Business
Rail project: NPA intervenes in CCECC, port operators’ row over demolition
Nigerian Ports Authority has intervened in the feud between APM Terminals and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over the demolition of some sections of the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC).
The move, it was learnt, was to ensure that the dispute does not in any way impede on port operations.
The CCECC, a firm handling the Federal Government new rail project, had last week commenced demolition of some sections at the Apapa ports to create room for the construction of the rail lines into the ports complex.
But APM Terminal viewed this as impeding on its operations.
The demolition which took place last week saw some freight forwarders protesting against the action of the CCECC, arguing that their goods which had been cleared got trapped inside the ports as a result of the action.
Head, Corporate Communication at the NPA, Adams Jatto, confirmed that efforts were on going to ensure a peaceful settlement of the feud.
He said the management of NPA under the leadership of the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, swung into action to ensure that port operations did not suffer as a result of the ongoing standard gauge rail construction.
He said the matter was under control and that there was not cause for alarm.
“We are already talking with the rail project manager of the contractor and the terminal operators to see how we can mitigate the effects of the rail construction on port operations.
“Don’t forget that the rail project is a necessity that the nation has to implement to ensure that the ports are well connected to efficient rail services. However, we are discussing with them so that they can look at their programme and see how we can have an unhindered port operation while the rail project construction is ongoing” he said.
Operations at the Apapa container terminal, operated by APM Terminals were last week paralysed when the CCECC mobilised to site, blocking the truck exit gate and began demolition of structures inside the port terminal, thereby hampering Customs inspection, and affecting the release and exit of containers.
Importers and clearing agents complained that they been unable to conclude their transactions as at when due while loaded trucks had been unable to exit the port terminal.
The situation has reportedly compounded the Apapa gridlock as trucks piled up on the port access road.
President of the Nigerian Importers Integrity Association (NIIA), Godwin Onyekazi, said although the government should be commended for linking the seaports to the rail network, the project should be implemented in a way that would not hamper port operation.
He said, “What we observed at the Apapa port today shows poor coordination of the rail project. The Chinese contractors handling the rail project should have coordinated with the Nigerian Ports Authority and all the terminal operators at the port to ensure that while the construction is ongoing, port operations are not hampered.
“There is a huge backlog of containers in the port as we speak. To now block the port at this time and make it impossible for containers to exit the port is counterproductive.
“This is also the peak season for importation. More goods are coming into the country and this disruption will mean that these goods will be stranded at the port.
“Consequently, importers will be made to bear the brunt of this action because their goods will be trapped inside the port and they will not be able to take them to the market in good time. Also, they will end up paying more as demurrage and storage charges. This is not good at all.”
Business
NERC warns DisCos against estimated billing
NERC warns DisCos against estimated billing
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday warned electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) not to forcefully migrate customers with faulty meters to estimated billing regime.
The warning came as the regulator reiterated its directive that the DisCos owe the obligation to replace faulty and old meters at no cost to customers.
Also, some customers yesterday bemoaned what they described as a ploy by the DisCos to frustrate customers into accepting estimated billing by surreptitiously denying them access to reload energy credits.
In a statement yesterday, NERC stated that it had been notified that the DisCos were instructing customers to apply and make payments for the replacement of spoilt and obsolete meters in their franchise areas.
The regulator noted that such instruction by DisCos contravened the Commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete end-use Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The statement reads: “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is aware that some Distribution Companies (DisCos) have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty and obsolete meters within their franchise areas.
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“This instruction contravenes the Commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete end-use Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.”
NERC reiterated that that no customer with a meter should be forcefully migrated to estimated billing.
According to the regulator, if any customer’s meter is adjudged by any DisCo to be obsolete or faulty, it is the responsibility of the DisCo to replace the meter free of charge, provided that the fault was not caused by the customer.
NERC restated its commitment to protect customers’ interests and rights by ensuring compliance with established regulatory standards and enforcing regulatory penalties for non-compliance by its licensees.
