Imo - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Jan, Sat, 2025

Imo electricity commission inaugurates forum on customer complaints

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By Peter Okolie

The Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC) has inaugurated a five-member forum to resolve customer complaints and appeals from Electricity Distribution Companies (EDC) in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum was set up, following the transfer of electricity market and regulatory function from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ISERC in 2024.

In a speech at the inauguration of the forum, the Chairman of ISERC, Mr Bede Opara, said that the members were re-engaged from NERC Forum.

“The governor of Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, is optimistic about electricity situation in the state, and wants to generate a lot of jobs for the people.

“He wants the people to have electricity that is affordable and sustainable,” he said.

Opara also said that the governor had already secured partners that were already investing in the electricity sector in the state.

According to him, the governor is aware that many electricity consumers are not comfortable with the level of electricity supply and it is affecting businesses and standard of living.

“There is no way the commission will do well if we don’t listen and resolve complaints from the people,” he said.

Opara urged members of the forum to utilise their experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution to ensure the protection of the rights of both electricity consumers and suppliers.

He expressed the confidence that the forum would provide the needed feedback to assess performance in the electricity sector of the state.

In an acceptance speech, the Chairman of ISERC Forum, Mr Prince Uchegbu, pledged to carry out the objectives and aim of the forum.

“We assure you that the forum will ensure that electricity consumers give positive remarks about services in the state through our dedicated services of ensuring fair and just resolution of complaints,” Uchegbu said.

He urged consumers to put up their complaints to EDC.

“Once such complaint is laid to the electricity supplier, the distribution company is reasonably expected to resolve the matter within 15 working days.

“Failure on the part of the DisCo to resolve the issue being complained about, the customer now has the right to approach ISERC Forum for possible resolution,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Thu, 2024

General News

Imo students receive bank’s educational materials donation

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By Peter Okolie

No fewer than 300 students of Imo state schools have received educational materials donation from the Polaris Bank Limited, in collaboration with Evolve Charity Trust, to inspire learning, especially among the girl-child.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three schools namely: National High School Arondizuogu, Iheme Memorial Secondary School, and Akokwa High School, all in Ideato North Local Government Area, benefitted from the gesture.

Presenting the items, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr Kayode Lawal, represented by the Business Development Manager, Urualla branch, Mrs Ifeyinwa Nwokoro, charged students to embrace the opportunities that education offers.

Lawal said the intervention was in line with the bank’s ongoing sustainability efforts aimed at reducing Nigeria’s current out-of-school children population and increase access to quality education especially for the girl-child.

“The intervention aims at educating the girl-child without limitations as some parents lament that they do not have the resources to educate them.

“It is also expected to support the Imo State Government’s free education efforts in public schools as well as discourage early marriages among the girl-child,” he added.

He added that the school essentials including sandals, bags, school uniforms, books and other writing materials would help the beneficiaries attain a certain level of education in life.

Lawal said since the commencement of the Corporate Social Responsibility intervention in 2020, the bank had been working with Evolve and other stakeholders.

According to him, the bank has reached out to 15,000 students in over 35 schools across Imo, Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Kogi, Rivers, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states.

“The project which contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) of United Nations (UN) hopes to reach 50,000 young girls in eight years.

“This year, 1,000 students across 10 designated public secondary schools, will be reached in five states,” he disclosed.

Also speaking, Mr Godwin Ejeh, the Project Manager of Evolve Charity Trust, a non-governmental organisation, said the objective was essentially to reverse the effect of global warming.

“The objective is essentially to reverse the effect of global warming following a research that if you educate the girl-child, you contribute to reversing the impact of global warming which is what gave birth to the project vision.

“So far, the global number of students that have benefited is over 25,000,” he disclosed.

While appreciating the donors, the Principal of National High School, Arondizuogu, Mrs Chike Anaekwe, commended Polaris bank and the NGO for the items.

“The school, parents and students appreciate what Polaris bank and partners have been doing over the years. Not every parent can afford some of these items at the moment.

“We will be very grateful if Polaris bank continues this gestures,” Anaekwe said.

Two elated beneficiaries, Miss Victory Chukwuye from Iheme Memorial Secondary School, and Master Chika Utazi from Akokwa High School, expressed their excitement over the gesture.

“These educational items will help us to further our education and achieve our life goals,” Chukwuye stressed.

“I am so excited about this. I have been wearing slippers to school, but now I can wear sandals and good uniform to school,” Utazi said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Thu, 2024

Economy/Business

Imo receives $4m WB good governance support- Official

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By Peter Okolie

The Imo State Government has received a four million dollars (N6.8bn) World Bank fund for its promotion of good governance and accountability in the ease of doing business.

The Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba, announced this at a press conference in Owerri on Wednesday.

Emelumba said that Imo was among the four states in the country that qualified for the fund under the World Bank’s State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme for Nigeria.

According to him, the states were assessed under efficiency of land administration, and regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic infrastructure.

OOther qualifications include services provided by investment promotion agencies and the efficiency and transparency of government-to-business services in the participating states.

He said that the state excelled in the four criteria, which qualified it for the reward to consolidate the programme.

He described the award as a “testament to the government’s commitment to progressive governance, economic empowerment and sustainable development”.

Emelumba said that under the focused administration of Gov. Hope Uzodimma, the state had introduced firm policy initiatives to improve land administration, enabling seamless land registration and boosting land-based investments.

“Through transparent governance, Uzodimma has boosted the confidence of investors in the state, especially in the area of digital connectivity.

“Contrary to the submissions of critics of the government, Uzodimma has been working very hard, interacting with investors within and outside Nigeria to buy into the investment opportunities available in the state.”

The commissioner said that Imo had made giant strides in strengthening its investment promotion agencies to ensure that they attracted the best investors to the state.

He said through emphasise on efficiency and transparency in government to business services, the state had engendered a culture of accountability in its relationships with relevant stakeholders.

He commended the governor for providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state, which attracted the attention of the world bank.

The commissioner said that the fund would be used for advancing key reforms and reinvested in infrastructure, including offering support to micro, small and medium-size enterprises. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah