Kefas calls for unity, inclusive leadership after APC governorship primary victory in Taraba

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba state, on Friday pledged to uphold fairness, humility, and inclusive leadership following his emergence as winner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in the state.
Kefas made the commitment while delivering his acceptance speech shortly after he was declared winner of the keenly contested primary election.

Shortly after the announcement, members of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee visited the Government House in Jalingo, where they formally presented the election results to the governor.

In his remarks, Kefas described his victory as a collective achievement for all members of the APC across Taraba state, stressing that the outcome reflected the strength and unity of the party.

He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the APC at all levels for their support and confidence in his leadership, while also appreciating the people of the state for their continued trust and cooperation.

The governor also commended other aspirants who participated in the primary election, noting that democracy thrives on participation and provides a platform for diverse voices to be heard.

According to him, the conclusion of the primaries signals the end of political competition within the party, urging stakeholders to embrace unity and work collectively toward the development of Taraba state.

Kefas further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the APC and driving policies aimed at building a more prosperous and inclusive state.

Earlier, the chairperson of the election committee said the exercise reflected the genuine will of party members, adding that the process was conducted with integrity and adherence to due process.

According to results announced by the Returning Officer, Governor Agbu Kefas polled 166,357 votes to emerge winner of the primary election, while details of his closest challenger were yet to be fully disclosed at the time of filing this report.

C’River: ADC conducts voice votes to elect ace broadcaster, Nyong as guber candidate

Members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Cross River State on Friday conducted a voice vote to affirm the only aspirant, Dr Effiong Nyong, as their 2027 governorship candidate.

The voice vote was conducted at the party’s state secretariat on Diamond Road Calabar where significant number of members converged for the affirmation.

Chairman of electoral committee, Dr MacFarlane Ejah, who is also the Secretary of the party in the state, had conducted the exercise in the presence of chairman of screening committee, Dr Minika Bassey, and other dignitaries as witnesses.

MacFarlane said the exercise complied with the rules and directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“What we have just done is in consonance with the latest directives of INEC. And so we formally affirmed and unveiled Dr Effiong Efa Nyong as our flag bearer for the 2027 Governorship election in Cross River State”, he said.

Speaking about his experience, credentials and the imperative for vying for the governorship seat, the veteran broadcaster and one time chairman of the party, said the decision to run for office of governor for the second time is borne out of his passion for his people, state and strong desire to impact governance to avert the retrogression witnessed in the state.

“My decision to vie for the governorship race for the second time is borne out of passion for my people, state, deep desire to avert the steady slide into retrogression.

“I have idea where we’re coming from. Hardly will people believe that civilisation actually started from here, and high standards were set from here for others to follow when the colonial masters held sway. Education, sports, civil service were top-notch.

“They chose Calabar as centre of national administration. Before the British came, the Portuguese had also laid out their standards. And so, our forebears had sustained the standards until recently when today’s politicians allowed such to degenerate.

“The level of poverty and backwardness is shocking. And so, as a true Son, it is imperative that we must come together to lift ourselves out of this trajectory,” he said.

He also spoke about the alarming multiple and high taxations, noting that it had impoverished the people and scared away businesses and potential investors from the state.

Court acquits two former Taraba council chairmen, finance director of fraud charges

The Chief Judge of Taraba state and presiding judge of Court No. 1 in Jalingo, Justice Joel Agya, on Friday, discharged and acquitted three former officials of Sardauna local government council over allegations of misappropriation of project funds.
Delivering judgment in Charge No. TRSJ/19C/2020, Agya held that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations of fraud against the defendants beyond reasonable doubts.

The defendants are Dr. Jedua Ahmed Dawud, former Executive Chairman of the council; Oliver Wubon, former Caretaker Chairman; and Joseph Danladi John, former Director of Finance.

It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, filed a six-count charge against the defendants in June 2020.

The charges included criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by public servants, forgery, and use of false documents.

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2012 within Sardauna local government Council to commit criminal breach of trust involving funds meant for capital projects.

The prosecution alleged that Dr. Jedua Ahmed and Danladi dishonestly misappropriated N27 million allocated for capital projects on or about Oct. 4, 2012.

They were also accused of misappropriating another N35 million meant for capital projects on or about June 1, 2012.

In another count, Wubon and Danladi were alleged to have dishonestly diverted N42 million provided for capital projects sometime in 2012.

The EFCC further accused Wubon and Danladi of forging payment voucher No. 3 in the name of Alhaji Saidu Mohammed on or about Feb. 8, 2012, with intent to commit fraud.

They were also charged with knowingly using the alleged forged payment voucher as genuine.

During proceedings, defence counsel argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.

