EKEDC new boss assures customers of improved service delivery

(L-R) Mrs Veronica Ugbo, Business Manager Ijora District, EKEDC, Mr Joseph Esenwa, Chief Finance Officer; EKEDC, Dr Tinuade Sanda, Managing Director, EKEDC and Mr Olumide Jerome, General Manager,Commercial Loss Reduction at the EKEDC’s customer engagement forum on Thursday in Lagos.

By Solomon Asowata

Dr Tinuade Sanda, the Managing Director, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), on Thursday assured the company’s customers of improved service delivery during her leadership.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanda made the assurance during a town hall meeting with customers from Ijora Badiya, Surulere, Tejuosho, Yaba and Ojuelegba areas of Lagos State.

The newly appointed managing director said her core responsibility was to steer the leadership of the company and the entire EKEDC team to ensure operational and service excellence to customers.

She said: “This is a top priority for me. The past few months have been challenging for us as a company and for you – our esteemed customers.

“We have experienced several grid collapses and vandalism of some of our facilities which have affected the quality of our services to you.”

According to her, the engagement with customers is aimed at listening to their concerns and challenges in order to work together and proffer lasting solutions to the issues.

Sanda said many of the DisCo’s customers were metered under the Phase Zero of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), adding that the next phase was yet to start.

She said customers who could not wait should take advantage of the ongoing Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme to procure prepaid meters for their premises to reduce cases of tariff disputes and estimated billing.

Sanda also charged the customers to report people engaging in energy theft and meter bypass within their localities to ensure right billing of customers.

On alleged unprofessional conduct of some EKEDC employees, she advised customers to forward such complaints to the electricity distribution company for them to be properly sanctioned.

A customer, Prince Adeleye Abolade, representing Surulere area, called for improved relationship between the DisCo and customers, especially in rectifying faults within the network.

Abolade noted that customers were willing to pay their electricity bills especially if they were getting quality power supply from EKEDC.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Minister’s aide harps on training of oil, gas professionals

Mr Justice Derefaka, Technical Adviser, Gas Business and Policy Implementation to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

By Solomon Asowata

Mr Justice Derefaka, Technical Adviser, Gas Business and Policy Implementation to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has stressed the need for training and retraining of oil and gas professionals in the country.

Derefaka said this was the only way for them to cope and remain relevant as the world moves toward the fourth industrial revolution.

He spoke on Wednesday at the 2022 Annual General Meeting lecture series of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria ( OGTAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the lecture was theme: ‘Diversity and Inclusiveness in Human Capital Development.’

“The 2018 graduate skills ranking by the World Economic Forum placed Nigeria at 135 out of 140 countries.

“This ranking highlighted the shortage and/or lack of the requisite skills, experience and knowledge required by the employing industries.

“As a country, as a workforce, we will need to adapt to this rapidly changing world. Infact, Nigeria needs to do catch up. And this is where OGTAN comes in,” he said.

According to him, OGTAN training models need to reflect the demand for lifelong learning to cope with the technological and social changes brought by the fourth industrial revolution.

Derefaka said: “OGTAN need to do more as skills not degrees may be the reality of the future.

“In a future of unprecedented societal shifts, human capacity development/up-skilling is crucial to managing the challenges ahead.

“With more automated, digitised and fluid job markets, today’s higher education systems are quickly becoming incompatible with the future we are looking towards.

“Let us do a quick catch up with training and retraining the workforce by riding on the shoulders of OGTAN.”

He charged oil and gas companies to drive a culture of innovation and technology adoption: create digitally powered, multidisciplinary teams.

Derefaka urged them to invest in human capital and development programmes: promote new, digital thinking – re-skilling or retraining workforce for the transformation journey.

He also emphasised the need for Diversity and Inclusiveness (D&I) in the industry, noting that available statistics showed that companies that value D&I in their operations outperformed their competitors. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

FG, firm to deploy gas-powered mass transit buses in Abuja

Some of the CNG-powered mass transit buses.

 

Buses

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, April 27, 2022 (NAN) Femadec Group in partnership with the Federal Government, will on May 5 begin the deployment of compressed natural gas-powered mass transit buses in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Mr Fola Akinnola, the Chief Executive Officer, Femadec Group, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Akinnola said the move was part of the actualisation of the Federal Government’s autogas policy which was launched in December 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the mass transit scheme, which will be operated by Femadec Express, a division of the company, is starting with 20 buses manufactured by Hyundai in South Korea.

