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Petition Filed Against Jos Electricity Distribution Company Over Transformer Neglect in Tumfure Community

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A formal petition has been submitted to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) by residents of Tumfure community in Gombe State, accusing the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) of gross negligence and violation of regulatory obligations following a month-long blackout caused by a damaged transformer.

In the petition addressed to the Chairman of NERC, Abdulkadir Aliyu Shehu, representing over 100 affected households, stated that the Almajiri transformer serving the Tumfure community has been out of service for nearly a month. Despite repeated appeals and visits to JEDC offices in Gombe and Jos, residents claim no meaningful action has been taken to inspect or repair the transformer.

“This is not just a technical failure; it is an institutional failure that borders on negligence and abuse of regulatory frameworks,” Shehu wrote, emphasizing the severe impact on homes, businesses, schools, and essential services in the area.

 

The petition highlights that Tumfure residents were placed under Band A classification, which, according to NERC’s service-based tariff (SBT) structure, guarantees a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily. However, the community has received zero hours of supply for close to a month, raising concerns about false billing and service fraud.

“Despite community-level communications and requests for assistance, JEDC has not even shown a clear intent to inspect or repair the faulty transformer,” the petition reads. It further notes that all attempts to engage JEDC have resulted in “empty promises.”

Citing the NERC Investment in Electricity Networks Regulation (2015) and the Order on Customer Responsibilities, the petition asserts that DisCos are legally obligated to repair or replace damaged infrastructure. “The practice of shifting the cost of network repairs and upgrades to consumers whether through coercion or abandonment is illegal and has been explicitly prohibited by NERC,” Shehu stated.

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The petition also references Regulation 1, Section 11 of NERC’s Connection and Disconnection Procedures for Electricity Services (2017), which mandates that distribution licensees maintain and repair equipment up to the customer’s point of connection. “JEDC has violated this provision,” the residents allege.

Additionally, the petition invokes Section 63 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005, which requires licensees to operate efficiently and ensure safe, reliable electricity delivery. “JEDC has fallen far short of this,” Shehu wrote, calling for regulatory scrutiny.

The residents argue that the delay in restoring power violates NERC’s Customer Service Standards of Performance, which provide specific timelines for fault resolution. “A delay of over 30 days without electricity for a critical fault like this is a blatant breach,” the petition states.

According to the petition, over 98% of affected residents use prepaid meters, meaning they have paid in advance for services they are not receiving. “This makes the continued outage not only unlawful but deeply exploitative,” Shehu emphasized.

The blackout has led to significant economic and social distress. “Many residents have lost perishable goods, and small businesses that rely on power for refrigeration, charging, tailoring, welding, and printing are on the brink of collapse,” the petition notes. Students preparing for exams have been forced to study in darkness, compounding the emotional toll.

The community has refused to contribute funds for the transformer repair, citing NERC regulations that prohibit such consumer-financed infrastructure. “Let it be on record that we refuse to be blackmailed into funding infrastructure we are not legally required to finance,” Shehu declared.

The petition warns that continued inaction may prompt legal action and appeals to consumer protection agencies and National Assembly oversight committees. “We are also placing NERC on notice that continued inaction will leave us with no option but to seek redress through public legal action,” the residents stated.

The petition was copied to key stakeholders, including the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Power, Senator Muhammadu Danjuma Goje, the Chief Whip of the House, the Minister of Power, and the Consumer Protection Agency.

 

In conclusion, the residents call on NERC to urgently direct JEDC to repair or replace the Almajiri transformer and restore power in line with Band A obligations. They also request a broader investigation into JEDC’s service delivery across Gombe State and appropriate sanctions for proven violations.

“We trust in your Commission’s role as the protector of electricity consumers and believe that this formal petition will be met with swift and decisive enforcement action,” Shehu concluded on behalf of the Tumfure community.

 

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Nigeria’s GDP Growth, Drop in Inflation Not Translating into Poverty Reduction – BUK Deputy VC

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The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni, has said that Nigeria’s recent economic growth and decline in inflation have yet to translate into a meaningful reduction in poverty among citizens.

Professor Tsauni, an economist, made this observation during a gathering organised by the Non-Formal Development for Education and Health Initiative, with the theme, “Nigeria at a Crossroad: Who Is to Fix It?”

He said that although Nigeria had recorded some level of growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and improvements in certain economic indicators, the development had not significantly improved the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, the country continues to grapple with complex economic and social challenges that require collective efforts and practical solutions to overcome.

“We want to show that Nigeria is a country that, in spite of its challenges, has complex problems that will not really allow it to address them easily. Recently, we have been experiencing some level of growth in GDP, but those indices are not translating into a reduction in poverty, and so we are at a crossroads,” he said.

The BUK Deputy Vice-Chancellor explained that addressing the country’s challenges required more than government interventions, stressing that every Nigerian had a responsibility to contribute to rebuilding the country.

He maintained that the responsibility of finding solutions to Nigeria’s problems should not be left to individuals, political leaders or organisations alone, but should involve citizens from all sectors of society.

Professor Tsauni also called on the government to formulate and implement pragmatic policies capable of addressing the country’s challenges, while emphasising the importance of building public trust.

