No fewer than 1,000 people are expected to benefit free medical treatment organised by a United States-based group, the National Council of Nigeria Muslim Organisations (NCNMO) between April 13 and 16.
The medical mission is in collaboration with Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA).
A statement by Abdulfattah Olanlege of UNIFEMGA and Dr Musodiq Bello of NCNMO, stated that the programme has commenced on March 30 with eye screening for over 220 patients in preparation for 45 cataract surgeries during the period.
The duo said five-member NCNMO specialists led by Dr Fatai Ilupeju, an anesthesiologist in Westwood, Massachusetts affiliated with Boston Medical Centre will work alongside UNIFEMGA team led by Dr Fatimat Akinlusi, a Consultant Gynaecologist and other volunteers to provide free medical services to people in Ile- Ife and its environs.
The mission will be declared open at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Health Centre by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Eyitayo Ogunbodede, with additional speeches by UNIFEMGA National President Alhaji Waheed Odeyimka and Imam of OAU Mosque Prof. Abubakar Sanusi.
Other expected guests include Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, UNIFEMGA Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, among others.
Other highlights of the programme include health talks, cataract surgeries, dental clinics and general medical check-ups.
The Federal High Court in Lagos will on May 8 hear pending applications in a suit by an advertising firm, Mediaworth Ltd, against a multinational advertising firm, JCDecaux Nigeria Outdoor Advertising Limited.
Mediaworth sued JCDecaux for allegedly hijacking its approved outdoor site.
Through its counsel Bolu Agbaje Akadri, the plaintiff is claiming over N1 billion damages for alleged disruption of its business.
It accused the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) of revoking the approval given to it in 2012 and giving the business site to JCDecaux.
The firm said after it struggled to secure the approvals of both LASAA and the Federal Government, it mobilised resources for the project execution, adding that it began an annual payment of N2 million to the Federal Government in 2012 even when the business had yet to take off.
Mediaworth said it had invested over N150 million while still indebted to its technical partners to the tune of $100,000 when the site was revoked.
The plaintiff claimed that the site that was illegally hijacked from it under nebulous guise of public safety was handed over to JCDecaux to build an LED board similar to what Mediaworth was erecting before its demolition.
Akadri said his client’s failure to execute the project led to 22 members of its staff being sent to the unemployment market.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendants trampled on its rights and that the foreign firm is reaping from where it did not sow.
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has appointed Mrs. Teju Abisoye as the Acting Executive Secretary (ES) of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) with effect from April 1, pending confirmation by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Prior to her appointment, Director, Strategy, LSETF, Abosede Alimi, in a statement, said Mrs. was director of Programmes and Coordination at the LSETF.
In this role, she was responsible for the delivery of targeted programmes designed to enable access to finance and financial inclusion for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); as well as enable skills development and other structured interventions to boost job and wealth creation in Lagos State.
Commenting on the appointment, the Chairman of the LSETF, Mrs. Ifueko M. Omoigui-Okauru, said: “We are pleased to have Teju assume the role of the Executive Secretary of the fund. Teju brings to this role her superior understanding of the vision, core values and strategies of the LSETF as she has been at the forefront of coordinating the delivery of the fund’s programmes. She has demonstrated exemplary leadership, deep knowledge of the interventions needed to tackle unemployment and about gender parity.”
Also commenting, Mrs. Abisoye expressed her commitment to achieving the fund’s mandate of job creation and tackling unemployment.
“I am grateful to Ambode for the confidence reposed in me to serve in this role and to direct the affairs of the trust fund. I am very grateful to my predecessor and the pioneer Executive Secretary of the fund, Mr. Akin Oyebode, for his exemplary leadership and laying the foundation for me to build on. I look forward to leading the team and strengthening the impact of our work in the State.”
Mrs. Abisoye is a lawyer with extensive experience in development finance, project planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian projects, government interventions and investment opportunities.
The Primate of African Church Cathedral, Ifako, Rev Emmanuel Josiah Udofia, and the Lagos African Church Grammar School Old Students Association (LAFROSA) have praised the Chairman, Ifako Ijaiye -Local Government, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, for donating a modern ICT centre to his alma mater, Lagos African Church, grammar School, Ifako (LAFROGRAMS).
Declaring the event open, the Primate thanked Oke for giving back to his former school and prayed for him.
LAFROSA’s National President, Otunba Moses Paul, described Oke as a true leader, urging other old students to emulate his gesture.
Principal of the school, Mrs Mojisola Oyetayo, thanked the donor for the centre.
She said through him, LAFROGRAMS has one of the best ICT centres in the state, because it is Joint Admissions Matriculation Board compliant.
Oke said the ICT centre was a dream come true, promising to donate more in future.
Present at the unveiling were former Principal of the school, Mrs Huneph Adeoba, L. S. Ogunyale, Rev. Ogunshipe, and the Proprietor of Ifako International school, Wande Majekodunmi, among others.
Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc grew its net profit by 39 per cent to N18.1 billion in 2018 as improved credit risk management and reduction in credit impairment boosted the bank’s overall performance.
Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Union Bank for the year ended December 31, 2018 showed that gross earnings dropped by 11 per cent from N163.8 billion in 2017 to N145.5 billion in 2018. Net interest income declined by 17 per cent from N66.7 billion to N55.4 billion while non-interest income also dropped from N39.3 billion to N35.2 billion.
