Category: Uncategorized

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has announced the commencement of the Net Billing Regulations 2026.

The framework allows eligible electricity consumers to generate renewable energy for personal use and sell excess power to the national grid.

The commission disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday.

According to NERC, “the new regulations are designed to promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies, improve energy security and reliability, encourage private sector participation in power generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support the integration of renewable energy systems into distribution networks.”

Under the scheme, eligible customers, known as “Prosumers,” can generate electricity from renewable energy sources, particularly solar photovoltaic systems, for their own consumption and export surplus energy to their distribution companies under a net billing arrangement.

To qualify, NERC said participants must be connected to a distribution company’s network, install renewable energy systems that meet technical and regulatory standards, obtain approval from the relevant distribution licensee, execute a Net Billing Agreement, and register with NERC.

The commission stated that “renewable energy systems eligible for the programme must have a minimum installed capacity of 50 kilowatt peak (kWp) and a maximum capacity of 1.5 megawatt peak (MWp)”.

NERC said interested customers are required to apply to their distribution companies for a technical feasibility assessment.

Successful applicants will proceed to execute a Net Billing Agreement before registering with the commission.

Electricity: NERC commences net billing scheme, consumers to sell excess solar power to grid

A governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa State, Hon. Bashir Adamu (Matawallen Kazaure), has formally petitioned the party’s State Election Appeal Committee, seeking a review of the recently conducted governorship primary election.

In the petition, personally signed by the aspirant and obtained by journalists, Bashir Adamu alleged that the primary was marred by widespread irregularities, breaches of party rules, and undue influence by party officials.

He accused the chairman of the primary election committee of abandoning neutrality and acting on instructions from the State Executive Committee, contrary to party regulations.

According to him, the chairman eventually announced the party’s candidate under pressure.

The former federal lawmaker further alleged that the State Executive Committee was biased and worked to secure the emergence of another aspirant, Sabo Nagudu, as the party’s governorship candidate.

Bashir claimed that, having played a central role in building the ADC structure across all 27 local government areas of Jigawa State, he was disappointed that state and local party officials allegedly mobilised support for his opponent and were entrusted with election materials, thereby creating room for manipulation.

He also alleged that officials responsible for distributing election materials deliberately delayed their delivery, particularly in the North-West Senatorial District.

The delay, he said, resulted in materials arriving late at night after many party members had waited for hours for accreditation. According to the petition, the prolonged delay forced many eligible voters to leave before voting commenced.

Bashir further claimed that political thugs loyal to his rival exploited the situation by seizing election materials and fabricating results in favour of their preferred candidate.

The petitioner also cited incidents of violence, intimidation, and thuggery in several parts of the state, which disrupted the exercise. He noted that the electoral committee chairman cancelled the election in four local government areas due to the disturbances.

Bashir argued that the disruptions rendered the exercise inconclusive and condemned what he described as attempts to intimidate party members from exercising their democratic rights.

He also questioned the validity of the results announced by the State Executive Committee, insisting that only the duly constituted Primary Election Committee had the authority to declare the outcome of the election.

Consequently, he urged the Appeal Committee to nullify the primary election and order a fresh poll, arguing that the process violated both ADC guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act.

Despite his grievances, Bashir reaffirmed his loyalty to the ADC and expressed confidence that the party would fairly consider the issues raised in his petition.

ADC governorship aspirant Bashir Adamu seeks annulment of Jigawa primary election

The International Organisation for Migration, IOM, and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, have received 180 Nigerian migrants evacuated from Libya.

In a statement, the IOM revealed that the evacuation was part of efforts to address irregular migration and support vulnerable returnees.

The UN agency noted that the returnees had been provided with health screening, counselling, and other immediate assistance while eligible beneficiaries would receive reintegration support to help them rebuild their lives.

The returnees were received at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, the Head of Lagos Sub-Office of NEMA, Mr Ali Ibrahim, said more than 50 of the returnees came from detention centres in Libya.

