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MTN, others Get Permits to Generate Electricity

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Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued permits to Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation, according to Punch report.

The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.

According to a report by the commission, Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states. The total capacity is 100MW.

Also, MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.

Aside from MTN, SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited were permitted to generate captive power.

“Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.

Our correspondent gathered that other licensed companies for mini-grids are Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State.

Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.

Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.

A permit is issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, maintenance, and where applicable ownership of mini-grids with distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and generation capacity up to 1MW.

The commission disclosed that it issues registration certificates to a mini-grid developer for one or more systems with distribution capacity below 100kW.

“Following the satisfactory evaluation of mini-grid applications, the commission issued three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in 2024/Q1,” the NERC stated.

During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.

A Meter Service Provider is an entity certified by the commission as a manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or installer of electric energy meters and/or metering systems.

A Meter Asset Provider is an entity that is granted a permit by the commission to provide metering services with roles that may include meter financing, procurement, supply, installation, maintenance, and replacement.

The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).

The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERC–R–001–2024 — Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023—NERC/2023/033 — Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 — MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.

Other are NERC/2023/035 — Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 — Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 – NERC/2024/014 — Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January – September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 – NERC/2024/036 — February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.

During the quarter, the commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.


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Nigeria Police Charge 4 Journalists with Cybercrimes for Corruption Reporting

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Despite recent reforms to Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, journalists continue to be targeted for publishing news in the public interest, with four reporters being charged under the law last month, according to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide.

Nigeria Police Charge 4 Journalists with Cybercrimes for Corruption Reporting

Cybercrime laws and other regulations governing online content have been widely used to jail journalists around the world.

In Nigeria, at least 29 journalists have faced prosecution under the cybercrimes law since it was enacted in 2015.

CPJ had warned that February’s amendments to the law, which followed years of advocacy by human rights groups and CPJ, still left journalists at risk of prosecution due to an overly broad definition of what is a criminal offense. Since the law was reformed, it has been used to summon, intimidate, and detain journalists for their work.

On September 20, police in western Lagos State separately arrested Olurotimi Olawale, editor of the privately owned National Monitor newspaper, and Precious Eze Chukwunonso, publisher of the privately owned News Platform website, Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists’ president,  Abdulrahman Aliagan, told CPJ.

On September 25, police arrested Rowland Olonishuwa, a reporter with the privately owned Herald newspaper, in western Kwara state and Seun Odunlami, publisher of privately owned Newsjaunts website, in nearby Ogun state, Aliagan and Kwara-based journalist Dare Akogun told CPJ.

“Nigerian authorities should immediately release journalists, Olurotimi Olawale, Precious Eze Chukwunonso, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, and swiftly drop the cybercrime charges against them,” said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa Program, from New York. “Since Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act became law, it has been used to arrest and prosecute journalists, and these arrests emphasize that the recent reforms to the law have not reversed that trend.”

On September 27, the four journalists were charged in a Lagos federal court with violating sections 24(1)(b) and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act for reporting that implicated Segun Agbaje, chief executive officer of Guaranty Trust Bank, in alleged fraud worth 1 trillion naira (US$600 million) according to Aliagan, Akogun, and a copy of the charge sheet reviewed by CPJ.

Section 24 of Cybercrimes Act relates to pornographic or knowingly false messages “for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order, posing a threat to life, or causing such messages to be sent,” according to a copy of the law’s amendments signed by President Bola Tinubu in February. Violation of this section is punishable with up to three years in prison and a fine of 7 million naira (US$4,200).

Section 27 relates to attempts to violate the law and conspiracy, as well as aiding and abetting. Conniving to commit “fraud using computer system(s) or network” carries a variable punishment based on the violation and/or up to seven years in prison and a requirement to refund or forfeit stolen funds, according to the same copy of the amendments.

The journalists pleaded not guilty and were remanded at a Lagos correctional center, pending a bail hearing on October 4, Aliagan and Akogun told CPJ.

Although the police compelled the journalists to take down their articles, Nigeria’s federal House of Representatives subsequently announced an investigation into the bank over fraud allegations.

GTBank’s chief communications officer Oyinade Adegite confirmed to CPJ by phone that the bank had sought to have the journalists charged with cybercrime over their reporting, which she said was “defamatory.”

CPJ’s call and text messages to request comment from Lagos State police spokesperson Hauwa Idris-Adamu on September 27 went unanswered.

 

Credit…. Committee to Protect Journalists


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AI Afrique Unveils Platform to Bridge Innovations Gap in Africa

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Foremost information technology (IT) solution provider, AI Afrique, has introduced a platform that will bridge the gap of developmental innovations between the advanced world and regions that were historically left behind during major global advancements, particularly, Africa.

Dr. Koyi Ugboma, Founder/CEO of AI Afrique, disclosed this in a statement, that the platform will make up for challenges hitherto faced by Africa through different phases and aspects of global advancement.

