NEWS
MAP: Electricity Consumers to Get Meter Payments Refund From EKEDC
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) says all electricity consumers who paid for meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme will be refunded through credit “token” within six months.
The Chief Executive Officer, EKEDC, Dr Tinuade Sanda, gave the assurance during a Customer Engagement Forum on Thursday in Agbara, a suburb of Lagos.
Reports says that customers at the forum were drawn from Agbara business unit which covers Agbara, Owode, Ijanikin, Ajara and Badagry.
Others are Ajido, Otto-Awori, Ketu, Pota, Avia, Oko-Afo, Aiyetoro, Seme, Ilogbo-Ereni, Era-Abule, Kwame, Aradagun and lbereko.
Sanda, represented by the General Manager, Commercial, Revenue Cycle, EKEDC, Mr Samuel Edoho, urged customers to key into the ongoing metering process to avoid being billed through estimated billing.
According to him, the only way to end the frequent complaint on alleged over-billing and estimated billing is to acquire meters.
“Customers who paid through MAP scheme will be refunded within six months.
“The Disco has started massive metering of customers who paid through the MAP scheme,” she said.
The EKEDC boss noted that the clarification became necessary because some consumers wanted to know if the money they paid for meters under the MAP scheme would be refunded.
She explained that the essence of the forum was to interact with customers within their network on better way to improve service delivery.
“Our mission in Eko DisCo is to improve the quality of lives of all customers by utilising cutting-edge technology to safely, sustainably and reliably supply electricity.
“That is what we stand for, and we will continue to promote this,” Sanda said.
She expressed confidence that Eko Disco was committed to economic and infrastructure development.
She said that the company was also committed to delivering safe, reliable and steady power supply to customers within its network operations.
On metering, the chief executive officer said that the Distribution Company (Disco) had a goal to achieve 100 per cent metering of its customers.
She said that currently, DisCos had metered about 70 per cent of its customers, and was also working toward ensuring effective metering of the remaining 30 per cent.
The EKEDC’s boss further said that the money collected from customers was owned by all the players within the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) value chain.
“The remittances to the market operator by the DisCos are shared within the value chain and the balance received by them is used for infrastructure needs, operations and staff salaries.
“It is an acknowledged fact by all stakeholders in NESI that the elimination of estimated billings and urgent targeted metering of customers with prepaid meters is the way to go.
“Nowadays, there are bottlenecks specifically from Generation Companies (GenCos),” she said.
On vandalism, Sanda urged customers to be their watchdogs and report destruction of equipment to the management.
She appealed to customers and stakeholders to support the company in tackling energy theft and vandalism within its network.
According to her, in spite of huge investment in power infrastructure by EKEDC, vandalism of equipment is still on the high side.
She said that activities of vandals were crippling power distribution to the company’s customers.
According to her, recently, we reported cases of stolen cables, damaged transformers and other network infrastructure.
She said that the company had invested huge amount on infrastructure development such as upgrading of equipment, transformers and poles.
Sanda, however, assured electricity consumers within its network that all complaints raised would be addressed.
In his remarks, the Baale of Era Town, Otto-Awori, Chief Olumide Erinle, commended Eko Disco management for prompt response to faults, while appealing to community representatives to bear with the company pending when their complaints are addressed.
Erinle urged EKEDC to embark more on enlightenment campaigns to educate communities within their network on the need to desist from building houses under high tension wires.
He said that Discos should ensure all complaints were addressed before the next town hall meeting.
“The issue of low-shedding of electricity in rural areas should be urgently addressed.
“All residents should also assist DisCo in securing their facilities to deliver on their promises,” he said.
Also, the Chairman, Customers Consultative Forum, Mr Festus Eweka, urged Eko Disco to install solar lights in all transformers and their facilities within the rural communities to safeguard the equipment.
Eweka commended the community leaders for their opinion and urged them to continue in protecting EKEDC’s facilities against vandals. (NAN)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has faulted the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for allegedly misleading the public over power outages in Edo district.
A statement by the TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Sunday in Benin said that TCN’s maintenance work had nothing to do with the blackout experienced by BEDC’s 33kV customers.
It would be recalled that on March 14, BEDC had claimed that TCN’s maintenance activities were the cause of power outages in Sapele, Abraka, Ugelli/Shell and industrial areas through its social media platform.
Mbah explained that TCN only requested a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed the same day and power was restored.
