Nigerian rapper Ycee has called for the banning of Point of Sale (POS) machines in the country after recounting a distressing incident where he lost millions of naira in 2024.

The rapper, whose real name is Oludemilade Martin Alejo, shared the details of the incident on his Instagram story.

In the video, he explained that N2.7 million was stolen from his bank account in November 2024. According to Ycee, this was not the first time he had fallen victim to such a theft.

Ycee revealed that the unauthorized withdrawals were made using his ATM card, with a total of N2.7 million being stolen in three transactions.

The first was N1 million, followed by another N1 million, and then N700,000. He further clarified that the money was not taken from an ATM, but rather through a POS machine.

The rapper expressed his frustration, stating that his bank had yet to provide an explanation for the missing funds or offer any solution.

Ycee also raised concerns about the lack of security around POS transactions, arguing that if the theft had occurred at an ATM, the incident would have been captured on CCTV.

In light of his experience, Ycee advocated for a nationwide ban on POS machines, suggesting that many others may have been victimized by similar crimes.

Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, Tonto Dikeh, has set tongues wagging with a recent social media post, fueling speculation about her love life.

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, the actress shared family pictures on her Instagram page, introducing what she referred to as her “family” to her fans.

The collage of images featured Tonto alongside her son and an unidentified man. All three were dressed in matching pink T-shirts with a lion design, paired with jean trousers.

The post caught the attention of her followers, many of whom were quick to comment, referring to the man as her “king.”

Some fans also inquired about the identity of the mystery man, leading to a flurry of curiosity in the comment section.

In addition to the photos, Tonto shared a glimpse of the meal they enjoyed during their outing, which included spaghetti, meat, eggs, chips, and assorted delicacies.

Tonto, known for her outspoken nature, also shared heartfelt thoughts about her family.

She wrote;

“My Family over everything….

You see this my little tiny family,

I will di@ protecting them,

If they have to prepare for WAR, I am ready too..

But I’m not stupidly ignorant to ignore their foolishness.”

The images and her message have sparked widespread discussion, with fans eagerly speculating about her relationship status

The Zamfara state government has countered the claim by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) that there was no credible evidence to support reports that 16 civilians were killed during an airstrike targeting insurgents in Tungar Kara,Maradun LGA of Zamfara state.

On Friday, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted Operation Fansan Yamma, targeting bandits in the LGA.

Subsequently, reports surfaced from the community alleging that 16 residents, including members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG) and vigilantes, were mistakenly killed during the operation.

NAF responded, claiming that there was no credible evidence to support the reports.

 

In a statement released on Sunday, Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, said some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and local vigilantes were killed during the airstrike.

The governor did not disclose the number of civilians killed in the air raid.

“We have received multiple positive reports of precision strikes carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fansar Yamma over the weekend in troubled Maradun and Zurmi local government areas,” the statement issued by Sulaiman Idris, Lawal’s spokesperson, reads.

“This intervention by the military has significantly degraded the operational capacity of the bandits and has shown the commitment of the Nigeria Air Force to carrying out its constitutional mandate of protecting civilians and safeguarding the lives and property of the people.

“As a responsible government, we assure all the people of the State that the Government of Zamfara State remains steadfast in its resolve to sustain the gains made in the fight against banditry and related criminalities. The recent success indicates that the collaborative efforts between the state and federal security agencies yield positive results.

“In light of these achievements, the state government reaffirms its commitment to providing all necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies to sustain their operations and bring lasting peace to the state.

“We will continue to offer support to enhance intelligence sharing, provide logistics, and strengthen community engagement, all in the spirit of a comprehensive approach to security and achieving the ultimate goal of restoring normalcy across all parts of the state.

“Regrettably, some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and local vigilantes were also affected during the operation in Tungar Kara, resulting in the loss of lives.”

Lawal said the government will provide necessary support and assistance to the bereaved families.

Nigeria has a history of military airstrikes targeting terrorists but inadvertently resulting in civilian casualties.

In December 2023, Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), vowed that airstrikes would no longer record civilian deaths, noting that the duty of the military is to protect Nigerians and not kill them.

Musa said this after an accidental airstrike killed over 100 residents at Tudun Biri village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna.

A midnight explosion rocked Umuneke community, Mbieri, in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, leaving a newly completed family house in ruins.