He said: “Africa, in particular, was not part of the Industrial Revolution, missed out during the Avant Garde era, and lagged behind during the microchip era. Now, as AI driven by data science reshapes the world, we aim to ensure that Africa does not miss   this critical moment.”

Launched on 20th of September, 2024, the platform, also known as AI Afrique, according to the founder will foster relevant connections and effective learning experiences in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analysis, by empowering enthusiasts in Africa to be part of the global AI movement.

Explaining how the platform works, Ugboma said: “Mentors choose their areas of expertise, while mentees indicate their interests.”

He stated further that the platform is designed to bring mentees across Africa’s AI ecosystem in contact with experts from within and outside the continent. This, he explained, will promote collaborative growth, support peer connections, and facilitate exchange of knowledge in multiple languages.

While stressing that the platform is designed to engender relevant connections and effective learning experiences in the field of AI and data analysis, Ugboma noted that the system is in-built with a simple questionnaire that helps to select and match mentors, mentees, and peers in the field of AI and data analysis for the best possible and mutually beneficial collaboration.

“Mentees can connect with one another to collaborate, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities to improve their skills.”

Ugboma added that his organisation is focused on “building skills in Adaptive, Predictive, and Generative AI, connecting experts and learners in these cutting-edge fields.”

In addition to inspiring actions towards a deepened AI inclusion in Africa and other developed countries, the platform offers advertising space for academic lectures, educational materials, AI products, and more, giving learners and professionals an easy way to explore and access resources that support their growth.

Ugboma also explained further that his organisation has developed a strategy to sustain its operations by charging a minimal membership fee to all members.

Encouraging interested members of the public to sign up to the platform and benefit from immense opportunities it offers, the AI Afrique CEO said the fee is meant for the maintenance of the ‘platform content, and technical staff. He said the fee charged will ensure the long-term “viability and impact of our initiatives. Our financial platform has been built, tested, and is fully capable of servicing members globally,” he added.

 


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Unity Bank, ANWBN Empower Women Entrepreneurs with AI, Digital Marketing Skills

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Unity Bank has hosted a capacity-building workshop to support the Association of Nigerian Women in Business Network (ANWBN) in a move aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills required to thrive in today’s digital economy.

From left: Mrs. Patricia Ahunanya, Chief Compliance Officer, Unity Bank Plc; Nkechinyere Ojiego, General Manager of Simba Group; Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, Retail and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc; Angela Ajala, Coordinator, ANWBN and Lady Isioma Fidel-Ewerem, from Women in Renewable Energy at the capacity-building workshop for women entrepreneurs held recently at Unity Bank HQ in Lagos.

The initiative for the workshop stems from the growing advancement in technology and its impact on business hence the theme: “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: AI and Digital Marketing Strategies,” which sought to equip women with practical knowledge on how to harness the power and take advantage of emerging technology.

As a platform that drew the participation of businesses from diverse sectors, attendees were provided with tools for leveraging digital platforms for expanding market reach, building efficiency in business operations, engaging customers, and increasing brand visibility.

Renowned industry experts and speakers such as Dr. Opeyemi Ojesina, the Chief Executive Officer of Jesshill Consulting, Nkechinyere Ojiego, General Manager, of Simba Group, and Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, of Retail and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc, led impactful sessions at the workshop designed to help participants grow their businesses by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and customer-centric marketing strategies

Addressing the media after the event, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola said the capacity-building initiative was inspired by the need to empower women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the growing opportunities presented by the evolving digital marketing landscape.

She said, “The growing digital landscape presents a unique opportunity for women to scale their businesses. There are over 70% of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria who desire this kind of capacity-building programme to improve their businesses, helping them learn how to transition from traditional business methods to one powered by technology, as this will become a differentiator”

While commending the partnership with ANWBN and emphasizing the importance of digital technologies, Mrs. Ambimbola pledged Unity Bank’s commitment to supporting SMEs, adding that the Bank will often pay priority attention to female-led ventures to improve relationships and collaboration with women businesses in Nigeria.

She added: “We are proud of our partnership with ANWBN and the success of this workshop. Empowering women entrepreneurs is key to driving economic growth and ensuring sustainable development. We look forward to more initiatives that support and uplift women in business.”

One of the participants, Mrs. Yetunde Adeniran, a fashion designer, shared her learning experience explaining that with the insights gained here, she has now found more ways of integrating digital technology into many facets of her business. She also highlighted the advantages of Unity Bank’s Yanga Account, which she noted as a crucial tool for small business owners, providing financial support tailored to their specific needs.

In 2022, Unity Bank launched Yanga Account to facilitate financial inclusion for Women. The success of the workshop underscores Unity Bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs in Nigeria as the Bank seeks to empower women in business by providing access to valuable resources, financial tools, and educational opportunities that will help them thrive in an increasingly competitive market.


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