The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Zenith Bank introduces ZECA Education Loan for children

    Zenith Bank Plc has introduced the Zenith Children’s Account (ZECA) Education Loan to assist parents pay their children/ wards school fees as the new school session begins.

    The loan offering, which is disbursed directly to the account of the beneficiary’s school, comes at a very competitive interest rate and flexible repayment tenors. To access the loan, parents are required to open a ZECA account for their children/wards at any of the bank’s branches.

    Commenting on the new loan product, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu said “the bank remains focused on providing premium financial solutions that create value for its customers and meet their lifestyle needs.”

    Read Also: Sterling Bank holds summit on $1tr agribusiness

    ZECA is a specialised savings product for children between the ages of 0-17 years. The account enables parents/ guardians save towards securing the financial future of their children/wards.

    Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS).

    The bank’s commitment to world-class service standards has led to several product innovations over the last few weeks. These include  the “Zenith Timeless Account”, which allows Nigerians aged 55 years and above bank for free; the “Zenith Save for Me”, a high interest target savings account and “Dubai Visa Service” on the Zenith Internet Banking Platform, which allows convenient application and payment for visas to Dubai.

  • LG chair charges elective officers on their campaign promises

    The Local Government Chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun, Hon Shuaib Fatia Ajidagba has called on public office holders to focus on delivering on their campaign promises as that would help them live good legacy for posterity.

    Ajidagba said this at the Lagos City Biggest Leadership conference and award organized by Success in Leadership Conference 2019 in conjunction with Hall of Fame held in Lagos.

    The theme: Taking The Lead brought together had government representatives, business leaders, and youths in attendance.

    Read Also: Human trafficking: FG launches ‘Not for Sale’ campaign

    He said that government at all levels must be responsible to the needs of the people as Nigeria is in dire of development and that beacons on public office holders to be alive to their responsibilities.

    He asserted that leadership is about influence, impact and leaving good legacy for others to follow, adding that Nigerians will be better off if leaders do things that better the lots of the people.

    He said that it is sad that many public office holders are becoming self-centered and self-serving rather than serving the communities and the nation, adding that Nigerians are wiser now and would speak out with their vote.

  • Sanwo-olu assures private investors of enabling environment

    The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu has restated its commitment toward providing an enabling environment through the provision of friendly policies and putting in place appropriate regulatory framework that will attract the needed investment in the real sector.

    Sanwo-olu made this known at the African Real Estate Conference and Awards with the theme “Bridging Investment Gaps in Africa’s Real Estate Markets for Sustainable Growth” Wednesday at Landmark Conference, Victoria Island, Lagos organised by PropertyPro.ng.

    He said that shelters remains one the very important needs of man and a critical factor that determines quality of living.

    He noted that in all major cities of the world, especially those with challenges of rising population, provision of affordable shelter and bridging the deficits in the housing sector is both a social and economic issue.

    He stressed that bridging the hounding deficit as we have it today is not a responsibility for government to shoulder alone. The investment required is huge and can only be provided by the private sector.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu: self-reliant women cardinal to nation-building

    Sanwo-Olu said “we are willing to partner with the private sector to meet the housing needs of our growing population which is excess of 22 million people. Our focus is the development of sustainable urban settlement with adequate infrastructure for decent living”.

    He further said that the challenges become more pronounced with growing urbanization as a result of migration of people from rural areas seeking economic opportunities.

    “A number of steps have been taken in the past to develop appropriate and sustainable solutions in partnership with the private sector. What is clear is however, considering the increasing needs of affordable and decent shelter is that the desired objectives are yet to be met”.

    “The situation at hand therefore calls for a review of existing policies and strategies with a view to aligning them with current realities and policy objectives”, he said.

    Sanwo-olu added that part of the issues which he believes are germane to achieving sustainable growth in the housing sector include the development and sustenance of a modern mortgage system, development of appropriate technology in building construction as well as use of local materials.

    In his words, the Chief Executive officer, PropertyPro.ng, Fikayo Ogundipe said that the conference is designed to proffer solution to real estate issues, acknowledge,  encourage and celebrate excellence  among Africa real estate stakeholders by given them the opportunity to gain valuable exposure and well-deserved recognition for their national and global achievement in the real estate sector.

    “AFREECA 2019 is a platform for deliberations on concrete solutions regarding formation and implementation of effective investment ideas, and policies that will serve as motivation to interest individuals who have help reshape the development and growth of the African real estate market”, he said.

  • Appeal court sets aside high court judgment over Atan, Ota land

    The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, has set aside the judgment of an Ogun State High Court granting statutory right of occupancy on parcels of land situate at Ajelanwa Olowo Igbo village and Kajola Iboro village via Atan Ota, Ogun State, to persons standing for the Oyeyemi Asalu family.

    The appellate court, in its unanimous decision, also dismissed the suit filed by respondents: Oba Samuel Olufemi Ojugbele and three others for themselves and on behalf of members of Oyeyemi Asalu family of Iga, Isalu Ota.

    It awarded N250,000 against the family.