He said: “We intend to start on May 5, after the long holidays. Preparations are being put in place, drivers are being trained and also installation of the payment system in the buses is ongoing.

“We are partnering with Abuja Urban Mass Transport to ensure that we have a smooth take off.”

Akinnola explained that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses were cheaper to operate and also environmental friendly as the world was moving toward cleaner sources of energy.

He said: “Part of our business plan and strategy is to key into the Federal Government’s gas penetration scheme which includes CNG and autogas.

“There is a lot of mass transportation in the country using diesel and petrol. Apart from being environmentally hazardous, diesel has become very expensive.

“We saw this a long time ago and even without being given any contract, we decided to bring in these first 20 buses because we envisaged that this time is going to come where people will likely want to switch to gas.”

Speaking on the company’s expansion plan, he disclosed that the company was planning to acquire a total of 100 CNG buses by the end of the year.

“Our plan this year is to hit 100 buses. Apart from these 20, we are in final conclusion of another 10 from the manufacturers, Hyundai in South Korea.

“They will be delivered in the next one month. Then by August or September,we plan to bring in another 30 while we are targeting a total of 100 buses in our fleet by December.

“We are also looking at September to kickstart the scheme in Lagos and we are engaging the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.

” By then, the refueling centre would have been in place at our facility in Abijo on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

“We also intend to establish a CNG conversion centre there so that vehicle owners can convert their cars from petrol and diesel to autogas,” Akinnola said.

He noted that the gas penetration policy would create employment opportunities for young Nigerians and boost the nation’s economy.

Akinnola, however, called on the government to create an enabling environment by granting import waivers for those investing in the gas sector as a way of accelerating its development.

Also, Mr Oluwakayode Oyegoke, Head, Gas, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the government would continue to create the enabling environment to drive investment in the sector.

Oyegoke said the NMDPRA, as a business enabler , was available to guide investors to ensure that the gas penetration policy of the government and the National Gas Policy was effectively cascaded down to the masses.

He said: “The Federal Government has realised that keying into gas is one of the rapid and accelerated ways of improving the economy.

“The government in its wisdom has laid down policies to help not only electricity and industries but also transportation system.

“That is why we now have these buses that will be powered by CNG. This will reduce pressure on other white products like Premium Motor Spirit and Automotive Gas Oil.

“It will help diversification by giving options to consumers to improve their businesses.

“Above all, it is environmental friendly and part of the government’s plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Easter: IPMAN felicitates Christians

By Solomon Asowata

TheIndependent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has enjoined Christians to remain hopeful in God’s ability to transform Nigeria  as they celebrate Easter.

IPMAN’s President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, made the call in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had declared April 15 and April 18 as public holidays to mark the celebration.

Okoronkwo said Easter was an important period that represents sacrifice, hope and redemption exemplified by the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He said: “On behalf of the National Executive of IPMAN and its Board of Trustees, I want to felicitate with our Christian brothers and sisters as they mark this year’s Easter celebration.

“I urge them to imbibe the virtues of Easter which include sacrifice, hope and trust in God in time of difficulties.

“Jesus Christ demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice by dying for mankind because of the love God has for us.

“As Christians, we too are enjoined to make sacrifices. Sacrifices that will help our homes and nation to become better.

“We are also to trust in God’s ability to bring us redemption in time of difficulties.This means that Christians should not relent in prayers for our beloved country and our leaders.”

Okoronkwo said IPMAN would continue to play a key role in national development by supporting government’s programmes and policies that would enable the country maximise opportunities in the petroleum sector. (NAN)

TotalEnergies splashes N15m on 3 entrepreneurs in startupper challenge

Dr Samba Seye, Managing Director, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc in a group photograph with winners of the third edition of the company’s Startupper of the Year Challenge on Wednesday in Lagos.

 

By Solomon Asowata

TotalEnergies Nigeria on Wednesday announced the winners of the third edition of its Startupper of the Year Challenge designed to support young entrepreneurs in Nigeria and the African continent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Mike Sangster, Country Chair, TotalEnergies Companies in Nigeria, presented the award to the three finalists at a ceremony held in Lagos.

The winners in the three categories were painstakingly selected by a jury made up of experts and successful entrepreneurs from 15 top finalists.

They were assessed based on their innovative character, feasibility and development potential in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the United Nations.

The winners were rewarded with N5 million financial support each, presonalised coaching and mentoring, networking opportunities as well as media visibility.

