Teetopz: A thread on why PREPAID METER being distributed TO ALL may never be achieved in Nigeria. After the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Electricity distribution companies are next on the list when it comes to corruption. This has been in existence from time immemorial, just like barracks, many government have come and gone but the deep rooted corruption in the system remains In April 2016, I moved in to my current apartment. The apartment was still connected to an old meter and there was an outstanding payment of about N385,000.00 to be paid.
This wasn't revealed to me before I made payment for the rent, as usual (that's how they all do) This became a worry and an absolute headache.
I asked the landlord why it was so and she made me understand that the apartment was not in use for 5years.
I asked how come it wasn't reported to NEPA so they'd stop the billing, she gave me a copy of the letter she wrote to them So I took the matter up, wrote several mails to Eko electricity company and the matter was on for 11months, note that in the space of this 11 months, I never got a monthly bill lesser than 24,000.00
You want to ask if I have a factory in my apartment? No I don't. So it extended from wanting the company to zerorize the ridiculous outstanding balance in the billing account to fighting and contesting the outrageous billing system which do not in any way represent my true electricity consumption and wanting a Prepaid Meter
The battle began. After several exchange of mails betweens myself and Eko Electric and no solution was forthcoming, I moved the matter to NERC, the regulatory body for all electricity distribution companies in Nigeria.
I filed a petition against Ekedp and the undertaking in charge of my area. Lo and behold, after three days from the petition submission to NERC, I got a call from the marketing manager for my area pleading for me to make myself available to allow them come to my house and take inventory of the electrical appliances I use.
NERC is working yeah? Right. A staff of the Ekedp came to take the inventory and at the end of the computations, we calculated and multiplied each appliance by the estimated units they consume per day and multiplied by 31days.
Recall I said I never got a bill less than 24k in a month? Then we arrived at a figure that even the Eko electric staff who came to take the inventory opened his mouth and couldn't close it.
What I should be billed based on having 24hour light per day(which is not even possible) in 31 days was 4,800.00
I almost ran mad. I took a copy of the report, scanned it and attached it to my next petition to NERC.
At this point, the marketing manager attached to my undertaking had started calling and begging me to stop the petitions.
That they could all get sacked if matters gets escalated further. Then in September 2017, after all the troubles and how I never got tired if pursuing the issue, I got a mail from Eko electricity to come with some required documents in order to fill a form for a PREPAID METER.
I went there and did as they requested
At Last. On 27 November 2017, I was on leave. I was at my gate then this Alfa looking guy was parading and trying to see house number on the fence. My instinct told me to ask if he was asking for Ayo, then he said yes
He was the prepaid meter installer, he was with my new prepaid meter I also recall that before the whole issue started, I was discouraged severally that I can never be given prepaid meter due to the outstanding balance on the billing account, I paid no mind to all the people that said that and went ahead with my case. I got the Prepaid meter for FREE. After a week, bill was brought and boom, outstanding balance has been cleared from 385,000.00 to zero balance.
How did I achieve this? I mean I didn't pay a dime to anyone and I never for once bribed my way in all my dealings. I achieved this simply because;
1. I knew my right. 2. I wouldn't settle for mediocrity 3. I never stopped pushing even after several months and it seemed unachievable 4. I was ready to take the matter up anywhere 5. I was informed. Now imagine how many people are out there who don't even know how to go about such tedious and draining process.
I learnt that a lot of people even paid as much as 40k to get the prepaid meter. Something that's supposed to be free. Since the prepaid meter was installed in November 27 2017, I have not exhausted the 303 units that came with it which is calculated to be 7,200.00
And I still have 140units left to use.
That's over four (4) months now Do you now see why these people will never allow dream of every homes having a prepaid meter become a reality?
Because such development will block all holes where the electricity distribution corrupt members of staff perpetrate their fraudulent activities and corruption from. They know that they will be forced to give light more in order to generate revenue and will not be able to charge people outrageously as they are currently doing and remitting the proceeds of their criminal act to their pockets.
Stand up and Fight for what is your right. Prepaid meter is your right, fight for it to the latter.
If you believe that your monthly electricity bill do not represent your consumption, make a case.
If you're in Lagos, Ikeja Electricity company and Eko electricity company are there for you.
If they fail, involve NERC. That will be all, for now. Due to popular demand, these are the email addresses you can forward your complaints to - Ikeja Electricity Distribution - customercare@ikejaelectric.com Eko Electricity Distribution - customercare@ekedp.com Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission - complaints@nerc.gov.ng
DanXplore: This is going to be a very long read so viewers BEWARE!!!
I am going to say this with all the love and sincerity i could possibly muster because i really love the Body of Christ, and it grieves me to see certain errors persist in the church in spite of the clarity of scripture as regarding the issues we are facing today.
