Business
I’ M OPTIMISTIC THAT THE NATION’S POWER SECTOR PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED- FASHOLA
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN on Monday chaired the third monthly meeting of key operators in the nation’s power industry declaring that he was optimistic that problems affecting the sector can be solved if everyone understands how his action or inaction affects the system.
In furthering his determination to identify, discuss and find practical solutions to issues facing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, the Minister initiated the monthly meeting of operators in the electricity industry with two earlier editions taking place in Abuja and Lagos respectively.
The Minister, speaking during the opening session ,and with journalists after the meeting, which took place at the Ugwuaji Transmission Station in Enugu, the Minister reiterated his conviction that the problems affecting the sector were not insurmountable.
Asked pointedly by one of the journalists about his word to Nigerians in the light of certain recent developments in the sector, Fashola declared: “My word to Nigerians is that this problem can be solved. It is a problem that has challenged us for a long time. Not only am I going around to understand what the problems are, I am at Ugwuaji now in Enugu State, I am going around to understand what I am supposed to manage. I have been briefed on paper, in files and in memos and I am going from power plant to power plant, from transmission site to transmission site. What I have seen convinces me that this problem can be solved.”
“I am optimistic that it can be solved, it just needs for us as a people to understand the system better and how it works. I am going to dedicate some of my time to breaking down the technical issues that have sounded so complex over the decades, so that the average Nigerian can understand how the system works.”
According to the Minister, actions taken by some groups or individuals often have grave consequences for the collective. “So if people break down pipelines, you know that you have weakened the system. No matter how angry you are a broken pipeline is going to affect you, because you won’t have power. If people feel that the best way to secure employment for their colleagues in the union is to shut down a gas or power plant, the truth is that you are going to hurt more people than the people you intend to protect”, he said.
The Minister explained that the third edition of the monthly power sector operators meeting was as usual held to resolve pressing issues in the sector adding that each time the meeting was held the issues addressed had added value to the businesses of the participants and stakeholders in the power value chain.
According to the Minister, “We have subjected our meetings to some of the stress tests and the result was a unanimous Yes. So in terms of specifics, the meeting addressed problems of gas, it addressed problems of financial stability the problem of volatility of foreign exchange in the sector as to how that affects the ability of the GenCos and the DisCos to implement their foreign technical service agreements with their foreign partners as to how to remit money and pay as well as the difficulty of pricing of local gas consumption in dollars instead of in Naira.
Noting that these were some of the problems that people do not see but which ultimately affect the quality of service, the Minister said the metering issue was also discussed with a resolution that in the interest of customers, people could not take money from consumers without supplying the meters.
Saying that reports at the meeting showed that most of the distribution companies had largely supplied the meters, the Minister declared, “I have made it clear with the regulators that a situation where people paid for meters and those meters were not supplied for me undermines trust and trust is necessary in the system”.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders resolved to reinvigorate their effort towards customer engagement through the launch of Customer Care Units for adequate resolution of power sector issues in line with the standards set up by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) also gave a commitment to strengthen transmission capacity to more than 5000 MW by the end of the year while Port Harcourt DisCo, Ibom Power and Odukpani plants said they are developing an action plan to direct extra power from both plants to Calabar in order to maximize the generation capacity of the plants.
Also, in line with resolutions in previous meetings, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) reported that it has commenced the safety ranking of DisCos accordingly while DisCos renewed their commitment to aggressive metering and made commitments to ensure that customers under the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) Scheme are metered as quickly as possible.
The Central Bank of Nigeria also gave commitment to resume disbursement of CBN Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility (NEMSF) upon finalizing the structure and payment model with NERC and other stakeholders ; while TCN made submission on the progress of ongoing work to improve transmission infrastructure across the country.
Earlier at the opening of the meeting, Fashola emphasized the importance of quality customer service in the Power Sector saying it was the only way to engender compliance with regards to bill payment among consumers of power nationwide.
