General
Non-Performance: NERC Orders Immediate Downgrade of Band A Feeders
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Any electricity customers on the Band A feeders not supplied at least 20 hours of power supply daily for seven days should be downgraded immediately by the distribution company (DisCo) in the coverage area, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed.
The sector regulator recently approved an increase in the tariff of Band A feeders across the country to N225 per kilowatt hour from N68/kwh on the condition that electricity must be supplied at least 20 hours per day.
This action sparked reactions but NERC said it was the best thing to do to attract investments in the industry, which has been struggling for many years despite being privatised.
In a recent circular, the agency said, “Where the Disco fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply per the applicable framework.”
It explained that this is to protect energy consumers in the country in a bid to ensure they get value for their money.
“We wish to assure all Nigerians that the commission, working in collaboration with the policymakers, remains committed to providing adequate and reliable electricity to all citizens as we work diligently with state governments to deliver on the gains of the Electricity Act 2023,” NERC stated.
It further stated that where the Disco fails to deliver on the committed level of service on a Band A feeder for two consecutive days, the distribution firm must publish on its website by 10 am the next day an explanation of the reasons for the failure and update the affected customers on the timeline for restoration of service to the committed service level.
It was gathered that the new tariff hike was implemented after looking into the 12 per cent rise in inflation rate from 28.2 per cent in January 2024 to 31.712 by March 2024.
In addition, a 59 per cent jump in the exchange rate from N919.39/$1 to N1,463.30/$1, 63 per cent increase in generation cost from N63.8 per kilowatt hour to N103.9/kWh, a 34 per cent surge in transmission and admin costs from N6.8/kwh to 9.1/kwh, and 11 per cent rise in gas price from $2.18/MMBTU to $2.42/MMBTU.
General
Ope Banwo Opens New Law Office in Texas, More to Follow
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigerian-born attorney, Mr Ope Banwo, who has run the Banwo Law Office in Omaha, Nebraska, where he has served clients for 29 years, has opened a new office in Arlington, Texas.
The Arlington office is located at 420 E. Lamar Boulevard. It is expected to serve clients seeking immigration-related legal assistance from across the country as the firm begins the next phase of its national expansion.
The firm, in a statement, said it plans to establish additional offices in major US markets within the next 24 months.
The Texas office was described by Mr Banwo as the beginning of a broader national growth strategy aimed at extending legal services to more communities across the United States.
“When I restarted my legal career in America in 1997, my mission was simple: help ordinary people navigate extraordinary legal challenges,” the respected legal practitioner stated.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. This new office is more than an expansion—it is an opportunity to serve more families, protect more dreams, and impact more lives,” he added.
For its first year of operation in Texas, Banwo Law will focus exclusively on US immigration law, offering services in family-based immigration, asylum applications, deportation defence, employment-based immigration, green card processing, citizenship and naturalisation, as well as humanitarian relief cases.
Mr Banwo said the firm’s commitment to helping immigrants navigate the complexities of the American immigration system remains unchanged.
“Our mission remains to help immigrants achieve the American dream without the nightmares,” he stated.
As part of activities marking the expansion, Mr Banwo also announced the launch of the Immigrant Survival Marathon, a 30-day programme of free immigration education, legal updates, and live question-and-answer sessions through his platform, The Immigrant Survival Show.
He expressed appreciation to clients, colleagues, referral partners, and supporters who have contributed to the growth of the firm over the years, noting that Nebraska provided the foundation upon which the practice was built and pledged to continue delivering quality legal services while expanding its reach across America.
General
NIMC Warns Nigerians Against Fake Free NIN Correction Portal
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians against a social media post offering free NIN correction on a fraudulent portal.
The commission, which is charged with regulating Nigerians’ data information, described the message and its accompanying links as a phishing scam designed to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, according to a public advisory issued on Tuesday on its X handle.
The agency assured citizens that the National Identity Database remains secure and protected from unauthorised access.
“NIMC warns the public against a fraudulent social media post claiming a free ‘Correction Portal’ is open via malicious links. This is a phishing scam,” it said.
“We assure citizens that the National Identity Database is secure and fully protected,” it added, urging Nigerians not to interact with suspicious links circulating online.
The agency advised members of the public not to click any unauthorised links and to rely only on official channels for any data modification, update, or correction requests.
According to NIMC, individuals seeking to update or correct their National Identification Number records should use the official self-service portal or visit authorised enrollment centres nationwide.
It asked users to access its self-service platform through its official portal and to verify information and updates through its official communication channels, charging Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious messages claiming to offer identity-related services outside approved platforms.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over online scams targeting personal data and identity information, with fraudsters increasingly using fake websites and social media posts to lure victims.
General
NUPRC Workers Suspend Strike After Negotiations
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The industrial action embarked on by some members of the trade unions at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been called off.
The Head of Media and Corporate Communications of the agency, Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the one-day strike was suspended after negotiations between the aggrieved workers and the management.
The decision of the organisation’s employees to refuse to work paralysed activities yesterday, but after the action was called off, work has fully resumed.
The two in-house unions involved in the talks were the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
In today’s statement, NUPRC admitted that the strike affected only administrative work, but did not impact regulatory activities in oil and gas facilities, urging members of the public to disregard false reports on crude oil production disruptions as well as misleading publications stating that the disagreement centred on foreign training.
The NUPRC has promised to improve the operating environment of its workforce and prioritise staff development in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
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