Before i list my key areas of concern, i need to first of all stress that one very great serpent that has constrained the gospel from reaching its full potential on earth is the menace of diluting the focus of God's wisdom with local values and personal opinions. This includes views that were carved out from the crucibles of culturally biased mindsets. As far as i know, any 'doctrine' that cannot be universally applied is either half baked, contaminated, exaggerated or lies that do not reflect the unadulterated ideals of the kingdom of God. One acid-test for notarising doctrine should be its robustness. Although it is our collective responsibility to represent and reach out these ideals just like it is written "let your light so shine before men", "Go into the world and make disciples", it is most unfortunate that arrogant mediocres who are too lazy to pay the price for a sustainable and durable conviction are the boldest and swiftest to ooze out their half-baked understanding of the ways of God. The noises generated from these ill-equipped herd of mediocres constitute the greatest source of confusion across the Body today. The salient and forgotten exhortation of Paul is crying out for remembrance today, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that [we] who teach will be judged more strictly".
The office of teaching the Wisdom of God's Word must be reserved for vessels who have sustained understanding of the ways of the Kingdom with irrefutable proofs. Sadly, the board of most churches function like a parliament where the voice of the Holy Spirit has been substituted for two-thirds majority. The Church is where it is today because carnal men are leading alot of the churches. This is the ugly truth. As much as it is apparent that the harvest is plentiful and the labourers are few, i cannot stress enough how few competent labourers are a thousand times more effective than a multitude of mediocres.
These are the key areas of concern that I wish the church should look at and make amends:
Imbalanced teaching on the Gospel of Grace: This tops the chart in my opinion if we are to rank teachings that have caused the greatest pain in the Body today. Paul wrote in Ephesians that we are saved through faith. Sadly most times, the entire teachings on grace ends there. It does not ask the question, why are we even saved in the first place? What must we do when we are saved? The portion of Ephesians that says "we are God's workmanship created to do GOOD WORKS" is often left out of the equation. From scripture, it is evident that two things are true.
(1) The purpose of God and His universal character is constant (2) His methods of achieving His purposes might change between slightly and totally
When one begins to emphasise one parameter of grace to the detriment of the other, a breed of stubborn, indisciplined and unrepentant christians are nurtured in the house of God. The result is a lack of reverence for the unchanging universal character of God which is 'Holiness' God has instructed that men be Holy just as He is. We were asked to come boldly and NOT arrogantly to God's presence that we may obtain mercy. Men who have had their fill on these imbalanced teachings are largely arrogant and treat the presence of God with contempt.
Imbalanced teaching on the Gospel of Holiness: while the exaggeration of grace is creating its own perculiar havoc, on the other side of the spectrum is the 'holiness' guys who feel they are the closest people to God. I liken them to the Pharisees. Bulk of the teachings on Holiness does not inspire love but fear, which does not sit well with the scripture that says "perfect love, drives out fear...for fear has to do with punishment". The Gospel of grace is about reconciliation, and adoption of a nature that empowers one to live a christ-like life. The sole aim of the gospel is to draw people to God, that they might be like Him. But an imbalanced teaching on holiness emphasis heaven as the profit for doing good. The love of God is beyond going to heaven. It is a relationship, a sharing of God's authority and kingdom. It endues one with the authority to legislate on behalf of the governing council of heaven not for some reward, but because of a sense of responsibility. The imbalanced teaching of holiness has made alot of people see God as a wicked one, who forces his ways down the throat of humans. It relegates the gospel to a reward-based business enterprise.
Imbalanced teaching on the Doctrine of Predestination: Nothing aches as much as this statement "It is the way God wanted it". A woman dies of cancer and you hear men of God who have not paid the price to secure the anointing and as a result could not dispense God's healing power say "God knows why He took her". These powerless and lazy ministers are the first to criticise men of God who have paid the price to produce the results they so crave. God is not omniscient in the way we have been taught to understand what God as omniscient is, else He is a wicked, heartless and terrible God who is undeserving of worship if He goes ahead to create a person he has predestined to go to hell. Predestination is the assignment of portions to persons, but this is not what is being taught in the body. A person suffers or fails an exams and gives glory to God with the mindset that God orchestrated his failure from the beginning. Most lazy Pseudo-Men of God on campus do not balance their academics with the mandate they claim to have and they disgrace and add more sorrow to the Body of Christ, whic they claim to represent by their colossal failures. In my opinion, any teaching that makes God 100% responsible for the outcome of a person's life is sugar-coated lies. God might apportion resources and aligns the required elements necessary to achieve destiny but it is still entirely the call of the individual to make decisions. Alot of decisions are too trivial for God to consider on a macroscopic scale. For instance, God does not direct you on the style of haircut to do or brand of deodorant to buy! He never predestined me to use my Nivea roll-on yesterday.
