Access Holdings Plc on Monday announced the appointment of Ms. Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer.

This follows the death of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe.

Wigwe died in a helicopter crash alongside his wife, son, and a former chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group, Abimboloa Ogunbanjo on Friday

A statement made by the company’s Board of Directors and dated February 12, 2024, stated that the appointment was subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria

“Further to its announcement dated February 11, 2024, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) has today announced the appointment of Ms Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the unfortunate demise of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, on February 9, 2024.

“The appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” the statement read in part.

Agbede who joined Access Bank in 2003 as an Assistant General, has nearly three decades of professional experience cutting across banking and business consultancy services.

She served in different roles at the bank including, Head, Group Human Resources between 2010 and 2022 before she was appointed the company’s founding Executive Director, Business Support in 2022, a role she held until her new appointment

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Cranfield University UK in 2002.

She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

Punch

At least seven inmates of the Okigwe Correctional Service farm settlement in Okigwe LGA escaped from the facility during an attack by some gunmen on Monday.

In a statement issued after the attack, Henry Okoye, police spokesperson in Imo, said the attackers also killed a police inspector.

Okoye said Aboki Danjuma, the commissioner of police, has deployed a special tactical squad to go after the attackers.

He added that the gunmen were suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“The commissioner of police Imo state command, Aboki Danjuma has deployed the command’s special tactical squad and equipped them with the available resources to go all out in synergy with the military and other sister security agencies to hunt down suspected IPOB/ESN disgruntled elements, allegedly responsible for the attacks on correctional service farm settlements, in Umualomoke Okigwe LGA of Imo state in the early hours of 12/02/2024, which resulted in the release of seven (7) inmates, and abduction of the officer in charge of the farm settlement, and the death of a Police Inspector respectively,” the statement reads.

“The CP visited the said correctional service for on-the-spot assessment of the ugly incidents wherein he mandated the special tactical squad operatives to intensify efforts in ensuring that the officer in charge of the farm settlement is rescued unhurt and the fleeing inmates arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

The commisioner urged residents of the state to provide security operatives will useful information that will assist in arresting the perpetrators of the fatal attack.

The Cable

Biden says 'key elements' of a Gaza deal are on the table as he meets with Jordan's King Abdullah

Declaring that “every innocent life lost in Gaza is a tragedy,” President Joe Biden welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II to the White House Monday for talks on how to end the months-long war and plan for what comes afterward.

The meeting with Abdullah comes as Biden and his aides are working to broker another pause in Israel’s war against Hamas in order to send humanitarian aid and supplies into the region and get hostages out. The White House faces growing criticism from Arab Americans over the administration’s continued support for Israel in the face of rising casualties in Gaza since Hamas launched its Oct 7 attack on Israel.

“The key elements of the deal are on the table,” Biden said alongside the king, though “there are gaps that remain.” He said the U.S. would do “everything possible” to make an agreement happen: a pause to fighting for at least six weeks and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

A senior U.S. administration official said Sunday that after weeks of shuttle diplomacy and phone conversations, a framework was essentially in place for a deal. The official said Israeli military pressure on Hamas in Khan Younis over the last several week s has helped bring the militant group closer to accepting an agreement.

Abdullah said Biden’s leadership was “key to addressing this conflict,” as he raised the plight of the tens of thousands of civilians killed and wounded in the fighting.

“We need a lasting cease-fire now,” the king said. “This war must end.”

Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israel’s actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning over what happens next, arguing that the fighting must end before such discussions can begin. They have been demanding a cease-fire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to skyrocket.

Biden’s stance marks a subtle but notable break for the president, who has continued to oppose a permanent cease-fire. His administration has insisted that Hamas not retain political or military control over Gaza after the war — a key objective of the Israeli operation to prevent a repeat of the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and saw about 250 taken hostage.

Israel’s offensive has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians in the territory, displaced over 80% of the population and set off a massive humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, has said the majority of those killed are women and children. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters but has not provided evidence.

Biden repeated his warning that Israel must not launch a full-scale attack on Rafah, the last major holdout of Hamas where more than 1.3 million people are sheltering unless it devises plans to safeguard the civilians there from harm’s way. Earlier Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledged there were “legitimate military targets” for Israel in Rafah, but said the Israelis must ensure their operations are designed to protect the lives of innocent civilians. Officials have said the U.S. is not sure there is a feasible plan to relocate civilians out of Rafah to allow military operations to take place.

