OTHER NEWS MAKING HEADLINES AROUND NIGERIA 4-19-2018
Enact laws on effective metering, electricity consumers urge NASS
Stakeholders have advised the National Assembly enact laws on the effective metering system to save electricity consumers from continuous exploitation through arbitrary billing.
They made the observation on Wednesday in Lagos at the ongoing public hearing by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on customers’ complaints about electricity consumers in South-West Zone.
Dr. Amos Awoniyi, a customer from Lekki area of Lagos, urged the House Committee to enact laws that would enforce effective metering system among distribution companies to reduce estimated billing.
Awoniyi urged other distribution companies to adopt EKEDC metering model to address the challenges of estimated billing being faced by electricity consumers.
“Electricity customers are entitled to an effective metering system and accurate billings but most Discos would not do that because they made more money from estimated billings.
“The Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) should start sanctioning Discos on arbitrary billing and shortchanging of customers through estimated billing,’’ he said.
According to Mrs. Grace Adeoye, from Victoria Island, millions of households are still groaning under the weight of ‘crazy’ bills and poor power supply, four over years after the power sector was privatized.
“Many DisCos give consumers outrageous bills without recourse to the meters. Whether the meters are functional or not, they don’t want to know.
“NERC is supposed to put its feet down and stop this estimated billing. Once it is stopped, the power firms will be forced to supply meters to everybody when they start losing revenues, ”she said.
Another consumer, Alhaji Tajudeen Thompson, urged EKEDC to replace obsolete meters within its network, adding that virtually all meters installed in high-density areas over 50 years ago were not functional.
In his remark, Mr. Israel Famurewa, Chairman of the House Committee on Electricity Customer’s Complaints, condemned arbitrary billing by distribution companies in Nigeria.
Famurewa said the committee had received a lot of complaints and petitions on estimated billings, crazy bills and lack of meter from electricity consumers within the South-West Zone.
“It has gotten to a stage where if the House did not do anything about it, there may be a serious breakdown of law and order where people will take laws into their hands.
“The House in its wisdom constituted this committee to interface with the consumers, the Discos and the regulatory bodies. We are to find a lasting solution to the problem of the system.
We decided in Abuja to have a proper interaction with the Discos in different geopolitical zones before we have the proper briefing in Abuja.
“We will look into the laws guiding the sector holistically, and see if there is need to amend. At the end of this, we are going to write our report if there is need to repeal some laws we will and if we need to re-enact we will do. We have the mandate to take the report back to the house in six weeks,’’ he said
Lagos begins removal, relocation of dangerous communication masts
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it had begun dismantling and removing abandoned and substandard communication masts compromising the safety of residents across the state.
General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), an agency under the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Olayemi Oni, disclosed this during a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Lagos.
Oni, who was one of the officials given opportunity by the state’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, to give the progress report of her Agency, said the measure was to ensure safety and remove environmental hazards.
She said the agency was reaching out to organizations and property owners to ensure they complied with the new standards.
Oni said the agency was working on generating an up to date database of telecommunication companies and facilities as well as ensuring compliance with environmental and safety rules for the overall well-being of residents.
She explained that the agency was interacting with as well as offering the necessary advice to various communications industry stakeholders and other firms, who had assets and facilities that required supervision.
She said the hollow masts being phased out were substandard and the ones that were susceptible to falling off easily and causing various degrees of accidents that could compromise the safety of residents.
She said the state had removed 16 of the hollow masts and was giving time to some companies, who had written for extension of time to replace the masts with the recommended hot galvanized steel masts.
“We are targeting the hollow masts, there is a particular specification that Lagos State has given. When your mast does not meet the standard, we advise the owners to relocate because all these masts have telecommunication equipment on them and then, we do not want to disrupt organization’s work because they are using it for operations. Lagos State has abolished hollow masts for hot galvanized steel,” she said.
She said the enforcement was on and several organizations were complying. Oni listed ongoing projects to include network audit of underground utilities, enumeration, site inspection and standard compliance of surface communications infrastructure, among others.
LASIMRA is the agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating utility infrastructure in public space in Lagos.
Lagos mobilizes contractors with N5.6bn for 181 roads
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it had mobilized contractors with N5.56 billion for the construction of 181 roads within the city/state to ease movements of residents.
The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, said this while presenting his ministry’s stewardship as part of activities to mark Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s third year in office.
The commissioner said the state would be adding 82.74 kilometers of roads to the existing inner roads in the state on completion of the 181 roads.
Akinsanya said the road and other projects embarked upon by the ministry were aimed at boosting the economy and tourism sectors of the state.
He said the state government had also delivered to Lagosians 114 inner roads which had reduced the time normally spent by commuters on the road.
He listed some of the completed roads to include pedestrian bridges, lay byes and slip roads in Ojodu Berger, construction of bridges in Abule Egba, Ajah and Aradagun-Iworo Ajido Bridge in Badagry Local Government.
The commissioner also said the ministry delivered 48 building projects between May 2017 and April 2018, adding that 25 roads and 17 buildings were at various stages of completion.
