₦airaland Forum

nairalanda1:
To maintain it at 65 naira, government subsidy costs went up three times from 2010-11.

That meant that money was taken from the reserve and other segments of the budget to pay for the subsidy

Meaning that government then had to borrow to fill the resulting deficit.

That's why by 2011.ending, GEJ wanted to remove subsidy, but you people said no. So spending continued until 2022, when the debt was eating 90% of our revenue. Until May 2023 when government was forced to remove subsidy.

You guys should know that nothing is cheap. If someone is giving you something for one naira, that actually costs 70 naira, ya think say the money go disappear like that?

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have raised concerns over rising transport fares following the recent increase in petrol prices across the country.


According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), petrol previously sold between N835 and N875 per litre in the FCT is now priced between N1,200 and N1,350.

The increase has prompted commercial vehicle operators to raise transport fares by roughly 100 per cent.

Commuters told NAN that fares have been adjusted almost immediately following the fuel price hike, raising fears of further cost-of-living pressures.

Mrs. Ngozi Okeke, a civil servant in Garki, said the fare from Nyanya to the city centre rose sharply within days of the petrol price adjustment.

“Last week, I paid N800 to work, but today it was N1,000. It may seem small, but over a week, it adds up,” she explained.

Theresa Godspower said she now pays N700 from Nyanya to the Federal Secretariat, up from the previous N500.

Similarly, Mr. Musa Abdullahi reported paying N1,200 from Masaka to the city centre, compared with N700 before.

Mr. Godwin Ameh added that fares from Lugbe to Wuse have risen from N800 to N1,000, with some drivers charging as much as N1,200. Public servant Mr. Amos Badifu noted that transport fare hikes often lead to higher food prices.

“Whenever fuel prices go up, transporters increase fares, and traders raise the cost of food items to cover transport expenses,” he said. He added that fares from Kuje to Berger have increased from N1,300 to N1,500, with motorcycle fares also on the rise.

A taxi driver, Mr. John Eze, said operators had little choice but to raise fares to avoid losses.

“Yesterday, I bought fuel at N1,250 per litre, and today it is N1,350. We have to adjust fares or we will run at a loss,” he explained.

NAN also observed fewer vehicles on some major roads as vehicle owners adjust to the higher fuel costs.

Economist Dr. Ibrahim Sule warned that fuel price increases often ripple across the economy, affecting transportation and food supply.

“Transportation is a major component of the cost of goods, especially food transported from rural areas to urban markets. When fuel prices rise, transport costs go up, and traders pass the additional costs to consumers. This is why people fear food inflation may follow,” he said.

Dr. Sule recommended that the government strengthen social protection measures and invest in mass transit systems to ease the impact on residents.

He also suggested that developing alternative transport options could help reduce Nigeria’s heavy dependence on petrol-powered mobility.

Damseldammie:
Mr President should prefer solution to this issue, this heat is killing pls

The power shortage across Nigeria may worsen as suppliers have reduced the amount of gas they supply to thermal power plants.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) had stated that thermal power plants require an estimated 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity.

However, as of February 23, 2026, actual supply stood at about 692.00 mmscf per day, representing less than 43 per cent of the required volume.

The development is coming amid blackouts in many states, a situation that is crippling businesses.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji, during an interview on Fresh FM in Ibadan, warned that the mounting debt across the power value chain is pushing the sector toward a major crisis.

Speaking on the situation, Ogaji alleged that the crisis stemmed from the failure of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc to fully pay for electricity generated by GenCos since the sector’s privatisation.

According to her, the government currently owes generation companies about N6.8 trillion, with roughly 70 per cent of the amount relating to thermal plants.

She said about 70 per cent of whatever the government owes gas-fired power plants belongs to gas suppliers, meaning gas companies are owed about N3.3 trillion out of the N4.76 trillion tied to thermal generation.

Ogaji disclosed that suppliers have informed generation companies that they will no longer supply gas to power plants unless payments are made.

“NBET is set up to buy power from GenCos and sell to DisCos. The aim is that, as they buy power, they will pay in full, but since 2013 till today, they’ve never paid in full, so this debt is now N6.8tn,” she said.

Providing a breakdown of the debt, Ogaji stated that the liabilities have grown significantly over time.

“From 2015 to December 2024, the debt profile grew to N4tn. In each month of 2025, there is a shortfall of N200bn. So if you calculate N200bn times 12, that is N2.4tn, making the whole debt N6.4tn after December 2025.

“We’re already in March 2026. The debt grew to N6.6tn in January and N6.8tn in February. At the end of March, you need to add N200bn again to make it N7tn,” she said.

Ogaji added that a significant portion of the outstanding debt is owed to gas suppliers because thermal plants account for the majority of electricity generation on the national grid.

She said: “The generation companies have hydros, and we have thermal power plants. The thermal power plants are the ones that use gas. The hydro plants use water, so they do not owe gas suppliers.

“On the grid, we have 30 power plants. Out of that, about 30 per cent are hydro now because Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station has added 700 MW, and there are other smaller hydro plants. So, the remaining 70 per cent comes from gas.

“Therefore, for every N100 the thermal plants invoice NBET, N70 belongs to the gas suppliers. So, if we go by that ratio, out of the N6.8tn that I’m quoting, if we take out 70 per cent of that money that belongs to thermal plants, we need to work out another 70 per cent of that thermal 70 per cent, and that belongs to gas suppliers.”

Industry estimates, based on this calculation, show that about N3.3 trillion of the total debt is owed to gas producers, whose fuel powers most of Nigeria’s electricity generation.

The GenCo chief warned that the worsening debt crisis is directly responsible for the current electricity shortages.

“Yes, it is 120 per cent correct to say that the debt is the reason why we are in darkness,” she said.

Ogaji added that gas producers are increasingly insisting on payment before supplying fuel to power plants.

“Gas is not available because the gas suppliers have told us that if we need gas, we need to put money on the ground to get gas in the pipe. We owe them a lot of money,” she said.

According to Ogaji, the inability of generation companies to receive payments has also left them struggling to service bank loans obtained during the 2013 power sector privatisation.

“We owe gas suppliers, and we also owe lenders. You may have read in the papers that a bank has been threatening to take over Egbin Power Station because of the acquisition loan,” she said.