Imbalanced teaching on the Believer's Authority: This is probably a fallout from the imbalanced teaching on the gospel of Grace. Scripture says in Psam 50:15-16 "and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me. But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? The wicked in this context refers to those who know the right thing but deliberately choose to do the wrong thing. They pride in doing wrong, they misrepresent Christ, they cause more pain than good to the body by their two-faced persona but still claim to be God's oracle. A very clear cut case is that of a popular Nollywood actress who has so much miss-represented Christ in her movie roles, an un-repentant actress whose dressing reveals the true content of her mind. Whenever concerned believers try to rebuke such an erring fellow, the 'judge not that ye not be judged'-crew arise to defend in their favour. Access in the kingdom is actually in stages. We are actually not equal before God's sight - a sad truth that people hate. Yes, we might be equal in Christ, but our level of reverence for the Holy Spirit has separated us into cadres. No authority exists for pseudo-christians. Church is filled with christians who love God but also want to partake of some worldly pleasures because the responsibility and code of conduct of the kingdom has not been properly taught to them. Truth of scripture is as clear as a HD movie but lovers of pleasure always find gaps to fill with their twisted and watered-down ideas. The imbalanced teaching of the believer's authority does not take into account the price of discipline, concentration and obedience must be paid behind the scene. It says that "once you believe in Christ, you will do the works that Jesus did'. The price-factor is subtly omitted.
Exaggerated confrontations: Churches need to stop teaching against other denominations but focus on teaching what the scriptures says because when the scriptures are properly taught, the truth will be apparent to all and sundry. No one is the custodian of wisdom and we know in part. I remembered when a popular man of God and his wife had a divorce. Believers where the first to circulate the news and the zeal to do so was born out of envy and hatred rather than genuine desire to confront what was supposed to be an error. The actions of the Man of God were interpreted from the lens of envy and hatred rather than love.
Drama and Choreography: I know i will be heavily criticised for this but i strongly agree with A.W.Tozer that these things be scrapped from the church because they have been abused. I have observed that churches where great worship, word, deliverances and miracles take place hardly have time for drama, choreography etc which only excites the body but has no real spiritual value. They give the impression that spirituality has been exercised or the word has been conveyed in its unique way but in reality, a group of mediocre actors/actresses have performed a poorly directed script to pass away time. I think it will be more profitable to watch a more professional nollywood movie than to see most of the acts performed in majority of the churches
On the contrary, the funny and equally sad thing is that despite your supposed education you don’t even know that codeine is a common cough syrup sold in virtually all the local drugstores in the country and so is tramadol which is an analgesic..educated ignoramus!
nwabobo: This video shows growing wealth and aspirations with a young business Nigerian and his sports car comes to his highrise office and starts his working day at a food processing factory, also shows Agriculture and life in the countryside, dairy and beef farming in the 1960s Credit: Huntley Film Archives
why not take her to a doctor for examination, don't make things complicated for ursef and that of ur family member(the sufferer). This is not Romance story that we unnecessarily bring here on nairaland. Let us be wise and change our bad ways for this is year 2018.
I will do that eventually, but I was hoping to get some advice from the house.
Good morning all. The image below is of a lump that appeared on the hand of a family member. it's been there for months now and itches from time to time. I initially thought it was four, considering her age.. But she revealed two other similar sized lumps, one on the neck, the other on the pelvic region. These two hurt. I am deeply worried. Any helpful explanation,advice or suggestion on what these lumps are and how to remove them, will be appreciated. I prefer to avoid surgical procedures, if possible. Thanks.
Moderators, I appeal that this be sent to the front page for more coverage, thanks.
SBG04: Igbo people and their very paranoid, myopic and dumb way of thinking!!! I'm assuming nobody in Abia eats beef? Who shepherds the cows that produce the beef, or the beef comes from heaven? Why not create Parmanent ranches for the cattle instead of allowing them roam around and cause havoc on farmlands? Isn't that a more reasonable thing to do? You want to eat beef but you don't want to house the cows and the pastorialists that produce the cows! What Stupidity!!! The governor would rather allow these herdsmen wreck havoc with their cows on the streets of Aba and destroy farmlands. Then the farmers will retaliate and kill them.
Thunder fire those leprosy ridden, scab encrusted, pus oozing fingers with which you typed this trash!!! Idiotic slowpoke of the highest order! The people killed by Fulani's in Benue and Taraba, are they Igbos
We are talking of the safety of a nation and you are beefing one tribe... Dan iska Kawai!!!
zakim: Described as the largest university in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ahmadu Bello University is the first University to be established in Northern Nigeria in 1962. The University which boasts of over 500,000 graduates is indeed one of Nigeria’s finest in the aspect of research and human development.
Located in the heart of the Northern emirate - North of the Sahara, South of the Limpopo, East of the equator and West of the Mahaha, ABU Zaria is inarguably a household name in intellectual production. With two major campuses (Samaru and Kongo), 96 academic departments, housed by 12 faculties and 12 research Institutes, the intellectual dexterity and creativity of her products is never contested.
