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How to Get a Prepaid Meter In Less Than Three Weeks, by Aba Power Executive

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Electricity consumers in nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State which make up the Aba Ring- fenced Area can easily have their prepaid meters in less than three weeks, according to the Chief Commercial Officer of Aba Power which provides electricity to the ringed fence.

Prepaid Meters


Engineer Blessing Ogbe, the Aba Power Chief Commercial Officer, told the two-day Ist Conference on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on Market Opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) ending today at the Technology Incubation Centre in Aba, Aba State, that the process of obtaining prepaid meters from the Aba electricity distribution firm takes even months for some electricity users because they do not follow the right process.

The power company launched last May the Aba Power Mass Metering Programme (APMMP) to provide prepaid meters to consumers without paying any deposit, promising to make them available within 10 working days after a customer’s request.

“10 working days are in practice two weeks because of the work-free days during the weekend and the Monday Sit-at-home campaign in the five Southeastern states by some non-state actors”, Engr Ogbe explained to the participants at the conference on how businesses in the Southeast and the South-south geopolitical zones of Nigeria can key into the opportunities provided by the regional free trade agreement which Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, signed in 2021.

“Some customers collect the Aba Power Ltd account number (not a bank account) and go home, expecting us to come to their homes and businesses premises and provide the meters”.

Engr Ogbe said that the company wouldn’t know that such persons are waiting for Aba Power and its partners in their places to install prepaid meters unless they send the completed form to any of its offices.

Once the completed account number is submitted to Aba Power, he explained, the company would send a team to assess the electricity needs of the customer.

He said: “Contrary to popular thinking, the electricity may not have to do with the size of a structure.

“An ice block maker operating in a single room or two may opt for a single-phase meter which can burn easily as a result of overloading whereas another person living in a bigger place may need a single phase meter.

“An industrialist will definitely need a different kind of meter”.

Ifeanyi Odumoko, another engineer with Aba Power, told journalists that some customers use unqualified electricians to bring out their wires and cables in blocks of flats where different consumers share one meter to quicken the process of meter installation for them, but noted that the error delays the installation.

“Aba Power is providing each flat or shop a separate meter to promote accountability and transparency, but the failure to use competent and experienced technicians to bring out their wires for us to install prepaid meters makes the job a little more difficult for us”, he observed.

Both Engineers Ogbe and Odumuko assured that customers can get their prepaid meters once they follow the right process which they said has been explained several times in the company’s enlightenment campaign in the mass media and in direct engagements with members of the public.

The N20bn Aba Power Mass Metering Programme, carried out in partnership with some meter vendors, is ongoing in the Aba Township Feeder which covers an area of seven kilometers route length.

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New Seme Customs Chief Pledges Improved Trade Flow

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The Nigeria Customs Service has appointed Comptroller Wale Adenuga as the new Area Controller for the Seme Command, following the redeployment of Dr. Benedict Oramalugo, who was recently promoted to Assistant Comptroller General.

The development was announced in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Isah Sulaiman, on Tuesday in Lagos.

Speaking during the official handover, Comptroller Adenuga commended his predecessor for laying a solid foundation and pledged to focus his leadership on trade facilitation, enhanced security collaboration, and improved stakeholder engagement.

“Trade facilitation is my keyword,” he said. “With accurate declarations from stakeholders, cargo clearance can happen quickly. When trade flows smoothly, we boost revenue and reduce smuggling activities.”

Adenuga also assured that the Command would intensify collaboration with key government agencies including the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, NAFDAC, and the military to strengthen border security and foster a more conducive environment for legitimate trade.

He emphasized the importance of stakeholder relationships, pledging open lines of communication with traditional leaders, youth groups in Badagry, and the media. He also reaffirmed his commitment to discipline and professionalism within the service.

“My doors are open. I will lead by example to ensure that officers stay focused, disciplined, and committed. Together, we will uphold the values of the Nigeria Customs Service and make the Comptroller General, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, proud,” he stated.

Adenuga praised CGC Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as the President of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing him as an exemplary leader whose standards will guide the Seme Command’s operations.

In his farewell address, Dr. Oramalugo expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve at the Seme border, calling the handover a moment of “mixed emotions”—relief at a successful tenure and sadness at leaving a team he had grown fond of.

He listed some of his key achievements, including:

  • Effective suppression of smuggling with major seizures
  • Improved revenue collection
  • Smoother trade processes for legitimate businesses
  • Stronger ties with security and regulatory agencies

Oramalugo also thanked the Customs management and stakeholders for their support and encouraged continued cooperation with the new controller.

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Police Investigate Body Discovered in Vehicle at National Assembly Complex

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has begun an investigation following the discovery of a lifeless body inside a vehicle at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

Preliminary reports suggest the deceased may be a 55-year-old construction worker identified as Gaddafi Iwar, although police have not officially confirmed his identity. Sources indicate the vehicle had been parked in the same location for several days before the body was found.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the police confirmed that the body was discovered around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday inside a red Peugeot 406 parked at a construction site within the complex.

“On September 7, 2025, at about 09:00 hours, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting the discovery of an unidentified male, suspected to be a labourer, found lifeless at a construction site within the National Assembly Complex,” the statement read.

Officers from the National Assembly Police Division responded to the scene and found the body inside the vehicle, which bore the registration number BWR-577 BF. The body was evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed it was already in an advanced state of decomposition.

The Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, has directed a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and has instructed that efforts be intensified to identify the deceased.

Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.

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You Can’t Resume Now, NASS tells Akopti-Uduaghan

The National Assembly management in a letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria
stated that the six month suspension remains in force, pending the outcome of the matter currently before the Court of Appeal.

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The National Assembly Management has formally rejected Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s request to resume for legislative duties following the completion her six-month suspension.

The National Assembly management in a letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria
stated that the six month suspension remains in force, pending the outcome of the matter currently before the Court of Appeal.

In the letter, the National Assembly management acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification of her intended return to the Senate on September 4—the date she claimed marked the end of her six-month-long suspension.

However, the letter clarified that the suspension took effect from March 6, 2025, and emphasised that the matter is subjudice, and as such she cannot resume legislative duties.

According to the National Assembly no administrative action can be taken until the Court of Appeal finally delivers a verdict on the matter.

The letter stated that the Senate would only review her suspension after the court’s final pronouncement and that she will be duly notified of the Senate’s decision on the matter as soon as it is resolved.

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