She also said GenCos’ financial burden had worsened significantly due to the sharp depreciation of the naira since the loans were obtained.

“In 2013, during the privatisation, the GenCos took loans from different banks so that they could make a lot of power available to Nigeria. But with this lack of payment, they are not able to pay their loans, and another problem is that they took those loans in dollars in 2013 when the dollar to the naira was N155 to one dollar,” she added.


Blackout, load shedding continue

Consumers in different parts of the country are grumbling as blackouts and load shedding on the national grid continue.

The low supply has affected all parts of the country, with electricity distribution companies announcing load shedding across their franchise areas as a way to ration electricity to communities.

For instance, data on the platform of the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed that Abuja Disco is getting 539 megawatts from the grid, while Ikeja Disco is receiving 533MW and Eko Disco is getting 455MW.

Ibadan Disco is getting 336MW, while Benin Disco is getting 227MW, with Enugu Disco receiving 218MW and Jos Disco getting 159MW.

Kaduna Disco is receiving 178MW, with Kano Disco getting 190MW and Port Harcourt Disco getting 196MW.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in a recent report, confirmed that only 32% of the 13,625 megawatts installed capacity of electricity power plants dispatched electricity in the month of February.

NERC, in the February 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet posted on its X account, said an average of 4,384MW was available for dispatch during the month.

It said the average load factor is 93%, showing that 4,102MWh/h of available capacity was utilised.

It identified Ihovbor_2, Kainji_1 and Jebba_1 as top energy producers that stood out with strong availability and high utilisation levels.

This means that hydro power plants continue to serve as major contributors to the national grid despite the dry season, which usually leads to a drop in water levels in hydro dams.



Protest in Lagos

Yesterday, many residents of Lagos continued to protest prolonged blackouts amid the scorching heat in the state.

The situation is worsened by the increase in the pump price of petrol, which has made it extremely difficult for residents of the affected communities to power their generating sets.

From Fadeyi to Mushin and from Igando, Ajegunle, Ijanikin and Badagry, the story remains the same.

Frustrated over what they described as “persistent blackouts,” residents of Fadeyi yesterday took to the streets to protest the “epileptic” electricity supply across the state.

They claimed that despite the persistent blackouts, the electricity distribution companies still slammed them with outrageous estimated bills.

Some of them queried the refusal of the DisCos to comply with the Federal Government directives ordering them to give out free meters.

Mrs. Oyinlola, a mother of three who had been struggling to keep her family comfortable without power, accused the DisCos of alleged connivance with generator sellers as well as owners of petrol stations to fleece them of their hard-earned money.

“It’s been three weeks now, and it’s like living in a different era. We can’t charge our phones, the food in the fridge is getting bad, and the children are getting restless,” she said.

John Ekanem, who owns a photo studio and business café, claimed that at night residents set up makeshift lanterns, while others had invested in generators, filling the air with roaring noise from their engines.

For residents like Mrs. Oyinlola and Mr. Adeyemi, the power outage is more than just an inconvenience; it is a disruption to their daily lives, a reminder of the fragility of the infrastructure that underpins their community.

A viral video circulating on social media on Thursday showed a group of protesters, primarily young Nigerians, marching through the Fadeyi area of Lagos.

The demonstrators, carrying placards and chanting, expressed their frustration over what they described as a collapse of the power sector that is “killing” local businesses.

Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as: “No more estimated billing,” “No more epileptic power supply,” “No light, no life, no nation,” and “You’re destroying, killing so many businesses; give us regular light.”

“We are not asking for too much,” one protester was heard shouting in the footage. “Make them give us light!”

Similarly, palpable tension is hovering over Obadore, Akesan and Igando communities in Lagos, as residents threatened to stage a protest over a prolonged power outage that has plagued the area for months.

The residents have threatened to stage a 1,000-man march to the head office of Ikeja Electric, the power distribution company responsible for the area.

The residents lamented the hardships caused by the over three-month blackout, which they claimed had disrupted their businesses, compromised their safety, and subjected them to unnecessary hardships.

“We are tired of living in darkness,” said a resident who identified himself as Shakiru Ojo. “We pay our bills regularly, but Ikeja Electric has failed to provide us with the basic service we deserve,” he added.

Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday in Lagos, Chairman of the Electricity Committee and Vice Chairman of the Akesan/Obadore Joint Community Development Association (JCDA), Dr. Adebola Ademeso, stated that they are compelled to communicate their disaffection with IEKD, specifically as “they are being treated as an irrelevant community that must be subjected to perpetual darkness, despite efforts at maintaining a cordial and peaceful mutual relationship.”

“In the event there is supply, it would not last more than 30 minutes or, at most, two hours in a week.

“At our last engagement meeting, it was agreed that five electric poles would be erected at different locations indicated by our community. But to our dismay, five poles for the month of February have not been erected in the month of March.

“Our ten cardinal resolutions in the form of requests are as follows: we say no to continuing to pay for darkness. We demand the scrapping of the November and December 2025 bills, while that of January 2026 be negotiated,” he said.


Discos apologise, blame gas constraints

Meanwhile, in a notice to customers providing an update on power supply disruption, Ikeja Electric apologised to customers, saying:

“The current situation is due to gas supply constraints affecting the national grid. This has resulted in a significant energy shortfall, necessitating increased load shedding across all our feeders.

“Please be assured that we are in constant communication with relevant stakeholders as they work to restore normal generation levels.”

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) also said: “We fully understand the inconvenience this situation may be causing and deeply appreciate your patience and continued understanding during this period. Please be assured that all relevant stakeholders are working diligently to resolve the gas supply challenge and restore normal power supply as quickly as possible.”

The power outage is the same in most parts of the country. Barely one week ago, artisans and residents across Kano State told Daily Trust that the persistent blackout is crippling small businesses and worsening living conditions.

Power supply in Kano and parts of the North-West is handled by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), serving Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.

Musa Abdullahi, a welder in the Hotoro area of Kano, said he now relies almost entirely on a petrol generator.

“Before this load shedding became worse, we used to have at least eight to 10 hours of electricity daily. Now, we sometimes go two days without power. I spend between N8,000 and N12,000 daily on fuel. That is eating deep into my profit,” he said.

A tailor in Sabon Gari, Aisha Sani, said her earnings had dropped by nearly half in the last two months.

She said since she uses industrial machines that require stable power, she misses deadlines when there is no electricity.

She said she lost at least five big orders recently because she could not deliver on time.

Frozen food and cold-drink sellers are also recording heavy losses. Maryam Ibrahim, who sells frozen chicken and fish at Kurna, said she lost goods worth over N300,000 after a 48-hour outage.

In Yenagoa, artisans say rising fuel costs have forced them to increase service charges, leading to poor patronage.

Stephen Eddie, who runs a barbing salon in Amarata, said he raised his price from N500 to N800 to offset generator expenses.

In Kaduna, business owners say they have adjusted to the reality of unreliable power by adopting alternative energy sources, while residents say even when electricity returns briefly, bills remain high.

Meanwhile, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), while expressing empathy with the frustrations being experienced due to the limited power allocation to its customers, said Nigeria’s power sector is currently facing significant constraints during the dry season (typically November to April).

While also blaming the gas shortage, it said hydropower generation often drops during this season due to low water levels in dams, and many thermal plants experience reduced gas supply from pipeline issues, vandalism and other supply-chain disruptions.

“These factors have led to lower overall generation and reduced allocations from the national grid to all Distribution Companies (DisCos), including AEDC.”

The Lagos State Government has commenced an investigation into the reported death of a Lagos socialite popularly known as “Elena”, who allegedly died after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift cosmetic procedure, popularly known as BBL, at an unnamed clinic in the state.

PUNCH Online reports that a buttock enlargement procedure is a cosmetic surgery that involves removing fat from other parts of the body and injecting it into the buttocks to achieve a rounder and fuller shape.

The probe is being conducted through the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, the regulatory body responsible for monitoring and accrediting health facilities in Lagos.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary, Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, Abiola Idowu, the government said the investigation followed reports circulating on social media alleging that the woman developed complications after the aesthetic procedure.

The statement noted that the complications were reported to have occurred during or shortly after the surgery.

“The Lagos State Government, through the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), has commenced a full investigation into the reported death of a Lagos socialite popularly known as ‘Elena,’ who allegedly died after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) cosmetic procedure at a clinic in the state.

“The development follows reports circulating on social media alleging that the young woman developed complications after the aesthetic procedure, which reportedly occurred either during or shortly after the surgery.

“While details of the incident are still being verified, the State Government has assured the public that a thorough, professional, and transparent investigation has been initiated to determine the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate event”, the statement partly read.

The agency disclosed that preliminary findings indicated the clinic where the procedure reportedly took place is registered with the regulatory agency, but stressed that registration does not shield any facility from investigation when patient safety concerns arise.

The statement continued, “Preliminary information indicates that the clinic where the procedure reportedly took place is registered with HEFAMAA.

“However, the agency notes that registration does not preclude any facility from regulatory scrutiny, particularly when incidents involving patient safety are reported.

“As the statutory regulatory body responsible for monitoring, licensing, and accrediting healthcare facilities in Lagos State, HEFAMAA ensures that all health facilities comply with established operational standards, professional guidelines, and patient safety protocols.”

According to the statement, aesthetic and cosmetic surgical procedures in Lagos are governed by clearly defined regulatory standards covering facility requirements, practitioner qualifications and patient safety measures.


“The agency reiterates that aesthetic and cosmetic surgical procedures are governed by clearly defined regulatory standards in Lagos State.

“These standards include requirements relating to facility infrastructure, practitioner qualifications, infection prevention and control protocols, patient consent procedures, anaesthetic safety, and emergency response capacity”, the agency added.

It added that the agency had begun a comprehensive review of the incident to determine whether the clinic and medical personnel complied with existing regulations.

“Consequently, HEFAMAA has commenced a comprehensive review of the incident, including an assessment of compliance with regulatory standards, verification of the professional credentials of the medical personnel involved, and evaluation of the level of care provided to the patient before, during, and after the procedure”, the statement further stated.

The agency urged the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information that could undermine the investigation.

It also advised residents seeking cosmetic procedures to ensure they patronise only accredited health facilities and qualified medical practitioners.

“Members of the public are therefore urged to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified or speculative information that may compromise the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

“The Lagos State Government also advises residents seeking cosmetic or aesthetic procedures to exercise due diligence by ensuring that such services are obtained only from accredited health facilities and qualified medical practitioners with the requisite training and competence.”

The agency reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of residents through stricter regulatory oversight and enforcement of healthcare standards.

“The government remains firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of all residents through strengthened regulatory oversight, continuous monitoring of healthcare facilities, and strict enforcement of healthcare standards across the state.

“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses”, the agency concluded.

PUNCH Online reports that in August 2024, a 36-year-old woman identified only as Abiola died while undergoing a buttocks enlargement procedure at a clinic in the Lekki-Phase 1 area of Lagos State.

Emeskhalifa:
Says the minister who goes around with power bank

RhemaJet7:
No more war.
Peace, we need across all nations

masterfactor:
Who be this One, you think this guy's are cowards, they rather die than give in to the west demand. Building and country can be destroy, but ideology still remains

Iran said Wednesday it was ready for a long war of attrition that would “destroy” the world economy, after firing on two commercial ships and threatening any vessels from the US or its allies.

As Tehran tightened its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea passage for the global oil trade, US President Donald Trump said the war would end “soon” as there was little left for US forces to target in Iran.

Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into war.

In an attempt to manage price jumps, the International Energy Agency said its member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves – the biggest such release ever.

With the conflict now in its 12th day, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard vowed to target “economic centres and banks” that it deems linked to US and Israeli interests, prompting more international firms to evacuate employees from Dubai.

But all eyes were on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of global crude and LNG passes.

The US and Israel “must consider the possibility that they will be engaged in a long-term war of attrition that will destroy the entire American economy and the world economy”, Ali Fadavi, advisor to the Revolutionary Guards’ commander-in-chief, told state television.

Iran said it had struck the Liberian-flagged container ship Express Rome and the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree because they had entered the strait “after ignoring the warnings of the IRGC naval forces”.

Oman’s navy rescued 20 crew members, but efforts were underway to find three more. Pictures shared by the Thai navy showed black smoke pouring out of the vessel.



