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UK, Enugu Gov’t, introduce Smart Metre to curb Energy theft, revenue losses

Published

3 months ago

March 25, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

UK, Enugu Gov't, introduce Smart Metre to curb Energy theft, revenue losses

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The Enugu State Government and the United Kingdom, through its United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNiAF) have successfully carried out a pilot programme introducing an AI-enabled smart metering system to curtail energy theft and eliminate revenue losses in the power sector.

This was made known at the Enugu State Investor Forum themed “Driving Revenue Assurance and Private Investment through Data-Driven Metering,” which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Tuesday.

The event funded by the UK International Development and implemented by Tetra Tech brought together key sector stakeholders, including electricity distribution companies, investors, and policymakers, to explore opportunities for expanding smart metering and improving electricity access in Enugu State.

It also focused on strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to deliver sustainable and climate-smart infrastructure, with Enugu State as a key beneficiary.

Speaking at the event, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, said the project was designed to address persistent challenges of revenue leakages, energy theft, and poor billing efficiency in the power sector.

He disclosed that a pilot scheme involving the deployment of 846 smart meters had already been carried out in the Ugwuaji axis of the state capital, covering surrounding semi-urban communities.

According to Okonkwo, the pilot enabled full tracking of electricity consumption from transformers to individual households.

“This system allows us to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, commercial and collection losses, which have long hindered the growth of the power sector,” he said.

He explained that the AI-enabled meters provide real-time data on energy usage, empower consumers to monitor their consumption, and help operators quickly detect faults or irregularities, including theft and equipment vandalism.

The regulator noted that the initiative also opens opportunities for private investors and energy retail companies to participate in Enugu’s electricity market, particularly in underserved areas.

“We are inviting investors to take advantage of this opportunity by deploying smart meters, expanding distribution networks, and even establishing embedded power generation within the state,” he added.

He said current market prices for meters stand at approximately N130,000 for single-phase units and about N230,000 for three-phase units, adding that flexible payment structures could be arranged to ease adoption.

Also speaking, Team Leader of UKNiAF, Mr Frank Edozie, described the project as a “demonstrator” of how artificial intelligence could enhance transparency and accountability in electricity revenue collection.

“The system ensures that all revenues due to the sector are properly collected and accounted for. It also detects any breach in energy or financial flows, making it a strong revenue assurance mechanism,” Edozie said.

He observed that Enugu was selected for the pilot due to its leading role in implementing reforms under Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2023, which empowers states to develop independent electricity markets.

According to him, the pilot project, which commenced in November 2025, had already shown encouraging results, including significant improvements in revenue recovery and reduction in losses.

In his remarks, Managing Director of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, Dr Ernest Mupwaya, said the initiative addresses two critical issues in the power sector—metering gaps and revenue protection.

He emphasised that without efficient metering and strong revenue assurance systems, investments in the power sector would remain unattractive and unsustainable.

“Smart metering, combined with advanced monitoring systems gives utilities visibility across their networks, making it easier to detect losses and improve operational efficiency,” he said.

Mupwaya added that the project has demonstrated the viability of attracting private financing into metering infrastructure, noting that improved revenue collection would enable operators to repay investments over time.

Earlier, Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the state was selected for the initiative due to ongoing reforms and progress in its electricity market.

He explained that the successful pilot had shown that smart metering could guarantee revenue assurance across the electricity value chain—from generation to distribution—thereby boosting investor confidence.

“The system assures investors that they will recover their investments, which is critical for attracting funding into power generation, transmission, and distribution,” he said.

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Enugu Senatorial By-election: Asogwa’s landslide victory affirms APC’s dominance, Says Gov Mbah

Published

2 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Senator-elect, Ikeje Asogwa

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…Describes Asogwa as people’s champion

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has congratulated the winner and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday by-election for Enugu North Senatorial District, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, describing the landslide victory as an affirmation of APC’s overwhelming acceptance and dominance in the state’s politics.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, declared APC’s Asogwa winner of the senatorial seat formerly won in 2023 by Labour Party Senator Okey Ezea, who died after an illness in November 2025.

The district covers Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Uzo-Uwani, Igbo-Etiti, and Udenu Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The Returning Officer, Professor Christian Ezeibe, who announced the result in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC office in the LGA, said Asogwa polled a total of 162,360 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nestor Ezeme of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 9,299 votes.

Reacting, Mbah described it as a “statement victory,” noting that the people of the senatorial district had not only made the best choice for quality representation, but had also demonstrated total alignment with the APC.

“On behalf of the Government and good people of Enugu State, I congratulate Chief Ikeje Asogwa on this resounding victory.

“It is a statement and landmark victory both for us as an administration and for the APC as a party.

