Broadcasting
PPC Backs Local Production of Smart Meters, Electricity Access
PPC Limited, Nigeria’s leading engineering and infrastructure development company, is supporting the local production of smart meters through the supply of accessories in the drive to ensure widespread access to electricity in Nigeria.
PPC through its partnership with prepaid meter producers in the country, has facilitated the installation of about 3,000 smart meters to households and electricity consumers.
The company whose factory at Ojota, Lagos State produces high-quality wire sets for prepaid meters is driving the quick roll out of prepaid meters to electricity consumers in the country.
The company aims to increase the share of local components in energy meters as required by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) by supporting local manufacturing capacity of Metering Service Providers (MSP).
Engr. Kelechi Onuigbo PhD, Deputy General Manager and Head of the Power Division at PPC, in a statement on Monday, said, “A key part of our vision is in the provision of specialized solutions to the power problems in the country and one of the ways we are achieving this is in the local production of key accessories for smart meters.
“Our efforts at ensuring local content in prepaid meter production is saving the country from capital flight and developing local expertise. We are in the business of helping individuals and businesses have access to affordable electricity by bridging the metering gap in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.”
He added that the concerted efforts of stakeholders in the power industry under the regulation of the NERC will help the industry achieve distribution of six million meters to consumers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) which is a key target of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) programme was established by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to which third-party investors were engaged to finance, procure, supply, install and maintain electricity meters.
The scheme aims to address the issues of estimated billing of customers, close the metering gap, attract private investment in the provision of metering services, protect the revenue stream of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) and ensure revenue in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
PPC’s long-drawn commitment to ensuring the elimination of erratic billing and poor electricity supply has led to its investment in off-grid infrastructure and renewable energy solutions.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
PAPSS Cowry to Benefit Manufacturers, SMEs
Access Bank’s Digital Innovation Earns Top Financial Inclusion Award
NIPR Postpones Maiden PRICE Awards to January 25, 2026
CBN’s New Cash Policy: A Welcome Liberalisation or a Risky Retreat?
Africa Must Build Its Own Cybersecurity Intelligence, Says Tizel CEO At AfriTech 5.0
Kaspersky Introduces Cyber Pathways to Support Career Development in Cybersecurity
Nigeria’s $618m Tech Incubator Debuts
NITDA DG Tasks Youths to Drive Africa’s Digital Transformation
Firm Urges Organizations to Check Protection of their Websites Amid Search Engine Optimisation Attack Schemes
Hackers Breach Phones of Dangote and Otedola, Demand Ransom
Broadcasting3 days agoIt is Official, DStv Confirms Termination of 16 Major Channels
E-Financial3 days agoSenate Considers Bill to Empower CBN to Regulate Fintech
Broadcasting3 days agoParamount Africa Shuts Down after 20 Years
General News2 days agoManufacturers Block More Ransomware, But Data Theft Surges – Sophos Report
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Launches Y’ello Data Gifting Campaign as Digital Connectivity Shapes Festive Celebrations
Telecom3 days agoAfrica’s $1bn Biometric ID Rollout Raises Concerns Over Privacy and Exclusion
Telecom3 days agoSenator Akpoti Tops Google Searches in Nigeria’s 2025 Year in Review
News3 days agoAfreximbank Taps Nigeria to Lead Africa’s Digital Trade Revolution