International Customers Owe Nigeria $5.7m For Electricity — NERC

 

International bilateral electricity customers in Benin Republic and Togo owe Nigeria $5.79m for the energy consumed in the second quarter of 2024.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission revealed this in its latest second-quarter 2024 report.

Out of the $15.60m invoice issued by the market operator between April and June, the international customers remitted $9.81m.

The foreign companies off-taking power from Nigeria are Para-SBEE in Benin Republic ($1.23m), Transcorp-SBEE in Benin, Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo ($1.09m), and Odukpani-CEET in Togo ($3.47m).

Para-SBEE in Benin Republic remitted 71.21 per cent of the $4.29m billed, Transcorp-SBEE in Benin remitted 100 per cent of the $4.25m it was billed; Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo paid 69.72 of $3.59m, and Odukpani-CEET did not remit anything during the period.

In the first quarter, none of the four international bilateral customers being supplied by the power generation companies made payments against the cumulative invoice of $14.19m issued by the market operator for services rendered.

In the Q2 report, it was noted that some bilateral customers (both domestic and international customers) made payments for outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

“Cumulatively, the international bilateral customers paid a total of $16.65m; Transcorp-SBEE and Mainstream-NIGELEC have made payments towards all outstanding invoices from previous quarters,” the report disclosed.

It  added, “The four international bilateral customers being supplied by Gencos in the NESI made a payment of $9.81m against the cumulative invoice of $15.60m issued by the MO for services rendered in 2024/Q2, translating to a remittance performance of 62.88 per cent.”

The NERC noted that the domestic bilateral customers made a payment of N1.30bn against the cumulative invoice of N1.99bn issued to them by the MO for services rendered in 2024/Q2 translating to 65.07 per cent remittance performance.

The market operator received N1.30bn from domestic bilateral customers towards outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

Mainstream Energy Solutions was said to have made payments towards all outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

The commission revealed that the total revenue collected by all Discos in 2024/Q2 was N431.16bn out of the N543.64bn that was billed to customers. This translates to a collection efficiency of 79.31 per cent.

In comparison, the total revenue collected by all Discos in 2024/Q1 was N291.62bn out of the N368.65bn billed to customers which translated to a 79.11 per cent collection efficiency. The 79.31 per cent collection efficiency recorded in 2024/Q2 is 0.20pp higher than the collection efficiency recorded in 2024/Q1.

Source: Channels Television 

Police arrest organ harvester after foiled attempt to kidnap girl

Gallant operatives of the Nigeria Police, have arrested a man linked to a sinister organ harvesting syndicate in Imo State.

The swift action came as vigilant operatives on patrol spotted a blue and white bus that was forcibly transporting a young girl to an undisclosed location, where the suspects intended to k3ill her and harvest her organs.

During the pursuit, the victim managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle, leading to her immediate rescue. 

Police spokesperson reported that the operatives engaged the suspects in a hot chase, which resulted in the abandonment of their vehicle. 

While one individual was apprehended, others fled into the nearby bush.

The incident has raised alarm about the prevalence of such criminal networks, often referred to locally as “yahoo plus.” 

Unlike traditional internet fraudsters, these individuals are involved in the alarming trade of human organs, operating through a web of connections.

Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, as the threat of organ trafficking continues to pose a serious danger to communities.

Source: Track News 

Finally, NFF pulls Eagles out of Libya clash

  

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the Super Eagles out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya on Tuesday.

This follows a frustrating 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team has been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.

The Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for the crucial match, encountered unexpected difficulties when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.

After their arrival, the team was left stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to arrange any transportation.

In a statement  on Monday, the NFF explained that the Super Eagles were stuck in the airport for over 12 hours, unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, located three hours away.

The NFF stated that the players have decided to withdraw from playing the match and arrangements were being made to fly the team back to Nigeria. 

The statement reads: “The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya. 

“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. 

“We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations. Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.

“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft. Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”

Source: The Nation 

My Take 

The NFF has done the right thing to pull out of the game and the next right thing now is to lodge a formal protest on that with CAF and FIFA. The  Libyans, clearly overstepped the bounds.

Temporary marriages in Indonesia spark outrage as rural women become $500 brides for foreign tourists

Poor young women in rural areas are becoming temporary wives to foreign male visitors, receiving a bride price in return, leading to online outrage.

According to the South China Morning Post, in Puncak, a tourist destination in western Indonesia known for attracting Middle Eastern tourists, local agencies arrange these marriages between male visitors and local women.

After a brief wedding ceremony, the women are expected to handle household duties and engage in sexual relations before the men leave and dissolve the marriage.

A woman using the alias Cahaya shared with the Los Angeles Times that she has been married at least 15 times to Middle Eastern tourists since she was 17.

She typically earns between $300 and $500 per marriage, after the agency takes its cut, and uses the money to cover rent and care for her sick grandparents.

Now 28, she keeps her involvement in these marriages secret by telling her friends and family that she works as a housekeeper. She even lies to her boyfriend, deleting incriminating messages to hide the truth. "It's all torture," she admitted. "All I had in mind, every time, was I wanted to go home."

