General
Heritage Bank, Cross River, Ita Giwa Raise Climate Change Awareness
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The two devastating hurricanes in the United States of American (USA) in the past weeks have made some people around the world see the threat posed by climate change.
In Nigeria, the flooding in Lagos and Benue States this year and also the flood alert this week to states around the River Niger by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has further let Nigerians know that the issue is not for the western world alone.
In view of this, Heritage Bank Plc has aligned forces with Cross River State and Senator Florence Ita Giwa-led Seagull Band to educate the people on Climate Change: A time for Change.
The event, which held in Lagos recently, was put together by Seagull Band, one of the five bands of the Carnival Calabar at a symposium titled ‘An evening of lecture and stage presentation of the Seagull winning theme of the 2016 Carnival Calabar’ edition which dwelt extensively on climate change and the need for an affirmative action to manage the environment on a sustainable basis.
Speaking at the programme, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, said the bank collaborated with the state government because it believed so much in making the lives of mankind better by preserving it today so that it could transfer it to future generations.
He also explained that the bank developed interest in the alignment because the cause conforms to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulation on Sustainability Banking.
Represented at the occasion by Chioma Obiakor, Head, Sustainability Banking, Mr Sekibo said Heritage Bank always operates in tune with the standard set by the apex bank for operators in the sector.
His words, “We have set up a framework within Heritage Bank which helps us to work with the CBN’s principles for sustainability banking. We are very much interested in collaboration with any corporate organization that shares the vision of safety of environment and its sustainability with us.”
The Chief Executive Officer observed that “if we destroy the environment, we will pay for it,” adding that there is need to prevent what is happening in Benue State where several thousands of people had been displaced by floods.
He said the bank was very happy to collaborate with the Cross River State Government for putting together the platform to discuss and find solutions to the issues of climate change. He noted that people build on waterways without conducting proper environmental scanning, remarking that calamities may not happen today, what about tomorrow!
The deputy governor of Cross River State, Professor Ivara Esu invited all the participants at the symposium to the 2017 edition of Carnival Calabar, adding that the theme of this year’s programme is Migration, which is how people are dying in Sahara Desert trying to seek greener pasture in other countries. He said the state would also unveil a new city to be called Calasvegas in December during the carnival.
In her opening remarks, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, leader of Seagull Band, refused to agree to the public perception that the yearly carnival is Africa’s Biggest Street Party. According to her, the carnival is not a party but a platform for interpretation of crucial issues in our society through various literary techniques.
She said except one understands the basic motive behind the carnival, the person would lose the essence of the various activities organized during the event which has become a means of global tourist attraction for the nation.
According to her, many people who hitherto did not understand what climate change meant before the 2016 carnival were educated by the various activities at the event. She therefore, implored investors, tourists and other willing individuals to ensure participation in this year’s edition as it promises to be electrifying.
In his lecture on effects/impact of climate change, Mr Desmond Majekodunmi gave international and local perspectives of what the negative impacts of mankind was doing to the environment which has resulted in Hurricane Harvey in Houston Texas, which was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States of America since Wilma in 2005, ending a record 12-year drought in which no hurricanes made landfall at such an intensity in that country.
He said in Sierra Leone about 400 died due to over flooding while in Benue State in Nigeria about 110,000 people were displaced by floods, adding that if care is not taken, Lagos and South-South coastal cities might be affected by the rising sea levels from the Atlantic Ocean.
Mr Majekodunmi said global warming caused ice to melt and ocean levels to rise, adding that it also increases the magnitude and incidences of ocean surge due to thermal expansion of water.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has reaffirmed that electricity meters being deployed under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) are free for customers, warning Nigerians not to pay any money for meter supply or installation.
The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, stated this in Abuja at a joint media briefing on DISREP with the managing directors of Nigeria’s 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos). DISREP is financed through a $500 million World Bank facility.
The DG said the concessional nature of the funding, which comes at single-digit interest rates, makes it more sustainable than commercial borrowing and supports long-term stability in the power sector.
Under the DISREP IPF, 3.2 million smart meters are being procured and installed nationwide over four years through competitive international and local bidding. According to him, close to 700,000 meters have already been delivered, while about 200,000 have been installed across different DisCos.
The DG said, “With DISREP and other Federal Government interventions, the journey to power sector reliability is underway. DISREP is not just a short-term intervention, but part of a broader and coordinated plan of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, towards building a financially viable and service-oriented electricity market
“Nigerians deserve a power sector that works, one that delivers reliable electricity, protects consumers, ensures value for money, and supports economic growth.
“Together, we shall achieve that! The supply and installation of these meters for customers is free.
It was also disclosed that the government had already paid the contractors to supply and install the meters. DISREP is integrated with other metering initiatives, including the Presidential Metering Initiative and the Meter Acquisition Fund, to accelerate the closing of Nigeria’s metering gap.