They are: ‘Best Business Creation Project’ category won by Michael Osumune of Smart Inverter Systems, designed to provide solar electricity, wireless internet access and AI-enabled security surveillance for households and businesses with a mobile application.

The ‘Best Startup Under Three Years Old’ was won by Nonso Opurum of Soso Care, a low cost insurtech, which aims to enable millions of uninsured Nigerians access to health insurance using recyclables as premium.

Also, the ‘Best Female Entrepreneur’ was won by Rebecca Adeosun of Organic Cycle, an application developed for users to trade organic wastes, e-training intending black soldier fly farmers and sales of black soldier fly products after production.

The winners from Nigeria would compete with their peers from 32 African countries for the three grand prizes of Grand Winner, Best Business Creation, Grand Winner, Best Startup Under three years old and Grand Winner, Best Female Entrepreneur.

Sangster, represented by Dr Samba Seye, the Managing Director, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, congratulated the winners and finalists on their achievements.

He said the Startupper Challenge was designed to support and reward young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 who had created a company in the past two years.

According to him, it reaffirms TotalEnergies’ commitment to supporting the socio-economic development of the countries in which the company operates in Africa.

He said: “This prize is very important to TotalEnergies as it aligns with our culture of diversity and inclusion.

“Sometime last week, I received the 15 top finalists during a courtesy call to my office. During that interactive meeting, I noticed that out of the 15, seven are females.

“We are happy with this development which clearly underlines the fact that our women are not waiting for anyone to empower them, they are demonstrating that they have all it takes to excel, in an environment of equal opportunities.

“Nigeria, like all other countries on the continent, is faced with challenges of poverty, youth unemployment, and the lack of infrastructure critical to economic development.

“It s also faced with the challenges associated with climate change and how to provide food for its teeming population, in a sustainable manner.

“I believe that today in our midst, we have entrepreneurs whose ideas can address some of the economic challenges Nigeria and other countries in Africa face.”

Sangster said while this was the vision of TotalEnergies, the company cannot do it alone and urged other corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians should join in supporting young entrepreneurs.

Responding, the winners while thanking TotalEnergies for initiating the programme, promised to make Nigeria proud at the grand finale of the competition taking place in France. (NAN)

Group seeks collaboration among African countries to achieve sustainable development

Dr Brian Reuben, Founder, Africa Economic Summit

By Solomon Asowata

A United Kingdom-based organisation, the Africa Economic Summit Group, has called for more collaboration among African countries in order to foster development and achieve sustainable economic goals.

The group made the call on Tuesday in a communique issued after the recently concluded Africa Economic Summit which held in Lagos on March 30.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique which contained 17 recommendations was read by Dr Brian Reuben, Founder, Africa Economic Summit.

The communique said: “African countries should work together to able to achieve sustainable economic goals.

“Competition does not have to be against one another as everyone should focus on innovative ways of moving the continent forward.

“African nations should expunge self centeredness, learn to position Africa to create employment for the teeming youth and take cue from Ghana’s “knowledge bank” job creation concept.

“Local products should be sold in local currencies in Africa. African policy makers need to be patriotic because it will go a long way to enhance trade consistency, imbue confidence within the region.”

According to the communique, there is a need to digitalise regulatory agencies in the continent for ease of doing business.

“Government of countries in Africa should revisit some restrictions they have in place at their borders as the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) will not thrive under such draconian policies, “it said.

On the lack of access to electricity in the continent, the communique urged African states to collaborate to solve the energy crisis while also commiting to a transition to cleaner energy.

It said: “Nigeria needs power notwithstanding the seeming constraints, as its catalyst to economic development.

“Governments in Africa need to commit to deploy gas to solve power problems.

“Africa must rise to take its God-given pride of place especially in economy. Africa must not position itself for second fiddle, as it has the human and natural resources it requires to lead.

“Government must reduce wastage. Africa can become the wealth custody to the rest of the world.

“Africa must prepare the people and provide an enabling business environment. It must see the private sector as a means of entrepreneurial development.”

NAN reports that through the summit, the Africa Economic Summit Group, hopes to facilitate new investment and encourage business development in the continent.