Akinsanya listed ongoing projects to include the Murtala Mohammed International Airport road, Agric-Ishawo-Arepo Road in Ikorodu and the construction of the reinforced concrete flyover at Agege Pen Cinema.
“The cumulative impact of these projects cannot easily be quantified. Apart from ensuring the smooth flow of traffic along the length and breadth of the state, especially, in the areas where the roads are located, they have also transformed the landscape of the areas.
“This has been giving new pleasant experiences to motorists and road users. They are further boosting commercial activities, supporting economic growth and significantly reducing travel time as well as other costs associated with traffic challenges.
“The gamut of infrastructural expansion and upgrading signpost the beginning of a new era of development that will enhance the standard of living of all Lagosians,” he said.
The commissioner added that five new pedestrian bridges had been built and work was ongoing on nine new ones in various locations across the state.
Akinsanya added that the Lagos State Public Works Corporation rehabilitated 31 roads and carried out palliative works on 115 others.
Kaduna/Katsina Custom Command generates N1.1bn in 3 months
The Kaduna/Katsina Customs Area Command on Wednesday said it had generated N1.1 billion as revenue from January to March this year.
The Customs Area Comptroller of Kaduna/Katsina Command, Mr. Olusemire Kayode, made the disclosure at a news conference in Katsina. “The command generated the revenue through the enforcement of the customs relevant laws that empower them to collect duties.
“The command has generated the revenue by collecting taxes from companies based in Kaduna as excise duty. We have equally generated the revenue by collecting duties of selected banned items from people that imported them,” he said.
Kayode disclosed that customs officers and men had been making sacrifices in order to generate the revenue that would assist government to improve the living standards of Nigerians.
“The Nigeria Customs Services has been generating a lot of revenue that every end of the month is shared with the 36 states of the federation.
“It is with part of the customs generated funds that the Federal and State Governments are able to provide essential services to the common man in the country,” he said.
The comptroller appealed to smugglers to stop sabotaging the nation’s economy through the importation of banned items into the country.
Kayode said customs officers and men would continue to apprehend all the people that smuggle banned items into the country.
Lagos to award Fourth Mainland Bridge contract in June
The Lagos State Government will in June award contract for the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge, an official said on Wednesday.
The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, gave the assurance at a ministerial press briefing at Alausa, Ikeja. He said the state was collating technical proposals and evaluating costs toward awarding the contract.
Akinsanya said committees had been set up to shop for quality contractors on the project. “I do hope that before the end of May or June, we will announce the preferred bidder for the project.
“We are working very hard to select the appropriate and responsible contractor or partners that will execute the project. Before the end of the year, the project will commence,” he said.
The official said the ministry was ready to partner with the Nigerian Society of Engineers to ensure quality project execution in the state.
He also said the Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane construction on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway was 55 percent completed. Akinsanya said the project would be completed by October.
“The contractor is working day and night even on weekends to achieve this target. Bear with us, if there are inconveniences on the way; we are trying to minimize the inconveniences to accelerate the work,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that the state government was committed to quality project delivery and would address concerns of some badly constructed walkways. “On the issue of the walkway from Cement Bus Stop, I will go and check. We will talk to the contractor and we will go there ourselves and verify.
“No shoddy work will be allowed; there is a specification; the contractor is required to adhere to the specification,” he said.
Chairman, Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Tobun Abiodun, said the ministry had done well in the road, bridge and other constructions.
“Lagosians appreciate what the ministry is doing because they have witnessed good governance in the state,” he said.
Dilapidated FG’s assets should be refurbished, not discarded – Oyo-Ita
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said Federal Government assets that are dilapidated should be refurbished for greater productivity and not discarded.
She said this on Tuesday in Abuja, while on inspection of the newly renovated Federal Treasury Academy (FTA) in Orozo in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
She said the new face of the academy was a testimony to the change mantra of the present administration.
“By the time the facilities are fully available for public utilization, there will be a lot of money being generated not just for government but for the academy to manage its facilities.
“So, we can see that government is looking inwards and this is the kind of change we have been yearning for, to see a new approach to government assets.
“Government assets should not be discarded or thrown away or allowed to deteriorate, but they should be reactivated and used for the common good and I believe this is truly changing in action,” she explained.
Oyo-Ita said other government agencies would be encouraged to make use of the academy for retreats, workshops and other training events to reduce the cost of such activities.
Speaking to some members of staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in a workshop session, she said training was very paramount for staff to give their best to the government.
Oyo-Ita urged the members of staff to show more commitment and loyalty to the government in the discharge of their duties.
The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, appealed to the head of the service to direct all agencies to patronize the facility. This institution has been brought to the level of patronage and in line with the government directive to look inward and save cost, we do all our courses here,” said Idris.
According to him, any agency that wants to utilize the facility will only be charged a small but reasonable fare to maintain it and generate income for the government.
He said most of the renovation works were carried out by banks, public offices, and individuals as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Idris said the academy which began operation in 1973 in Lagos and was later moved to Abuja as the training arm of the Treasury, became dilapidated due to poor funding.
The academy, however, now boasts of classrooms, fully equipped library, medical center, student hostel and a computer laboratory.