Biden, who has held out hope for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, added that he and the king discussed the need for the Palestinian Authority, which has some control over parts of the West Bank, to “urgently reform” to be ready to assume some authorities in Gaza if Hamas is removed from power. “They must prepare to build a state that accepts peace, does not harbor terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” Biden said.

Abdullah insisted that “Separation of the West Bank and Gaza cannot be accepted.”

Earlier Monday, Biden, joined by his wife, Jill, welcomed the king, Queen Rania, and crown prince Hussein at the White House before the leaders met.

It was the first meeting between the allies since three American troops were killed last month in a drone strike against a U.S. base in Jordan. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the deaths, the first for the U.S. after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Biden had planned to visit Jordan during his trip to Israel in October shortly after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, but the trip was scrapped. On his way home from Israel, Biden announced he’d helped broker the first deal to pause fighting temporarily and to open the crossing in Rafah to humanitarian aid.

In the months since, members of his administration have made repeated trips to the region to engage with leaders there.

AP

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russia uses Zircon hypersonic missile in Ukraine for first time, researchers say

A preliminary analysis concluded that Russia hit Kyiv last week with the hypersonic Zircon missile, its first use in the nearly two-year-old war, the head of a Kyiv research institute said on Monday, presenting a new challenge to Ukraine's air defences.

Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific-Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, said on his Telegram channel that his institute completed a preliminary analysis of missile fragments from a Russian attack on Feb. 7.

He included a video of alleged missile wreckage showing specific markings. "In this case, we see elements that are characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon missile. Parts and fragments of the engine and steering mechanisms have specific markings," he wrote.

The Russian defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The Zircon has a range of 1,000 km (625 miles) and travels at nine times the speed of sound, according to Russia. Military analysts have said its hypersonic speed could mean greatly reduced reaction time for air defences and a capability to attack large, deep and hardened targets.

Russia previously said it completed testing of the Zircon missile in June 2022, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Zircon as part of a new generation of unrivalled arms systems.

If its use in Ukraine is confirmed, the weapon could pose an additional challenge for the embattled country's air defences, amid uncertainty over future Western military aid.

Russia conducts regular air strikes on Ukraine using an array of different long-range missiles and drones. The Zircon was initially designed as a sea-launched weapon and a ground-launched version was developed later.

Ruvin's statement did not say whether the weapon had been fired from land or from sea. The markings recovered from the wreckage indicated the weapon had been assembled recently, he said.

The Feb. 7 attack killed at least five people and damaged residential buildings and energy infrastructure, officials said.

** Ukraine says Russia strikes Dnipro with drones, missiles

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Monday on the central city of Dnipro and the mayor said infrastructure had been hit.

Dnipro came under attack from a missile and four groups of drones approaching from the south, east and north, the air force said on the Telegram messaging app.

Air raid alerts were subsequently lifted.

Mayor Borys Filatov said infrastructure had been hit, but gave no further details.

Suspilne public television quoted the water authority as saying power cuts had closed a pumping station and supplies were cut to certain districts.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian forces lose up to 240 troops in Donetsk area in 24 hours — Defense Ministry

Russian forces destroyed two munitions depots of the Ukrainian army and neutralized up to 240 Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Russian defense Ministry said.

Here are the details of this and other combat actions that happened over the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry report.

Donetsk Area

"The enemy lost up to 240 soldiers, a tank, three cars, two US-made M777 artillery systems, and a D-20 howitzer. Apart from that, two field munitions depots were destroyed," the Ministry said.

The Russian army has taken more favorable positions near Donetsk in one day and also repelled 13 attacks by Ukrainian assault groups.

"In the Donetsk area, units of the southern group of forces have taken more favorable lines and positions, and also repelled 13 attacks by assault groups of Ukraine’s 42nd mechanized, 79th airborne assault, and 81st airmobile brigades and the 112th territorial defense brigade in the areas of Bogdanovka and Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic and Belogorovka of the Lugansk People's Republic," the news release reads.