    Alhaji Yekini Solabi, Lamina Solabi, Jimoh Jolaoso Solabi, Fasasi Solabi, Mojidi Solabi, Ibrahim Solabi, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, Ganiyu Owoeye, Tunde (a.k.a. One Hour) had approached the appellate court seeking an upturn of the lower court judgment, which upheld them as customary tenants.

    The court held that Oba Samuel Ojugbele, Alhaji Suraju Olusesi, Babatunde Akinade and Chief Abayomi Ojugbele, who were the first set of respondents in the appeal,  failed to provide the particulars of the intervening owners through whom they claim as true owners of the land.

    Read Also: Olubadan vs 21 Kings: Don’t twist Court of Appeal ruling-Ibadan family heads

    It insisted that to accept their claim of being Oyeyemi’s  direct children, they must prove their link with positive evidence how the land devolved from Oyeyemi to them. “Failure to establish this link is fatal to the claimants’ case.” The court held.

    The appellate court argued that in their (respondents) pleadings, they left a gap unfilled by claiming that Oyeyemi bore only Ilo. It stated that their pleadings which stated that Oyeyemi built more huts for people, including ‘his children’, suggested that he had children, not a child, meaning that the claimants did not give the names of other children.

    “It is the law that parties are bound by their pleadings,” it held.

    “The court cannot grant them right of occupancy on a land that does not exclusively belong to them.

    “Based upon the foregoing, I am of the view that the learned judge ought to have made a finding of fact on whether Oyeyemi actually had children or Ilo was his only child. Where a finding of fact is not made on a crucial issue like this, an appeal will be allowed,” the court held.

  • We’ll keep facilitating partnership for joint ventures, says Abiodun

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has affirmed his administration’s resolve to facilitate partnerships and ensure that whatever needed to be put in place to make such joint venture viable is done.

    Abiodun, who spoke in his office at Oke-Mosan, while hosting an agro-food and business food company, Elephant Group Plc, said his administration was poised to remove all forms of bottlenecks in business partnership to further improve the ranking of the state in terms of doing business.

    He noted that the state in fulfilment of its desire to revolutionise agriculture, inaugurated a steering committee to oversee the Ogun State Anchor Borrowers Programme, adding that government would be allocating lands to the first set of 10,000 farmers in a few weeks.

    “We will do everything to facilitate partnership and ensure that whatever we need to do to make this partnership to work will be done. We want to remove the bottlenecks and we want to improve our ranking in terms of doing business,” he said.

    Read Also: Abiodun to reposition public service for effectiveness

    Abiodun, who said the vision of his administration is driven by the Public-Private Partnership approach, added that his administration was committed to ensure that investors do not go through multiple windows, as a Bill, Ogun Invest, is currently at the House of Assembly.

    Group Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Elephant Group Plc, Mr. Olatunji Owoeye, noted that the company, with its over 25 years of experience in agriculture business, would assist the state in its quest to revolutionise the agricultural sector.

    He assured that the company would help the government to actualise its dream of employing 40,000 farmers in two years, stating that his company’s relationship with Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) like the Bank of Industry (BoI) and Bank of Agriculture (BoA), would add value to the planned agricultural revolution in the state.

  • Governor signs Security Trust Fund, OGROMA Bills

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has signed the State Security Trust Fund Bill, passed by the State House of Assembly into law.

    Abiodun signed the Bills after it was presented to him by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, at the Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Wednesday

    Similarly, the Governor also signed into Law the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (Amendment) 2019, passed by the state Assembly, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, in a statement.

    The passing of the Bill and signing into Law, the deplorable township and rural roads in the state would soon begin to wear new look as the agency swings into action.

    Read Also: Ogun to demolish houses harbouring kidnappers

    Abiodun resuscitated the agency to serve as a quick fix mechanism to address the deplorable condition of township and rural roads.

    He also, last weekend inaugurated the committee of the trust fund, headed by Mr. Bolaji Balogun, to source for money for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment and such human materials and financial resources that would  be necessary to prevent crime and preserve public peace.

    The committee is expected  to also hold gifts,  property and money for the purpose of crime prevention, mobilise funding and resources in cash or kind from the public, private, corporate or institutional or all other sources and manage those resources in a transparent and accountable manner for the purpose of public security.

  • Party holds primary today in Lokoja

    Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, Princess Hadiza Ibrahim and Yakubu Mohammed, on Wednesday called for free and fair primary.

    The two contenders, who hail from Igala ethnic group, hailed the Appeal Committee for cancelling their disqualification by the Screening Panel chaired by Senator Hope Uzodinma.

    Hajia Ibrahim, who spoke on phone, said having been given the nod to contest, “there is no retreat and there is no surrender”.

    She frowned at the earlier verdict of the screening committee, saying that Uzodinma was behaving as Governor Yahaya Bello’s campaign manager.

    Hadiza said: “I was disqualified. But, the Appeal Committee disagreed with the screening committee on the grounds for disqualification. I was disqualified along with 12 aspirants because they said I did not contribute financially to the party.

    Read Also: APC clears more aspirants for Kogi primary, upholds ex-Cross River REC disqualification

    “I disagreed. I asked them: do contributions expire? I gave evidence of my contributions. I showed to them my 2015 screening certificate. I am a product of the University of Lagos. I am a successful businessman.  The Appeal Committee agreed.”