Reports indicate the explosion occurred late Saturday night, reducing the building to rubble. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded.

Describing the incident, a local source, Iyke Njoku, told The PUNCH, “The sound was massive as well as the bang. We waited a while and when we didn’t see any movement or hear screams, we decided to check, only to see the house in rubble.

“When our neighbours from neighbouring villages called to ask us the cause of the sound, that was when we went to check how safe we were.

“The house was a bungalow and the couple just completed it even as they were planning to move in by February.

“It is so painful that all their efforts have become a waste because they can’t move in as planned again.”

Another resident, Mr. Emma Emeka, recounted the terrifying experience.

He said: “We were in our house when we heard a massive sound, just like an explosion. When we rushed out, a newly constructed bungalow was destroyed. It happened so quickly, as nobody saw what triggered it or who was behind it.

“All we heard was the loud explosion; now, we are gazing at the new building of our kinsman reduced to rubble.

“The couple had worked hard to complete the building and were planning to move in this year but they cannot do so again.

“The funny part is people in neighbouring villages heard the sound and wondered where the blast came from. We all slept with one eye open for fear of attack.”

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has taken a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media, Sunday Dare, accusing him of unprofessional conduct and promoting divisive rhetoric.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, Governor Mohammed criticized Dare for turning his role into a platform for political attacks rather than fostering unity and constructive dialogue.

The statement, titled “Enough is Enough”, lambasted the Presidency for what it described as a growing intolerance for criticism.

“Instead of addressing Governor Bala Mohammed’s genuine concerns about the tax reform bills, Sunday Dare chose personal attacks and diversionary tactics. Is this how a democracy is supposed to work?” the statement queried.

Governor Mohammed’s camp also called out the timing of Dare’s remarks, which were made during Juma’at prayers and Armed Forces Remembrance Day events.

“Instead of focusing on honouring Nigeria’s fallen heroes, Dare chose to prioritise political mudslinging. Is this what the Tinubu administration represents?” the statement questioned, describing the move as disrespectful and inappropriate.

The governor’s team accused the Tinubu administration of fostering a toxic culture that stifles constructive feedback.

“This administration has shown increasing intolerance towards constructive feedback,”the statement alleged. “Governor Bala Mohammed’s concerns about national issues, including tax reforms, were met with insults rather than engagement.”

The statement also drew a parallel between Tinubu’s history as a pro-democracy activist and his administration’s approach to dissent.

“If Tinubu could criticise the system and rise to power, why is his administration trying to muzzle voices like Bala Mohammed who are only doing the same?” the statement argued.

A Warning To Dare

In a subtle yet firm tone, the statement ended with a warning directed at Sunday Dare.

“We respect the Office of the President, but respect does not mean silence. Governor Bala Mohammed will continue to speak up for Nigerians, whether they like it or not. Enough is enough,” it declared.

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Oluwole Adebayo, has questioned the composition of President Bola Tinubu’s economic team.

Adebayo, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said that Tinubu’s economic team is not sharp enough and that it is far from being proactive.

According to him, Tinubu does not need to go outside his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to find better hands to run his economic team.

“The problem is that the way he has set up his economic team, there is no sign that they are proactive, they are only reacting to the consequences of their earlier actions. So, they are perpetually defending, perpetually behind. So, the economic team is not nimble enough, it’s not sharp enough,” Adebayo said.

“Even if he doesn’t go outside his party to look for people to run his economic team, within his party he has a lot of talents there within the rubric of their own belief. He has not even used the best of APC people.”

He lamented that even with all the money the Tinubu administration saved from fuel subsidy removal, it is still borrowing to fund the budget.

The SDP chieftain said it is high time the President Tinubu stopped talking about what he met on the ground because what he met on ground is what he used to campaign and eventually won election.

He blamed Tinubu for not stabilizing the economy first when he came in before executing some of the policies which have seen inflation skyrocket.

Adebayo said that he will start taking the Tinubu administration serious when it is able to make the exchange rate stable for at least 120 days without fluctuating.

However, the SDP candidate stated that he does not see the current administration performing at the speed expected to make things change for the better, making it imperative for his party to do everything it can to take power from the APC in 2027.

The Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has described Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, as qualified to contest for the Lagos State governorship position.

