Residents of Maiduguri, Borno state capital, are irked by the recent uninterrupted electricity supply which has caused astronomical increase in charges.

Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) came under attack by residents who see the 24 hours electricity supply as waste and digging holes in their pockets.

The constant power supply according to the residents had caused what they described as outrageous billings.

Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, a resident at who lives in Bolori Layout, appealed to the YEDC to reduce supply of electriticy.

YEDC should go back to the former supply system where electricity was supplied for 12 hours and not 24 hours recently being enjoyed.

Suleiman described the stable power supply as a wastage because many consumers cannot use electricity during working hours.

I work from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. So I do not need any electricity until I get home. But in this case whether you consume power or not, you will be billed to pay for it. I think this is not fair, he said.

Residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the incurring high bills was worrisome.

They said that it was not in the interest of the masses, because it has hindered economic activities and social life of the people.

They also alleged that YEDC jacked up their electricity bills by over 100 per cent for commercial and residential areas sequel to appreciable improvement in power supply in the metropolis.

Mr Esther Chukwuma, one of the consumers, described the new billing adopted by the power distribution companies as frustrating and lamentable.

My bill indicated that I used 605 units in November and they charged N14, 000 as against N6, 500 for September where I used the same units.

They are charging me for what I did not consume because during the day, I spend most of my time in my shop. I only use the electricity at night at home.

I have a prepaid metre in the shop and I dont spend more than N2, 000 in a whole month.

So how come I am not staying at home and i am being asked to pay N14, 000.

I am here in their office, demanding an explanation, she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Fatima Musa, a widow, said: I was given a bill of N15, 000 monthly instead of the N5,000 I used to get monthly.

I strongly disagree with this outrageous charges given without any explanation.

She said that electricity consumers were at the receiving end especially those without prepaid metres, noting that the billing process was opaque and lacks transparency.

Malam Abdullahi Bako, who lives in Gwange, said how can YEDC be bringing between N9, 000 and N15, 000 to a room apartment in a month.

We are being forced to pay for electricity we never consumed; this is extortion, we demand for transparency in the billing methodology, Bako said.

Responding, Alhaji Usman Wakta, the YEDC Maiduguri Business Manager, said the company does not bill its customers arbitrarily.

These complaints may be as a result of the commissioning of the 330kV transmission line which now supplies electricity 24 hours.

He said that before the commissioning of the new line, the stations relied on the 132KV controlled from Biu, which can only supply for a period of ten to twelve hours per day.

On the average, we now supply electricity in the town for a minimum of 22 hours in a day which simply implies that the consumption of energy by residents in the state have multiplied or even tripled itself.

We took a simple study from our prepaid metres users and we found out that the people that usually came to buy unit of N2000 or N3000 in a month now have to spend N15, 000 or N20, 000 because of their energy usage.

One thing we notice about the consumers is that they waste energy. People have this habit of leaving their lights on even in the afternoon.

Go to some super markets or filling stations, you will see more than 200 bulbs on in the afternoon. So the more you load you use the more energy you consume.

On the allegation of exorbitant billing of consumers without meter, Wakta said : We go to peoples home to do load assessment based on the gadgets they have in the house and bill them accordingly. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial Instagram post of him smiling after manager Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club on Tuesday.

Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday after Uniteds worst start in 28 years left them trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points.

The volatile Mourinhos exit was in part triggered by the breakdown of his relationship with France midfielder Pogba, who did not even make an appearance as a substitute for Sundays dismal 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.

Pogba took to Instagram just moments after news of Mourinhos sacking broke, posting a picture of himself smiling and writing caption this next to it.

The 25-year-olds post was widely interpreted as celebrating Mourinhos departure and he was criticised by former United defender Gary Neville, who responded on Twitter by writing: You do one as well!, suggesting he should leave the club as well.

Over 64,000 people, out of his 30 million plus followers had liked the cheeky message, but he deleted the post 10 minutes later amid claims it was actually part of a marketing campaign for Adidas.

The controversy was an appropriately rancorous end to the World Cup winners stormy relationship with Mourinho.

Pogba joined United for a club record 89 million ($112 million) just weeks after Mourinho was hired in 2016.

But the former Juventus player was repeatedly criticised by Mourinho during his two-and-a-half year reign.

After his inspired performances helped France win the World Cup in Russia in July, Mourinho opted not to praise Pogba, instead infuriating the star by publicly asking why he did not try as hard for United.

Pogba was stripped of the United vice-captaincy earlier this season.

The pair were captured having a frosty exchange on the training ground as Mourinho grew angry with his key midfielders lethargic performances, dropping him on several occasions to spark talk he would be sold by the end of the season.

Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher knew Pogba during the Frenchmans first spell with the club as a youngster and he says his old team-mate needs a kick up the backside.

Fletcher fears Mourinhos sacking could convince the flamboyant Pogba that he can now get away with whatever behaviour he feels like, unless the new manager clamps down quickly.

I dont think hes conducted himself well recently and I think he needs a kick up the backside, Fletcher told the BBC.

I think his post today, whether it was his team or whatever, it was totally out of order. Thats a big concern for me.

Everybody talked about, Whos going to go, is it going to be Pogba or Mourinho. Now, if Pogba starts thinking that hes bigger than Mourinho, theres your next problem.

Somebody needs to get control of Paul and say, Listen, this hasnt been a battle between Mourinho and Pogba and youve won, youve got to go and prove yourself now.

A managers got to come in there and demand more from him, to lead this team forward.

Source: NAN

By Joan Nwagwu

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) has called for a united Labour movement that would confront the challenges bedeviling workers welfare in the country.

Oshiomhole said this at a programme in honour of the new President of the International Trade Union of Confederation (ITUC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Dec. 5, Wabba, who is the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was elected President of ITUC in Copenhagen, Denmark for a term of four years.

ITUC is the largest trade union federation in the world and represents 207 million workers across the globe with 331 labour centres in 163 countries.

Oshiomhole said that the unity had become necessary as there were a lot of distractions to divide the labour movement in the country.

He said: I congratulate Comrade Wabba. But this must force us to do serious reflections if we are going to preside over the workers of the world.

What do we do to deal with the distractions at home when we still have some of our brothers and comrades who still think that at this time, we can make sense out of a divided labour movement.

The slogan that united we stand, divided we fall will always be valid; I hope that the spirit of your election will touch the heart of those who seems to be confused.

There can be no question that united we stand, divided we fall.

There is only one organised Labour and I am happy that President Muhammadu Buhari, speaking through the lips of the Vice President has reassured Nigeria Labour Movement that his government will not provide a platform for anyone to factionalism Organised Labour.

You are not under the kind of threat that we faced when I was President of NLC when the former President sent a law to the National Assembly, not only to deregister the NLC, but also to make it possible for any three or four unions to form a Labour Centre, he said.

He said that Buhari believed that the country needed more national institutions and that organised Labour was a potent unity bridge that must be sustained.

He added that under this government, there would not be another registered Labour Centre in the country.

We need to be fired by the spirit of our people to work together and deal with all the issues that are bedeviling our country, he said.

He therefore, charged the new president of the ITUC to confront the new challenges as it concerns trade unions around the world.

Also speaking, Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said the Presidency was delighted about the international recognition.

I want to congratulate Comrade Ayuba and assure you that as a government, we will give you all the support that you desire to succeed, because we believe that from this elevation, you have become ambassador of Nigeria to the international arena.

They will watch you as they will watch the President of Nigeria because by extension, every decision you take there within the context of the fact that you are first a Nigerian before leading the world.

I plead with you that in your representation, let the spirit of excellence with which you have led in this country be reflected in your leadership so that for once, it will be adjudged by the entire world that Nigerians are competent, efficient, and effective when it comes to the provision of leadership.

Mustapha, however, said that Nigeria would continue to give effective leadership to the different organisations to which Nigerians have been appointed.

Source: NAN

An illegal, unfinished cross-border tunnel running into the U.S. was uncovered by authorities Monday, Customs and Border Protection announced.

The detection was made via a joint effort with Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents and Mexican law enforcement who were conducting a regular bi-national tunnel sweep, the agency said in a news release Tuesday.

The entry point was found submerged underwater along the international waterway channel constructed below both cities of Nogales, CBP said.

The tunnel was adjacent to the Port of Nogales, DeConcini Crossing and came to an abrupt stop underneath a parking lot in Nogales, Arizona.

Structural shoring and digging tools were found inside the roughly 50 foot long illicit passageway, suggesting to authorities that the construction was not yet finished, the news release said.

Of that length, 44 feet ran into the U.S., according to the agency.

Agents will continue to monitor and inspect the incomplete tunnel until it is properly secured and remediated with concrete filler, the news release said.

Source: NAN

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to replace Jose Mourinho as Manchester Uniteds interim manager after the club appeared to accidentally announce the appointment on their website.

Mourinho was axed on Tuesday after just two-and-half years in charge at Old Trafford and the troubled Premier League club are reportedly ready to bring back one of their old heroes to take his place on a temporary basis.

Solskjaer, currently in charge of Norways Molde, was widely reported to be Uniteds leading candidate for the interim role for the rest of the season while they search for a permanent appointment in the close-season.