On his part, the Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye, warned customers not to pay for meters.
“These meters are to be deployed and installed freely. Anybody asking you to bring money should be reported,” he said.
MD of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco), Mrs Wola Joseph-Condotti, said the company is working closely with the authorities to weed out bad eggs who extort money from customers for meter procurement and installation.
The programme offers significant benefits to consumers, including the removal of upfront meter purchase and installation costs, accurate billing, the elimination of arbitrary estimated billing, improved service accountability by DisCos, better transparency and dispute resolution, and long-term improvements in supply reliability as the sector becomes more financially viable.
For DisCos, Mr Gbeleyi said DISREP provides access to concessional World Bank financing for metering and network upgrades, reduces Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses, improves liquidity and revenue assurance, and strengthens operational performance for long-term investment.
He disclosed that $250 million of the facility is dedicated to Investment Project Financing, which supports bulk procurement of the 3.2 million smart meters, deployment of Meter Data Management Systems, and provision of technical assistance and capacity-building programmes to strengthen DisCos’ operations and processes.
Describing DISREP as a landmark transaction, Mr Gbeleyi said it is the first initiative of its kind in which the government, beyond investing in distribution network infrastructure, is deploying meters at scale to bridge the country’s metering gap. He cited official figures showing that Nigeria currently has about 5.66 million unmetered electricity customers.
“The plan is to quickly close that gap. These meters are for everybody. They are for Nigerians. Priority is on unmetered customers,” he said.
He clarified that while the policy targets unmetered customers, DisCos have been allowed to deploy up to 20 per cent of the meters to replace faulty or technologically obsolete units, following feedback from the field.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has successfully concluded the review of the Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) application, which is aimed at ensuring seamless handling and efficient resolution of stakeholders’ commercial disputes across the maritime sector.
The Head of NSC-ICT, Mr Benjamin Ivwigheghweta, and his team; the Head of the Complaints Unit, Mr Bashir Ambi and his team; as well as consultants from BrandOne, all collaborated to complete the platform’s final implementation stage.
Mr Ivwigheghweta expressed satisfaction with the successful integration of the revamped PSSP for streamlined dispute resolution. He encouraged the team to fully engage with the new system and to ask questions where necessary, ensuring that every member is well equipped to meet stakeholder needs with precision and efficiency.
On his part, Mr Ambi applauded the deployment of the PSSP as a tool for accelerating grievance resolution, adding that the platform would significantly strengthen the council’s dispute resolution framework by promoting transparency, boosting stakeholder confidence, and generating reliable, data-driven records to support national economic growth.
He further commended the ICT team for its unwavering support-particularly in ensuring extended network availability to support the Unit’s after-hours operations.
Describing the PSSP as a critical modern upgrade for dispute resolution, Mr Ambi revealed that the Council’s operations are now about 90 percent digital. “We rely heavily on electronic platforms to serve our stakeholders,” he said, adding that the ICT Unit has remained the backbone of these efforts by providing consistent support, even over weekends, to ensure uninterrupted online service delivery.
This digital-first approach, he noted, keeps the NSC at the forefront of maritime efficiency.
Following a productive three-hour technical review and interactive question and answer session, the PSSP is now in its final phase.
The next steps include the configuration of individual user access by the ICT Unit and a live demonstration of the platform to Management. Upon completion of these tasks, the council will be ready to go live-ushering in a new era of digital efficiency in port service delivery.
The Port Service Support Portal was officially launched by the former Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, in June 2016 in Abuja. The launch was held alongside the unveiling of the Port Harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The portal was designed as an online, real-time platform to enhance service delivery, address stakeholder complaints, and curb corruption at Nigerian ports.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has deployed an army battalion to Kaiama district in Kwara State after suspected jihadist fighters killed about 170 people in an overnight attack on Tuesday.
The terrorists stormed Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Council, according to Kwara State lawmaker, Mr Saidu Ahmed.
The violence highlights fears that jihadist factions prevalent in Northern Nigeria are pushing south along the Niger-Kwara axis toward the Kainji forest.
According to a statement from the Presidency, the new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate the barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities.
He condemned the attack as “cowardly and barbaric,” saying the gunmen targeted villagers who had rejected attempts to impose extremist rule.
“It is commendable that community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a belief that promotes violence over peace,” President Tinubu said in the statement.
The President urged collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide succour to members of the community and ensure that those who committed the atrocities do not go scot-free.
President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and condoled with those who lost family members as well as the people and government of Kwara State.
Similarly, suspected bandits stormed Doma community in Tafoki Ward, Katsina State, on Tuesday afternoon, killing several residents, injuring many others and setting vehicles and houses ablaze.
There were conflicting figures over the casualty toll, with police putting the number of deaths at 13, while the executive chairman of Faskari Local Council estimated more than 20.
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