70,000 customers did not vend, meaning that these people have used power without paying a Kobo.
“So, the N5.2 billion collection is under-short the billed energy for the month of August which stood at about N7.4 billion,” he added.
On metering, Uwheru said about 60 per cent of customers in its franchise states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers have been metered.
He said the figure meant that 40 per cent of customers in the four states were charged on estimated billing.
According to him, the company was awaiting the second phase of the Federal Government National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), to close the metering gap in the four states.
“Aside this, we are in talks with various financial institutions and asset financing programmes, to procure meters and distribute to customers to pay within one year to five years period.
“This is another option we want to aggressively pursue, so we don’t rely solely on NMMP to provide meters to our customers,” he said.
The managing director said the company was faced with several challenges in the areas of meter bypass and vandalism, as well as the insistence by some people that electricity should be free.
He said one of the communities in its franchise refused to pay for electricity used, thereby, incurring the company billions in lost revenue.
“One community alone has over time incurred debt of N21 billion. Every month N400 million is debited to our account in PHED to use power by the community.
“We have tried to collect our revenue but have been unable to penetrate the community due to intimidation.
“But, we are collaborating with the state government, security agencies and the community leaders to enable us to access the community.
“We are doing this because companies are being set up there, and they are using energy for free,” he added.
News
FCTA to boost security with drones – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration has begun the procurement processes for drones to boost the security architecture of the territory.
Wike disclosed this when the Consul-General of the Embassy of Hungary in Nigeria, Mr Endre Deri visited him in Abuja on Thursday.
The minister, while responding to the consul-general comments on the need for drones, said, “whether we want some drones? Yes, there is no going back”.
He promised to discuss with the security experts, to consider a conversation with Deri on the type of drones that would be effective and efficient work based on the terrain of FCT.
He said that security was part of President Bola Tinubu’s priority in his “Renewed Hope” agenda.
The minister said that the security interventions in the FCT were already yielding results, stressing that the incidents of insecurity had drastically reduced.
“You too can attest to the fact that Abuja is safer now, because of the way we have been able to tackle the issue,” he added.
On agriculture, Wike said that the FCTA was open to collaborate with Hungry through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), adding that the administration was willing to provide the needed land.
“The issue of agriculture is very key, and I know your country is doing well in agriculture.
“We can collaborate and partner in terms of PPP. We are willing to provide land, if you can reach those concerns we can start the process.
“Let us also know what they intend to produce in order to address the issue of food insecurity in FCT.
Earlier, Deri expressed the willingness of Hungry to partner with FCTA to improve security in the territory.
The consul general, who commended the minister for improving the security situation in the FCT, expressed the willingness of his country to support the FCT with the latest drone technology.
“We are also interested in partnering with the FCTA in the areas of agriculture to boost food security and food safety for residents of the FCT,” he added.
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Ogun assembly passes resolution seeking urgent clampdown on activities of cultists
The Ogun House of Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution seeking for the urgent clampdown on the activities of cultists in the state.
Mr Bisi Oyedele (APC-Ipokia/Idiroko), the sponsor of the resolution, said during plenary in Abeokuta that there was also an urgent need for Gov. Dapo Abiodun to appoint a commissioner for youths in the state.
Oyedele noted that the incessant cult killings in some parts of the state, especially Abeokuta, which had started over six weeks ago needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
The lawmaker alleged that no fewer than 10 individuals had lost their lives to cult-related violence within the last 42 days.
He stated that the rate at which lives were being lost in the state capital remained worrisome and baffling.
“Recent incidents include the shooting in broad daylight of five individuals at different locations within Abeokuta.
” Also worrisome is the continuous killings among young people across the state, which is adversely affecting businesses and tarnishing the reputation of our dear state,” he said.
Oyedele stressed that there was need for urgent intervention from both security operatives and the state government to address the escalating violence in other parts of the state.
He said that the anti-cultism section of the State Police Command must enhance intelligence gathering and take proactive measures to curb the reoccurring menace across the state.
“There is an urgent need for the governor to appoint a commissioner for youths, who will be saddled with the responsibility of providing productive initiatives for young people.
“He will also have to promote continuous engagements across the state, and drive youth-related policies and programme in the State Executive Council.
“Government should focus on continuous human capital development through job facilitation and enhance the skills of youths across the state.
“We call on the government to prioritise the aforementioned initiatives, as the time to address the root causes of social unrest and provide sustainable solutions for the youth population is now,” he said.
Other members who spoke on the resolution called on security agencies, especially the police, to do more to put an end to the issue of cultism in the state.
They called for effective youth engagements, while also calling on residents to always provide information to the police.
The Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), implored everyone, government and parents, to be up and doing and also report suspicious moves within their environment.
The Majority Leader, Yusuf Serif (APC-Ado Odo Ota 1), moved the motion for the passage of the resolution, seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye (PDP-Odogbolu).
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