The defence also challenged the EFCC’s investigative report, contending that it relied heavily on statements obtained from prosecution witnesses.

Justice Agya, in his judgment, said the prosecution failed to substantiate the allegations of criminal conspiracy and fraud against the defendants.

He held that the conspiracy charge was not sustainable because the alleged offences were said to have been committed separately by the defendants.

The judge first discharged and acquitted the second and third defendants on counts five and six bordering on forgery and use of false documents.

He subsequently discharged and acquitted all three defendants on counts one to four.

Counsel to the defendants, Dr. Ibrahim Effiong, commended the court for what he described as a landmark judgment.
Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Stephen Okemini, said he had learnt a lot from the judgment and would study it before deciding on further action.

Speaking after the judgment, Wubon expressed happiness over the court’s decision, saying it has “loosened the rope on their neck.”

Kaduna NUT decries exempting college of education candidates from JAMB exams

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kaduna State chapter, has upheld the position of the National Executive Council of the union, urging the Ministry of Education and the Federal Government to retrace their steps on excluding candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from sitting for the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in the interest of national development.

The National Executive Council of the union has described as counterproductive the decision of the Federal Ministry of Education to exclude candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from sitting for the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Ibrahim Dalhatu and Adamu Ayuba Kaltungo, chairman and secretary of the union, in a joint statement, explained that the position of the union stems from the fact that exempting candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from writing the JAMB examination would adversely affect the quality of teacher education and consequently impact the standard of education in Nigeria.

The NUT Kaduna State wing re-emphasized that teaching is a “highly intellectual and strategic profession,” and that the process of training teachers must remain vigorous and highly competitive.

According to the statement, “Excluding candidates from taking the examination will imply that the profession is for academically weak candidates and ‘all comers’.”

It observed that the teaching profession is already suffering from low esteem, and that exempting candidates would further reinforce the erroneous belief that teaching is a “last resort” profession, adding that it contradicts global best practices, as countries with high-performing education systems recruit their teachers from among the best and brightest students.

It would further confirm the belief that teaching is an “all-comers” job rather than a profession for those genuinely passionate about teaching, stressing that it would weaken the ongoing efforts and reforms aimed at making teaching a respected profession by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

The union posited that, rather than removing Colleges of Education candidates from JAMB requirements, the Federal Government should make concerted efforts to improve teachers’ welfare packages and remuneration to attract brilliant candidates to the profession.

It added that the Federal Government should consider providing scholarships, bursaries, and special incentives for students studying education courses, while also providing special admission incentives without compromising standards.

The union also called for the full implementation of the bill signed into law by the Muhammadu Buhari administration on April 9, 2022, stating that it would address the issue the Federal Government intends to tackle through exempting candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from writing the JAMB examination.

Royal nod: Ooni of Ife hails Stanel boss, Stanley Uzochukwu for Harvard, Oxford leadership feats

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi CFR, has congratulated Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, Founder and CEO of Stanel Group and The Delborough Lagos, on completing elite executive leadership programmes at the University of Oxford and Harvard Kennedy School.

In a letter dated May 20, 2026, the monarch praised Dr Uzochukwu’s drive for continuous learning at “two of the world’s most prestigious institutions,” saying it reflects a deep commitment to solving societal problems and improving lives.

Dr Uzochukwu has recently completed multiple Harvard Kennedy School programmes, including High Performance Leadership, Emerging Leaders, Leadership Decision Making, Leading Successful Programs using Evidence, and Strategic Leadership for Personal Effectiveness. He capped it off with the High Performance Leadership programme at the University of Oxford, London.

“I have always known you as a lover of continuous education, a personality who dedicates himself to acquiring solutions to societal problems, thereby making life better for the common people,” the Ooni stated.

The monarch said the training positions Dr Uzochukwu to drive greater impact in leadership, governance, and business development, adding: “As the world cannot wait for the deployment of the newly acquired knowledge, I wish to congratulate you once again and wish you success in your future endeavours.”

We can’t grant you access to El-Rufai – ICPC replies ADC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has denied a request by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to visit Nasir El-Rufai in its custody.
In a letter dated May 21, 2026, and addressed to the National Secretary of the ADC in Abuja, the Commission said the request could not be granted.

According to the letter, El-Rufai is currently standing trial before two courts, the State High Court of Justice in Kaduna and the Federal High Court, both sitting in Kaduna State.

The ICPC explained that although the defendant is in its custody by order of the courts, the matter is fully before the courts.

It added that only specific persons have been granted access to him.

“The court has granted access to the defendant to his family, doctors and counsels. These are the only category of persons granted access to see the defendant in the Commission’s custody,” the letter stated.

