General
DisCos Generate N291.62bn Revenue in Q1 2024
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has indicated that power Distribution Companies (Discos) in the country made N291.62 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2024.
The newly-released data showed that the N291.2 billion was from the N368.65 billion billed to customers, translating to a collection efficiency of 79.11 per cent, which represents an increase of over 5.32 per cent when compared with the 73.79 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) Loss in the period under review was 36.36 per cent comprising technical and commercial loss of 19.55 per cent and collection loss of 20.83 per cent, the report indicated.
This showed that the ATC&C loss improved by 5.75 per cent compared to the 42.11 per cent achieved in the preceding quarter.
The ATC&C loss provides a consolidated report of how much revenue a Disco can collect relative to how much it should have collected based on the volume of energy it received and sold to customers. It is the indicator that evaluates the actual energy and revenue loss in electricity distribution systems.
During the quarter, Ikeja was the only Disco that recorded a lower ATC&C of 15.81 per cent than its target of 18.73 per cent, the report added.
The inability of Discos to achieve their respective ATC&C targets meant that they were not able to recover the full revenues required to provide returns to investors.
In Q1 of 2024, the cumulative upstream invoice payable by Discos was N114.12 billion, consisting of N65.96 billion for adjusted generation costs from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and 448.16 billion for transmission and administrative services by the Market Operator (MO), the report stressed.
Out of this amount, the Discos collectively remitted a total of N110.62 billion, that is N65.52 billion for NBET and N45.10 billion for MO, with an outstanding balance of N3.50 billion.
According to NERC, this translates to a remittance performance of 96.93 per cent in the first three months of 2024 versus the 69.88 per cent recorded in the last three months of 2023.
The average energy offtake by Discos at their trading points during the period under review was 3,283.87MWh/h, which was a decrease of -429.29MWh/h (11.56 per cent) compared to the 3,713.16MWh/h recorded in the previous quarter.
In addition, the total energy received by all Discos in 2024/Q1 was 7,171.93GWh, while the energy billed to end-use customers was 5,769.52GWh, translating into an overall billing efficiency of 80.45 per cent, representing an increase of 2 per cent relative to the 78.45 per cent recorded in Q4 of last year.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the state government has not restricted the movement of people during the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Responding to an enquiry by an X user, Faveo Autos, on Saturday, he said the exercise was not brought back to restrict the movement of residents, noting that arresting anyone during the sanitation was unlawful and not backed by law.
However, he encouraged Lagosians to use the period to keep their surroundings clean.
“What is the fine for movement during environmental [sanitation]?” Mr Wahab was asked by Faveo Autos today.
In his response, the Commissioner said, “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”
Life is full of unexpected moments that test our patience, strength, and perspective. Everyone experiences setbacks, disappointments, and periods of uncertainty. While these moments can feel overwhelming, they also provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.
One of the most valuable lessons we learn is that difficult situations rarely last forever. Time, reflection, and a willingness to adapt often help us move beyond even the toughest circumstances. Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on practical solutions can make a significant difference.
Relationships also play an important role in overcoming hardships. Support from family, friends, or mentors reminds us that we are not alone. At the same time, learning to let go of anger and resentment can free us from emotional burdens that prevent us from moving forward.
The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Personal growth is not about avoiding challenges but about responding to them with resilience and wisdom. Every experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to the person we become. By embracing change and practicing gratitude, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
In the end, moving forward requires courage, forgiveness, and hope. When we choose to focus on what we can control instead of dwelling on the past, we open ourselves to new opportunities and a brighter future.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The establishment of four new army divisions has been approved by President Bola Tinubu, bringing the total to 12.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was stated that the President also authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.
The new divisions created include 5 Division, with the headquarters in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States; 9 Division, with the headquarters in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger States; 10 Division, with the headquarters in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa States; and 83 Division, with the headquarters in Benin City covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
It was disclosed that the establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The statement said the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions will improve the operational effectiveness of the security agency and strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Before now, the Nigerian Army operated 1 Division, with the headquarters in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States; 2 Division, with the headquarters in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States; 3 Division, with the headquarters in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States; 6 Division, with the headquarters in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States; 7 Division, with the headquarters in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe States; 8 Division, with the headquarters in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States; 81 Division, with the headquarters in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun States; and 82 Division, with the headquarters in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
Mr Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
He lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