Mbah emphasised that TCN’s maintenance had nothing to do with power delivery to BEDC customers.
” TCN wishes to address the publication by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on its social media platform, dated March 14, that TCN was responsible for the blackout, which was not true
“The announcement by BEDC’s inability to deliver power to its 33kV customers to TCN’s maintenance activities was not true.
“For clarification purposes, TCN only applied for a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed on the same day, and bulk power supply was restored.
“Contrary to BEDC’s claims, TCN’s maintenance activities did not cause the power delivery issues experienced by BEDC’s customers, ” Mbah said.
The general manager stated that the only valid statement in BEDC’s publication was regarding the Ughelli/Shell 33kV feeder T1 60MVA, which tripped off due to a fault on March 14.
Mbah disclosed that TCN was currently working to restore bulk power supply to the affected feeder.
She emphasised that all other areas mentioned by BEDC in their release, experiencing power delivery issues, were due to a fault on BEDC’s 33kV feeders.
She urged BEDC to provide accurate information to its customers and avoid misrepresentations, stressing that facts should be made clear for the benefit of stakeholders.
Mbah reiterated that TCN remained committed to maintaining efficient and reliable electricity transmission across the country for all consumers. (NAN)
The Lagos State Government has announced a diversion plan ahead of emergency repairs on Independence/Mekwen Bridge, inbound the Marina/CMS route.
Oluwaseun Oshiyemi, Commissioner for Transportation, confirmed the diversion in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos.
Oshiyemi stated that the diversion will begin on March 19 and last until May 26.
“During repairs, the road from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge to Independence Bridge will be closed to vehicles.
“Likewise, the service lane at Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge inbound Independence Bridge will not be accessible to motorists.
“However, the service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue will remain open to traffic,” he said.
Oshiyemi listed alternative routes for motorists to ease traffic flow during the repair period.
Motorists going to Victoria Island from Ahmadu Bello Way should use Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Akin Adesola Street, Falomo Roundabout, then Obafemi Awolowo Road to Ring Road.
Those heading to 3rd Mainland Bridge should take Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Akin Adesola Street, Alfred Rewane Road, Osborne Road, then link Ring Road.
Motorists going to Inner Marina and CMS from Ahmadu Bello Way should follow Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Akin Adesola Street, Falomo Roundabout, and Obafemi Awolowo Road to J.K. Randle Road.
Drivers heading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Inner Marina or CMS will go through traffic access available.
Oshiyemi assured residents that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will manage traffic throughout the diversion period.
The commissioner urged all motorists to remain patient during the partial road closure.
He added the repairs form part of the traffic management plan by the Federal Ministry of Works for road rehabilitation in Lagos. (NAN)
A frontline politician, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has described Gov.
Ademola Adeleke of Osun’s $20 million fraud allegation against his immediate predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, as mere shadow chasing.Ogundokun stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, while reacting to a petition by Adeleke to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Oyetola.
Adeleke had, in the petition, alleged that Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, misappropriated a $20 million World Bank health grant while he was governor of the state.
Ogundokun said in the state that there was nothing serious in the petition other than a drama aimed at generating negative energy toward the 2026 governorship election in the state.
He described Oyetola as a man of sterling performance in the private sector as well as due diligence and strict adherence to rules in the public service as governor.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain also described the former governor as the pride of Osun and Nigeria who should not be pulled down or given uncharitable names but encouraged to do more for the state.
According to him, there is the need to stop a destructive campaign of “I will destroy you if I can’t get it.
“Oyetola is honest to a fault,” he remarked, calling on the people of the state to join him in moving Osun forward.
Ogundokun advised Adeleke to prioritise good governance rather than engaging in frivolous activities.
“What Osun requires and deserves is focused leadership and serious engagements.
“I will advise Ademola Adeleke to stop playing politics with the exalted office of the governor by turning it to a petition writing apparatus.
“He should use the enormous power of the office to improve the lots of the people instead of deploying the state resources to bully and witch-hunt a perceived enemy or enemies.
“Writing a petition against a man like Oyetola, to me, is like chasing a shadow.
“The task before Adeleke is huge, and meeting the expectations of the people should be his priority and not fighting an imaginary political foe,” he said.
The elder statesman urged the governor not to deviate from the vision of the state’s forefathers.
Rather, he said that Adeleke should learn to build on the good foundation of his predecessor instead of finding ways to shoot down his good legacies. (NAN)
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