The Minister said consumers needed to understand the intricacies of power generation, transmission and supply including why they could not get service at a particular point in time noting that their first line of comfort would be to know that somebody was aware that there was a problem in the first place.
“I would again reiterate that you, the owners of the assets, the DisCos and the GenCos, must step up and take responsibility for your business”, Fashola said adding that like the telecoms operators, the power agencies must drive their customer outlets, manage customer complaints, regularly adding other services related to power generation and distribution.
The Minister further urged, “You are the ones to do all the advertising, messaging and explanations about, what is going on? So you must perform that task very quickly”.
“You are not different from other brands in their services and therefore, branding, communication, education, information and service quality are what all of you must take responsibility for in your various units of operation”, he said.
According to the Minister, Government would continue to play the regulatory role in the business of power generation and distribution while it is the duty of the GenCos and DisCos to render services in such a way as to create harmony and cooperation between themselves and the consumers.
While noting that other companies involved in providing services to the public are not without problems, Fashola said that most of such problems were solved at various operational levels within the companies, while pointing out the fact that certain complaints within the power sector could be resolved by the various units without getting to the Ministry in Abuja.
“So when complaints come to us from Warri, Calabar, Maiduguri etc. that there is no power, I believe that the first responders must be your people”, he said.
The Minister said after being aware that someone within the sector was aware of the problem of the consumer, the next relevant line of comfort was how soon such a problem could be resolved adding that Nigerians have always demonstrated a reasonable disposition towards such problems.
Urging the DisCos and GenCos to go out and explain tariff to the public and why it is relevant, Fashola declared, “You can explain tariff because the issues that led to tariff were stated at consultations that you held. We cannot be accused of not consulting, you did the consulting in your various communities”.
On arrival in Enugu on Sunday evening, the Minister proceeded on an inspection tour of the Oji River Power Station, the nation’s only coal fired power station which was built in 1956 to produce 30MW for the then Eastern Region but which has been subsequently abandoned. The Minister and his entourage also inspected the access route to the Onyeama Coal Mining Point which had been blocked along the Udi- Enugu Road.
The operators at the Power Sector Partipants’ meeting were fully represented at the highest executive management levels, including Managing Directors and CEOs of Generating Companies (GenCos), Distribution Companies (DisCos), and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), as well as various government agencies such as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) ,Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), Gas Aggregating Company of Nigeria (GACN), the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) .
Precision and Heritage: How Fifi Stitches Is Rewriting African Fashion Narratives
A Nigerian-born designer is gradually carving out a cross-continental footprint in contemporary fashion, blending African textile heritage with British technical discipline.
Esther Fiyinfoluwa Adeosun, Founder and Creative Director of Fifi Stitches, is gaining recognition for structured womenswear and bridal couture that reinterprets traditional fabrics through architectural tailoring and precision construction.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adeosun’s fashion journey began at home, seated beside her mother’s sewing machine. What started as childhood curiosity, sometimes jamming the machine just to understand its mechanics—evolved into a disciplined design practice now operating between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
During an interview with journalists the fifi Stitches once mentioned “I was fascinated by how flat fabric could transform into something structured and meaningful”.
In her Story , early designs made for her family, though imperfectly finished, were worn with pride—an encouragement that laid the foundation for her professional confidence.
Today, Fifi Stitches is recognised for sculpted bodices, controlled tailoring, corsetry construction, and the contemporary reinterpretation of Ankara, Aso Oke, and Adire textiles.
The brand challenges the long-held perception that African fabrics belong solely in ceremonial contexts, instead positioning them within global luxury and modern design spaces.
Adeosun’s training reflects this dual perspective. She studied Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, and earned a Diploma in Fashion Design through Alison Online.
In the UK, she undertook industry-focused technical training with Fashion-Enter Ltd and gained fashion business exposure through Fashion Capital UK.