Tragically, some universities around the world may have diverted from their core mandate(s), ABU, however, over the years has been pushing hard to achieve her core objective which is aptly captured thus, ‘To advance the frontiers of learning and break new grounds, through teaching, research and the dissemination of knowledge of the highest quality...’
In Nigeria today, and beyond, the university has far become a pacesetter, a trailblazer and frontrunner which other institutions emulate in knowledge production and advancement. Recently, it was announced that a team of students from ABU won the 2017 Enactus National Championship and was also declared winner of the Lekoil Environmental Sustainability Challenge in the competition. As reported by some of our media outlets, the team won the challenge through an innovative project tagged Baggega Hope Rising, which uses the water filtration process of separating physical and chemical impurities, such as lead and other heavy metals from underground water sources. Compensated for their victory, the team represented the country in the Enactus World Cup tournament held at the United Kingdom.
Also, sometime last year, the school engineering team won the shell eco marathon competition held in South Africa after claiming glory at home to represent the country at the continental level. These victories, among others place the university above her counterparts in knowledge distribution. Perhaps, with the level of her alumni, research, teaching and contribution to both regional and national development, ABU should be tagged the new ‘Nigerian Harvard’. A feet, perfectly attained in a clime where government is turning a blind eye on the country’s educational system and where peanuts are budgeted for intellect acquisition and redistribution. Technologically, ABU is among the eight universities offering distance learning in Nigeria (UI, OAU, UNILAG, UNIMAID, LAUTECH, UNIABUJA, Modibo Adama, Yola) are the other seven universities.
The moment you set foot onto the second largest university in Africa, its surrounding is easy on the eye and also, a feast for the eye. For the first time, bearing in mind the area where the university is situated, you maybe perplexed by the melodious social scene it offers. That, however, reveals that the principle of federal character as enshrined in the constitution is flawlessly respected by the institution. In each department, every state is ably represented as the admission criterions are well spelt out. Far away from the northern region, ABU is helping lame dogs over a stile in terms of quality education. Apart from ABU breakthrough in academic research, it has successfully produce billionaires who are not only successful in their businesses, but also are policies influencers. Technocrats who are doing fine in their chosen career parts, sound academics who have made major academic discovery and political office holders bestowed with high intellect. Only schools, such as Harvard can boast of such notable alumni list at the world stage.
In a similar fashion, advancing a mental trip to her infrastructural development, apart from lecture theatres and laboratories being constructed around the University, the new center of excellence donated to the University by the Central Bank of Nigeria is a point of major significant improvement in the great citadel of learning.
Located at ABU main campus, Samaru, ABU center of excellence was commissioned on Friday, 8th, Dec 2017 and the edifice is expected to house ABU business school (departments of Business Administration, Accounting, Insurance and Economics). It is undoubtedly, another feet worth applauding even though it may not be the first in the country. Without a mission to flatter excessively, in few years to come, ABU will be far ahead of other first generation universities in Nigeria and it may take centuries to catch her up while for other universities, catching her up may, as well, be like a cold day in hell. From whatever foot the shoe is on, ABU looks like a university that is ready to compete with both her Africa and world counterparts. Not only in the beautification of its campus or its infrastructure, but also in its academic outputs.
It is not a rocket science that ABU is fast becoming a pacesetter in the academic environment, as where there is smoke, there is fire. Accolades, therefore, should be given to her alumni network who are working tediously and tirelessly to see that the University becomes a force to reckon with. ABU current developmental stride is not a product of a single individual since a tree cannot make a forest and it takes two to tango.
Meanwhile, the ABU phase II project is currently ongoing and it will serve as a spring ball for ABU to be rank highly among the best in world. By sustaining the current growth tempo and continually putting her shoulder on the wheel, in the nearest future, ABU will certainly distinguish itself among world class Universities. Nothing of importance can be done in a short period of time because Rome also wasn’t built in a day.
Sodiq wrote this piece from Lagos.
ABU is located North of the Sahara?
South of the Limpopo River?
East of the Equator?
Chai!!! Stop disgracing ABU graduates, if you can't correctly give the simple geographical coordinates of your school!
I registered for a PVC before the 2011 elections and was able to collect it in 2015, after having used the temporary one for a while.
In preparation for the 2019 elections, I learnt that new PVCs are required. Went to register for one but was told that since I had the old one, no need. I'm a little bit worried because I know the PVC serves as a means of identification, post elections, amongst other uses. A few persons I know have registered for a new PVC despite having the old one...
They claim that the old PVCs will be invalidated during and after the 2019 elections...
Career / Re: Valentine Ewudo Works With His Mother In The Same US Hospital by MightyFortress: 12:19pm On Jul 01, 2018 