Southern Donetsk Area

Russian forces repelled three Ukrainian army attacks in the south Donetsk area over the past 24 hours eliminating over 165 enemy’s troops.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the battlegroup East with the aviation fire support repelled three attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized and 127th territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR] and Priyutnoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the Ministry stated.

The enemy’s losses totaled over 165 personnel, three motor vehicles and a D-30 howitzer, the Ministry specified.

Krasny Liman Area

Russian forces improved their positions in the Krasny Liman area and repelled 2 attacks by Ukrainian troops during the past day.

"In the Krasny Liman area, units of the Battlegroup Center improves their frontline positions and repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 60th and 63rd mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army near the settlements of Yampolovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, Ukraine’s losses amounted up to 290 soldiers, four armored combat vehicles and nine cars.

Kupyansk Area

Russian forces repulsed three Ukrainian army attacks in the Kupyansk area, eliminating up to 60 enemy troops over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, the Defense Ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of Russia’s battlegroup West repelled three attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 43rd mechanized and 25th airborne brigades near the settlements of Timkovka and Sinkova in the Kharkov Region," the Ministry stated.

"The enemy’s losses totaled up to 60 personnel, two pickup trucks and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system," the Ministry specified.

Kherson Area

The Russian forces hit Ukrainian brigades in the Kherson Region, wiping out up to 70 enemy servicemen.

"In the Kherson area, Russian units defeated the 35th Ukrainian marine brigade and 121st territorial defense brigade near Tokarevka and Mikhailovka in the Kherson Region. The enemy lost up to 70 servicemen and three vehicles," the Ministry said, adding that Russian forces also destroyed a Ukrainian Gvozdika howitzer, a Hyacinth-B gun and a D-30 howitzer.

Destroyed equipment tally

Russian air defense forces shot down 33 Ukrainian drones during the past day, the Defense Ministry said.

"Air defense systems destroyed 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near the settlements of Novaya Kakhovka, Obryvka, Raiskoye, and Peschanovka in the Kherson Region," it said.

The Russian forces hit the Ukrainian manpower and equipment in 109 areas over the past 24 hours.

"Russia’s operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery hit the manpower and military equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces in 109 areas," the statement said.

Reuters/Tass

Lindsay Mustain has looked at a lot of resumes in her more than a decade in talent acquisition.

“Literally a million,” she says. The former Amazon recruiter is now the CEO of career coaching company Talent Paradigm and has seen candidates include some mind-boggling elements to their resumes — like stickers and a picture of themselves holding a shotgun.

But there’s one mistake she sees jobseekers make over and over again, what she calls giving “Miss America answers,” or ones she’d imagine hearing in a pageant. These are simple statements that don’t give much insight into what candidates actually accomplished on the job. It’s happening from the junior level “all the way up to the C-suite,” she says, and it’s preventing jobseekers from standing out.

Here’s what Miss America answers are and how to avoid writing them.

Don’t write ‘a glorified job description’

When it comes to your resume, you want to mirror the language of the job description to the extent that it portrays your experience accurately. As you do, however, avoid general statements about the tasks you took on.

“I had stakeholder meetings with people” is an example of a Miss America answer, says Mustain. These kinds of descriptions don’t give a concrete sense of how you were able to move your team forward. They’re “like a glorified job description,” she says, adding that, “you just look like somebody who’s filling a seat.”

Instead of listing the tasks you were given, quantify and list your accomplishments.

“If somebody is fixing tickets on a help desk,” says Mustain, as an example, “I’ve solved 30 customers’ problems a day” is a good metric to start with. You can take it even further, though, and think about what you were able to accomplish in a year. Thirty problems a day, 20 days a month, 12 months per year is 7,200 problems solved altogether.

The “more metrics and analytics you can add to your resume, the more impressive,” she says.

‘Your eyes go straight to the numbers’

Quantifying your accomplishments is not just a matter of looking impressive.

Recruiters only have a few seconds to dedicate to your resume. They’re likely “handling somewhere between 15 to 25” job openings at once, says Mustain. “The average applicants per job is 250, which means they’re dealing with tens of thousands of applicants.”

The benefit of quantifying your accomplishments is that recruiters’ eyes “go straight to the numbers when we’re reviewing,” Mustain says. They’ll know how much value you added to your previous employers immediately.