Gulf airport, fuel tanks hit

Analysts say a prolonged closure of the strait, which also carries a third of the fertiliser for world food production, would have a devastating effect on the global economy, particularly in Asia and Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged G7 leaders to act to restore navigation in the strait “as soon as possible”, while the UN asked for all parties to allow humanitarian cargo to transit.

Iran has amplified the economic fallout by targeting US allies in the Gulf.

On Wednesday, drones fell near Dubai airport, injuring four people, the city’s government said.

US financial service group Citi and British consulting group Deloitte have asked employees to evacuate their offices in Dubai, sources told AFP.

Drones also hit fuel tanks at Oman’s Salalah port, Oman News Agency reported.

Private maritime security company Vanguard Tech reported the suspension of the port’s operations after the attack on its southern section.

The economic impact is piling pressure on Trump, who faces accusations that the White House launched the war without preparing for consequences.

“Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump was quoted as saying in an interview with Axios.


In Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “This operation will continue without any time limit, as long as necessary.”

Israel said it had begun a new “wide-scale wave of strikes” across Iran and against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.

Israeli strikes hit an apartment building in central Beirut in the second targeting of the heart of the capital since the Middle East war began.

AFPTV’s live broadcast captured the sound of an air strike followed by a fireball erupting in an apartment within a multi-storey residential building in Beirut.

An AFP correspondent saw destroyed walls in the building’s seventh and eighth floors, with damaged cars nearby and security forces present at the scene.

When the strike hit, “I ran from room to room, pulled my wife and daughter out of the rooms and hid them behind a wall, then the second strike hit”, said Fawzi Asmar, owner of a bakery on the street where the strike took place.

The Israeli-US attacks came weeks after Iranian authorities crushed mass protests, although the United States and Israel say they are not necessarily seeking to topple the Islamic Republic.

Iranian authorities warned against dissent at home, with the country’s police chief saying protesters would be viewed and dealt with as “enemies”.

“All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend their revolution,” national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said, in comments aired by IRIB.

In Iran, ordinary people were doing the best they could to adapt to living under frequent US-Israeli strikes.

“We’ve put our faith in God. For now, there’s food in the shops,” Tehran resident Mahvash, 70, told AFP journalists in Paris.

“People are calm,” said another resident. “They are getting used to living despite everything and adapting – as best they can – to this situation.”

The United States and Israel launched the war with an attack that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

His son Mojtaba Khamenei has been named his successor, though he has yet to appear in public, amid reports that he has been wounded.

“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections,” the Iranian president’s son, Yousef Pezeshkian, wrote in a post on his Telegram channel.

Tehran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, told The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday that Khamenei was injured in the same strike that killed his father.

Iran’s health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people had been killed in US and Israeli strikes, and more than 10,000 civilians injured.

Pandemonium broke out at the Ondo State High Court on Wednesday following the alleged invasion of the court premises by operatives from the Police Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, unit, Lagos, who attempted to arrest one Ojo Ajisafe, a 34-year-old bricklayer, over a case that was already before the court.


Reports indicate that Ajisafe was in court on Wednesday for proceedings in a case of attempted murder linked to a long-running land dispute in the Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.

But in a dramatic turn of events, the police officers, reportedly from the Lagos State Command, arrived at the court complex and picked him up while the case was being heard.

According to eyewitnesses, the operatives, who were initially not in uniform, stormed the court, sparking fears that they might be kidnappers.

However, the situation became clear when those on the court premises later discovered that the men were police officers from the Lagos Command.


While the officers were still in court, Ajisafe’s counsel, Femi Akinbinu, alerted the presiding judge about the development, describing it as a “Gestapo-style invasion” of the court premises.

Eyewitnesses said the presiding judge, upon hearing of the officers’ intention, expressed shock but was unable to immediately stop the arrest.

It was gathered that the move to have the bricklayer arrested followed a petition reportedly submitted to the SWAT unit of the Lagos Command over a murder case.

However, those familiar with the case stated that the murder allegation was what the Ondo High Court was already hearing.

boldmkay:
Stop the war, let peace reign

Top management staff of Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, have visited a lecturer of University of Ibadan, Dr Mikail Abdulsalam who was assaulted by a staff of the corporation.

DAILY POST reports that Abdulsalam who teaches at the department of Arabic and Islamic Studies was beaten and molested by a staff of the corporation at Obafemi Awolowo Railway station in Ibadan last week.

Two staff of the corporation have been arrested by the police in connection with the assault incident.

The corporation during the visit tendered a formal letter of apology to the Don. They were received by the leadership of the University of Ibadan Muslim community, led by Professor Mufutau Abdulrahmon and Professor Wole Abass.

NRC in the letter dated 5 March, 2026 and signed by the Railway District Manager, Ibadan, Naomi Itajobi, expressed “deepest apology and sincere regret” to Abdulsalam over the incident.

The Railway management described the conduct of the staff member as unacceptable and contrary to the standards and values expected of personnel of the corporation while interacting with passengers and visitors.

The corporation acknowledged that the incident occurred while Dr Abdulsalam was assisting his sister with her journey at the station.

It assured the lecturer that the corporation is committed to enforcing necessary sanctions to prevent a recurrence.

“On behalf of the Management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Western District and indeed the entire Organisation, I write to personally and formally express Our deepest apology and sincere regret for the distressing and unwarranted incident you experienced on Wednesday March 4th 2026, at the Obafemi Awolowo Train Station, Moniya.

“We are profoundly saddened to learn of the altercation involving one of our staff members, Mr Tomisin Asiye, a Locomotive Driver attached to the District, which resulted in your assault, physical injury and public embarrassment.

“We fully acknowledge the humiliation, pain and inconvenience this incident caused you and your family while you were simply assisting your sister with her journey. There is no justification for the behaviour displayed, and we take full responsibility for the actions of our employee during the performance of duties at our facility”.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) collected N207.49 billion from customers in December 2025.

The regulator disclosed this in its December commercial performance factsheet published on its website in Abuja at the weekend.

According to the report, the 11 electricity distribution companies billed consumers N258.66 billion during the month.

“Out of the billed amount, the companies collected N207.49 billion, leaving a revenue shortfall of N51.17 billion,” the commission said.


It noted that the figures translate to a collection efficiency of 80.22 per cent across the 11 electricity distribution companies operating on the national grid.

