With the recent spike in electricity tariffs and rising fuel costs in Nigeria, premium electricity consumers, referred to as Band A customers, are increasingly embracing solar power as a sustainable option.

Band A Customers Switching from Pre-Paid Meters to Solar as Energy Costs Triple due to Tariff Hike

Following a substantial surge in electricity expenses, which have reportedly surged by more than 300% since April due to the government discontinuing subsidies for electricity in Band A feeders, this shift has gained momentum.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) adjusted the tariff for Band A consumers to N225 per kilowatt-hour in April from the previous rate of N68, with a slight reduction to N206.80/kWh in May.

Despite some reduction, demands from organized labor and other stakeholders persist to revert the tariff to the original N68/kWh, reflecting widespread consumer dissatisfaction.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, argues that reverting the tariff is impractical and would lead the nation into darkness, asserting that the tariff adjustment is crucial for attracting investments and enhancing liquidity in the power sector, a view not universally embraced.

Critics highlight that the tariff hike disproportionately impacts not only the wealthy but also numerous low-income individuals residing within Band A feeder locations, such as pensioners, civil servants, and small business owners.

The escalated costs have compelled certain consumers to significantly curtail their electricity consumption, adversely affecting their overall quality of life.

Oduro Oladunni, a resident affected by the hike, shared his predicament, stating;

“Before the increase, my household’s monthly electricity expense was around N60,000, but now we’ve had to pay N129,000 in April alone. We now limit our electricity use to late at night to manage costs, which has forced us to cut back on essentials like food.”

Additional Information on the Shift to Solar Energy in Nigeria:

• Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, led a protest at the NERC head office in Abuja, seeking transparency regarding new power plant developments and advocating for the removal of taxes contributing to citizens’ financial burdens.

• Many Band A consumers are now reconsidering their dependence on grid electricity due to the challenges posed by rising tariffs.

• The transition to solar power is viewed as not only a financially prudent choice but also a necessity for ensuring stable and affordable electricity supply.

• Social media commentator Morris Monye emphasized the growing popularity of solar energy, highlighting the benefits of transitioning away from Band A tariffs.

• Morris Monye shared his personal experience, noting that investing in solar panels and batteries has significantly reduced his reliance on the grid and provided cost-effective power solutions.

• Angel Thomas, another advocate for solar energy, mentioned that his investment in solar panels greatly improved the power supply for his mother’s essential household needs, showcasing the tangible benefits of switching to solar energy.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has ordered Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria to give subscribers on the DStv and GOtv platforms one month of free subscription and fined Multichoice N150 million for challenging the court’s jurisdiction and disobeying its order to not increase prices.

Tribunal Mandates Multichoice to Provide Nigerians on DStv, GOtv with One Month of Free Subscription

The rulings were made on Friday, 7th June, by a three-man panel chaired by Justice Thomas Okosu.

Barrister Festus Onifade took Multichoice and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to the tribunal over the pay-tv operator’s decision to raise subscription fees.

The Tribunal restrained MultiChoice from raising its rates until the hearing and determination of a motion filed by Barrister Onifade.

The FCCPC accused the Pay TV of raising fees without proper notice to customers and sought interim orders against Pay TV.

A three-member tribunal chaired by Saratu Shafii ruled in favour of Onifade by restraining Multichoice from increasing prices, pending further court proceedings.

Multichoice’s lawyer, Moyosore .J. Onibanjo (SAN), filed a preliminary objection to the suit, arguing that such a price dispute had been decided in favor of the client before.

Onifade argued that the issue was about whether Multichoice Nigeria gave adequate notice regarding the May 1, 2024 price TV subscription increase, not about price regulation or increase.

“It is our submission that the 8-day notice issued by Multichoice Nigeria  is insufficient in law. A monthly subscriber should be given at least a month.

“Dismiss this application (by Multichoice )for being a waste of time of the court,” Onifade prayed.

The Tribunal was asked to instruct Multi-choice Nigeria Limited to pay N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) or another suitable amount for disobeying an Interim Order.