Another woman, Nisa, who had entered into over 20 temporary marriages, left the practice after marrying an Indonesian immigration officer. She now has two sons and vows never to return to her former life.

These temporary marriages are not legally recognized in Indonesia, as they conflict with the country's marriage laws, which are meant to support long-term, stable relationships. Violating these laws can lead to fines, imprisonment, and social or religious repercussions.

After Chinese media covered this practice, it ignited discussions on Weibo, with one commenter suggesting that to change the women's circumstances, "they need to be empowered through education and skills to become self-sufficient."

Source: e.vnexpress.net

2025: Economic Hardship Will Triple - Primate Ayodele reveals

According to reports, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a stark warning about the economic future of Nigeria, predicting increased hardship in 2025.

In a statement, Ayodele emphasized that without urgent government intervention, citizens may resort to revolt due to mounting frustrations over economic struggles.

The statement, communicated through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, painted a bleak picture of the current state of the nation.

"Nigerians are suffering, but it will bite harder next year unless the government does what is expected of it," Ayodele cautioned.

He asserted that the government's failure to adequately address pressing economic issues has set the stage for an impending crisis.

Ayodele highlighted that the predicted economic challenges would not only intensify but could also lead to a significant backlash from the populace.

"The hardship is coming up and will bite Nigeria hard next year," he stated, underlining the urgency for government action.

He warned that the severity of the economic situation could triple compared to current conditions, urging government officials to heed the warning and act decisively.

"Economic hardship will be times three of what we are experiencing now next year; the government must be careful so that the citizens will not revolt."

The Primate's remarks reflect growing discontent among citizens, who have been grappling with rising inflation, unemployment, and deteriorating living standards.

Many Nigerians are already feeling the pinch, and Ayodele's predictions suggest that the situation could escalate dramatically if no measures are taken.

"In economic terms, we are looking at a kind of economic blackout," Ayodele asserted, suggesting that the consequences of inaction could lead to a complete breakdown in economic stability.

The potential for civil unrest looms large, and the Primate urged the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens to avert a crisis.

Ayodele's comments come at a time when various sectors in Nigeria are experiencing significant challenges, from the agricultural industry to essential services.

The call for action resonates with the sentiments of many who feel abandoned by the government amid ongoing struggles.

As the country approaches a pivotal year, the pressure mounts on the Nigerian government to take proactive steps to mitigate the anticipated economic downturn.

Primate Ayodele's forewarnings serve as a clarion call for both leaders and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue and action to secure a more stable future.

Source: Torizone

My Take 

I think it is time to start taking Primate Ayodele's prophecies seriously.  He has been spot on, lately.

Teenage North Korean defector shares horrific story of life

Noh Jin-hae, a North Korean teenage defector, shares her story back in North Korea during a forum hosted by South Korea's unification ministry, in a hotel in Seoul. Courtesy of Ministry of Unification

A North Korean teenage defector on has shared her horrific story of life in the reclusive regime during a forum hosted by South Korea's unification ministry.

"I wear makeup and go out here in South Korea, but my friends in North Korea can't even wash properly, let alone wear makeup. Some friends smell because they can't bathe, but we live understanding each other," Noh Jin-hae recalled.

The 16-year-old girl, who defected from North Korea in 2019, recalled her harsh life in the North, a day before the International Day of the Girl, declared by the United Nations to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

Although Noh had a relatively affluent life in North Korea thanks to her father, she explained that showering was a near luxury, with the whole family having to share water fetched from outside.

"After school, some friends would go to the mountains to gather plants or sell them," she recalled.

Noh expressed her frustration with life in North Korea, sharing how students were forced to clean the statues of national founder Kim Il-sung in freezing cold weather.

In contrast, she enjoys being able to shower, wear makeup and freely wear clothes with English writing in South Korea.

Noh and her mother were featured in a 2023 documentary film called "Beyond Utopia," which covers their journey escaping from North Korea through China, Vietnam, and Laos to reach South Korea.

The meeting also brought together Vice Unification Minister Kim Soo-kyung and female foreign diplomats stationed here. (Yonhap)

Source: KoreaTimes.co.kr

Saudi Arabia slams Israeli on plan to turn UNRWA’s Jerusalem HQ into apartments

 

Saudi Arabia condemns “in the strongest terms” Israel’s decision to turn the Jerusalem headquarters of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency into apartments.

Last week, the Israel Land Authority said it was preparing plans to turn the Ma’alot Dafna complex into 1,440 housing units, after telling UNRWA it must evacuate the premises.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry notes in an English-language statement: “The Kingdom rejects the continued blatant Israeli violations of international laws and resolutions…and its systematic political and military targeting of the United Nations agencies and its relief organizations.

“The Kingdom also rejects the continued endangerment of the lives of relief workers, expressing its support for UNRWA in its humanitarian mission to provide relief to Palestinian refugees.”

Israel has long pushed for UNRWA’s closure, arguing that it helps perpetuate the conflict with the Palestinians, and has stepped up such efforts since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

Source: The Times of Israel