Naija News reports that Olawande made this assertion during his appearance on the Mic On podcast amid growing speculation about Tinubu’s potential gubernatorial ambition in 2027.

Olawande addressed the rumours directly, emphasizing Seyi’s readiness for leadership.

“He’s not too young to become a governor,” the minister said, adding that Seyi has the qualifications and training necessary to excel in public office.

“He’s a well-trained young man who has built a lot of young people even before his father became President,” Olawande noted. He further highlighted Tinubu’s commitment to leadership and his willingness to contribute to Nigeria’s development.

Speculation about Seyi Tinubu’s possible bid for the Lagos governorship began in 2024 after endorsements by groups such as the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL).

Despite these endorsements, Seyi Tinubu has remained silent on the matter, refraining from confirming or denying any political ambitions.

The Youth Development Minister was quick to clarify that the younger Tinubu is not the one orchestrating the campaigns.

“Seyi is not the one engineering the campaign to become the next governor of Lagos State,” Olawande said, dissociating him from the ongoing advocacy by various groups.

The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official air carriers to transport intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, made this known in a statement by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.

Usman explained that the four airlines were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Muslims pilgrimage.

According to Usman, the four approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas, a Saudi Arabia-designated airline, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.

The NAHCON boss stated that the airlines were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that were inaugurated by the NAHCON on Nov. 26, 2024.

He said that the composition of the Aviation Screening Committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and one member each from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

He also said that some members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Similarly, Prof. Usman said that one member each was drawn from Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Others, he listed, were NAHCON Board members representing each geo-political zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties as well as Board Member representing the Aviation industry.

The NAHCON boss also disclosed that three excess cargo carriers were selected for the hajj operations.

He named them to include; Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd, Cargozeal Technology Ltd and Qualla Investment Ltd.,

The Chairman, who congratulated the successful companies, urged them to fulfill their responsibilities as promised during the screening.

Meanwhile, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian Government.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat, at the signing ceremony.

The event was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to formalise this year’s Hajj engagements.

Operators blame poor supply for move

FG laments exit from national grid

As the country battles incessant blackouts, about 250 manufacturers and academic institutions have abandoned their respective power distribution companies to generate their own electricity.

The organisations, many of whom are bulk electricity users, shunned the national grid to generate reliable electricity for themselves.

This is coming amid the high cost of electricity, fuel price hikes, incessant grid collapses, and line trippings.

In 2021, former President Olusegun Obasanjo dumped the national grid to unveil a two-megawatts solar power project at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The project, which cost about N2bn at that time, was described by the former President as a remarkably cost-effective investment.

Findings from different data sources, particularly from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, showed that the firms have generated up to 6,500 megawatts of electricity altogether.

This is higher than the country’s power generation which is currently hovering around 4,500MW and 5,000MW.

Further findings by our correspondent indicated that these outlets got permits from the NERC to generate captive power. Some permits were issued as far back as 2010, 2016, 2020, and 2022.

It was learned that the request for captive power generation increased since 2023, especially after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electricity Act 2023

Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that intend to own and maintain power plants exclusively for their consumption. That means the entities are not allowed to sell electricity generated from the plant to any third party.

While some of the plants use gas as feedstock, many embrace the use of renewable energy sources like solar.

One of the biggest captive power generators is the Dangote Group.

Dangote Industries Limited has generated about 1,500MW of electricity, according to Aliko Dangote. The Dangote refinery alone has a 435MW power plant that can meet the total power requirement of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

“We don’t put pressure on the grid. We produce about 1,500 megawatts of power for self-consumption,” Aliko Dangote said last year at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings and AfriCaribbean Trade & Investment Forum in Nassau, The Bahamas.

According to data sourced from NERC, 249 firms and institutions were granted permits to generate captive power.

The quantum of power generated by these organisations is approximately 5,180MW.

When this is added to the 1,500MW generated by the Dangote Group, it would amount to over 6,500MW being generated by the companies and learning institutions.

According to NERC, Pure Flour Mills Limited in Rivers State got a permit to generate 546MW of electricity while Nigeria LNG generates 360MW.

United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (Lafarge Africa Limited) generates 105MW; Total E & P Nigeria Limited, 174MW; Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited, 76MW; First Global Commerce Solutions Limited, 77MW; Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, 70MW; and Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, 90MW.