It urged the customers to report cases of non-compliance to its order by any DisCo through its designated channels.
Some consumers of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) and Ikeja Electric (IE), yesterday lamented their inability to load electricity tokens on their meters.
The situation has left several consumers stranded. A consumer on Lawanson, Surulere, under EKEDC, Cecilia Nwadie, said that several attempts to load her energy token in the last two days had been futile.
The effect of this is that she and her family has remained without power supply.
She said: “I tried to load my meter, but it failed. All that the meter indicated to me was “CALL”. When I eventually called EKEDC customer care, I was told that the meter has expired and that I should apply for another meter”.
For IE customers, it was mixed fortune. While some said they were able to load their tokens after several attempts, others insisted they have been unable to log onto the website provided by the utility for updates before the November 14 deadline.
An angry consumer of IE who identified himself as Ladi Ogundele, alleged that the ploy of the utility is to ensure consumers are placed on estimated billing just to exploit them.
He explained that the insistence of IE that consumers must pay for meter replacement even after a contrary directive by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and NERC is an indication that the game plan of the utility is to exploit customers.
The DisCo had been silent since the regulators wade in to ensure adherence to the rules.
“I think this is an acid test for both FCCPC and NERC. If they allow the DisCos to get away with this apparent disregard for customers, then both agencies of government would have failed,” Ogundele said.
NERC warns DisCos against estimated billing
Business
Naira exchanges for N1,735/$ in parallel market
Naira exchanges for N1,735/$ in parallel market
The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,735 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,740 per dollar last weekend. However, the Naira depreciated to N1,690.37 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM rose to N1,690.37 per dollar from N1,652.25 per dollar last week Friday, indicating N38.12 depreciation for the naira.
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Naira exchanges for N1,735/$ in parallel market
Business
Nigeria to begin local manufacturing of vehicle spare parts – NADDC
Nigeria to begin local manufacturing of vehicle spare parts – NADDC
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says it has established necessary structures and frameworks to begin local production of vehicle spare parts.
This initiative is aimed at reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imports, which currently cost the country $1 billion annually.
The NADDC Director General, Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this during the conclusion of a two-week automotive engineering and software design training held in Abuja organised in partnership with Midas IT Co. of South Korea, a platform for advanced design and analysis.
The DG spoke through the Director of Research Design and Development at the NADDC, Fidelis Achiv, stressing that council is committed to transforming Nigeria’s automotive industry by increasing the percentage of locally manufactured components in vehicle assembly.
“We are working to achieve a level whereby we can go back to assembling vehicles that have up to 40% locally manufactured components. We have vehicle assemblies in Nigeria but the assembling that is going on is not adding much value to the economy.
“Vehicles that have been assembled come in completely built, and they just remove the tyres, remove the exhaust system, remove the engine, ship them, and come and assemble them here.
“But we want to transform from that to a level where these vehicles come in unpainted, the welding is done here, some components parts are produced here and the assembly will add more value, and employ more people. We have over 11 million vehicles on our Nigerian roads.
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“Of the over 3,000 parts in a vehicle, if we can leverage on producing just 10 that we can beat our chest, that in the whole world, Nigeria produces these 10 components and they are best, the market is going to be huge. Our economy will change,” he stated.
The training boot camp, which hosted 15 participants, aims to equip engineers with the skills necessary to achieve this vision.
“The essence is to train engineers to design and produce parts, making Nigeria self-sufficient in vehicle parts production,” Achiv explained.
Abdul-Lawal Zubair, Managing Director of FAZSAL Nigeria Limited, encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired skills practically and creatively to address challenges in the automotive industry
“You have not just seen the theory of design but with practicality. Solve the issues for us. There is a reason among all the software for this agency to choose Midas NFX.
“Let them be proud of you. They can call you for advanced training, possibly in South Korea. Don’t just know the software and keep it. Be innovative and give solutions,” he said
Nigeria to begin local manufacturing of vehicle spare parts – NADDC
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