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He, however, identified negative societal attitudes and a lack of commitment to national development as some of the major obstacles preventing Nigeria from achieving the desired results from its policies.

According to him, Nigeria has developed several sound policies over the years, but poor attitudes and the failure of citizens to demonstrate the necessary commitment have continued to undermine their implementation.

“We have beautiful policies in Nigeria, but they cannot work because of our attitude. We should not apportion blame to anybody because we created the problem together, so everybody should contribute,” he said.

The university don urged Nigerians across different professions and institutions to examine their conduct and take responsibility for improving the country.

He specifically noted that classroom teachers, judges, public servants and other professionals must reflect on their individual responsibilities, adding that positive changes in societal attitudes were essential to national development.

Professor Tsauni further stressed that Nigeria’s current situation required collective reflection and a change in citizens’ approach to public responsibilities rather than continuous blame-shifting.

Earlier, the Technical Lead of the Non-Formal Development for Education and Health Initiative, Dr Auwal Halilu, called on Nigerians to demonstrate patriotism and contribute towards revitalising the country.

Dr Halilu said Nigeria was facing numerous challenges as the country approached the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for citizens to reflect on how to secure the country’s future through responsible participation in the electoral process.

He urged Nigerians to embrace positive values, transparency and accountability, noting that national development could only be achieved when citizens and leaders demonstrated genuine commitment to the country’s progress.

“We should take into consideration that we are going to revitalise this country. Every Nigerian should be patriotic. There are a lot of challenges in Nigeria as we approach the 2027 elections. How can we help to get the best in Nigeria? We should change our values for good and be transparent,” he said.

Dr Halilu also challenged Nigerians to consider how they could support leaders in addressing the country’s challenges, rather than leaving the responsibility of national development entirely to those in government.

He emphasised that rebuilding Nigeria required a collective commitment to good values, transparency and patriotism, particularly as the country prepares for another general election in 2027.

The gathering provided an opportunity for discussions on Nigeria’s economic and social challenges, the responsibilities of citizens and the need for collective action towards national development.

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Dala Chairman Marks Two Years In Office With Prayers For Peace,Leaders

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By Abdu Saidu

The Chairman of Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, Hon. Suraj Ibrahim Imam, has marked his second anniversary in office with a special prayer session for peace, stability and good governance in Dala, Kano State and Nigeria at large.

The prayer session, held on Saturday at the local government secretariat, featured the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by about 60 Islamic scholars and Qur’anic memorizers drawn from different parts of the council area.

The participants offered prayers for divine guidance, wisdom and success for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of the National Assembly and the Kano State House of Assembly, as well as other political leaders.

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Speaking at the event, Imam said the prayer session was organised to express gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve the people of Dala for two years and to seek His continued guidance and blessings for the council, the state and the country.

He added that the gathering was also an opportunity to pray for the success of Governor Yusuf and other political leaders in their future political engagements.

On his administration’s performance, the chairman disclosed that several development projects had been executed across the 12 wards of Dala Local Government Area within the past two years, with the support and approval of Governor Yusuf.

He commended the governor for his development initiatives across the state’s 44 local government areas, particularly in healthcare, education, security, road construction, potable water supply, agriculture and employment generation.

According to Imam, the interventions have contributed to improving the living conditions of residents and strengthening development at the grassroots.

He expressed confidence in the governor’s leadership and called on residents and political stakeholders to support his re-election in 2027. He also expressed support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the next general elections.

The event was attended by Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim Al-Mustapha, OON, councillors, Islamic scholars, Qur’anic memorizers, political advisers, the local government secretary and other stakeholders from across Dala Local Government Area.

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NNPC Confirms Gas Supply & Network Availability

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NNPC Limited confirms that gas transportation network operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), remains available to support deliveries to power generating stations Nationwide without any constraints. NGIC’s operational records do not indicate transportation-related constraints within its network that explain the current decline in electricity generation.

NNPC Limited is focussed on actualizing the Federal Government’s gas development and monetization agenda which has led to about 10% growth in gas production volumes 2026 year to date. Gas supply availability is therefore not a challenge as NNPC remains committed to supporting efforts to improve electricity generation through safe, reliable and efficient gas supply and transportation.

This clarification follows the Nigerian Independent System Operator’s (NISO) statement of 5 November 2026, which cited limited gas availability and reduced water inflows to hydroelectric stations as causes of lower generation. NNPC Limited’s clarification concerns the operational status of NGIC’s transportation network. Gas production, commercial supply arrangements and actual deliveries to individual power plants must be assessed separately from the availability of transportation infrastructure.

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A comprehensive assessment must also consider the availability and operational readiness of generating units, plant maintenance schedules and actual gas offtake. These factors determine whether gas supplied can be converted into electricity. They should be verified alongside gas supply data to establish the causes of the shortfall.

NNPC Limited supports a coordinated review of operational data by gas suppliers, transporters, power generators and NISO to identify specific constraints and guide effective interventions. Accurate reporting across the gas-to-power value chain is essential to resolving the challenges and sustaining public confidence.

Our focus remains on dependable energy infrastructure and constructive collaboration that helps translate Nigeria’s gas resources into more reliable electricity for Nigerians.

Andy Odeh
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Limited
Abuja

6 November 2026

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