The Commission concluded that based on this, the ADC’s application to visit him could not be approved.

Chinese investors may acquire 51% stake in PH, Warri refineries

A refinery in NigeriaThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is considering an NLNG-style equity partnership that could hand Chinese investors a majority stake of about 51 per cent in the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries as part of a broader plan to rehabilitate and commercially reposition the facilities.

Details of the arrangement emerged after NNPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese firms Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co., Ltd. for what the national oil company described as a “potential technical equity partnership”.

The MoU was signed in Jiaxing City, China, on April 30, 2026, by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari; Chairman of Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong; and Chairman of Xinganchen Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, Bill Bi.

Findings by The PUNCH on Thursday showed that the proposed framework goes beyond conventional refinery rehabilitation contracts and may involve long-term equity participation by the Chinese partners in both refining as

Sources at the national oil firm privy to the MoU told our correspondent that the proposed partnership is being structured around an “NLNG-type model” featuring equity participation, joint governance arrangements, and long-term operational involvement.

They disclosed that the structure may be similar to NLNG’s, where investors own 51 per cent equity, participate in governance, and share operational responsibilities over the long term. Under the proposed collaboration, the Chinese firms are expected to support the completion of outstanding work at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

The agreement also covers operations and maintenance services aimed at achieving what NNPC described as “best-in-class, sustainable performance”. According to findings, the planned upgrades would also expand refinery capacity, improve profitability, and raise fuel production standards to cleaner specifications.

The parties are equally exploring expansion into petrochemicals and gas-based industrial projects through the development of co-located industrial hubs around the refinery complexes.

“The scope includes capacity expansion, yield optimisation, petrochemical integration, and compliance with clean fuel standards and exploration of gas-based industrial projects in Nigeria,” an NNPC official said, pleading anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ojulari described the agreement as a major milestone after more than six months of engagement between NNPC and the Chinese firms. “All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria and the collective weight required for success,” he said.

Ojulari added that the agreement marked an important stage in identifying technical equity partners capable of restarting and expanding the refineries. “The MoU is a significant step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partner(s) to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries and to explore opportunities in co-located petrochemical and gas-based industries,” he stated.

Our correspondent gathered that the MoU reflects only the parties’ intention to continue discussions in good faith, with definitive agreements still subject to regulatory and customary approvals.

Further findings showed that the implementation process would begin with technical, operational, financial, commercial, and legal due diligence before binding agreements are executed.

“The agreement is a non-binding framework, meaning it is not yet a final commercial contract. Instead, it establishes a basis for cooperation and creates a pathway toward future definitive agreements. The partnership is expected to cover four major operational areas: Sanjiang/Xinqianchen would participate in completing outstanding engineering, procurement, and construction work at the two facilities. The focus is on improving refinery reliability, safety, and efficiency to ‘best-in-class’ standards.

“Instead of a conventional contractor arrangement, the MoU suggests possible equity participation using an NLNG-type model of joint governance arrangements and a long-term partnership framework. This implies Sanjiang/Xinqianchen may take ownership or operational participation rather than acting solely as an EPC contractor. However, everything is subject to agreement.

“Also, there is a possible transformation of the refineries into commercially driven industrial assets like petrochemical and gas,” the source said.

Analysts said the shift towards an equity partnership structure may signal growing concerns within NNPC over the sustainability of previous refinery rehabilitation arrangements.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent about the MoU, the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, said bringing in technically competent partners with equity stakes would ensure efficiency and sustainability.

On the structure of the deal, Isong stressed that the key difference is that the Chinese partners are taking equity in the assets as part owners and would want the refinery to work so they get returns on their investments.

“This is an innovative way of getting the assets to work in an efficient and sustainable way. The challenge we knew was that NNPC did not have the internal competence or capacity to run those refineries efficiently. Now, they have brought a third party, and the key difference is that the third party they have brought is taking equity. He’s a part-owner of the refinery and so would want the refinery to work so he can get returns on his investment,” Isong said.

He described the model as innovative, adding that every Nigerian would be happy if the facilities worked again. He said the NNPC did not have the internal competence and capacity to run the refineries without a technical partner.

The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation project was earlier awarded to Italian engineering firm Maire Tecnimont, while separate rehabilitation efforts had also commenced at the Warri refinery.

The proposed arrangement could also deepen Chinese participation in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum and gas industries if discussions progress into binding commercial agreements.

FG targets 2,322 CNG stations by 2027

FG targets 2,322 CNG stations by 2027The Federal Government has said it is targeting the establishment of 2,322 Compressed Natural Gas stations nationwide by 2027 as part of efforts to deepen the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles and expand gas mobility infrastructure across the country.