The factsheet said the utilities received electricity worth N309.65 billion from the grid in December.

However, only N258.66 billion of the energy supplied was successfully billed to customers, representing a billing efficiency of 83.53 per cent.

The regulator said the actual average revenue realised by DisCos stood at N98.97 per kilowatt hour.

This compares with an allowed average tariff of N124.30 per kilowatt hour, giving the industry a revenue recovery efficiency of 79.62 per cent.

A breakdown showed that Abuja Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest revenue collection during the month.

The company collected N38.11 billion from N46.68 billion billed, representing a collection efficiency of 81.64 per cent.

Ikeja Electric collected N36.20 billion out of N43.41 billion billed, achieving 83.38 per cent collection efficiency.

Similarly, Eko Electricity Distribution Company realised N38.01 billion from N41.41 billion billed, translating to 91.79 per cent collection efficiency.

The commission said Benin Electricity Distribution Company collected N18.38 billion from N21.53 billion billed.

It added that Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company recovered N17.62 billion out of N21.6 billion billed.

Also, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company collected N23.60 billion from N28.34 billion billed.

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company realised N17.57 billion from N23.08 billion billed during the review period.

Kano Electricity Distribution Company collected N8.98 billion from N15.64 billion billed, representing 57.45 per cent collection efficiency.

The report added that Yola Electricity Distribution Company realised N3.55 billion from N4.25 billion billed.

According to the regulator, Jos Electricity Distribution Company recorded the lowest collection efficiency at 42.92 per cent.

It said the company collected N5.43 billion from N12.67 billion billed in December.

The commission, however, noted that data for Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company was unavailable.

It attributed the gap to an ongoing upgrade of the company’s billing system to meet regulatory requirements.

Sermwell:
So why do presidents and governors not resign before contesting elections?

Urgent1Million:
Especially that minister of power who is always moving around with a powerbank

oshkoach:
Time shall come, we will all be served breakfast.

If we had a serious government, then we should not be impacted by the American useless war with Iran.

Our government abdicated it responsibility and left our refinery business to a private man. This is the result. “Profiteering”

For those of you praising dangote, keep praising him until his net-worth goes up again while you remain poorer and unable to feed.

LordIsaac:
We have not seen their impact in anyway, good riddance!

Hemanwel:
Nna mehn! Who do we blame for this? Tinubu? Dangote? NNPCL,? Or [b]The Gulf War?[/b]

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its Premium Motor Spirit gantry price to N995 per litre, marking a sharp N221 rise within four days.

This comes amid volatility in global crude oil prices and rising replacement costs.

A senior official of the refinery confirmed the development to Saturday PUNCH on Friday night, explaining that the latest price adjustment followed recent shifts in global oil market fundamentals.

“Yes, the price has been reviewed. The new gantry price is now N995 per litre,” the official said on condition of anonymity.”

The new price represents an increase from N874 per litre, which was introduced earlier this week after the refinery raised its ex-depot price from N774 to N874 per litre.

With the latest revision, the refinery’s petrol price has climbed from N774 to N995 per litre within four days.

Checks on petroleumprice.ng, also confirmed that the new gantry price had already been updated on the portal, signalling a shift in domestic downstream pricing benchmarks.

The latest price adjustment could trigger a fresh increase in retail pump prices across the country, with petrol likely to sell above N1,050 per litre in several locations depending on transportation costs and marketers’ margins.

It also followed a brief halt in petrol loading operations at the refinery, a development that had earlier sparked speculation among marketers that another price increase might be imminent.

Industry sources confirmed that truck-out operations for petrol were suspended at about 2:00am on Friday, leaving depot owners and bulk marketers uncertain about the refinery’s next pricing direction.

Market participants noted that similar pauses in petrol loading at the facility have historically preceded price adjustments.

Officials at the refinery have repeatedly defended its pricing decisions, insisting that petrol prices must reflect prevailing global crude oil prices, logistics costs and operational realities.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the refinery emphasised that it does not arbitrarily determine prices but adjusts them based on international market movements and the cost of crude oil used for refining.

The refinery said its pricing strategy reflected Nigeria’s transition to a fully deregulated downstream petroleum market, where petrol prices are now largely influenced by global crude oil prices, foreign exchange rates and supply dynamics.


The refinery said it has absorbed about 20 percent of the rising costs in order to help ease pressure on the domestic market.

Amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, data from the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria has shown that a litre of imported petrol is about N64 cheaper than the one produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Data by MEMAN indicated that Dangote’s petrol gantry price was N874 per litre as of Monday, while the landing cost of imported petrol was N809.37 per litre, showing a difference of about N64 between the two sources.

MEMAN also reported that Dangote’s diesel price was N1,169.42, while imported diesel was N1,125.70 per litre.

Fresh political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections may trigger a shake-up in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu as some ministers are reportedly weighing resignation to pursue their political ambitions in their home states.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that at least four cabinet members are already positioning themselves for state-level contests, particularly where incumbent governors will complete their constitutionally allowed two terms in 2027.

Among those being mentioned are Adebayo Adelabu (Minister of Power), Muhammad Pate (Minister of Health and Social Welfare), Yusuf Tuggar (Minister of Foreign Affairs) and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

The Independent National Electoral Commission recently revised the electoral timetable, setting party primaries between April 22 and May 20.

By law, it is required that holders of appointed offices resign before the primaries.

According to 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, “A political appointee at any level shall not be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention, congress, and primaries of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

By implication, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and other political appointees must resign their appointments before participating in party primaries either as aspirants or delegates.

Only Tinubu can order Adelabu’s resignation – Aide

Barring any last-minute change of plans, Adelabu is expected to resign his appointment in the coming weeks to vie for the Oyo governorship ticket under the All Progressives Congress.

The minister is believed to be preparing for another shot at the Oyo State governorship race after he was defeated by Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023.

Adelabu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who contested under the platform of Accord Party in 2023, has remained a key figure in the state’s political calculations.

During an engagement with stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry in Lagos towards the end of last year, Adelabu hinted that he would love to achieve some feats “before I leave office.”

In a trending video in October 2025, Adelabu formally declared his intention to run for governor in Oyo, recalling how he lost to Makinde in 2019 and 2023.