Her technical expertise spans pattern drafting, draping, garment technology, structured tailoring, corsetry, and bespoke fittings—skills she describes as central to credibility in fashion. “Precision builds trust,” she says. “A designer must understand construction as deeply as creativity.”
Fifi Stitches has showcased collections at the Suffolk Fashion Show, Liverpool Fashion Show – FB Fashion Ball, Red Carpet Fashion Event in London, and through editorial features in London Runway Magazine.
The brand has also received coverage in The Guardian Nigeria and Vanguard Allure, expanding its visibility across markets.
Beyond couture, Adeosun integrates community impact into her practice.
She has facilitated garment construction workshops, draping sessions, and introductory training programmes for women and emerging creatives, promoting fashion as both artistic expression and vocational empowerment.
Fifi Stcithes Boss operates between Nigeria and the UK, in order to continue to shape her brand identity.
According to her “Nigeria provides cultural richness and expressive textile traditions, while the UK offers structured production systems, sustainability conversations, and institutional frameworks”.
Looking ahead, Adeosun said she plan to establish a fully structured fashion house spanning Africa and the UK, develop scalable production partnerships, launch capsule collections, and expand independent editorial visibility.
Her broader ambition is clear: to position African textile craftsmanship within global contemporary design conversations—through structure, discipline, and technical excellence.
GTCO Launches “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, Opens Call for Applications
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the launch of “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
Now in its third edition, the Hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion. Under the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
Applications are now open, and interested teams can find full guidelines and registration details on the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
Speaking on the initiative, Eduophon Japhet, Managing Director of HabariPay, stated: “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve. Through “Take on Squad” Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact. This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.”
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
About HabariPay
HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.
HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
About Squad
Squad is a complete digital payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simpler and convenient.
Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.
Find out more at www.squadco.com.
Electric 8-Seater Tula Moto Keke Enters Nigerian Market, Targets Higher Operator Earnings
LAGOS — A new electric-powered tricycle with an expanded passenger capacity has been introduced into Nigeria’s urban transport sector, offering operators a potentially more profitable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional petrol-driven “keke.”
The newly launched 8-seater electric tricycle, now available in Lagos with plans for nationwide distribution, features a dual-row seating arrangement capable of accommodating up to eight passengers per trip—significantly higher than the standard three-passenger configuration common across the country.
Promoters of the innovation say the increased capacity is designed to boost daily earnings for operators, particularly amid persistent fluctuations in fuel prices. By running entirely on electric power, the vehicle eliminates dependence on petrol, reducing operating costs and shielding drivers from fuel price volatility.
According to the distributors, the tricycle is equipped with a durable battery system capable of covering extended distances on a single charge, making it suitable for commercial operations across high-traffic routes, residential estates, campuses, and marketplaces.
“The concept is straightforward—enable drivers to earn more while spending less,” a company representative stated. “With higher passenger capacity and zero fuel requirements, operators can maximise each trip without the burden of daily fuel expenses.”
Beyond its cost-saving potential, the electric keke is also said to require less maintenance than traditional models, offering additional long-term savings. Its quieter and smoother operation is expected to enhance passenger comfort and overall commuting experience.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of electric mobility solutions reflects a growing shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation alternatives in Nigeria, particularly in densely populated urban centres such as Lagos.
The distributors added that the product is currently available under a limited promotional offer, with delivery options across the country.
For inquiries and purchase: 📞 08153432071
📞 08035889103
Office Address:
📍 Plot 9, Block 113, Beulah Plaza,
Lekki–Epe Expressway,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
As transportation costs continue to rise and environmental concerns gain prominence, innovations like the electric 8-seater keke may signal an emerging transition toward more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions nationwide.
-
society7 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
news4 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
society6 months ago“You Are Never Without Help” – Pastor Gebhardt Berndt Inspires Hope Through Empower Church (Video)
-
celebrity radar - gossips2 months agoDr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit -Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace on February 1, 2026
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
You must log in to post a comment.