By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has denied rumours of his resignation circulating on social media following the expiration of a March 31 deadline.

According to reports by Channels Television, Mr Adelabu noted that the letter in circulation was fake as he had written such a letter.

However, he affirmed his interest in running for the Oyo State governorship race in 2027, adding that he would act at the appropriate time.

Mr Adelabu, reacting to the need for clarity about the said letter and his ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “Of course, yes, I am very much in the race.

“But I will act at the appropriate time, and you will be duly informed, but will be with the consent of Mr President.

“For now, I’m committed to my present assignment. It’s still about service, whether national or sub-national,” he told the broadcaster.

President Bola Tinubu had directed all political appointees in his administration who intend to contest elective positions in the 2027 elections to resign from their posts on or before March 31.

He hinged his decision on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.

Only three of President Tinubu’s cabinet members stepped away from office to pursue their ambition. First among these was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, he prepares to seek the APC ticket to be the next governor of Bauchi State.

Mr Tuggar, who confirmed his resignation later on Monday, said his resignation letter was formally submitted to the president earlier that day through the Office of the Secretary of Government in Abuja.

Also, the Minister of Transportation, Said Ahmed Alkali, resigned to pursue his ambition of contesting the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.

“The President has accepted the resignation and thanked the minister for his dedicated service to the nation,” his media aide said in the statement on Tuesday.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Yusuf Sununu, also resigned to contest a senatorial seat in Kebbi State.

Mr Sununu, who assumed office in the humanitarian ministry in November 2024 after serving as Minister of State for Education, said his deployment was aimed at restoring the ministry’s image before deciding to pursue legislative office.

Also, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Nasiru Gawuna, resigned from his position and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called for enhanced stakeholder coordination to rapidly expand electricity meter installations and narrow Nigeria’s persistent metering gap.

This push emerged from the NESI Metering Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Lagos on March 27, 2026, where regulators, industry players, and international partners converged to tackle rollout bottlenecks.

According to a post on NERC’s X handle, key attendees included representatives from the World Bank, Meristem, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NEMSA, Distribution Companies (DisCos), and Meter Asset Providers (MAPs).

NERC highlighted a strategic pivot from merely financing metering initiatives to fostering seamless collaboration.

With four separate metering programmes currently underway, the commission stressed the urgency of aligning efforts to avoid duplication and accelerate deployment.

“Greater synergy among DisCos, meter providers, and other stakeholders is essential to ramp up installations,” a NERC spokesperson noted. This coordinated approach aims to deliver accurate billing, eradicate estimated charges that frustrate consumers, and boost overall market efficiency.

The meeting also underscored the need for a unified communication strategy to heighten public awareness and encourage consumer uptake, as part of NERC’s broader drive for transparency in Nigeria’s electricity sector.

Nigeria currently operates four parallel metering programmes aimed at closing the country’s metering gap and improving efficiency across the power sector. These include the World Bank–funded Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which targets about 3.2 million end-user meters, and the Federation-funded initiative designed to deliver roughly 3.8 million meters alongside about 130,000 distribution transformer (DT) meters.

Also in operation are the DisCo-funded Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), which provides around 125,000 meters to fill coverage gaps, and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a technology-driven framework focused on smart metering, improved billing accuracy, and enhanced grid management. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is now working to harmonise these initiatives to prevent duplication and accelerate metering deployment nationwide.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

It was a day of recognition for some unsung Sheroes at the maiden Woman of Power Award organised by Zenith Bank Plc and the Ford Foundation.

The glamorous event took place at the Civic Centre, Lagos, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with the theme Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity.

About 19 women selected from the six geo-political zones in trade, petty manufacturing, education, and agriculture were recognised at the ceremony, which had several personalities in attendance.

Business Post reports that the programme was part of activities to commemorate March as women’s month.

The chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, in her speech, praised the awardees and reaffirmed the bank’s strong commitment to women’s empowerment.

“Zenith Bank’s commitment to gender inclusion is not a rhetoric but one of the ethos that the bank holds very dearly,” the banker, represented by one of the bank’s executive directors, Ms Adobi Nwapa, said.

 “Zenith Bank has a 50-50 gender ratio with women occupying strategic positions in the bank’s management and board, up to the current Group Managing Director being the very first female to hold that position,” she added.

On her part, the Regional Director of the Ford Foundation, Ms Chichi Aniagolu, described the Woman of Power Award as an eye-opener, noting that her team’s journey across the country revealed the vast and often overlooked facets of human potential among Nigerian women.

Among those honoured were:

• Mrs Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse empowering young people in Umuode-Nsulu community, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State;
• Mary Matanmi, Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists, Lagos State chapter;
• Ifeanyi P. Ugwueze, a Guidance Counsellor and Life Coach who continues to thrive despite blindness and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree.

Others include:

• Amina Musa, a trade educator based in Karonmajiji, AMAC, Abuja;
• Adenike A. Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin;
• Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in Jibi (Deidei), Bwari Area Council, FCT;
• Erikan Idem Andrew, a market woman with significant community impact in Port Harcourt;
• Ngozi B. Nwankpa, an Aba-based fashion designer;
• Hadiza Umar, a Development Specialist based in Kaduna, Kaduna State;
• Joy C. Ezenwa (aka Mama Amala), a trader at Sabon Gari Market, Kano;
• Shola Esther Babalola (Mama Sho), promoter of natural honey and founder of the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos;
• Josephine Ugwu, a staff member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was honoured for her honesty in recovering and returning millions of naira mistakenly dropped by passengers at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.