TBI Africa reports that the academy was established to train accountants and auditors working in the public service to develop their capacity in public finance management.
Custom seizes 48 smuggled vehicles in Sokoto
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 48 vehicles with duty paid value of N196.7 million in Sokoto.
The Area Comptroller in charge of Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara Area Command, Nasir Ahmed, made the disclosure on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the success recorded by the command in the first quarter of 2018.
“The NCS based on credible intelligence on Wednesday, April 12, with the assistance of the 1 Brigade, Nigeria Army in an operation discovered a location in Sokoto where several vehicles are stored.
“These vehicles suspected to be smuggled into the country were stored at Rugan Waru Area of Sokoto state.
“So, officers of NCS acting under the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap 45, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2014, during a raid discovered the 48 vehicles.
“This, involved 20 Lexus GX 470 SUV vehicles and 28 Toyota Avensis vehicles suspected to be smuggled through unapproved routes,” he said.
He added that the vehicles were immediately moved from the location and deposited at NCS headquarters in Sokoto.
“We, therefore, urge the owners to come forward with valid Customs documents because failure to do so, the vehicles will be liable to seizure and subsequent forfeiture to the Federal Government after 30 days.
“This is in line with the laws of the land. However investigations to ascertain the true owners of these vehicles are ongoing,” he added.
The Comptroller further said that a total of N443.8 million revenue was generated by the command in the first quarter of 2018, higher by 20.3 percent compared to same period in 2017.
Ahmed also said the command in the first quarter seized 2, 298 bags of 50 kg and 23 bags of 25 kg bags of foreign rice with duty paid value worth N41.3 million.
He also added that 527 jerry cans of 25 kg vegetable oil with duty paid value of N6.6 million was seized by the command during the same period.
Apapa gridlock: Ambode urges truck owners to utilize ABAT terminal at Ijora
Truck owners parking along the Ijora-Apapa Road and Lagos Island areas should utilize the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) Truck Terminal in Ijora to reduce traffic gridlock in Apapa area.
Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State made the appeal on Tuesday in the second quarter of the 2018 Town Hall meeting held at the Apapa Local Government Area.
He said the ABAT Truck Terminal which was still undergoing construction could accommodate about 300 trucks at present. According to him, the terminal can accommodate about 3,000 trucks when completed.
“Our moving the town hall meetings around the various local government areas have helped us to connect with the people. It has also helped us to make policies and carry out projects that are based on the needs of the people. This has enhanced governance and delivery.
“I came to Apapa today so I can experience and feel what residents and road users here are feeling in terms of traffic gridlock. We want to listen and discuss with the people in Apapa; so we can find a lasting solution to the problem of traffic gridlock in this area.’’
Ambode said his administration had initiated the construction of the ABAT truck terminal in Ijora as part of the solutions to the traffic gridlock in that part of the state.
“We believe it is a strong solution as that terminal when completed, will be able to accommodate about 3,000 trucks at the same time. We will work with security agencies on how we can move the trucks off our roads to the terminal. For now, the terminal can take about 300 trucks but it is been underutilized.
“We urge truck owners to utilize the terminal to reduce traffic gridlock on the roads in Apapa and Lagos central axis,” he said.
Ambode said the state government would soon open up the newly constructed roads from Trade Fair Complex to CMS for public use.
“Part of the solutions to traffic gridlock in this axis is the reason we want to open up for use the roads from Trade Fair Complex, Orile/Mile 2 up to CMS.
“Let us start to use the roads we have already fixed. We do not want to wait until we complete the road construction up to Seme,” he said
The governor also said his administration was ready to employ the public-private partnership approach to complete the construction of the roads from Okokomaiko to Seme. He said the state government could not do it all alone.
The governor also said the state government could not take up the construction and rehabilitation of the Tin Can Road saying it was a Federal Government road.
“It will not be easy taking up Tin Can Road because it was not easy to get approval from the Federal Government for the construction of the International Airport Road.
“And we do not want to take too many projects into our hands. We will support the Federal Government by offering palliative measures to ameliorate the pains and hardship being experienced by users of the road, ” he said.
Ambode, however, promised to commence the urban renewal and regeneration of Ijora- Apapa area. “Just as we are regenerating Airport – Oshodi axis, plans are ongoing to do the same in Ijora/Apapa area too,” he said.
Ambode urged security agencies to ensure sanity in Apapa area by tacking the menace of ‘Okada’ riders.
He also urged local government chairmen to work with the traditional rulers in their areas to ensure security and sanitation.
Earlier, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos advised the state government to set up a police post inside the ABAT truck terminal to ensure security there.
He also advised the government to utilize and work with the traditional rulers“Obas’’ and community leaders “Baales’’ and chiefs in the areas of revenue generation, sanitation, and crime reduction.
According to him, the traditional rulers also have roles to play in ensuring crime reduction and cleaner state.
Some of the Apapa residents urged the state government to set up a fire station in the area for prompt response to emergencies.
They also urged the state government to work with the Federal Government to fix the Lagos Tin Can Road to reduce traffic in the area. They also lamented the menace of noise pollution caused by hotel owners in the area.
