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P/Harcourt DisCo revenue hits N5.2bn in August – MD

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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.

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Mushin LG Chairman flags off construction of Yusuf Street road, promises solar lighting

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The Mushin Local Government Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye on Wednesday flagged off the construction of Yusuf Street road in Papa Ajao.

The project is expected to bring relief to residents and traders in the area and is set to be completed within six months.

According to Bamigboye, the project is a fulfillment of his campaign promise to the people of Mushin, and he expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to execute the project.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and the local government to ensure the successful completion of the project.

The councillor representing the ward, Ayomide Abioye, expressed his joy and appreciation for the project, stating that it is the longest street in Papa Ajao and will bring immense benefit to the community.

Also, the Baba Oloja of Ladipo International Market, Eze Monday, also commended the Executive Chairman for the project, stating that it will make a significant impact on the development of the area.

The project includes the construction of the road and the installation of solar lighting, which is expected to enhance security and facilitate economic activities in the area.

Residents and traders in the area have been warned not to disturb the contractor or disrupt the project in any way.

Meanwhile, the traders applauded Hon. Bamigboye for demonstrating its commitment to infrastructural development and the welfare of its citizens.

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Giving back to community — Prof Oyedokun speaks on motives

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Lead Facilitator Professor of Accounting & Financial Development Founder OGE, Prof. Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun, has disclosed that giving back to society community is his motive for pursuing his career.

He made the disclosure in an article titled “My motive for running a free professional diploma course in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation is of several folds.”

He said, “Running a free professional diploma course in forensic accounting and fraud investigation is also motivated by my desire to give back to the community.

“By sharing my expertise and knowledge without any financial barriers, I am helping individuals from diverse backgrounds and financial situations to acquire valuable skills and advance their careers.”

The academic reiterated that the motive for running a free professional diploma course in forensic accounting and fraud investigation is centred around education, skill development, community service, and professional growth.

It is a way to contribute to the accounting profession, address a skill gap, and empower individuals in their pursuit of knowledge and career advancement.

According to him, “Promoting Education and Professional Development to contribute to the growth and development of the accounting profession by providing individuals with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in the specialised field of forensic accounting and fraud investigation.

“By offering this free course, i am enabling aspiring professionals to access valuable education that might otherwise be costly or inaccessible.”

The Don addressing the need for expertise in Forensic Accounting said, “In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for professionals skilled in forensic accounting and fraud investigation due to the rise in financial crimes and fraudulent activities. By offering this free course, I am helping to address this skill gap and aiding in the fight against financial fraud.”

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Airport tolls: Nigeria lost billions under old rules — Keyamo

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the Federal Government lost 82 percent which is equivalent to N10 billion in revenue that ought to accrue from airport tollgates under old rules.

Keyamo revealed this to State House correspondents during the week at the end of a two-day meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

The minister lamented that the ministry accumulated 82 percent in the negative from the complimentary e-tags printed by the ministry, noting that 82 percent of the e-tags are given free of charge to VIPs.

He stated, “Let me give you the shocking statistics. The negative figure that we get at the end of the day from the complimentary e-tags is 82 percent, in the negative.

“In other words, where we are supposed to have a 100 per cent contract on the e-costs from these e-tags that we print, it is only 18 per cent that we now end up selling. That is how bad it is. 18 per cent and 82 per cent of these e-tags are given out free of charge to VIPs. So, imagine the loss in my sector, and I ask myself,Which other sector will I go to that they give me anything free?’

“Is it because I’m a VIP that you say that in FCT, I should not pay land charges that you waive it for me? I pay for that sector. I pay for power. Yes, I pay for everything. So, why would anybody now come to my own sector and want to get free passage? Not possible. That is how bad it is.”

He added that free e-tags to the VIPs had in the past led to the loss of billions of naira

“So this has led in the past to loss of billions of naira, not millions, annually. Yet, our airport infrastructure, you know, is decaying. I am helpless. I’m looking for concessionaires. I’m looking for help with decaying infrastructure.

“They will be the first to cry out, these same VIPs – ‘why are the toilets like this? Why are your toilets smelling? Why can’t you do this?’ They are the same people, but they don’t pay for the services. So, if we want improved infrastructure at the airport, we must pay for services,” he said.

The minister lamented that due to the policy of exemption, the ministry makes only about N100 million instead of making about N260 million from a particular airport gate every month.

“I’ll give you another example. In one of the access gates, based on the count of the barrier going up and down, we are supposed to be making N250m or 260 million from that gate every month. That gate, because of exemptions, the return to us is less than N100 million every month,” he added.

To end the loss, the FEC decided that the president, vice president, and other top government functionaries would start paying access fees or the e-tag at all 24 federal airports across the country.

Prior to this development, the president, vice president, and some government officials were exempted from paying access fees at the airports’ gates.

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