“I have now paid my dues. I contested against Seyi (Makinde) in 2019. In 2023, I also contested against Seyi, then as the sitting governor. But in 2027, God has shown that it’s our turn. It’s Adelabu’s turn. Anything that belongs to Adelabu belongs to us all,” he said last year.


Saturday PUNCH gathered that interested individuals are already jostling for the seat of the minister.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, an aide of the minister, Femi Awogboro, confirmed his intention to contest for the state governorship seat.

Awogboro said President Tinubu had yet to direct the minister to resign his appointment for his governorship ambition.

[b]“As of now, the President has not told Adelabu to resign as minister. Only the President can tell him to resign and until that, Adelabu continues to perform his functions, but he is definitely contesting for Oyo governorship seat,” [/b]Awogboro said.

Awogboro said the minister would resign from office at the appropriate time to pursue his aspiration.

He said Adelabu remained focused on delivering on his current national assignment but would comply with all political and legal requirements at the right time.

“The minister will resign at the appropriate time. Perhaps he is not the only minister in the cabinet who intends to contest in 2027. Others with political ambitions will also do the needful when the time comes. The masses should rest assured of that,” he said.

He dismissed concerns about the resignation, noting that Adelabu had previously demonstrated his readiness to relinquish high office when necessary.

According to him, the minister voluntarily resigned his position as Deputy Governor (Operations) at the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018.

However, the Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of the APC, Olawale Sadare, said no aspirant had officially declared interest in the 2027 elections because the party had not opened the process for such moves.

Sadare explained that the party would provide a level playing field for interested members once the appropriate time arrived.

“Anyone nursing an ambition at this stage should focus on consultations, especially at the grassroots level. When the time comes, they will have the full opportunity to pursue their political goals,” he added.

He, however, disclosed that individuals eyeing various political positions had begun consultations with party leaders, stakeholders and supporters across the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections.

Pate, Tuggar battle for Bauchi governorship


Indications also emerged that Pate and Tuggar might be contesting the governorship seat of Bauchi State.

Pate, who hails from Mainari village in Ajili Ward of Misau Local Government Area, previously contested the governorship position.

Pate’s governorship ambition dates back to 2015 when he indicated an interest in contesting for the Bauchi State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party.

He contested the governorship seat in 2019 under the Peoples Redemption Party after suffering a defeat at the APC primary.

In 2023, Pate also failed to pick up the APC governorship ticket.

His recent political engagements, particularly initiatives centred on youth employment and empowerment across parts of the state, have intensified talks that he may be preparing to rejoin the governorship race.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Coordinator of Pate Media Centre in Dass Local Government Area, Ibrahim Abdulhamid, said although it was not yet official, indications suggested that Pate had agreed to participate in the governorship race following pressure from supporters.

Abdulhamid explained that a group of Bauchi indigenes who believed in his leadership capacity visited him in Abuja to encourage him to join the contest.

He said, “A team from Bauchi that has faith in his capabilities went all the way to Abuja and sought his participation in the gubernatorial contest and he has accepted the contest.”

Another supporter, Garo Misau, said he was among residents of Bauchi State urging Pate to run for the state’s top political office.

Misau described the minister as highly qualified for the position.

He said, “Pate is eminently qualified for the seat of governorship in Bauchi State. Not only Bauchi State; any state in the country that has a son like Professor Pate will want him to lead it. He has an international reputation of capabilities and humanitarian impact.”

Tuggar, who hails from Udubo in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, is also believed to be eyeing the governorship seat.

Tuggar, who previously contested the position, is said to have sustained political activities across the state.

The Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed Tuggar’s intention to contest for the state governorship seat.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Abdulkadir said, “The minister is interested and aspires to run for the governorship seat of Bauchi State.”

When asked when Tuggar would resign his ministerial appointment, Abdulkadir said, “There is a time table released by INEC that stipulates all the rules and regulations for running, he (Tuggar) will adhere to this.”

Also speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a member of the Tuggar Foundation from Toro Local Government Area, Ahmad Tilde, expressed confidence that the minister possessed the qualifications to lead Bauchi State.

Tilde said many residents across the state believed Tuggar had the capacity to govern effectively.

“If not Tuggar, then who do you think can? As far as I am concerned, this is the view of many people I know in Bauchi State, Tuggar is the next governor of the state.”

Speaking on whether the APC had been formally notified of the ambition, Tilde noted that the matter remained unofficial.

“Although I am confident that Tuggar will contest, it is not official yet because it is not time for declaration,” he stated.

Both Pate and Tuggar were sighted at the Bauchi State APC convention held on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, further fueling speculations about their political ambition.

Onyejeocha to return to National Assembly

Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour, had spent 16 years (2007–2023) as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi constituency of Abia State.

A top credible source told Saturday PUNCH that the Abia State indigene was planning to return to the National Assembly.

“She was elected four times into the House of Rep and she wants to go back,” the source said.

Attempts to speak with her proved abortive as she did not take her calls or respond to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.

INEC disowns March 26 resignation deadline

Meanwhile, INEC has dismissed a report claiming it fixed March 26 as the deadline for ministers and other public office holders intending to contest elections to resign their appointments.

In a public notice posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the commission said the information circulating online did not originate from it.

“The commission wishes to state clearly that the information is false and did not emanate from INEC. INEC has not issued any such announcement, and the graphic being circulated is fake and misleading,” the statement read in part.

The commission urged members of the public, media organisations and political stakeholders to disregard the message and rely only on its verified channels for election-related information.

According to INEC, all official announcements and updates are published through its website and verified social media platforms, as well as official press releases from the commission.

Makinde urges appointees to declare intentions

In a related development, Oyo State Governor, Makinde, asked political appointees in his administration with aspirations for elective offices to openly declare their ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Makinde gave the directive on Thursday at the Oyo State Government-organised 2026 Iftar programme held at the frontage of the Banquet Hall, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

In a statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, the governor directed the aspirants to pursue their ambitions on the platform of the PDP.

Makinde said such aspirants could count on his support as long as their loyalty and commitment remained with the people and the development of the state.

He noted that the directive became necessary following claims that he had not given clearance to aspirants seeking political offices, especially those serving in his administration, despite the election timetable having been released by the INEC.

“I have read on social media that I have not given the go-ahead to political appointees who have ambitions to hold different political offices, including the governorship seat.

