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Electricity Consumers Get 611,231 Meters Under MAP Scheme

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Electricity Consumers Get 611,231 Meters Under MAP Scheme

A total of 611,231 meters have been deployed as at January 31, 2021 under the Meter Asset Provider initiative since its full operation despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other extraneous factors, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said.

NERC disclosed this in a consultation paper on the review of the MAP Regulations.

The proposed review of the MAP scheme is coming nearly four months after the Federal Government launched a new initiative called National Mass Metering Programme aimed at distributing six million meters to consumers free of charge.

“The existence of a huge metering gap and the need to ensure successful implementation of the MYTO 2020 Service-Based Tariff resulted in the approval of the NMMP, a policy of the Federal Government anchored on the provision of long-term low interest financing to the Discos,” NERC said.

The commission had in March 2018 approved the MAP Regulations with the aim of fast-tracking the closure of the metering gap in the sector through the engagement of third-party investors (called meter asset providers) for the financing, procurement, supply, installation and maintenance of meters.

It set a target of providing meters to all customers within three years, and directed the Discos and the approved MAPs to commence the rollout of meters not later than May 1, 2019.

But in February 2020, NERC said several constraints, including changes in fiscal policy and the limited availability of long-term funding, had led to limited success in meter rollout.

NERC, in the consultation paper, highlighted three proposed options for metering implementation going forward.

The first option is to allow the implementation of both the NMMP and MAP metering frameworks to run concurrently; the second is to continue with the current MAP framework with meters procured under the NMMP supplied only through MAPs (by being off-takers from the local manufacturers/assemblers).

The third option is to wind down the MAP framework and allow the Discos to procure meters directly from local manufacturers/assemblers (or as procured by the World Bank), and enter into new contracts for the installation and maintenance of such meters.

“Customers who choose not to wait to receive meters based on the deployment schedule of the NMMP shall continue to have the option of making upfront payments for meters which will be installed within a maximum period of 10 working days,” NERC said.

The regulator said such customers would be refunded by the Discos through energy credits, adding that there would be no option for meter acquisition through the payment of a monthly meter service charge.

“Where meters have already been deployed under the meter service charge option, Discos shall make one-off repayment to affected customers and associated MAPs. Such meters shall be recognised in the rate base of the Discos,” it added.

NERC urged stakeholders to provide comments, objections, and representations on the proposed amendments within 21 days of the publication of the consultation paper.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Economy

Nigerians Struggle as Sachet Water Prices Hit Record Highs Amidst Economic Hardship

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As economic challenges persist in Nigeria, citizens face yet another hurdle of soaring prices of sachet water, a vital source of drinking water for many.

Sachet water, colloquially known as ‘pure water,’ served as a convenient and inexpensive option for hydration, with prices starting at N5 in the early 2000s.

However, over the years, the cost has steadily climbed to as high as N50 per sachet.

This exponential increase has forced many Nigerians to seek alternative sources of water, including boreholes and wells, despite concerns about their safety.

Residents across the country, from Lokoja to Abuja, lament the financial strain caused by the inflated prices.

Marvelous Sanni, a resident of Lokoja, recounts how a bag of sachet water, once priced at N200, now sells for N400 to N500.

Families like hers have been compelled to turn to borehole water, raising questions about sanitation and health risks.

The situation is dire for households like that of Margret Danjuma in Abuja, who can no longer afford the daily consumption of sachet water.

Resorting to purchasing water from boreholes, Danjuma reflects the broader struggle faced by many Nigerians in securing clean and affordable drinking water amidst economic turmoil.

Local businesses, too, feel the pinch, with some restaurants discontinuing the provision of water to customers or resorting to unconventional methods like selling water in nylon bags.

The Association of Pure Water Producers attributes the price surge to rising production costs, including the cost of materials and treatment.

Experts and consumer protection agencies express concern over the unjustifiable price hikes, attributing them to greed and cartel-like behavior within the industry.

Calls for government intervention to regulate prices and ensure affordability resonate amid the growing hardship faced by Nigerians nationwide.

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Economy

Port Harcourt Refinery Receives Over 450,000 Barrels of Oil – Mele Kyari

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) has announced a significant milestone in the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, with over 450,000 barrels of oil already stocked into the facility.

Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, disclosed this development during a press briefing after appearing before a Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the various Turn Around Maintenance projects of the country’s refineries.

Kyari’s revelation underscores the progress made in the rehabilitation efforts of the Port Harcourt refinery, which has been undergoing mechanical works alongside the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

The influx of crude oil into the Port Harcourt facility signals a crucial step towards its operational revival, following years of underperformance and neglect.

Addressing the Senate committee, Kyari reiterated NNPC’s commitment to fulfilling its promises regarding the refinery rehabilitation projects.

He emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance testing before commencing operations, assuring stakeholders that the Port Harcourt refinery is poised to restart operations within the next two weeks.

The news of the refinery receiving a substantial volume of oil injects optimism into the Nigerian energy sector, highlighting the potential for increased domestic refining capacity and reduced dependence on imported petroleum products.

It also aligns with the government’s broader agenda of revitalizing the country’s oil and gas industry to drive economic growth and self-sufficiency.

As the Port Harcourt refinery gears up for a potential restart, attention now turns to the forthcoming regulatory compliance tests and operational readiness assessments.

The successful revival of the refinery holds the promise of not only bolstering Nigeria’s energy security but also stimulating broader economic development and job creation initiatives.

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CBN Governor Transfers N100bn Worth of Fertilisers to Agriculture Ministry for Food Security Enhancement

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, handed over N100 billion worth of fertilisers to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

The ceremonial handover took place at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, where the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, received the substantial contribution.

During the handing over ceremony, Governor Cardoso emphasized the CBN’s commitment to maintaining price stability, identifying the cost of food as a critical component of inflation.

He noted that addressing food inflation is pivotal due to the significant portion of household expenditure allocated to food and non-alcoholic beverages in Nigeria.

Despite the implementation of various measures by the CBN to curb inflation, the inflationary pressures remain largely driven by escalating food prices.

Cardoso acknowledged the challenges posed by transient inflationary pressures but expressed optimism about substantial alleviation by the third quarter of 2024.

The collaboration between the CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture aims to mitigate the surge in food prices by enhancing food productivity and security.

In alignment with its strategic shift, the CBN veered away from direct quasi-fiscal interventions and transitioned towards leveraging conventional monetary policy tools to execute monetary policies.

As part of this strategy, the CBN announced the allocation of 2.15 million bags of fertiliser valued at over N100 billion to support the Ministry of Agriculture in its efforts to enhance food productivity and security.

Minister Kyari praised the CBN for providing fertilisers, emphasizing their significance as the majority cost value in agricultural production inputs.

He highlighted the challenges faced by the agriculture sector due to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, climate change, and the naira redesign policy.

However, Kyari expressed optimism about mitigating these challenges and reiterated the importance of fertilisers in agricultural production.

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