Power: Fashola settles dispute between EEDC, Geometric Power

Abuja – The Federal Government on Thursday settled the power dispute between Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Geometric Power Limited over which of the two companies would supply power to Aba and its environs. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said in Abuja where the companies signed an agreement that the settlement of the dispute was a historic achievement in the sector. He said that it was important that two former ministers in the country, Prof. Barth Nnaji and Mr Tokunbo Kayode, were on different sides of the dispute.

Dangote Set To Unveil World’s Largest Single Refinery

Following the speed at which contractors are delivering on their mandate, management of Dangote Petrochemical Company has said the refinery would commence commercial operations at the beginning of 2018.

The company is set to unveil the world ‘Largest Single Refinery’ which will make Nigeria self-sufficient in petroleum products refining and also become a major exporter of such products.

The project which is close to realisation would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s search for solution in meeting local refining need for white products.

BoI unveils SME Mobile, Online, Loan Apps

In a bid to leverage Nigeria’s growing digital and mobile presence, the Bank of Industry (BoI) has launched mobile, loan, online and accounting applications as well as customer portal for the micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The five newly launched apps can be found in the bank’s portal, www.boinigeria.com. The implication of this launch is that MSMEs seeking support from BoI will now have the opportunity of getting same with just a click.

Facebook is making a big play in emerging markets

Facebook has rolled out a new Android app for its social media service that uses less data, and runs faster in regions with spotty connections.

The app, called Facebook Lite, is available in countries across Asia and will soon make its way to parts of Latin America, Africa and Europe,

Gartner: First quarter of 2015 saw iOS draw a little closer to Android

Gartner's latest data on the global smartphone industry was released today, and it shows that Apple continued to show growth in the first quarter. While Android still led the way with 265 million units shipped during the three month period, Google's open source OS had a slight decline with its share of the world-wide smartphone market declining from 80.8% to 78.9% year-over-year. Apple's iOS saw its slice of the smartphone pie increase from 15.3% in Q1 2014 to 17.9% for the first quarter of 2015. Apple shipped 60.2 million iPhones in the January through March period, up from the 43.1 million it had in transit during the same period last year.

Good Morning Nigeria Initiative Launches To Enable Subscribers Make Free Calls

Leading media buying and planning agency, Media Perspectives, in collaboration with ARM, Coca-Cola, Jumia, Leadway, Mansard and Samsung have announced the launch of the Good Morning Nigeria initiative.

Good Morning Nigeria (GMN) is a CSR as well as advertising-funded initiative that will enable subscribers enjoy free talk time within the hours of 5am to 8am daily.

The World’s 10 Most Powerful Women In Technology

Here are the world’s 10 most powerful women in technology as profiled by Forbes:

#8 Sheryl Sandberg, 45, COO, Facebook

This former Google executive joined Facebook in 2008 and became the first woman on its board four years later. Sandberg helped the social network scale globally,

Don’t Scrap YOUWIN, Okonjo-Iweala Urges In-coming Administration

The minister of finance and the coordinating minister for the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration not to jettison the YOUWIN initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration considering its benefits to the youths.

The minister, who spoke at a reception organised by the Ndi-Igbo Youth Organisation, in partnership with the Voice of All Arewa Youth in Abuja, to honour her for her meritorious service, equally urged the government to continue with economic policies that are beneficial and review the ones that needs to be improved upon.

Court Bars NERC From Implementing New Electricity Tariff

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, barred the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from implementing the new electricity tariff scheduled to come into force on June 1, 2015.

Idris’ order is sequel to the hearing of an ex-parte application brought before him by a Lagos lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, seeking to restrain the NERC,

How Laudable Is FG’s N9.2bn Clean Stoves Project?

The federal government, in 2014 under the presidential intervention for the clean cookstove, approved the sum of N9.2 billion for the purchase of stoves for women in the rural areas.

The initiative came about because of the effect of the constant felling of trees on the environment. Constant felling of trees has resulted in desertification in the north and erosion problems in the south of the country.

Power Outage: ‘No Breakdown At Kainji, Jebba Plants’

Contrary to media reports, the power system collapse occasioning outage in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and other parts of the country, was not caused by any breakdown at the Jebba Hydro Electric Power Station, Mainstream Energy Solutions has said.

In a statement issued to journalists yesterday, the firm said it has become necessary to enlighten the Nigerian public and to set the records straight on the circumstances that led to the nationwide blackout two days ago.

IFC, Ecobank Launch $110m Facility

A member of the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the parent company of the Ecobank Group and leading pan-African full-service banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, today announced the launch of a $110 million risk-sharing facility.

It will increase access to finance for small and medium sized enterprises in fragile and conflict-affected states in West and Central Africa.

Why Marketers Want Payment Before May 29

It has emerged that the nationwide fuel shortage engineered by oil marketers was done to pressurise the outgoing administration led by President Goodluck Jonathan to pay them an additional N200 billion comprising outstanding claims and foreign exchange rate differential, even though the claims had not been verified and may have been spurious.

Power supply’ll be regular with right tariff

A framework of appropriate pricing and incentives has been identified as a critical factor to achieving efficient power supply in the country. MANAGING Director/ CEO, Sahara Power, Mr. Kola Adesina, stated this while speaking at the launching of a book titled: The Development of The Nigerian Electric Power System (1973-1990) in Lagos.

Business activities collapse in Onitsha as fuel price hits N300 per litre

ONITSHA—Commercial activities yesterday grounded to a halt, following an hourly increase in pump prices of petroleum products to the tune of N300 per litre.

The increased had started on Saturday when the pump price rose to N120 in the morning and by evening time, it climbed to N140.

Cash Crunch Won’t Affect Power Sector – Nebo

The minister of power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, has said that the financial constraints facing the country as a result of falling oil price will not affect investments in the power sector.

According to him, the private sector will not be adversely affected by the obvious constraints occasioned by the dwindling oil revenue as

Technology Research: UNICAL, others to benefit as PZ Cussons, NOTAP sign MOU

PZ Cussons will upgrade chemical laboratories at two Nigerian Universities and one Research Institute following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion.

The University of Calabar (UNICAL), Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, are in line to get laboratory upgrades courtesy of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).

Fashola Advocates Patronage Of Made-In-Nigeria Goods

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday said the country stood to gain a lot if citizens patronised locally produced goods.

The governor made the statement while speaking at the state’s 6th Artisans and Tradesmen Day celebration.

He said that patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods would enhance local production capacities, resulting in job creation and reduction of poverty.

China to partner with Nigeria, Africa against piracy

The Peoples Republic of China says it is ready to partner with Nigeria and other African countries to fight piracy and other forms of intellectual property theft.
Ms Zhang Dan, an official of China’s State Administration for Commerce and Industry, said this during a seminar on Intellectual Property Rights in Beijing.

Experts Discuss Investment Opportunities in Nigeria

The Association of Assets Custodians of Nigeria (AACN) said it recently held its fourth annual investor conference with the theme “Nigeria: Navigating Changes, Extracting Opportunities,” in London.

In a statement, the custodians said it hosted the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by the Director of Reserve Management, Mr. Lamido Yuguda at the event.