Bottom line, if you want to move forward in the interview process, your resume has “got to be results-based,” she says.

CNBC

Nigeria may not be able to fill all the 95,000 hajj seats allocated to it for this year’s pilgrimage as many intending pilgrims are yet to either deposit the fare or pay the balance.

The depreciation of the Nigerian currency, Naira, has jacked up the hajj fare to N4.9 million for this year’s intending pilgrims from the initial minimum N4.5 million pegged by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Sequel to an adjustment in the methodology for setting the exchange rate, the naira slid to a record low on January 30, 2024 selling for 1,413 against the dollar at the official window.

NAHCON had, on February 3, said intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj from southern states were required to pay N4,899,000; those from northern states, N4,699,000 and those from Yola and Maiduguri, N4,679,000.

The final dateline, which the commission gave intending for final payments to enable the commission to transfer the money to the service providers before the February 25 deadline set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, elapses today.

NAHCON had allocated a total of 75,000 hajj slots to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and 20,000 to private tour operators.

Although the commission did not disclose the total number of intending pilgrims that had so far registered, findings by Daily Trust revealed that most of the states were yet to fill half of the slots given them.

2,600 intending pilgrims pay in Kano

Spokesman of the Kano State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (SPWB), Suleiman Dederi, told our correspondent that only 2,600 of the 5,993 seats allocated to the state have been paid for.

He, however, expressed optimism that the number would increase before the expiration of the deadline as many were still making

Dederi said he believes that numbers will go up before Monday making payments in the banks.

Katsina

Of the 4,300 seats allocated to Katsina State, only “a little over 2,000 intending pilgrims” have completed payment, according to the state pilgrims’ board.

Adamawa

The Adamawa SPWB said of the 2,448 slots allocated to the state, only 1,778 have been paid for.

The secretary of the board stated, “As of now, 1,778 pilgrims have already paid for their hajj fare, while others are still in the process of making their payments.”

Niger

Spokesman of the Niger SPWB,  Jibrin Usman Kodo, told our correspondent that of the 3,592 seats allocated to the state, only 2, 806 intending pilgrims had made deposits.

“Intending pilgrims from Niger State are in two categories. There are those that have paid the initial deposit of N4.5 million. As of Monday, we have 286 intending pilgrims that have paid the N4.5 million but yet to pay the balance of N199,000. There are however, those that have paid less than N4.5 million initial deposit and those in this category are 556,” he said.

Edo

Of the 412 hajj slots allocated to Edo State, 250 intending pilgrims have made deposits; while 123 have completed payment. Chairman of the SPWB, Ibrahim Oyarekhua, said: “NAHCON allocated 412 slots to Edo State and about 250 intending pilgrims had made deposit for the initial N4.5 million.”

Kwara

Executive Secretary of the Kwara SPWB, Board, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, said over 2,000 intending pilgrims had paid fully for hajj out of the 3,419 seats allocated to the state.

FCT

The director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board said less than 2,500 intending pilgrims had so far paid their fares out of the 4,365 allocated to the territory.

Gombe

An official of the Gombe SPWB told our correspondent that of the 2,506 hajj seats allocated to the state, only 600 have completed their payments; while over 1,000 have made deposits.

Lagos

About half of the 3,576 hajj slots allocated to Lagos State have been fully paid for, according to the spokesman of the state pilgrims’ welfare board, Taofeek Lawal.

Kaduna

Deputy public relations of the Kaduna SPWB, Yunusa Mohammed Abdullahi, told our reporter that over 6,000 hajj seats given to the state.

While he could not give the number of intending pilgrims who had completed their registrations, he said 4,000 had “collected bank tellers for hajj payment so far.”

Bauchi

A total of 3,364 hajj seats were given to Bauchi State for this year’s pilgrimage. Executive Secretary of the SPWB, Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris, said in December that the board had sold 1,700 of the slots.

Speaking to our correspondent at the weekend, spokesman of the board, Muhammad Sani Yunusa, said that the number of the intending pilgrims had increased from the previous 1,700 seats.

“But I can’t give the exact figure of the total number of intending pilgrims that completed their payment for the 2024 Hajj exercise,” he added.