He explained that the group include 108 adult females, 45 adult males, 17 children, 12 infants, and two unaccompanied minors.

“So this is an ongoing process on a weekly basis. In addition to the arrival on a charter flight, we also have people arriving on a commercial flight on a daily basis at different points of entrance in Nigeria, including Abuja,” Ibrahim said.

Mr Ibrahim added that the returnees would be profiled by the Nigerian Immigration Service before being reintegrated into society through support programmes.

He noted that since the inception of the initiative in 2017, the IOM and the Federal Government have facilitated the return of over 65,000 Nigerians from various countries.

Nigerian govt, IOM receive 180 Nigerian migrants from Libya

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names and photographs of 355 West African nationals set for deportation, including 110 Nigerians.

The list, published on the DHS website under the “Worst of the Worst” criminal register, identifies individuals from 16 West African countries who have been convicted of serious crimes and placed on immigration enforcement proceedings.

The DHS stated that those listed have all been convicted of serious offences, though it did not disclose the specific crimes committed by each individual or the timeline for the deportations.

Nigeria leads the list with 110 nationals, followed by Liberia with 94, Senegal with 19, Ghana with 30, Ivory Coast with 14, Gambia with 14, Mauritania with 12, Cape Verde with 11, Cameroon with 15, Burkina Faso with 9, Niger with 8, Guinea with 6, Togo with 6, Mali with 5, Benin with 1 and Guinea-Bissau with 1.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the department said in a statement. “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations.”

The number of Nigerians on the DHS deportation list has shifted several times in recent months, rising from 79 in February to 130 in March before being revised down to the current figure of 110.

U.S. Publishes Photos Of 110 Nigerians Facing Deportation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The conflict between the Malian authorities and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) continues to extend far beyond Mali’s borders, raising growing concerns about regional security in the Sahel. Recent reports indicate that southern Libya has become a key logistical base for the armed group, facilitating the movement of fuel, equipment, and other supplies necessary for its operations.

According to information published by Africa Intelligence, southernLibya now serves as a rear base for FLA activities. The region provides the group with strategic depth and access to logistical resources that are difficult to obtain within Mali itself.

The Libyan territory also appears to offer a convenient platform for cooperation between the FLA and foreign actors accused of supporting the movement. Numerous reports have pointed to links between the FLA and Ukrainian mercenaries. Allegations regarding this relationship have been raised not only by the Malian authorities but also by French journalists. As a result, the existence of cooperation between the two sides is increasingly being presented by observers as an established reality that is no longer seriously disputed.

Questions surrounding these connections intensified after reports emerged thata Ukrainian aircraft carrying explosives intended for Libya had been intercepted in Trinidad and Tobago. According to information published by La Libre, the aircraft was detained after authorities discovered undeclared explosive materials on board.

In a statement cited by the airport authorities, immigration officers reported that “upon the aircraft’s arrival, officers from the Immigration Division discovered that it was transporting explosives that had not been declared in accordance with international protocols.” The incident became public only because the aircraft was stopped by the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago.

Analysts have also expressed concern over the fact that the aircraft was ultimately authorized to continue its journey despite the discovery of the undeclared explosives. For many observers, the incident highlights the need for greater scrutiny of activities linked to the conflict in northern Mali and the broader security situation in southern Libya.

Against this backdrop, analysts argue that the ongoing cooperation between the FLA and Ukrainian mercenaries, combined with the strategic role of southern Libya, warrants closer international attention. They believe that individuals involved in supporting or facilitating activities linked to terrorism in the region should be identified and held accountable. The question now being raised by some observers is whether calls for legal action could eventually lead to a case being brought before the International Court of Justice.

– Peter Johnson

 Writer and specialist in African affairs and international relations

Libya Emerges as a New Hub for Cooperation Between Ukraine and the FLA

Google has unveiled a new security feature for Android devices that can detect and flag suspected impersonation calls in real time, as concerns grow over the rise of AI-powered voice cloning scams worldwide.