“So, henceforth, you are free. Whoever wants to contest for any position should bring out their billboards. And those of you who are bothered about the PDP crisis, add the party’s logo to the billboard, nothing will happen.”

Omoawoke:
Let’s never forget that he orchestrated the worst election in history of the country .

The king rigger himself…

No one can rig anything worse than what Obj rig.. like never ever

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has congratulated former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 89th birthday, describing him as a living legend.

The emir said this in his goodwill message, issued by his Press Secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, in Ilorin on Thursday.

Sulu-Gambari, who is also the Chairman of the Kwara Traditional Rulers Council, also described Obasanjo as a patriot and an elder statesman.

“You are a living legend, a patriot, an elder statesman, and a global citizen with a tremendous record of global peace advocacy,” [/b]Sulu-Gambari said.

According to the emir, [b]Obasanjo, who is also a former Military Head of State and two-term democratically elected president of Nigeria, is widely known and admired for his exceptional and long-lasting achievements.

“We appreciate and know you as a nation-builder, a peaceful coexistence advocate, who promotes inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony.

“I, especially, thank you, Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, for always identifying with the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara at all times.

“The entire members of the Kwara Traditional Rulers Council heartily celebrate and rejoice with you on this auspicious occasion of your birthday,” he said.

He prayed that God would continue to strengthen the celebrant to witness more years of absolute comfort on earth.

Cyberterror:
But even the Koran teaches muslims to respect their political leaders as they derive their power from God, so what this cleric did was wrong. He allowed his political leaning to influence his speech. His suspension is right and he must publicly apologize to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the Ulamas can allow him to preach again.

The suspension of a cleric, Sheikh Alkali Abubakar Salihu Zaria by the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Jos faction, is generating reactions.

Sheikh Alkali, who deployed to lead the Ramadan exegesis at Mokas Mosque in Damaturu, Yobe State, was suspended after he delivered a sermon in which criticised of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

His suspension reportedly followed a meeting conveyed by the National Chairman of the JIBWIS Council of Ulama, Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir, with the cleric as well as state and local representatives of the group in Yobe.

He was accused of using strongly-worded statements against certain individuals in the region as well as the president, addressing insecurity in manner said to be inconsistent with the organization’s established methodology.

During one of his sessions, Alkali criticized corrupt government officials, north west governors and President Tinubu, condemning the persistent insecurity in the region, particularly activities of kidnappers and bandits, saying the states governors and influential politicians from the region have not demonstrated political will to end the killings.

Alkali said, “He said Today people are abducted and traded as though they are cattle. Somebody will be abducted and taken to bush. They then negotiate the ransom. Families implore, even though the abductors are complete ignorant. They will beat and kick their victims. Often they will stamp their feet on their victim’s stomach in Ramadan.”

Also Alkali listed the tendency to revere individuals out fear of their machinations as one of the leading catastrophes the society may face.

He said, “One of the signs of catastrophes this generation will likely face is the tendency to revere individuals out of fear of their machinations. Look at how states governors fear Tinubu much more than they fear Allah. If you are in APC you are treated like a saint. If you are a member of the opposition, you will be treated like a devil. One will be confronted with trump up charges. Who is Tinubu? You deceived us. You are a deceiver and cheat.”

However, reacting to his suspension, in a post on his Facebook page, Alkali said he accepted the decision in good faith.

Comforting his followers, Alkali said Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir is not only a religious leader, but also a father figure to him.

He wrote, “To my followers, relatives and associates, I urge you to take heart. This was destined to happened. I cannot exceed the days Allah has written for me to lead Ramadan Qur’anic exegesis in Damaturu. I urge you to be disciplined and loyal. What Allah has decided is the best for us.”

Subsequently, youths took to their social media accounts to condemn the suspension, describing it as unjustifiable.


Commenting on the development, a Facebook user, Yusuf Katagun said that the Izala movement had proven to be part of the north’s biggest problems.

He wrote, “Izala is part of our biggest problems in the north. These are the same people who, in their loud voices and numbers, championed Muslim-Muslim ticket and brought this bad governance.”

Katagun said that the leadership of the organization is silent at a time when people need their voices the most.

But Ahmad Usman El-nafaty said that what the cleric did was theatrical, saying he did it to win the hearts of his followers.

‘There is nothing impressive in what Alkali said. It is theatrical. His plan is to cause some discontent among people. He is simply turning Tafseer sessions into comedy.”

However, Ibraheem Ahmad, another user, said that the suspension of Alkali was totally wrong and it is not according to the teaching of Islam.

He said, “Clerics are the last hope of the ordinary Nigerians. Many clerics called out Tinubu but they were not suspended because they did not endorsed Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“What Alkali said was the bitter truth. Islamic clerics should fear Allah. You are the representative of the people whose blood is being spilled.”

According to a popular Facebook, Datti Assalfiy, criticizing political leaders should not be enough reason to suspended the cleric.

He said, “Politicians are irreligious. This is the reason the cleric is quiet these days.”

Skullminers1:
Coward man that used his Yoruba people to gain popularity and also gain favour from Ebola Tilimbu and he has finally gotten what he wanted.
Everybody knows that Sunday Igbogho is opposite to whom [b]great Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is who has interest of his people at heart and that was why he has refused every gift and promises made to him by Federal government and that was why they sentenced him life imprisonment [/b]unlike Sunday Igbogho that cowardly accepted gifts and now he is officially Ebola Tilimbu boy.

Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, was spotted wearing a fez cap displaying the logo of the ruling All Progressives Congress at a social function on Tuesday.

Igboho had attended the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Ladoja’s first Ramadan lecture after his coronation.

In the now-viral video, the Yoruba nation activist was seen greeting the monarch and the event’s guest lecturer, Chief Imam of Offa, Sheikh Muyideen Salmon, in the APC-branded cap.

However, the video has sparked conversations on social media, where many users referenced Nnamdi Kanu, drawing comparisons between the two separatist figures and their respective political directions.

A user who simply identified as #Jaythrilli said, “Sunday Igboho shamelessly gallivanting with an APC cap on. You can’t be fighting for Yoruba freedom and still dine with the people who impoverished the same Yoruba people. Reason I don’t rate him at all.”

Another user who claimed to be #Felixherbt wrote, “For those who still don’t understand what Mazi Nnamdi is fighting for, soon and very soon, you will all understand, but it will be too late.