It also provides a platform to share best practices, guarantee peer-to-peer networking, offer new industry insight, showcase excellence and promote thought leadership. (NAN)

Endless opportunities in power sector, says MOMAS boss

Mr Kola Balogun, Chairman, Momas Electrical Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd. (MEMMCOL), Metering School, Mrs Helen Maiyegun, Chairperson, Keystone Bank Women Economic Empowerment Committee and Mr Ademola Olorunfemi, Chairman, Academic Board, Momas Metering School, in a group photograph with the students who graduated from the school on Friday in Mowe, Ogun.

By Solomon Asowata

 Mr Kola Balogun, Chairman, Momas Electrical Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd. (MEMMCOL), Metering School says opportunities in the power sector are endless for young Nigerians.

Such opportunities, according to him, can help in curbing unemployment in the country.

Balogun spoke on Friday during the graduation of 29 young Nigerians trained at the school in Mowe, Ogun.

They were trained on meter manufacturing, installation and maintenance as well as energy auditing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 of the graduands who are female were sponsored by Keystone Bank under its Keystone Bank Women Economic Empowerment Committee (KWEEC).

Balogun said: ” The opportunities in the power sector are limitless. Meter installation is just one aspect and you know we have a huge metering gap in the country.

“We have a responsibility to address the unemployment situation in the country today and one of the ways we are doing that is to subsidise our training and partner with other organisations to give opportunities to Nigerians.

” We commend Keystone Bank for sponsoring some of the graduands and we are appealing to other corporate organisations as well as state and local governments to also key into this initiative to positively engage our women and youths.”

He said stakeholders in the power sector were working on developing a framework for meter auditors and inspectors to handle tariff dispute between customers and electricity Distribution Companies.

Balogun advised the graduands to adhere to the ethics of the industry by not conniving with customers to engage in meter bypass and energy theft which were inimical to the growth of the power sector.

Also, Mrs Helen Maiyegun, Chairperson, KWEEC, said the committee was set up in line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria for commercial banks to support empowerment of women in Nigeria.

 

Maiyegun said the beneficiaries were selected from Lagos, Kwara and Nasarawa States.

She said that the training was aimed at giving them opportunities to thrive in the power sector.

 

The chairperson noted that the  metering gap in the country presented a huge opportunity for them, especially as the phase one of the National Mass Metering Programme would soon begin.

 

Maiyegun said: “The training for us (Keystone Bank) is critical because there are limitless opportunities here.

 

“We have been training women on skills acquisition such as catering, bead making, fashion design among others but this time we decided to think outside the box and see how we can bring more women into the energy sector.

 

“When you empower a woman, you are empowering the nation and we will continue to monitor the graduands to ensure they meet their goals and aspirations.”

 

She charged them to be good ambassadors of Keystone Bank and Momas Metering School and utilise the training to better their lives.

Maiyegun urged them to contribute to national development.

 

On his part, Mr Ademola Olorunfemi, Chairman, Academic Board, Momas Metering School, said the two-week intensive training had equipped the graduands to add value to Nigeria and its economy.

 

Olorunfemi commended Keystone Bank for providing this unique opportunities for the female graduands and solicited for the sustenance of the programme.

 

Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Mrs Marian Marcus-Johnson, thanked Keystone Bank and Momas for facilitating the training.

She promised to positively utilise the knowledge imparted on them by the school. (NAN)

Court declares restricting movement of Pearl Garden Estate homeowners by property developer as unlawful

By Solomon Asowata

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has declared that the restriction of movement of homeowners within the Pearl Garden Estate situated at Sangotedo Village in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state by  CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited as unlawful.

Justice Mufutau Olokoba made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit filed by some of the homeowners against CMB(property and the estate management agents) and  the Oyetubo Jokotade Estate Resource Limited (previous landowners).

According to a Certified True Copy of  the judgement obtained by newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, the judgment was delivered by the judge on Dec. 1, 2021.

The N100 million suit was filed by the claimants on Feb. 9, 2015 following their dispute with the property developer.

It was filed by Messrs Francis Adesuyi, Felix Obiakor, Martin Ajayi-Obe and Peter Afenotan in representative capacity on behalf of themselves and all interested homeowners within the Pearl Garden Estate.

In the judgment, the judge declared that the interference and Infringement on the claimants rights by barricade and restriction of movement of claimants and lawful residents in and out of the estate by the defendants and their 

and their agents was unlawful.

He held that the purported estate charge of N35,000.00 bonus been imposed by the second defendant on the claimants was declared null and void.

The judge, however declined to grant the prayers of the claimants to order the defendants to pay them the sum of N100 million as damages and that the defendants should bear the cost of the action.