There has been no official announcement from the club, however a video appeared on Uniteds official website celebrating Solskjaer and seeming to confirm his appointment.

A video of him scoring the winner for United in their 1999 Champions League final triumph against Bayern Munich was accompanied with the headline The most famous night of Oles career.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg also appeared to confirm Solskjaers appointment, writing on Twitter: Great day for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping control of the Red Devils.

Solskjaer, nicknamed the baby-faced assassin, scored 128 goals in 367 appearances for United during 10 seasons playing under the clubs legendary boss Alex Ferguson, who signed him from Molde in 1996.

After retiring, the Norwegian was appointed as Uniteds reserve-team boss before joining Molde as manager in 2010.

Solskjaer had an ill-fated spell in charge of Cardiff in 2014, winning just nine of his 30 games as they were relegated from the Premier League before being dismissed and returning to Molde in 2015.

Moldes season ended last month and does not resume until March 31, with Solskjaer unlikely to refuse the chance to manage such a prestigious club.

Ironically, his first match in charge of United could be against Cardiff on Saturday if the mooted deal is completed in time.

United are in sixth place in the Premier League after their worst start for 28 years.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane are among the bookmakers favourites to take the United job at the end of the season.

Source: NAN

Britain risks slipping from being the worlds fifth-biggest economy to its seventh-largest next year, when it is due to leave the European Union, with France and India on course to overtake it, accountancy firm PwC said.

PwC projected economic growth in 2019 of 1.6 percent for Britain assuming the country manages to avoid the shock of a no-deal Brexit in March versus 1.7 percent for France and 7.6 percent for India.

The UK and France have regularly alternated in having the larger economy, but subdued growth in the UK in 2018 and again in 2019 is likely to tip the balance in Frances favour, PwC economist Mike Jakeman said.

The ranking is based on the size of national economies in U.S. dollar terms.

Britains economy slowed and the value of the pound slumped after the 2016 Brexit referendum decision to leave the EU.

India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world, with an enormous population, favourable demographics and high catch-up potential due to low initial GDP (gross domestic product) per head, Jakeman said.

It is all but certain to continue to rise in the global GDP league table in the coming decades.

PwC expects India to rise to fifth place next year from seventh, and France to remain at sixth.

Source: NAN

A Chicago cocaine trafficker on Tuesday detailed the U.S. operations of accused Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans cartel.

Pedro Flores, who ran a drug trafficking operation with twin brother Margarito Flores in Chicago before working with Guzman and later cooperating with the government in 2008, described his role as a key operative under Guzman for the Sinaloa Cartel.

Flores testified that Chicago was a pivotal location for Guzmans operation to move tons of cocaine and heroin in the United States.

Its practically centred in the middle of our country, which makes it convenient, he said. Youre practically halfway to everywhere.

While working with Guzman, Flores and his brother were entrusted with moving drugs hidden behind false walls in trucks to cities such as New York and Washington.

He and his brother agreed to cooperate with authorities in 2008 after a conflict between Guzmans group and another cartel they moved drugs for left them fearing for their lives.

They agreed to secretly record cartel members in conversations, including one in which Guzman can be heard negotiating a lower price on a shipment.

Flores said he first encountered Guzman after being abducted in a meeting with his previous cocaine supplier in Mexico, where he and his brother fled to escape a charges in a drug case in Milwaukee in 2004.

The brothers were held captive for about two weeks before being released and sent to one of Guzmns alleged cartel co-bosses, Ismael El Mayo Zambada Gonzalez, who informed them the Sinaloa Cartel was impressed with their ability to distribute cocaine in the United States.

Any idiot could sell drugs in Mexico. Its very difficult to sell drugs like that in the U.S., Zambada said, according to Flores. From now on, Im going to give you some work.

Before working for the cartel, Flores met with Guzman, who began the meeting by making fun of Flores cut-off jean shorts.

With all that money, I couldnt afford the rest of the pants? Flores said, recalling Guzmans joke.

Flores also said he saw a naked man chained to a tree as punishment when he first arrived to meet Guzman and saw the alleged cartel leader appear to order an assassination in response to the seizure of one of the cartels cocaine shipments.

*UPI

Source: NAN

The National Council of Womens Societies (NCWS) has identified the humility, honesty and exemplary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari as hallmarks that rekindled hope of Nigerians.

Congratulating President Buhari on his 76th birthday, the the President of NCWS, Mrs Gloria Laraba Shoda, said in Abuja: On behalf of all Nigerian women, we congratulate our president and father of the nation on this very special day in his life.

We congratulate you on all your achievements in your life and particularly for your humility, deep sense of honesty and faith you have shown in the various aspects of governance, politics and democracy as our President.

