Firmus Energy has announced its gas price in the Ten Towns area will fall by almost 8% in April, which is the equivalent to £78 a year for a typical customer.

The price cut follows a review by the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator.

The regulator imposes price controls on the major incumbent suppliers – electricity firm Power NI; SSE Gas in Belfast and the west; and Firmus in the Ten Towns network.

An announcement in relation to tariffs for NI Power and SSE are expected on Friday.

An announcement on the price for Firmus customers in Belfast is expected in the coming weeks.

The Ten Towns area includes Antrim, Armagh, Banbridge, Ballymena, Coleraine, Craigavon, Newry, Londonderry and more than 25 other towns and villages in the surrounding area.

Colin Broomfield, director of markets at the Utility Regulator, said it was recognised that many businesses and households are still struggling with energy costs.

“If you are worried about paying for your electricity or gas, we would encourage you to contact your supplier in the first instance, to make them aware of your circumstances, and discuss the options available,” he said.

Ryan Miskimmin, from Firmus Energy, said the group was “committed to passing on any savings to customers”.

“Since April this year, our consecutive reductions have decreased our tariffs by almost 19%, representing an average household saving of £210 per year,” he said.

“As we head into the colder months, we know that these savings coupled with the constant heat and instant hot water that natural gas provides, will be welcomed by Ten Towns customers.”

A new support scheme has opened to help low-income households with the rising costs of energy and water.

Portsmouth City Council’s utilities payment scheme offers £150 for eligible single households, or £200 for couples and families in the city.

Council leader Steve Pitt said the launch came just after the latest energy price cap announcement that gas and electricity bills would rise for millions of people.

Applications will be open until the end of 27 October, though the scheme may close earlier if funding runs out.

The new utilities payment scheme is aimed at single parents on Universal Credit, carers, pensioners receiving PIP or Attendance Allowance, care leavers, and low-income adults unable to work due to limited capacity.

It is part of the wider government-funded Household Support Fund to help people with essentials such as food, energy and water bills.

Mr Pitt said the scheme had been created “to give more financial help to some of our most vulnerable residents ahead of the winter, when people need to heat their homes”.

The local authority said applicants must also meet strict income thresholds.

Residents can apply online at the council’s website or call the household support team.

For Nigerian boardrooms, artificial intelligence has transitioned from a buzzword to a balance sheet enabler. Across telecoms, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and beyond, AI is already reducing costs, increasing revenue, and transforming how products reach customers.

The leaders who win the next decade will be those who set clear targets for AI and build the guardrails to use it responsibly.

Let’s start with telecoms. MTN is rolling out an AI-led transformation, “MTN Genova”, to optimise network traffic and service delivery, including in Nigeria. More intelligent routing and predictive maintenance result in fewer dropped calls, more reliable coverage, and ultimately, happier customers for executives, which translates directly into operational efficiency and market retention.

“The GSMA’s case study on Nigeria highlights how AI-assisted fleet management has reduced waste and provided small farmers with access to tools previously reserved for large-scale operations.”

Sterling Bank’s “Naya” is an AI-powered digital assistant designed to simplify and personalise everyday banking. Beyond handling routine customer queries, Naya is intended to guide users through payments, account services, and financial support in real time, creating a smoother and more responsive banking experience. It shows how AI can move banking closer to the customer, making services available instantly and intuitively. With fraud risks also on the rise, Sterling is combining innovations like Naya with stronger AI-driven analytics to protect customers and reinforce trust, demonstrating that in modern banking, technology must deliver both convenience and security.

Manufacturing is not left behind. Dangote Industries has deployed AI and machine learning, alongside cloud adoption, to streamline its operations. In asset-heavy industries where every minute of downtime hurts, AI-enabled predictive maintenance, process optimisation, and supply chain forecasting are already saving money and boosting competitiveness. This is not about futuristic robots but about squeezing efficiency from existing operations.

Agriculture, Nigeria’s largest employer, is also being transformed. Hello Tractor utilises AI for weather and demand forecasting, ensuring tractors are deployed precisely when and where farmers need them most. The result is higher yields, better equipment utilisation, and more income for smallholder farmers. The GSMA’s case study on Nigeria highlights how AI-assisted fleet management has reduced waste and provided small farmers with access to tools previously reserved for large-scale operations.

Read also: Artificial intelligence: Catalyst for human capital development in emerging economies

Fintech infrastructure shows just how much potential lies ahead. Kuda Bank, which has already processed trillions of naira in transactions, is now weaving AI into the heart of its operations. From real-time fraud detection and more intelligent transaction monitoring to predictive analytics that improve credit scoring and onboarding, Kuda is showing how technology can scale trust as well as growth. Its AI-powered chatbot gives customers round-the-clock support, while new tools are being developed to help small businesses manage invoicing, inventory, and sales more effectively. The message for business leaders is clear: data pipelines and thoughtful integration matter because without them, AI’s promise remains just a dream.

Global case studies underline the direction. Unilever reports that AI-enabled freezers and weather-aware forecasting have increased ice cream orders by as much as 30 per cent, proving that machine learning can unlock growth in even mature categories.

Walmart has leveraged generative AI across 850 million product data points to enhance shopping experiences, demonstrating that scale and customer intimacy can coexist.

So what should Nigerian executives do now?

1. AI Readiness Assessment: It is essential to assess the readiness of your organisation for AI. Business leaders must factor in multiple factors, including talent, organisational culture, and more.

2. Incremental adoption is key: Deploy AI in customer support, but measure resolution rates, not just chat volume, and utilise anomaly detection to address fraud and revenue leakage in payments and procurement. Apply demand forecasting to reduce stock-outs and unnecessary discounts. These are proven, CFO-friendly applications.

3. Fix your data and governance: AI is only as good as the data behind it. Build a single source of truth, track data end-to-end, and align with the Nigeria Data Protection Act. Responsible AI is no longer optional. It is now a regulatory and reputational requirement.

4. Prepare for open banking’s implementation: The Central Bank issued operational guidelines in 2023 and is expected to drive implementation in 2025. Forward-looking banks should use this window to prototype consent-driven data-sharing products, from cash-flow lending to SME analytics, so they are ready when the switch is flipped.

5. Build AI capability: Invest in AI training, develop AI talents internally, and ensure you engage proven experts. A recent survey by the consulting firm McKinsey identified AI illiteracy as the most significant business risk in the era of generative AI.

Bottom line

AI is not a silver bullet, but businesses in Nigeria and beyond are already leveraging it for profitability. Nigeria’s unique advantage lies in its youthful population, fast-growing digital economy, and an ecosystem that is slowly but steadily moving toward openness and scale. Business leaders who ignore this shift risk being left behind. Those who act now, by choosing a few high-impact AI options, funding them adequately, and delivering results, will not only grow their companies but also lead the next chapter of Nigeria’s economy.

Dotun Adeoye is a seasoned technology strategist and AI innovation leader with over 30 years of global experience across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. He is the co-founder of AI in Nigeria.