FCCPC’ counsel, Nikiomari Abeke, mentioned no opposition to Multichoice Nigeria’s application but agreed to comply with the tribunal’s directives.

Justice Okosu’s ruling highlighted that the FCCPC Act grants the tribunal jurisdiction over commercial activities nationwide.

“The jurisdiction of this tribunal extends to all business activities within Nigeria,” Okosu said.

He mentioned reviewing the relevant provisions referenced by the parties and found no requirement for an aggrieved consumer to file a complaint with the President of Nigeria or the Price Control Board to enforce their rights.

Additionally, the judge noted that the claimant had sent letters to the FCCPC prior to initiating the case.

“I have come to the conclusion that this tribunal has the jurisdiction to preside over consumer rights as in the instant case and I resolve this issue against Multichoice,” the judge said.

The Tribunal observed that Multichoice had defied its temporary orders, particularly criticizing the company for raising DSTV and GOTV prices, which it deemed unacceptable.

Multichoice’s preliminary objection for disregarding the interim orders was dismissed by the Tribunal.

As a result, an administrative penalty was imposed on Multichoice by the Tribunal for its failure to adhere to the tribunal’s directive.

“The first defendant is hereby mandated to pay N150 million penalty.

“Multichoice is hereby ordered to give Nigerians one month free subscription.”

Multichoice, the prominent satellite television provider in Nigeria, has had to revise its subscription fees for DStv and GOtv users in the country.

MultiChoice Required to Lower Prices for DStv and GOtv Subscribers Following Court Order

According to Afric Showbiz, this adjustment follows a court directive that compelled the company to stop its recent price increase, which resulted in a notable decrease in its number of subscribers.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has stated that Nigerians will start using the new three-in-one identity card services in August this year.

Nigerians to Start Using Three-In-One Identification Card

Earlier, on Friday, April 5, 2024, NIMC announced the launch of a new card with payment features and social services in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. This updated identity solution includes payment functionality for various purposes.

An unnamed NIMC official, speaking to Punch in an interview, mentioned that the commission has been diligently working towards its objectives. The official emphasized that the plan is on schedule and is set to be rolled out in the coming months. Additionally, the official noted that the commission has initiated the testing and deployment phase.

The source said;

“We actually plan for July although there have been a few delays but we are still hopeful that it would come in July. So we are hoping to get it done between July and August. We are still on plan and if there is any shift, the public will know.

“When you are deploying a new technology, there is a lot of work to be done, you need to configure the card, enable the outlet, and enable the wallet to work. We also have to do tests and that is what is ongoing.

“The deployment is ongoing, the portal that people need to access the service has to be deployed, and we have to make sure that it is scaleable and those are the ongoing works.

“There are integrations that all the banks need to do to enable the card and all of those little details are ongoing. We have that target and we are working extra hard to make sure that we achieve that.”

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Mark Zuckerberg‘s Meta has lifted restrictions on Donald Trump‘s Facebook and Instagram accounts, days after Trump criticised Zuckerberg online.

Meta Removes Restrictions on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram Accounts

On Friday, 12th July, Meta announced the removal of all limits on Trump’s official Facebook and Instagram pages as he approaches the GOP nomination at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

“In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis,” Meta stated.

Trump was banned from Facebook and Instagram in 2021 following the Capitol insurrection, and from Twitter as well. Meta reinstated his accounts last year but said they would monitor for potential violations that could lead to further suspension.

Now, the restrictions are fully removed, just days after Trump lashed out at Zuckerberg on Truth Social, a platform Trump created after his mainstream social media ban. Trump posted, “All I can say is that if I’m elected President, we will pursue Election Fraudsters at levels never seen before, and they will be sent to prison for long periods of time. We already know who you are. DON’T DO IT! ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!”

It’s unclear whether Trump’s post influenced Meta’s decision, but Meta has stated that both Trump and President Biden will be held to the same standards as other users, including policies to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence.

It remains to be seen if Trump will become more active on Facebook and Instagram or continue to focus on Truth Social.