Your commitment to the nation and exemplary leadership style is not only worthy of emulation but equally inspiring for the next generation.

Your commitment to the ideals of good governance, accountability, and probity have rekindled the hope of Nigerians for the country.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Ogbonna Victor Chibuzor, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC was charged today with attempting a scam that would have fetched him £12.5 million from his targeted prey.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested him before he completed the sting operation.

He was arraigned before Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu on a five-count charge bordering on intent to defraud, and possession of fraudulent documents contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

Ogbanna’s arrest was sequel to series of raids carried out by operatives over the past one week in which several suspected online fraudsters in their early 20s, were arrested having been found to be living a flamboyant lifestyle, not commensurate with any visible means of livelihood.

Analysis carried out on the computer of the suspected fraudster revealed certain incriminating documents intended to be used in swindling gullible Nigerians and foreigners alike.

Further investigations disclosed that Ogbanna uses his e-mail address [email protected] to send unsolicited emails to his victims using fake or stolen identity to legitimize his nefarious activities.

One of the documents was addressed to one Alan Christopher of BG Group Plc, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6, Berkshire, United Kingdom, with a rider “Your attention is needed” and a second paragraph talking about a £12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) unclaimed contract fund.

Another document found with the accused was a purported “Contract Award Certificate” to one Michael Morgan of 101 Brooklyn, New York, United State of America, on “Directing and Fixing of Oil Spillage” in the Niger Delta signed by the Chairman, Contract Tender Board and Chairman, Legal Department of Chevron Nigeria.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him occasioning his counsel E.O. Isiwu to move a motion for bail.

The application was opposed by prosecuting counsel, Innocent Mbachie.

The presiding judge, however, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety in like sum.

The surety, he ruled, “must have a landed property in Enugu which must be verified by the Commissioner of Lands”.

Ogbonna is to be remanded in prison custody until he fulfils his bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned till January 30, 2019.

An Igbo political group, One-on-One Nigeria, says it will work for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections.

The group, which announced this at a press conference in Awka on Tuesday, said a lot of positive strides had been recorded under the Buhari-led administration.

Chief Chido Obidiegwu, National Coordinator of the group, noted that there had been massive upgrade of physical infrastructure across the country, especially in the South-East, under the present administration.

Obidiegwu expressed optimism that a second term for the president was the shortest means to the actualisation of Igbo presidency which he said, had eluded the region for a long time.

“We are determined to achieving Igbo Presidency by returning the president for a second term because we are convinced that four years of this present administration are better than eight years of any other person’s.

“In his wisdom and magnanimity, President Buhari has begun to address the Igbo’s most pressing needs which bordered mainly on infrastructure development.

“There is serious work going on, on the long abandoned second Niger Bridge, the long abandoned Enugu Port Harcourt expressway, the Zik’s Mausoleum and the Ariaria Aba Independent Power Project, among others.

“These, among other projects that the Igbos yearned for, for over 16 years now and can only be realised under President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

The coordinator commended the president for his achievements in the fight against terrorism, corruption, and other anti-social vices in the country.

“On the national sphere, it may not be gainsaying to posit that the war against insurgency, militancy and insecurity has been reasonably contained.

“Corruption, profligacy and unbridled brigandage among public office holders have reduced drastically and recovery of stolen public funds is going on with huge success.

“The bar has also been raised in accountability and transparency in government and leakages are also been effectively blocked through the single treasury account.

“Agricultural revolution especially in rice production has guaranteed food security in our country; federal pensioners’ backlog of emolument have been cleared by the President.

“In addition, several social intervention platforms have been enunciated to touch the lives of ordinary citizens of Nigeria and provide employment for the youth such as N-power and School Feeding Programme.

“Monthly Stipend for Indigent People, Paris Club Refund, Bailout for State Governments, Anchor Borrowers Fund, Bank of Agriculture and Industry Loans to MSME, Trader Moni, among others.

“There are also massive enhancements of roads, rail and water transportation more than ever before, the construction of 365 road projects across the 36 States of the country.”

The group, therefore, promised to campaign vigorously for the president across the zone and the entire country to ensure his victory in 2019.

“The President is doing his best for the region to realise its dream of clinching the presidency. As such, we are resolute and unequivocal in our support for his re-election.

“To achieve this, we are already on course in the execution of several vistas of action in the 1694 political wards in the region, 95 Local Government Areas, and 15 Senatorial Districts across the five states.

“We have paid a courtesy call on the President where we intimated him with our plans and from his body language it is now left for us, to fulfill our own part of the bargain.

“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly and effusively invite our brothers and sisters in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu State, Imo, Delta and our people in diaspora to join us in this noble cause,’’ the national coordinator said.