“Today, Sunday Igboho is jumping around with the APC cartel. Remember that they promised Nnamdi Kanu a political position to win him over; he rejected it. My respect for MNK has doubled.

“From freeing the Yoruba from the claws of the Fulani, to kissing the ring. I present to you, Sunday Igboho!!! It will interest you to know that this is why Kanu is still in Sokoto,” one #Admiral_Cyborg opined.

One Samuel Olafusi on Facebook wrote, “Wait, is that an APC cap on his head? If you really join, you become a saint. Why has Nnamdi Kanu not been released? They got punished for the same reasons. Nigeria is truly divided, and we live in a transitional democracy.

Meanwhile, in his reaction, one #daddyfemzy queried, “You can’t really blame this guy. He was in an asylum, declared wanted by Buhari, dead or alive. The recent APC caucus brokered his return home courtesy of Ladoja. What do you expect? Let’s be practical. If you were him. Won’t you?”

Recall, Olayomi Koiki, spokesman for embattled Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, says all arrangements have been concluded for his principal’s return to Nigeria after prominent monarchs persuaded President Bola Tinubu to remove Igboho’s name from the list of wanted persons.

According to Koiki, the traditional rulers who intervened include the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, among others.

Igboho fled Nigeria on July 1, 2021, following a raid on his Ibadan residence by a combined team of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army over allegations of stockpiling arms and ammunition. The raid came amid Igboho’s campaign to evict armed Fulani herdsmen from the South-West in response to attacks on farmers.

During the raid, three of his aides were killed, and 13 others were arrested. Igboho fled to the Benin Republic, intending to fly to Germany, but was arrested at Cotonou Airport on July 19, 2021, and detained for over a year before being released in March 2022.


Under the previous administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Igboho was declared wanted, denied a Nigerian passport, and had his bank accounts frozen despite favourable court rulings.

In 2025, during a visit to the Olugbon Palace in Orile Igbon, Surulere Local Government of Oyo State, Igboho expressed frustration at living in exile and appealed to President Tinubu’s administration to remove his name from the wanted list. He also made the appeal to the Olubadan, Oba Ladoja.

Koiki said in a Sunday statement that Igboho has now been cleared by the Presidency and “may return to the country at any moment and will be fully reintegrated after his clearance has been granted.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated former president and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 89th birthday on March 5.

Naija News reports that this was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The President rejoiced with Chief Obasanjo, whose towering influence in the country, Africa, and beyond is significant.

President Tinubu noted the courage and sacrifices of the elder statesman, who previously served the nation as military Head of State from 1976 to 1979, handing over power to a civilian president in
1979, and later as the first civilian president in the fourth republic, 1999-2007.

The statement added: “President Tinubu affirms the historic experiences of the former leader, including leading troops to preserve Nigeria’s unity at the warfront, serving time in prison for speaking out against tyranny, and consistently pursuing Africa’s political and economic interests.


“As Chief Obasanjo turns 89, the President acknowledges the zeal and wisdom he has brought into Nigeria’s development process through his books and regular interventions, revealing a depth of patriotism to nation-building.

“President Tinubu prays for more years of good health, strength, and wisdom for the former president as he continues to serve the nation and humanity.”

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has delivered a judgment in favour of consumers, ordering electricity distribution companies to refund a total of ₦20.33bn in outstanding meter costs.

The judgment contained in Order No: NERC/2026/025, which amends the previous 2023 order, was signed by the NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing & Compliance at NERC, Dafe Akpeneye, on February 27, 2026.

According to the new order, DisCos are to recover and fully disburse the fund to affected customers over 12 months from March 1, 2026.

Under the Meter Asset Provider framework (MAP) scheme, customers pay for meters and are refunded by their DisCos through energy credits.

However, the commission noted that the level of refunds had been very slow over the years, necessitating a new order.

NERC stated that, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework, leaving an outstanding ₦20.33bn.

A combo of the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, and electricity installations.


The order is intended to prevent repeated delays in reimbursements, optimise customer notification, and strengthen sector credibility and confidence.

“In February 2026, the commission reviewed the level of compliance of DisCos with the expected reimbursement to customers who have paid for meters under the MAP framework.

According to the new order, DisCos have an outstanding amount of ₦20.33bn to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework as at 31 December 2025.

The electricity market regulator stated that all reimbursements to customers for meters procured under the MAP framework would be fully automated on customer accounts, saying, “DisCos shall ensure that the total cost of a MAP meter is recognised as credit on the customer’s account upon activation of the meter and disbursed automatically as monthly credits over the approved amortisation period.”

DisCos were also instructed that meter reimbursement credits cannot be offset against customer legacy debt.

“DisCos shall not offset meter reimbursement credits against customer legacy debts; the items must be treated separately,” the order stated.

For prepaid customers, DisCos must automatically generate monthly tokens representing the reimbursement, while for postpaid customers, the reimbursement must appear as a distinct credit on their bills.

NERC said, “For customers with prepaid meters, no later than the 4th day of every month, the DisCo’s billing system will automatically generate a token with an energy value equivalent to the monthly reimbursement which the customer is due to receive over the 120-month amortisation period based on the prevailing tariff for the customer.

“For post-paid customers, the monthly reimbursement of the cost of a MAP meter shall appear as a distinct credit line item which is expected to be subtracted from the customer’s total payable for the month.”

NERC also mandated monthly reporting and a dedicated complaints channel for affected customers.

“All DisCos shall file monthly reports with the Commission detailing the total monetary value of the reimbursement to customers through energy credit, in accordance with the template approved by the Commission.

“All DisCos shall establish a dedicated email address for the receipt of complaints from customers who have not received MAP meter cost reimbursements. Details of such complaints, including the status of their resolution, shall form part of the monthly compliance reports submitted to the commission,” it said.

Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu.

To recover the N20.33bn arrears, DisCos are to accelerate repayment over 12 months. The order noted that prepaid customers will receive two tokens per month, while postpaid customers will see two reimbursement line items on their bills.

“To recover the sum of N20.33bn that was not reimbursed to customers as at 31 December 2025, DisCos shall accelerate the rate of recovery for the affected customers over a 12-month period commencing from 1 March 2026,” the order added.