“If anybody was in doubt, the landslide victory proves, beyond rhetoric, that APC has now emerged as the unquestionable dominant political force across the length and breadth of our state. Our people are fully aligned.

“It is also a vote of confidence in Chief Ikeje Asogwa, a people’s champion, who has distinguished himself in the service of his people and the state.

“There is no doubt that his presence at the centre will strengthen state-federal government partnership and the inflow of dividends of democracy,” he stated.

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Terrorists burn NSCDC Checkpoint, kidnap resident in Kebbi

Published

2 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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Suspected terrorists on Saturday raided Tsamiya, a community in Bagudo Local Government Area of Klebbi, setting ablaze security checkpoint belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a local brothel, and the residence of one Sule Mai Goge.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Commander, SP Bashir Usman, said one Alhaji Yusuf Bazamfare was kidnapped during the attack on the community.

He said following the attack, the Command had deployed tactical personnel to Tsamiya town.

The statement added that a comprehensive investigation into the incident had since commenced, with efforts to rescue the kidnapped victim and track the perpetrators ongoing.

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Two grandpas arrested for selling illicit drugs to teenage secondary school students

Published

14 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

The suspects

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…as NDLEA intercepts illicit consignment from China, Dubai-bound Loud concealed in ladies’ bags

…nabs wanted couple in Ekiti, 75-year-old grandma, others in Oyo raid

An 84-year-old grandpa, Godfrey Orji and 75-year-old Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora are now cooling their heels in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following their arrest for dealing in illicit substances, which they sell to teenage secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia state capital.

Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday 19^th June 2026 following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store located at 4 Club road, Umuahia, where 4.64 kilograms of opioids including tramadol and diazepam were recovered from him during a search of his premises.

In his case, Pa Orji who is a pensioner and also into the illicit drug trade, was nabbed by security guards at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, for supplying illicit drugs to two teenage students (names withheld) in the school. The guards thereafter handed them over to the police who in turn transferred them to NDLEA on Thursday 18^th June.

In his statement, one of the two teenagers, a 15-year-old SS2 student claimed the 84-year-old grandpa supplies him the drugs which he takes and also sells to fellow students. While the two grandpas are billed to have their day in court, the students have been placed on counselling and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have intercepted a consignment of ADB Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a dangerous new psychoactive substance (NPS), at a courier firm in Lagos. The shipment coming from China with a gross weight of 9.5 kilograms was concealed in a carton. This was followed by another seizure on Tuesday 16^th June at a different logistics company in Lagos where 300grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis was found hidden in ladies’ handbags.

In another interdiction operation in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Friday 19^thJune raided the home of a wanted drug dealer Lukman Badmus (a.k.a. Lukman Ogombo) in Ogombo area of Ajah where nine bottles of codeine syrup and 30 grams of skunk were recovered.

A swift follow up operation at Lukman’s wife shop in Patey area of Lagos Island led to the recovery of additional two bottles of codeine and drug paraphernalia, while 42 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 22.5kg were also recovered from a mini bus parked in front of her shop. Attempt by the wife, Aisha Saraki, to flush some of the drug exhibits in the toilet during the raid was thwarted by operatives.

In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway on Friday 19^th June intercepted a suspect Tochukwu Onah, 33, coming from Lagos to Abuja with 1.030kg methamphetamine concealed in custard containers, while a couple: James Tony Chukwudi, 48, and James Kehinde, 35, wanted in connection with the seizure of 117 kilograms of skunk since 26th March, 2026 in Ekiti state were eventually arrested at Oniyo street Efon-Alaaye-Ekiti on Tuesday 16th June after months on the run.

In Oyo state, 75-year-old Tudun Olubiyi and two others: Nasiru Buhari, 22; and Buba Musa, 47, were arrested by NDLEA operatives when their house located in Dangote area, Elekara, Oyo town, was raided on Saturday 20th June with 118 jumbo bags containing 1,416kg skunk covered with sawdust recovered.

A suspect Patrick Imoukhede, 45, was arrested on Wednesday 17^th June when NDLEA officers raided the Khagba forest, Ikao, Owan East LGA, where they destroyed 1,744.075kg skunk and recovered already processed 169kg of same substance, while another raid at Ebora Camp, Ilushi in Esan South LGA led to the destruction of 2,424.945kg of cannabis, with a suspect Augustine Anyamone, 45, apprehended with 395kg skunk in a separate operation in the area.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Orun Community Grammar School, Orun Ekiti; Government Girls Secondary School, Charanchi, Bichi, Kano; Federal Technical College, Doma, Nasarawa; Tafida Community Secondary School, Zango, Katsina; and Government Technical College, Onitsha, Anambra, while the Rivers state command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Rumuogba kingdom, Rivers state, HRH Barr. Temple Ejekwu, among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Abia, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kogi, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their laurels.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Sunday 21st June 2026