Delta

Delta State chairman of Islamic Affairs, Yahaya Ufuoma Mohammed, said 64 slots were allocated to the state.

He said: “Hajj fare for this year is very high. As a result, we cannot, at this moment, disclose the number of those that have made full payment.”

‘High fare will prevent Nigeria from filling slots’

A former chairman of TAFSAN Travels and Tour, an arm of the Nasrullahi-l-fatih Society (NASFAT), Maruf Arowosaye, said with the current fare, it would be difficult for Nigeria to meet the 95,000 slots allocated to it by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Daily Trust, he said: “There’s nothing God cannot do, but it’s going to be practically impossible for us to fill our quota because by now, they ought to have closed the process for the states according to demand from Saudi Arabia.

“But as it is now, we’re far from filling our quota but there is nothing Allah cannot do. We cannot run away from the fact that the fare this year is high but the demand and the rent in Saudi Arabia has not increased. Everything boils down to our naira being devalued.

“If Allah calls one, he would be able to make it. Everybody should wait for his/her time. Whoever is able to make it this year, so be it; if you cannot make it, then wait for another time.”

Daily Trust

Federal civil servants in about 90 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are yet to receive their January salaries.

The affected MDAs include the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF), Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ministry of Education, National Population Commission, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Voice of Nigeria, among others.

In separate interviews with Daily Trust and Premium Times, the workers lamented and said their December 2023 salary delay experience ought not to have been repeated.

“As I am talking to you, myself and three of my colleagues have not been paid. The situation is not fair not with the current situation of the daily increment of prices of food items and other things in the country,” one of the workers said.

Others alleged that the delay in the payment of their salaries was an indication that the government was insensitive to the sufferings of the masses.

The delay in the December salary payment had been attributed to technical issues relating to upload and harmonization of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The delay in the payment of January salaries was blamed on the technical glitch on the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) platform by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

GIFMIS is an IT-based system for budget management and accounting put in place by the federal government to improve public expenditure management processes and enhance greater accountability and transparency across ministries and agencies.

A January 31 memo titled, ‘Delay in the Payment of January 2024 Salary’, from the bursary department of the National Mathematics Centre, Abuja, to all its staff, signed by the acting bursar, Pius Ukwah, said, “We wish to inform you that January 2024 salaries will be delayed beyond normal.

“As of today, the OAGF is still working on finalising the 2024 appropriation on the GIFMIS platform and as a result, the personnel warrant for January is yet to be released”.

The memo, which copied the Director/CE, the Registrar and pasted on all notice boards, stated further, “The same situation applies to all MDAs and not just the centre. We regret the inconvenience caused by this delay.”

In Ekiti State, some of the workers who spoke with Premium Times included staff of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); National Orientation Agency (NOA), and Federal Ministry of Information, among others.

An official of FUOYE, Wole Balogun, said with the hardship being faced by the people, it was inconceivable that salaries could be delayed longer than necessary.

Balogun, who blamed the delay on an unnecessary bureaucratic bottleneck associated with the payment platforms, urged the federal government to expedite action on the payment, “because the situation is becoming unbearable.”

A staffer of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Folashade Daramola, also lamented the delay. She noted that many members of staff have loan obligations that they ought to have paid as at when due, which have remained pending.

Also, Owoeye Ilesanmi, who is a staffer of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), said that in addition to delay in the payment of January salary, the federal government has reneged on the payment of the wage award.

In Katsina State, many federal workers spoken to also said they had not been paid their salary and palliatives support from the government.

Some of the affected workers told Premium Time that the delay was affecting their work schedule, as they now find it difficult to go to work, especially those living in areas far from their offices.

“I work in a department that requires me to go to the office every day, but I’ve finished my savings and I’m finding it difficult to travel to Dutsin Ma to undertake my responsibility,” Faruk (surname withheld), who is an engineer with the department of Physical Planning and Works at the Federal University, Dutsin Ma, said.

Another non-academic worker of the Federal Polytechnic, Daura, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said the delay in salary payment was affecting her activities, especially because she travelled daily from Katsina to Daura.

An official of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Edo State, Jude Abugu, described the delay in payment of salaries as commonplace in recent months.

A memo from the Accountant-General’s Office said work was ongoing towards finalising the 2024 budget on the GIFMIS platform.

