By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC), AVM Francis Edosa, has revealed that the continuous conduct of research and development will help in resolving most of the challenges confronting Air Force.

Edosa, represented by the Chief of Staff, TAC, AVM Emeka Ashiegbu, made the disclosure  in Makurdi at a one day Intra Command Research and Development Competition.

He explained that  through research  the service had deployed several platforms to quell crises in most troubled parts of the country, adding that it also build the capacity and enhances service delivery.

The AOC further explained that in the military industry, research involves the continuous development and upgrading of prototype of new military systems without necessarily going into full scale development or production.

Edosa said that the competition “is germane  to our effectiveness as a service and imperative to the myriad of security challenges confronting our country. ”

He charged participants to contribute meaningfully at the competition to implore the service.

The Guest of Honour at the occasion, Air Commodore, Albert Bot, charged them to contribute their quota through research and development to advance the service to greater technological heights.

He said such contributions would help in curbing the menace of insurgency faced in most parts of the country.

Bot commended the Air Force for the application of air power in joint and interagency counter insurgency operations, which he attributed to modest outcomes in research and technology.

He said through research and development crisis had been brought down speedily across many troubled parts of the country.

He also commended the Federal Government (FG) for having deep interest in research and the promotion of local content.

Dr Ernest Mupwaya, Deputy Managing Director, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has assured its customers of fairness and transparency in electricity bands classification.

Mupwaya gave the assurance on Friday in Enugu at the ongoing three-day Customer Complaints Resolution Meeting organised by NERC for electricity consumers, customers and stakeholders in the South-East.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently classified electricity consumers into various bands.

The classification starts from Band-A (a minimum of 20 hours supply per day) to Band-E (a minimum of four hours supply per day).

The EEDC boss said that the company was strictly following laid-down NERC regulation on the bands classification.

“The EEDC has never intended to collect any unjustified money from its esteemed and valued customers within the South-East, its franchise area,” he said.

According to Mupwaya, all customers within the 44 feeders classified as Band-A feeders in EEDC network, meant to have at least 20 hours electricity supply per day, will be treated fairly and transparently.

He said that this was to ensure that they got value for money and they are not overcharged.

The deputy managing director revealed that plans are underway to provide prepaid meters to about 12,381 unmetered Band-A feeder customers in its network within the next three months unfailingly on no-cost basis.

“It will be free-of-charge or they will initially pay for it and later be refunded through pay-back electricity unit credit given to them over some months,” he said.

Mupwaya said that the company had constituted technical Quick Response Teams to attend to local technical issues of all Band-A feeders and customers.

He said that within minutes of calls, both on weekends and during holiday seasons, electrical faults of Band-A customers are resolved without waste of time.

“For those Band-A feeders receiving less than 20 hours per day for two consecutive days; we will send a text message to the customers directly,  explaining the challenges to them.

“For customers on Band-A not receiving 20 hours constant electricity supply for seven days; the feeder and customers concerned will be demoted from Band-A to a lower band.

“We are daily monitoring the situation and on our own as a responsible company, we will ensure no customer is shortchanged or overcharged,” he said.

The deputy managing director also assured all customers in EEDC network that very soon the quality of supply would improve tremendously as the authorities and other electricity industry players are working to ensure improved and more steady supply.

He made it clear that EEDC totally gave out all supply received to its network through the national grid.

He emphasised that the recent shortfall in supply was never the fault of the company and not as a result of local technical challenge within its franchise area.

“Before the recent fall in supply and recent band classification by NERC, you customers can agree with me that some customers do enjoy over 20 hours steady supply and beyond.

“By the grace of God we will return to that era once more soon,” he said.

Speaking, the Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, NERC, Mrs Aisha Mahmod, said that the commission organised the meeting to educate and sensitise electricity consumers on their rights, privileges and obligations.

“NERC, as a regulator, will ensure no electricity consumer or customer is shortchanged.

“Rather, it has provided mechanisms for disagreement and conflict resolution in the electricity industry by ensuring parties abide by laid-down laws and regulations,” Mahmoud said.

She said that the new band classification and tariff was meant to reflect the economic realities of the day.

“NERC is here for three days to listen and proffer practical solutions to your electricity challenges and complaints, which will be practically resolved here,” she said.

The meeting is being attended by hundreds of electricity consumers within the South-East, which include Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.

An Abuja Federal High Court has discharged and acquitted a former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Mohammed Bello Adoke, of money laundering charges.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, upheld Adoke’s “no case” submission against the money laundering charges against him.

In 2017, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had dragged Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, to court for allegedly laundering about N300 million.

While the EFCC admitted before Ekwo that it was a mortgage that Adoke took from Unity Bank, it alleged before Justice Kutigi that the money was a bribe from the sale of the oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011.

On March 28, 2024, Kutigi pointed out the contradiction while dismissing the charges against Adoke and other defendants, chiding the EFCC for wasting the court’s time for four years.

But on Friday, Justice Ekwo said the EFCC did not provide any evidence to prove the essential elements of the offence against Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant.

Ekwo upheld the no-case submission while discharging and acquitting him of the charges.

The judge, however, ruled that Aliyu, the second defendant, has to open his defence because he has a case to answer.