The feature, known as Fake Call Detection, was announced on Google’s official blog and is set to roll out globally this month on Android 12 and newer devices, beginning with Pixel smartphones.

According to Google, the feature works automatically by default and does not require users to manually activate it.

The development comes amid a surge in impersonation fraud, which has become one of the fastest-growing forms of cybercrime globally.

According to INTERPOL’s Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment released in March 2026, impersonation fraud contributed significantly to more than $400 billion in global financial losses last year. In the United States alone, the Federal Trade Commission reported losses of $2.95 billion from impersonation scams in 2024.

Google said the new technology acts as a digital verification system between devices. When a contact places a call using the Phone by Google application, the caller’s device sends a silent encrypted confirmation signal to verify that the call is genuinely originating from that device.

If a scammer attempts to spoof a trusted contact’s phone number, the verification signal will be missing. In such cases, the recipient’s phone automatically checks with the real contact’s device. If the contact confirms they are not making the call, the user receives an on-screen warning advising them to end the call immediately.

The verification process is powered by end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology, ensuring the exchange remains private and inaccessible to third parties.

Google noted that the feature is built on the open RCS standard, allowing other smartphone manufacturers and app developers to adopt similar protections.

“Security shouldn’t be limited to just one type of phone or app. We want to raise the bar across the industry to help protect as many people as possible,” the company stated.

Cybersecurity experts have warned that scammers increasingly combine caller ID spoofing with AI-generated voice cloning technology to impersonate family members, employers, government officials, and other trusted individuals.

These attacks are often convincing enough to deceive victims into sharing sensitive information or transferring money.

Google said Fake Call Detection is designed to identify both threats simultaneously, reducing the burden on users to determine whether a call is genuine.

The feature is expected to provide additional protection for Android users in Nigeria, where reports of voice cloning and caller ID spoofing scams have become more common in recent years.

Phone by Google is already the default calling application on most Android devices. Users with alternative phone applications can download it from the Google Play Store and set it as their default calling app to access the feature.

The company added that users who prefer not to use the protection can disable it through the app’s settings.

Fake Call Detection joins a growing suite of scam-prevention tools developed by Google. The company already offers AI-powered scam detection in Google Messages and scam call alerts for Pixel and Samsung devices through the Phone by Google app.

In 2024, Google also introduced real-time scam detection capabilities powered by its Gemini Nano artificial intelligence model, enabling Android smartphones to identify suspicious calls and alert users before they fall victim to fraud.

The company said the latest innovation reflects its broader effort to strengthen user safety as cybercriminals increasingly exploit artificial intelligence to carry out sophisticated scams.

Google Introduces Real-Time Protection Against AI Scam is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

An aspirant for the House of Representatives ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency, Mahasin Usman Attah, has called on the party leadership to review the conduct and outcome of the recently concluded primary election in the constituency.

Addressing journalists in Lafia, Attah expressed concern over issues surrounding the exercise, insisting that concerns raised by party members and stakeholders should be objectively examined to preserve confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes.

The APC chieftain reaffirmed her loyalty to the ruling party and its leadership, stressing that strengthening internal democracy remains critical to the party’s unity, growth, and electoral success.

According to her, numerous complaints from delegates and party faithful across Awe, Doma, and Keana Local Government Areas have pointed to the need for a thorough assessment of the primary election to ensure transparency and credibility.

She maintained that her call for a review was motivated by a desire to protect the integrity of the APC and guarantee that all stakeholders feel adequately represented within the party structure.

“The credibility of any democratic process depends on fairness, transparency, and adherence to due process. It is important that concerns raised by party members are given the attention they deserve,” she stated.

Attah urged the party’s primary election committee, as well as state and national leaders of the APC, to carefully evaluate the grievances brought forward by stakeholders and take necessary steps in the interest of justice and party cohesion.

She noted that sustaining the trust of party members requires openness and a commitment to the principles upon which the APC was founded.