When contacted last night, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, told Daily Trust that about 90 offices across the MDAs were affected, including some universities and polytechnics.

He, however, said many of the workers had started receiving their salaries on Thursday; while others did on Friday and at the weekend.

“The issue was attributed to issue of uploading the 2024 budget and making it current because the salary was paid from the 2024 budget instead of the tradition where they overlap the budget,” he explained.

“All has been finalized on Friday. They are supposed to have started getting since yesterday (Saturday). If they don’t get, maybe it is from the banks, from tomorrow (Monday) morning, definitely they will get it”.

A top official in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, who insisted on not being named, said the delay in salary payment was not a punishment for workers.

He confirmed receiving his salary, but said he was aware that some of his “superior officers and some junior workers are yet to receive theirs.”

Daily Trust

Power distribution companies overbilled about 7.1 million unmetered electricity consumers between January and September 2023, an analysis of the latest monthly number of overbilled customers showed.

In the various Regulatory Interventions for Non-Compliance with the Order on Capping of Estimated Billing to Unmetered Customers, issued to the 11 Discos by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government, it was established that the power distributors raked over N105bn as a result of over-billing.

Figures computed by our correspondent indicated that Yola Disco overbilled about 42,902 customers to the tune of N541.9m during the review period, while Abuja Disco overbilled 1,823,218 customers by N17.9bn.

Benin Disco overbilled 754,849 customers underestimated billing by N10.5bn, as Enugu Disco overbilled a total of 1,011,402 customers to the tune of N11.9bn during the nine-month period.

Eko Disco overbilled 371,828 customers under the estimated billing category between January and June 2023, as the months of July, August and September were not captured in the report released by NERC. It overbilled these customers to the tune of N14.13bn.

Ibadan Disco made N333.68m from the overbilling of 143,465 customers underestimated billing between January and September last year, while Jos Disco overbilled 1,264,537 customers to the tune of N13.3bn.

Ikeja Disco overbilled 934,438 customers by N20.9bn, as Kaduna raked in N1.14bn from the overbilling of 126,071 power users under its franchise area during the review period.

Kano Discos overbilled 71,120 customers by N196.97m during the nine month period, while Port Harcourt Disco overbilled 605,621 customers to the tune of N14.2bn between January and June, as the number of overbilled customers in July, August and September were not captured.

It was reported on Saturday that the power sector regulator declared that it would deduct N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the 11 power distribution companies during the next tariff review as part of sanctions over their non-compliance with the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.

NERC stressed that the billing of unmetered customers by the power firms in their various franchise areas for 2023 revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the commission.

The regulator often issues orders stipulating the maximum amount that any unmetered customer is meant to pay to the distribution company that provides him or her electricity services.

The amount is continued until the customer is metered by the distribution company, according to NERC’s order to the power firms.

In its order, as reported on Saturday, the regulator said, “The public may recall that in 2020, the commission issued the order on Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/197/2020) and subsequently issued monthly energy caps which aimed to align the estimated bills for unmetered customers with the measured consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder.

“A review of the electricity distribution companies’ billing of unmetered customers for 2023 has revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the commission.”

In response to this and in a bid to safeguard unmetered customers from arbitrary billing by Discos, the commission stated that pursuant to Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 2023, it had issued the order on Non-Compliance with Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/2024/004-01 4).

It said the order stipulates the following: “i. Credit adjustment to customers: Discos are to issue credit adjustments to all over-billed unmetered customers for the period January to September 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle.

“ii. Public notice: Discos have been directed to publish the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies and on their website no later than March 31, 2024.

“iii, Regulatory sanctions: The commission shall deduct a sum of N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the 11 Discos during the next tariff review, to deter future non-compliance with the energy caps approved by the commission.”

Electricity consumers nationwide have continued to lodge complaints against excessive estimated bills by power distribution companies in Nigeria.

The PUNCH, for instance, exclusively reported on December 31, 2023, that power consumers lodged a total of 333,947 complaints bordering on metering, billing and service interruption to their various distribution companies within a period of three months.

According to the report, this was disclosed in the 2023 third quarter report of NERC, stating that the complaints were lodged in the months of July, August and September 2023.