The Executive Chairman and Chief Executive of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electronic Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed this during the Nigerian Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Summit organised recently by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Lagos.

Represented by an official of the agency, Olayinka Rufai, the chairman said the government had made significant progress in expanding CNG infrastructure and vehicle conversion across the country within less than three years.

According to him, at inception, about one state had CNG available commercially, but the gas is now available in 24 of the 36 states of the country.

“Today, in less than three years, we now have 24 states active. We are looking at what goes on elsewhere. I think we can safely say that it is probably the fastest we have seen anywhere in the world, especially if you consider the conditions under which we are doing this, the economy, and everything,” he said.

Ahmed stated that over 100,000 vehicles had already been converted to run on CNG, noting that most of them were commercial vehicles due to the government’s focus on reducing transportation costs for ordinary Nigerians.

“Because of the palliative nature with which we started, the majority of those vehicles turned out to be commercial vehicles, because we intended to make an impact that touched the common man,” he said.

He explained that the initiative was designed to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on transport costs. He disclosed that the initiative had also attracted over $1bn in investments into the CNG mobility sector.

“Also, we have been able to attract over a billion dollars of investment directly into this new industry/market called CNG for mobility,” he stated.

Speaking on infrastructure development, the PICNG boss maintained that Nigeria currently has 72 active CNG refuelling stations and 175 more under development. “And of course, from next-to-zero refueling stations outside of Benin, at our inception, over 72 active CNG stations are in Nigeria today. And believe you me, that number continues to climb,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria also has 28 compression stations in operation and 65 under development to support virtual gas pipeline distribution.

Ahmed further disclosed that more than 350 conversion centres had been established nationwide, describing them as small Nigerian businesses driving the sector’s growth.

“We have 28 compression stations in operation today. There are 65 in development. We have 72 refueling stations, which we call daughter stations, but there are 175 in development. That means that whatever number you see today, we expect to triple it in less than 18 months, which will, of course, increase the capacity to supply, which we hope should drive greater interest and greater demand.

”We have done this primarily without much involvement of the major. So you can only imagine when they finally kick in, how that growth of retail supply infrastructure will explode. Also, we have over 350 conversion centres. In this audience, I need us to appreciate that these 350 are all small Nigerian businesses,” he stressed.

On manpower development, he said over 5,600 technicians had been trained and certified in CNG conversion technologies. He explained that the training became necessary because mechanics across the country needed to understand how to maintain converted vehicles.

“We have over 5,600 Nigerian technicians trained and certified in CNG, over 5,650. You can have 100 well-placed conversion centres, and you convert everything and give yourself 10.

“But what happens when the car is on the road and you have millions of mechanics who today don’t know anything about the CNG-converted vehicle? So we have placed a lot of emphasis on training and retraining technicians out in this space so that they are literate, familiar, and conversant with the different conversion technologies that exist,” he stressed.

Ahmed also revealed that the government had deployed 4,318 CNG tricycles, noting that 95 per cent of them were assembled locally. He added that Nigeria was witnessing increased local vehicle assembly activities, especially in tricycles and motorcycles. “It may interest you to know that the largest motorcycle assembly plant in Africa is here in Lagos,” he stated.

On the cost advantage of CNG, the CEO said the fuel remained significantly cheaper than petrol, saying, “The compelling argument is simple. CNG is N380 to N450 per standard cubic metre, which is the equivalent of one litre of petrol, which is N1,300 to N1,350 per litre. You do the maths. Where would you rather be?” he asked.

He added that the initiative was also scaling up electric vehicle deployment alongside CNG adoption. “We are scaling up CNG now, making it a reasonable, viable alternative to petrol and diesel. But we have also now picked up EV, and we are going to be deploying pilot EV projects across the nation and looking at recharging infrastructure,” he said.

He disclosed that the initiative’s 2027 targets include 2,322 CNG stations nationwide; 3,000 active conversion workshops; 1,000,000 total vehicle conversions; 75,000 direct jobs created and 300,000 indirect jobs.”

Lagos revenue hit N2.6tn in 2025, IGR rose by 18.5% – Official

Lagos revenue hit N2.6tn in 2025, IGR rose by 18.5% – OfficialLagos State recorded a total revenue of N2.6 trillion in 2025, marking a 16 per cent increase from the N2.3 trillion generated in 2024, the Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, has disclosed.

Oluyomi revealed the figures on Friday during a press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, as part of activities commemorating the seventh anniversary of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The commissioner explained that “the state’s internally generated revenue rose sharply to N1.87 trillion in 2025, compared to N1.58 trillion in 2024, representing an 18.5 per cent growth.”