    She added: “I will emerge winner. I think there will be a peaceful primary. Security will be provided. The Screening Committee, led by Uzodinma did not do well. He was using the committee to campaign for Bello, out of sympathy.”

    Also, supporters of Mohammed, veteran journalist and aspirant from Igala, said power should shift to Kogi East.

    In a statement, he said the push for power shift was premised on the need for equity and justice.

    The statement reads: “The Chief Judge, Nasir Ajanah is from Kogi Central. The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr. Matthew Kolawole, is from Kogi West. Governor Yahaya Bello is from Kogi Central. The minister from Kogi State, Mrs. Ramatu Tijjani is from Kogi West. There is no one from Kogi East occupying any of those positions.

    “As it stands, any party that fields a candidate from Kogi East (Igala land) will be the favorite to win the election because of the numerical strength of the district.”

    A source said the outcome of the APC primary may be an important factor during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary.

    A political analyst, Enejo Shuaibu, said: “Bello did not do well in his first term. The issue of owing salaries and making the state uncomfortable for anyone who opposes him are his major obstacles.”

  • Ex-APC aspirant greets ministers

    A former National Chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ibrahim Emokpaire, has greeted the ministers.

    Emokpaire, who spoke on behalf of the Progressives Solidarity Forum (PSF), congratulated the Federal Executive Council (FEC) “for effectively taking off with the mandate to take the country to higher pedestals in the next four years.

    The party chieftain praised the APC leadership at all levels, especially the National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for their support to the President which made him discharge this onerous responsibility in a seamless manner.

    Read Also: Take Nigerians out of poverty, APC tell new Ministers

    He said: “I wish to remind members of the Next Level Cabinet that Nigerians have high hopes in their capacity to find pragmatic and sustainable solutions to the challenges confronting the country. Nigerians eagerly desire to see reinvigorated and concerted efforts by the executive towards achieving improved security of lives and property, improved economy and the attendant standard of living, as well as a sustained fight against corruption, all of which constitute the cardinal agenda of the President..”

    “Without a doubt, delivering good governance towards building a united, well-secured, corruption-free, economically strong and politically stable nation is a huge responsibility.

    “It is my hope and prayer that the new Federal Executive Council (FEC) will live up to expectations, deliver on its mandate and leave behind a great legacy of selfless service.”

  • BPE hails APMT as investment hits N126b

    The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance with the post-acquisition plan by APM Terminals (APMT) and other terminal operators at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

    APM Terminals Apapa, which took over the concession at Lagos’ Apapa Container Terminal in 2006, has invested $350 million to date to develop infrastructure, acquire sophisticated cargo handling equipment, modernisation of the terminal, IT hardware and software systems, and additional capacity. The investment has resulted in significant improvements in productivity, with zero waiting time for vessel berthing and a doubling of container volume.

    Read Also: Aviation professionals restate opposition to concession of airports

    BPE’s Director in charge of Post Privatisation Department Mr. Yusuf Adamu, after monitoring activities of terminal operators at the Port Complex recently, said the investments and revenue contribution by the port concessionaires to government in the last 13 years has been massive.

    He said: “Before the concession, this place was like a market, with uncontrolled movements of people leading to rampant thievery. Some of the quay areas you see now were taken up as residential places until after the concession.

    “You can see the level of investments and expansion made by the concessionaires, millions of dollars, and these facilities will eventually revert to government at the end of the agreed period. This is outside their regular throughput and annual lease fees, which they have never defaulted since takeover in 2006, which is in millions of dollars…”

  • Bayelsa APC primary shifted till Saturday

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted its primary election in Bayelsa State to Saturday. The election was scheduled for today.

    This was contained in a letter by National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Acting National Secretary Victor Giadom to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    The letter said the shift was caused by planning and logistic reasons.

    It reads: “We wish to advise that due to planning and logistic reasons, we have rescheduled… our primary election in respect of the Bayelsa State governorship election to… Saturday, August 31…”

    The letter was silent on the stormy issue of whether the party would adopt direct or indirect primaries.

    Party leaders and aspirants are divided, with some pushing for direct and others insisting on indirect.

    Read Also: Bayelsa poll: Who gets APC ticket?

    A Bayelsa State High Court in Sagbama ordered the National Working Committee (NWC) to stop adoption of direct primaries.

    It was gathered that the order obtained by aggrieved members of APC restrained the NWC from going ahead with Saturday’s primary using the direct mode.

    The applicants are Japan Christopher, Evinson Olotu, Oddu Oyimiebi and Obriki Isaiah. The first respondents are Adams Oshiomhole and some NWC members, while the second respondents are Jonathan Amos and State Working Committee members are second respondents.

    The applicants prayed for an order “abridging the time for which the respondents may enter appearance and file their …counter affidavits and written addresses …”

    They also prayed for an “interim injunction restraining the first respondents from adopting the direct primaries … pending the hearing and determination of the …summons.”

    Justice E.G. Umukoro ruled that the enrolled order of the court be served with hearing notices to respondents within 48 hours.