The report stated that the customer complaints in the third quarter was higher than what was recorded in the preceding quarter by 8,049 cases.

It quoted the NERC report as saying that “the total number of complaints received across all Discos (distribution companies) in 2023/Q3 was 333,947; Ibadan Disco received the highest number of complaints (59,901), representing 17.93 percent of the total complaints received. Abuja Disco received the least number of complaints (1,919), representing 0.57 percent of the total complaints received.

“Compared to 2023/Q2, the number of complaints received, number of cases resolved, and average resolution rate changed by +2.47 percent (333,947 in 2023/Q3 vs. 325,898 in 2023/Q2), +1.19 percent (317,179 in 2023/Q3 vs. 313,442 in 2023/Q2), and -1.2 per cent (94.98 in 2023/Q3 vs. 96.18 in 2023/Q2) respectively.

“Benin (-47.85 percent), Jos (-26.21 percent) and Ikeja (-1.84 percent) Discos recorded decreases in the number of customer complaints received compared to 2023/Q2.

“Conversely, eight Discos recorded increases in the number of customer complaints with significant increases being recorded by Yola (+43.28 percent), Kano (+17.46 percent) and Port Harcourt (+16.05 percent).”

On the type of complaints, the report stated that “the most frequently reported issues among the 333,947 complaints received by Discos in 2023/Q3 were metering (57.31 percent), billing (12.88 per cent), and service interruption (8.07 percent).

 “These three complaints categories cumulatively accounted for over 78 percent of the total complaints in the quarter. Out of the 333,947 complaints received in 2023/Q3, 317,179 were resolved, translating to a resolution rate of 94.98 percent.”

Meanwhile, the commission has reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance and consumer protection within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

Consumers expressed optimism that the power sector regulator would ensure the enforcement of this latest sanction on Discos, with the hope that it would deter the power firms from overbilling electricity users on estimated billing.

Punch

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have lost 2-1 to the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Eagles surrendered a goal lead to the Ivorians at the Olympic stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday.

Nigeria conceded only two goals en route to the final but let in just as many goals against a rejuvenated Cote d’Ivoire side.

The Elephants were a different team from the earlier side that lost to the Eagles in the group stage and needed to wait till the final match of the group stage to qualify for the second round.

Jean-Louis Gasset was sacked as the team’s head coach, and Emerse Fae turned the country’s fortune around as an interim coach.

The period of despair had hardened the team’s belief in comebacks, and they did just that against Nigeria in the final match.

The Eagles took the lead in the first half through a towering header from William Troost-Ekong.

The Ivorians then equalised through a header of their own as Franck Kessie found himself free on the far side of the post.

Then Sebastien Haller completed the comeback for the host country, stabbing home a cross from Simon Adingra.

For most of the game, the Eagles struggled with coherence and creation of chances. The team had only one shot on target throughout the game.

The Elephants had clearer intentions to win the game, and they became the champions of Africa for the third time in their history.

PLAYER RATINGS

Stanley Bobo Nwabali, GK (3/5): He was calm as always, but the fire shone through in his face-off with the Ivorians. His first-half save was the springboard for the opener. He could have done a little about both goals.

Zaidu Sanusi, DW (2/5): He lived dangerously and was at fault for Ivory Coast’s opener. A poor night.

Olaoluwa Aina, DW (2/5): He left wide gaps for Cote d’Ivoire to explore. An uncharacteristically poor night.

Calvin Bassey, DC (2.5/5): A case of two halves. Colossal in the first half, average and mistake-laden in the second half.

William Troost Ekong (C), DC (3/5): He scored the opener but could not prevent the Ivoirians from scoring twice.

Semi Ajayi, DC (3/5): Average night for the languid defender. He could not stop Haller from scoring the winner.

Frank Onyeka, DM (2.5/5): He was indefatigable but swarmed by the opponents, who had a packed midfield and dragged him everywhere.

Alex Iwobi, MC (2/5): He played well in the first half but gassed out after the interval.

Samuel Chukwueze, WF (1/5): Poor. Missing in action.

Ademola Lookman, WF (2/5): An average display, swarmed by the Ivorians once he touched the ball.

Victor Osimhen, ST (3/5): A Battering ram as usual but was starved of any service while the Ivorian defence did not allow him a quarter.

