Electricity distribution companies has been ordered by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately downgrade customers in the Band A categories if Discos cannot meet the promised 20 hours to electric consumers.

Dafe Apkeneye, the Commissioner of Licensing and Legal for NERC, stated this during an interview on Friday.

He said, “If the Discos cannot meet the promised 20 hours to Band A customers, the customers are to immediately be downgraded to the level for which the Discos can meet supplies.

“With regards to the migration order, it is not elective to the instance of the customer. The disco needs to make an application and ensure that they can supply power to customers in Band A.

“If Discos can’t supply such customers, the discos have to downgrade such customers to meet what they can provide.
“The distribution can distribute what is only available on the grid. So when there is no supply to the grid, the Discos can’t meet those supply commitments.

“But the grid has been resolved, and we hope supply can improve, and when they can’t, the Discos have to downgrade such customers.”
With regards to NERC transferring regulatory oversight to states, Apkeneye said states have been empowered by the constitution to generate, transmit, and distribute power.

“States can now establish electricity markets and regulate them by the Nigerian constitution. States now have powers for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within the states without restrictions.

“We should bear in mind that Nigeria is a country of laws. The Nigerian law states that the states have the power to establish and regulate electricity markets. The states also now have exclusive powers over distribution as seen in the concurrent list.

“With the states having such powers, it is of the states to exercise. Every Nigerian comes from a state. The states have the capacity, and as we speak, the team from Oyo State has issued us a notice, and they are currently spending a week in the commission, understudying what we do. Before coming to the commission, they have been to Ghana.

They have also had an intensive 11-week training session with an international regulatory body. So the states are going to build capacity, learn and grow,” he said.

NERC stated that for customers seeking redress on complaints, the commission has a customer protection regulation which we consolidated and codified last year, to protect customers.

“Before a customer can have their complaints addressed by NERC, they first have to lodge a complaint at the Discos. If the Disco doesn’t respond at a specific time, you can now approach a small mediatory group called the consumer forum of NERC for redress.

“The complaint process has gone on well. We have seen situations where complaints don’t get resolved by the discos and get escalated to NERC and they get resolved. We always ensure that customers get a fair resolution.

“Where a customer has been overbilled, they get fair redress. But when customers bypass meters, we also make sure the case gets addressed appropriately,” he said.

The Federal Government has officially terminated the N740 billion contract with Julius Berger Plc for the construction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project. The decision followed ongoing disputes over project costs, implementation challenges, and the contractor’s alleged refusal to comply with agreed terms.

A termination letter, signed by C.O Assam, Director of Legal Services at the Federal Ministry of Works, cited Clause 63 of the Standard Conditions of Contract (Road Works), 1999 Edition. The termination takes effect from the date the letter was served.

This development comes after the government issued a 14-day termination notice on November 4, citing Julius Berger’s failure to comply with reviewed project terms, cessation of work, and refusal to remobilize to the site for the Abuja-Kaduna section.

In a statement, Mohammed Ahmed, Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, explained that the decision followed months of stalled progress and unresolved disputes. The ministry accused Julius Berger of employing “delay tactics” and unilaterally attempting to adjust project scopes and costs despite prior approvals by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Originally scoped at N710.8 billion by an independent consultant, the contract was later adjusted to N740.8 billion to accommodate rising costs. Despite this, Julius Berger reportedly rejected the revised terms and sought further modifications, which the ministry deemed unacceptable.

The termination letter also highlighted that the contractor’s proposed changes—reducing project quantities while increasing unit rates—were contrary to the agreed terms. Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Works invoked Clause 63 to reclaim the project site.

The government stated that its engineers would conduct joint measurements of completed work in preparation for the site’s immediate takeover.

The ministry reaffirmed that the project, which involves constructing a 328.4-kilometer dual carriageway across three sections, was intended to be completed within 14 months under the revised contract terms. However, the contractor’s alleged uncooperative stance and escalating demands made continuation impossible.

The Federal Ministry of Works has assured Nigerians that it remains committed to delivering critical infrastructure and will take the necessary steps to ensure the completion of the project.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has expressed optimism that Simon Ekpa will be extradited to Nigeria to face justice following his recent arrest by Finnish authorities.

Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, was apprehended alongside four others on Thursday on allegations of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and financing terrorism. The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement, highlighting that the other suspects are being investigated for allegedly funding terrorist operations.

According to the police, Ekpa is accused of orchestrating violent actions in Nigeria’s South-East region from Finland, using social media platforms to promote his agenda. Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, who leads the investigation, noted that Ekpa’s activities include public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent.

Reacting to the arrest, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that General Musa is pleased with the development. He added that the CDS hopes Ekpa will be extradited to Nigeria to face trial.

In 2023, Ekpa was briefly detained over allegations of fundraising fraud and gained infamy for his separatist rhetoric. He called for the disruption of Nigerian elections, declaring in a viral video, “No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory.”

The Finnish Police emphasized that international cooperation has been instrumental in advancing the investigation. Hearings for the suspects have been scheduled.