According to him, tax revenue collection also witnessed remarkable growth over the past two years.

He said collections increased from N678.13 billion in 2023 to N1.04 trillion in 2024, reflecting a 54.2 per cent rise and marking the first time the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service surpassed the N1 trillion benchmark.

Oluyomi added that tax revenue climbed further to N1.44 trillion in 2025, indicating a 38 per cent increase over the previous year.

He attributed the improved performance to reforms in tax administration and the expansion of digital payment systems aimed at making revenue collection easier and more efficient for residents and businesses.

The commissioner noted that the state upgraded several payment platforms, including mobile payment channels, point-of-sale terminals, USSD services, WhatsApp integration, and online payment options to enhance accessibility and compliance.

He further disclosed that Lagos completed the migration from a hybrid tax filing structure to a fully electronic filing system in 2023, adding that more digital modules have since been introduced to strengthen operations.

“Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) remains focused on broadening the tax base, closing revenue gaps, and fostering long-term revenue growth, all essential to funding the State’s expanding urban and infrastructure requirements,” Oluyomi said.

Speaking on the state’s fiscal position, the commissioner said Lagos maintained a debt-service-to-revenue ratio of 19.2 per cent, which he noted remains below the 30 per cent fiscal responsibility benchmark.

He also stated that the state’s total debt-to-GDP ratio currently stands at 4.11 per cent, far below the 20 per cent threshold recommended by the World Bank.

DisCos install 241,590 meters amid billing complaints

Electricity distribution companies installed 241,590 meters across Nigeria in the first two months of 2026 amid ongoing efforts to reduce estimated billing and close the country’s metering gap.

Data released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in its January and February 2026 metering fact sheet showed that 119,792 customers were metered in January, while another 121,798 customers received meters in February.

The report showed that the number of metered electricity customers increased from 7,086,376 in January to 7,208,174 in February.

However, despite the additional installations, the national metering rate rose marginally from 57.93 per cent in January to 58.57 per cent in February, indicating that millions of electricity consumers are still without meters.

According to the data, the total number of active electricity customers increased from 12,232,130 in January to 12,307,314 in February.

An analysis of the figures showed that more than five million electricity customers remain unmetered nationwide, leaving them exposed to estimated billing practices that have repeatedly triggered complaints from consumers.

The report further showed that Eko Electricity Distribution Company maintained the highest metering rate among all DisCos at 87.62 per cent in February, up from 87.15 per cent recorded in January.

Ikeja Electric followed closely with a metering rate of 87.16 per cent in February compared to 86.69 per cent in January, while Abuja DisCo recorded 79.37 per cent, improving from 78.54 per cent.

Port Harcourt DisCo also remained above the national average, with its metering rate rising from 65.47 per cent in January to 66.36 per cent in February.

Benin DisCo improved from 55.16 per cent to 56.75 per cent during the review period and emerged as the utility with the highest number of newly metered customers over the two months. The utility installed 25,912 meters in January and 25,658 in February, bringing its total new installations within the period to 51,570.

Ibadan DisCo, which has the largest customer base in the country, recorded a metering rate of 52.23 per cent in February, slightly higher than the 51.99 per cent posted in January. The data showed that the utility had 2.48 million active customers as of February, but nearly half of them remained unmetered.

Also, Enugu DisCo posted one of the weakest monthly improvements in the period under review. Its metering rate moved marginally from 51.79 per cent in January to 51.83 per cent in February. The utility also recorded a sharp drop in newly metered customers, falling from 4,839 in January to just 691 in February.

Meanwhile, northern DisCos continued to record the weakest metering performance nationwide. The NERC data indicated that Jos DisCo’s metering rate rose slightly from 32.94 per cent in January to 34.04 per cent in February, while Kaduna improved from 34.82 per cent to 35.59 per cent.

Kano DisCo recorded one of the slowest meter deployment rates in the country, with its metering rate moving marginally from 35.36 per cent to 35.37 per cent. The company installed only 161 meters in January and 149 in February despite having close to 800,000 active customers.

Similarly, Yola DisCo remained below others in terms of metering penetration, although its metering rate improved slightly from 30.85 per cent in January to 31.86 per cent in February.

Stakeholders have repeatedly linked the slow pace of metering to financing constraints, foreign exchange pressures, supply chain challenges, and the high cost of meter procurement.

The Federal Government and the regulator have, in recent years, introduced several metering initiatives aimed at reducing estimated billing, improving market revenues, and boosting transparency in electricity billing.

Despite these interventions, the latest data indicate that Nigeria’s metering gap remains significant, with about four out of every 10 electricity customers still without meters.