Some of the companies include MTN Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Shell, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Kaduna refinery, Warri refinery, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, Procter and Gamble Nigeria Limited, and Bank of Industry Ltd.

Others include Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, De-United Foods Industries Limited, Sagamu Steel Nigeria Limited, British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, and Mikano International Limited.

They also include Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Airtel Networks Limited, Nogap Power Development Company Limited, Shell Exploration & Production Company Limited, Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (Usan OML 138), Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Honeywell Flour Mills, Atlantic International Limited Refinery & Petrochemical Limited, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Okamu Oil Palm Company, PZ Cusson Nig Plc, among others.

Among the universities with captive power are the University of Lagos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal University Ndufu-Alike IKWO, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Bayero University, Kano, and University of Benin.

Others include University of Abuja, University of Calabar & Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, University of Agriculture Micheal Okpara, Umetuke, Abia State, University of Maiduguri & Teaching Hospital, Borno State, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Main Campus, Ogun State, and the Federal University Gashuwa, Yobe State.

The Nigerian Defence Academy, a military university based in Kaduna recently got NERC’s nod to generate 2.50MW of electricity.

Experts said the abandonment of the national grid by bulk users of electricity could spell doom for the paper sector.

FG laments

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, recently decried the rate at which bulk electricity consumers abandon the national grid to generate their own electricity.

Adelabu emphasised that grid connection as a power source is more reliable than captive power plants currently being used by bulk electricity consumers.

He regretted that despite generating over 5,155MW of electricity, the power distribution companies were not taking the power allocated to them to avoid incurring debt due to low recovery.

He said, “The majority of bulk electricity users, such as industries, are off the grid due to a lack of trust and confidence in the past. They now have their own captive power plants in their industries, which is more expensive.”

According to him, the continued use of captive power rather than grid connection is more expensive.

“The average cost of producing captive power is about N350 to N400 per kilowatt-hour for those connected to gas lines. For diesel it’s about N950 or N1,000,” he said.

He stated that efforts would be made to encourage the bulk users to return to the national grid.

“Once consumers and industries see the trust, the confidence, and the stability we are giving, they would be encouraged and reconnect to the grid for a cheaper source of power.

“We aim to attain the threshold of a new era in power delivery. The Federal Government is still focused on Vision 30-30-30. By 2030, we aim to achieve 30GW in the medium term, with renewable energy constituting 30 per cent and universal access in the long term. We must align on the principles guiding our activities and the strategies,” the minister stated.

NERC blames fluctuations

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission blamed power fluctuations for the migration of bulk users from the national grid.

The regulator in a recent report disclosed that fluctuations in grid voltage, including spikes, dips, flickers, and brownouts, could cause significant harm to consumers and result in substantial commercial losses.

It explained that extreme cases of voltage fluctuations, particularly at the distribution network level cause severe damage to industrial machines, prompting the industries to embrace captive power generation.

“To guarantee the quality of electricity delivered to end users, the Grid Code specifies a nominal system voltage of 330kV with a tolerance range of ±5 per cent (313.50kV to 346.50kV in the lower and upper bounds respectively).

“Fluctuations in grid voltage, including spikes, dips, flickers, and brownouts, can cause significant harm to consumers and result in substantial commercial losses. Extreme cases of voltage fluctuations, particularly at the distribution network level can cause severe damage to industrial machines, thereby compelling the industrial customers to seek alternative sources of power outside of the national grid,” the regulator confirmed.

The commission said it continued to engage with the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other stakeholders to ensure sustained efforts at keeping the system voltage within the limits contained in the grid code and thus providing a safe and reliable electricity supply to end users.

Experts speak

The Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, Adetayo Adegbenle, said it was a sad situation that over 200 companies have dumped the national grid.

According to him, these are the companies that should have been serving as “anchor tenants” to ensure the country has a stable grid.

“Many of the grid collapses we have had can easily be also traced to such  consumers leaving the grid, making the demand end of the grid less stable. I have also said before that one of the major objectives, if I were to be in charge of the grid, would be to bring these companies back if we truly want to have a stable and cheaper grid supply.

“The national grid system we operate is demand and generation-based. The demands and generation at any point must be equal, to balance the Frequency at 50hz, else frequency variation will be high. Having as many as 200 companies with high capacity demand leave the national grid means that the demand side is heavily dependent on other “mostly residential consumers.