Substitutes
Alhassan Yusuf, MC (N/A): No impact

Moses Simon, WF (1/5): He came on early in the second half but had to defend more than he tried to attack.

Kelechi Iheanacho, MC (N/A): Could not influence the game.

Joe Aribo, MC (N/A): No impact.

Terrem Moffi, ST (N/A): Not enough time for impact.

The Cable

The Israeli military says it has rescued 2 hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip

The Israeli military said it rescued two hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip early Monday, marking a small but symbolically significant success in its quest to bring home over 100 captives believed to be held by the Hamas militant group.

The hostages were released in a raid that included a series of Israeli strikes in Rafah, the city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled to escape fighting elsewhere in the Israel-Hamas war. At least seven people were killed.

Israel has described Rafah as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza after more than four months of war and signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the densely populated city. On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden had warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation against Hamas in Rafah without a “credible and executable” plan to protect civilians.

The army identified the rescued hostages as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who it said were kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak in the Oct. 7 cross-border attack that triggered the war. Both were airlifted to Sheba Hospital in central Israel and were reported to be in good medical condition. They are just the second and third hostages to be rescued safely. A female soldier was rescued in November.

Monday’s raid included at least 15 airstrikes, flares and Apache helicopter fire, witnesses said. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, said the operation was based on “precise intelligence,” and that the site, located on the second floor of a building, had been watched for some time. He said Netanyahu joined Israel’s military chief and other top officials as the raid unfolded.

Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others in the Oct. 7 raid. An Israeli air and ground offensive has killed over 28,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced over 80% of the population and led to a massive humanitarian crisis.

Over 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity. Three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army after escaping their captors in December.

Israel has made the return of all hostages one of the main goals of the war. Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with Israel’s military offensive until a “total victory” that also includes destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.

CONCERNS ABOUT RAFAH

The strikes hit around Rafah’s Kuwait Hospital early Monday morning, an Associated Press journalist in Rafah said. Some of those wounded in the strikes had been brought to the hospital.

The Israeli military earlier said it struck “terror targets in the area of Shaboura” — which is a district in Rafah.

Palestinian health officials did not immediately offer any casualty information. The army said it had killed at least three militants in the raid. An AP journalist counted seven bodies.

Netanyahu has said sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israel’s war goals. Biden has urged Israel to exercise extreme caution before moving in. An estimated 1.4 million Palestinians — more than half of Gaza’s population — are now crammed into Rafah, increasing its population five-fold. Hundreds of thousands of people are now living in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters.

Biden’s remarks, made in a phone call with Netanyahu late Sunday, were his most forceful language yet on the possible operation. Biden, who last week called Israel’s military response in Gaza “over the top,” also sought “urgent and specific” steps to strengthen humanitarian aid. Israel’s Channel 13 TV said the conversation lasted 45 minutes.

Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call, a senior U.S. administration official said, and after weeks of diplomacy, a “framework” is now “pretty much” in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, acknowledged that “gaps remain,” but declined to give details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal.

Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the call. Hamas’ Al-Aqsa television station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying any invasion of Rafah would “blow up” the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah. The Camp David peace accords have been a cornerstone of regional stability for over 40 years. Egypt fears a mass influx of Palestinian refugees who may never be allowed to return.

WHERE WOULD CIVILIANS GO?

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other countries have also warned of severe repercussions if Israel goes into Rafah.

“An Israeli offensive on Rafah would lead to an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe and grave tensions with Egypt,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X. Human Rights Watch said forced displacement is a war crime.

Inside Rafah, some displaced people packed up again. Rafat and Fedaa Abu Haloub, who fled Beit Lahia in the north earlier in the war, placed their belongings onto a truck. “We don’t know where we can safely take him,” Fedaa said of their baby. “Every month we have to move.”

Om Mohammad Al-Ghemry, displaced from Nuseirat, said she hoped Egypt would not allow Israel to force Palestinians to flee into the Sinai “because we do not want to leave.”

Heavy fighting continues in central Gaza and Khan Younis.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday that the bodies of 112 people killed across the territory had been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours. The death toll is 28,176 since the start of the war. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters but says most of those killed were women and children.

AP