While calling for intervention from the party leadership, the aspirant appealed to her supporters and APC faithful across the federal constituency to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding.

She encouraged aggrieved members to pursue redress through the party’s established internal mechanisms rather than actions capable of undermining party unity.

Attah expressed confidence that the APC leadership would act fairly and responsibly in addressing the issues raised, adding that a transparent resolution of the matter would further strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She reiterated her commitment to the APC and pledged to continue working for the progress of the party and the development of the Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency.

APC Reps aspirant seeks review of Awe/Doma/Keana primary election

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has launched an upgraded version of its Med Safety App as part of efforts to improve the reporting of fake, substandard and unsafe medical products across the country.

The agency said in a statement issued by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, that the digital platform is designed to enable healthcare professionals and members of the public to quickly, securely and conveniently report suspected substandard and falsified medical products, as well as adverse drug reactions.

NAFDAC disclosed that the launch of the improved application marks a major step in strengthening post-marketing surveillance and increasing public involvement in ensuring the safety, quality and effectiveness of medicines and other medical products in Nigeria.

According to the agency, substandard and falsified medicines continue to pose serious public health risks, contributing to treatment failure, prolonged illnesses, antimicrobial resistance, disability and preventable deaths.

The agency explained that the upgraded Med Safety App comes with several new features aimed at making reporting easier and more effective.

These include a more user-friendly interface, simplified reporting procedures, improved feedback channels, enhanced data management functions and the ability for users to upload photographs and other relevant product information to aid regulatory investigations.

NAFDAC noted that users can report medicines with altered expiry dates, suspicious packaging, missing or fake NAFDAC registration numbers, poor product quality, unexpected treatment failure and other indicators of possible falsification.

The platform also provides an avenue for reporting adverse drug reactions, including unexpected side effects and harmful responses linked to the use of medical products.

“Users can report suspicious medicines with altered expiry dates, questionable packaging, missing or fake NAFDAC registration numbers, poor product quality, unexpected treatment failure, or other signs of possible falsification,” the statement said.  

The agency stated that information received through the application will assist in the early detection of unsafe products, support timely investigations and regulatory actions, strengthen medicine quality monitoring systems and help remove harmful products from circulation.

“Reports received through the App will support NAFDAC’s efforts to detect unsafe products early, facilitate timely investigations and regulatory interventions, strengthen national medicine quality surveillance systems, and remove harmful products from circulation,” the statement added.  

NAFDAC further revealed that increased public participation since the introduction of the improved platform has already enhanced medicine safety monitoring and accelerated the identification of potential threats.

The agency called on healthcare professionals, pharmacists, physicians, nurses, patent and proprietary medicine vendors, community health workers, patients, caregivers and the general public to download and actively use the application.

The agency said the platform will help ensure that only safe, effective and quality-assured medical products remain available to the public.

War against fake drugs: NAFDAC unveils enhanced safety app

FC Basel winger Philip Otele has arrived the Super Eagles camp in Warsaw for the international friendly against Poland, DAILY POST reports.

Otele’s arrival increased the number of players at head coach Éric Chelle’s disposal to 21.

The 27-year-old featured in Super Eagles’ two games at the Unity Cup invitational tournament last week.

The winger contributed an assist in Nigeria’s 3-0 final victory over the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica.

Otele is expected to be named among the substitutes against Poland due to his late arrival in camp.

He has been capped three times by Nigeria following his debut against Jordan in March.

Super Eagles: Otele arrives Warsaw for Poland friendly

Four terrorists convicted for the June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State, have been sentenced to death by hanging.

An Abuja Federal High Court presided by  Justice Emeka Nwite delivered judgment in the case on Wednesday.

Forty-three worshipers were killed in the attack.

The four convict that will die by hanging are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.

A fifth accused person, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted.

Justice Emeka Nwite pronounced the four terrorists guilty on the entire nine counts of the charge and ordered that they be hanged until they are dead.

BREAKING: Four terrorists to die by hanging over Owo Catholic Church attack