“The whole power sector should be tasked with bringing these companies back, offering incentives. Bringing them back will also ensure that prices can go down on the grid,” Adegbenle said.

On whether the country can generate enough to serve these bulk users of electricity, he said the country still has stranded power not utilised.

“We still have stranded generations, we still have capacities available that they can consume. Generation companies can easily ramp that up too. The major problem in the power sector is liquidity and the cost-reflective tariff, which has stunted the growth of the sector. No incentive for targeted investments,” he explained.

Adegbenle added that it will be cheaper for the customers “because grid prices will definitely come down.”

Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kola Olubiyo, argued that the Nigerian electricity grid has increasingly been frustrating, predictably unreliable, and unstable.

According to him, the incessant line trippings and system collapses have, over the years, made it inevitable for industries involved in the production and manufacturing of goods, who had hitherto depended on the national grid, to think outside the box.

Olubiyo said, “The distortion in national grid frequency, voltage floating, and related concerns are of grave concern to every well-meaning patriotic Nigerian. Each time there are interruptions in electricity dedicated to production and manufacturing, it usually impacts negatively on production and does irredeemable damage to quality and output.

“Though at a higher cost of production, off-grid renewable, embedded generation or captive island model provided in off-grid concepts offers the manufacturers and organised private sector an open window to enhance global competitiveness, with guaranteed energy security—that’s  24/7 energy supply,” Olubiyo submitted.

He added, “The effects of all of these on electricity distribution companies will be the promotion of an open market and competitive electricity market as against the increasing entrenchment of market monopoly as presently constituted, which are at variance with the spirits and letters of power sector privatisation exercise.

“The latest development thereby reflects the desires of the critical stakeholders driving the process to take unprecedented bold steps. They should deserve our support. It is the new normal and the way to go.”

The Coordinator, All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, commended the manufacturers for seeking alternative power for their businesses.

Samuel-Ilori maintained that the issue of companies pulling out of the grid and providing power supply for themselves has been long since the privatisation of the sector.

“I know of Cadbury and Coca-Cola providing power for themselves, pulling out of DisCos service for the past five or six years now. That they have reached a whopping number of over 200 is a good thing as far as I’m concerned and from the prism of a consumer advocate.

“The service being given by the service providers registered by the NERC are not meeting their needs, they still buy diesel to support the supply and the monthly bill eats deep into their profit margins, hence it is wise for them to do so,” Samuel-Ilori stressed.

Like the Discos and other stakeholders in the power sector, Samuel-Ilori posited that the manufacturers and other institutions are also out to make a profit and meet the overhead cost of their respective businesses, “Hence one Disco can’t be reaping where the correspondent supply is not adequate.“

He said, “I can tell for free that what makes many companies join those who already did was the introduction of Band A and its attendant cost per unit which I called fraudulent because there’s no generated power to sustain the introduction and fulfill the demand of the customers migrated.  So, any companies migrated will end up closing up business without blinking as the DisCos charge as much as N5 million for a small-scale business and entrepreneurs, not to talk of the big companies.

“On its effect on the national grid, it will relieve the national grid capacity absolvement since we all know it’s common knowledge that national grid equipment is moribund which led to its constant collapse almost at every Eke market day including Saturday. Forget the alibi given by TCN that it was not a collapse but a trip-off from one substation. It was such a tripping that led to the grid collapsing ab initio.”

Samuel-Ilori advocated that individuals should join the firms in generating their own electricity.

“For me, it’s not only the companies that should move from the grid due to the experience of its collapses to reduce the load capacity, many individual homes should be encouraged to do so because when that happens, many transformers will be relieved and the incident of trip-offs in the substations will reduce and that will automatically reduce the cases of national grid collapses.

“It is not rocket science to know that renewable energy ought to be an alternative source for anyone who desires to have an energy supply, but in Nigeria, the power stakeholders are paying lip service to it just to continue feeding their hawk in the DisCos business. That’s why the materials used for alternative energy production are expensive, so the poor won’t have access to them.

“I have said many times at meetings with NERC and even the power minister as National coordinator, that if they want renewable energy to grow, and to become the real alternative to grid power supply, just as they give waivers on health materials and other allied products, let them reduce the import duty if they can’t give waivers to those importers so we can have access to inverters and other materials used in providing alternative power supply. That alone will help the national grid pending the time they will put it in good condition to accommodate all users,” he noted.

The consumer protector mentioned that the Discos will survive despite the companies changing their supply base as they continue to collect money from consumers on estimated billing.

“Their cash cow where they milk money without working for it is still very much in operation against the larger consumers out there, which is estimated billing. As long as the Discos have access to free money from the consumers via estimated billing, they won’t blink at how many companies pull out of their franchise area of the network.

“That’s why they frustrate every move to get us metered. Do you know some of the Meter Asset Providers are also owned by the Discos? That’s why meters are not always available for purchase even when customers are readily and willing to buy. Many have paid for over six months now and have not got it. For those that are metered today, tomorrow or next, the meter refuses to load and the message from DisCo will be ’let’s connect you directly’, and they are back to square one of estimated billing while the meter won’t be repaired or replaced as the law of operation dictates,” he alleged.

The analyst argued that captive power is the best way to go as far as the situation of Nigeria’s power remains at 4500MW to serve over 200 million Nigerians.

He disclosed that the companies are ready to pay for power but the power is not readily available, yet Discos still billed them monthly humongous amounts for what they did not consume.

“That’s why I opined above that it’s not only companies that should adopt the system of renewable energy but individuals, and the government should make it attractive by reducing tax, customs duty, or even waiver on the materials used to provide such so that the poor masses with interest on changing their source of supply can access it seamlessly within their purchasing power.

“And in the end, help relieve the load on the national grid to stop its incessant collapses pending the time they will invest money to change this moribund equipment to sustain the capacity,“ he emphasised.

• also rescue teenager with baby from lover’s kidnap den

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a new trend of kidnapping, dubbed ‘Constructive Kidnapping’, where unsuspecting ladies are lured by kidnappers posing as internet friends and lovers.

This sinister scheme has already ensnared 16 ladies from various parts of the state, who were fortunate to be rescued by the police command, the command revealed.

In another shocking case, a 15-year-old girl was rescued after allegedly conspiring with her boyfriend to demand ransom from her parents, pretending that she had been kidnapped.

For the ‘Constructive kidnapping, the kidnappers’ modus oparandi according to the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Police Command, CP Olawale Ishola, who briefed journalists weekend, on the command’s breakthrough between September 2024 and January 2025, was as cunning as it was ruthless.

The kidnappers as gathered, begin by tagging their potential victims as friends on social media platforms, establishing a false sense of acquaintance. Once the victim’s guard is lowered, the kidnappers invite them to Lagos, often under the guise of a romantic rendezvous.

These kidnappers according to the command would send substantial amounts of money, up to N500,000, to their victims, as well as cover their flight expenses to Lagos.

Upon arrival, the unsuspecting victims are taken to five-star hotels, where their phones are seized, and money transferred out. The kidnappers then contact the victim’s relatives, demanding ransom and threatening to them if their demands are not met.

According to the CP, ” It is Constructive kidnapping because you have a scenario where a lady is lured from her safe space to Lagos by a group of boys or a single individual. They make it enticing by sending a business-class flight ticket, N500,000, and booking a luxurious five-star hotel. The victim feels like they’ve ‘arrived,’ unaware that it’s all a ruse.

” I’ve rescued at least 16 ladies from this trap. As soon as they arrive, the kidnappers mess the ladies up, seize their phones, transfer their money, and contact their relatives to demand more ransom, threatening to kill the victim if their demands aren’t met. It’s termed ‘constructive’ because the victims unwittingly walk into the trap set for them. However, we’re always one step ahead.”

He, therefore, warned members of the public, especially ladies to be cautious when interacting with strangers online, advising members of the public to say something when they see something.

Similarly, the command boss also explained how a 14-year-old girl with an undisclosed identity who was reported to have been kidnapped, was traced to her boyfriend’s abode, with a baby.

According to CP Ishola, ” On January 8, 2025, a complainant reported that her daughter Anuoluwapo Victoria, 15 years left home to an unknown destination, that on January 9, 2025, she received a phone call and an account was sent for her to pay ransom for the released of her daughter.

“They have been sending money to the account until we were able to apprehend her and her boyfriend on Friday night. She was with a baby”