With 113 per cent reduction in credit impairment, net income after impairments increased by 16 per cent from N80.64 billion to N93.5 billion. Profit before tax thus increased by 33 per cent from N13.9 billion to N18.5 billion. Profit after tax also rose from N13 billion to N18.1 billion. Earnings per share however declined by 11 per cent from 72 kobo in 2017 to 61 kobo in 2018.
The bank’s group balance sheet increased marginally by one per cent from N1.455 trillion in 2017 to N1.464 trillion in 2018. Customers deposit rose by seven per cent from N802.4 billion to N857.6 billion. Non-performing loan ratio for the bank improved from 20.8 per cent in 2017 to 8.1 per cent in 2018. Shareholders’ funds however dropped by 34 per cent from N337.7 billion in 2017 to N225.6 billion in 2018. Net asset value per share thus reduced from N11.79 in 2017 to N7.75 in 2018.
Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Mr Emeka Emuwa said the bank made significant strides in its areas of focus in 2018 despite the challenging operating landscape.
According to him, the bank’s priorities in 2018 were three pronged- enhancing its productivity across board, tightening up loan portfolio especially resolving key large exposures which drove non-performing loans up significantly at the end of 2017 and optimising the bank’s capital and funding base.
He pointed out that through an aggressive focus on recoveries and recognising fully provisioned loans on its books, the bank successfully reduced its non-performing loan ratio in line with guidance provided at the start of the year.
He noted that with the successful execution of its debut local currency bond issue to raise N13.5 billion and the tightening up of its loan portfolio, Union Bank is well positioned to continue executing key business priorities in 2019.
“In 2019, we will continue to maintain focus on recoveries while prudently rebuilding our loan book and maintaining a conservative risk profile,” Emuwa said.
He outlined that in the new business year, the bank will double-down on its productivity efforts to deliver its financial targets.
“We are harnessing synergies across our business segments to ensure we maximize opportunities across entire value chains, while centralising key business and operational functions for better efficiency, and prioritizing customer experience across all our touchpoints. We are also pleased to be introducing our women focused initiative, álpHer, which will provide a portfolio of financial and non-financial services to women across customer segments in Nigeria,” Emuwa said.
He noted that the bank has commenced its Long-Term Efficiency Acceleration Programme (LEAP), a comprehensive transformation effort to embed cost discipline across the bank with a view to delivering significant cost savings in 2019 and entrench a culture of efficiency across all areas of the bank.
Chief Financial Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Joe Mbulu, explained that the decline gross earnings was due to the loan book clean-up and resolution of key exposures.
He noted that notwithstanding significant investments to execute strategy including expanding agency banking footprint and aligning compensation with market for entry to mid-level employees, which increased operating expenses by 12 per cent, the bank ‘s core business delivered a 33 per cent growth to top-line pre-tax profit.
The board of directors of Third Observers Nigeria Limited has concluded arrangements to present awards to quoted companies that delight investors with good dividend payouts. The awards ceremony is scheduled for next week in Lagos.
The theme for second edition of the awards is: How Regulations Protect Investments and Help Secure Dividend. The key presenters of the theme are from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST).
The 2019 award winners are the companies that have paid dividend for a minimum of 10 years and above. These include Nigerian Breweries, Vitafoam Nigeria, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), FBN Holdings, FCMB Group, Unilever Nigeria and CAP among others. There are 52 award winners with the awards ranging from bronze, silver and gold.
Managing Director, Third Observers Nigeria Limited, Abiodun Ayodele said the yearly awards ceremony was established to highlight dividend payment performances of listed companies in Nigeria with the core objective of encouraging both the investors and the paying companies.
He noted that by showcasing outstanding performances of dividend-paying companies, other non-dividend paying companies will be encouraged to catch up with their peers.
The Air Force, police and the Department of State Security (DSS) are to work together to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts in the Northwest.
According to the NAF spokesman , Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the inter-agency collaboration followed the visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed A. Adamu and the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at NAF headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
Air Commodore Daramola explained in a statement that besides sharing intelligence on ways to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts, the NAF would also make available air assets in support of the other agencies to secure the affected states.
The statement reads: “As part of inter-agency cooperation to address security challenges in the country, especially the issue of kidnapping and armed banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari axis, the NAF has reiterated its commitment to support the police, DSS and other security agencies with real time geospatial and imagery intelligence while making available its air assets for the conduct of tactical air support missions and increasing the frequency of air reconnaissance in the affected areas.
“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, disclosed this today, while playing host to the Acting IGP and the DSS Director General, at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.
“The IGP and DG DSS on arrival at HQ NAF immediately went into a closed door meeting with the CAS before undertaking a guided tour of facilities at the newly established, state-of- the-art Geospatial Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) and Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC).
“The GIDC, which is equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, was established to enhance the acquisition, analysis, interpretation and exploitation of imagery and geospatial information to provide actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security agencies, while the equally well-equipped SAOC is expected to greatly enhance the coordination of air operations in support of internal security operations across the country.
“While inspecting the facilities, the Acting IGP expressed delight and satisfaction with the cutting-edge technologies and sophisticated computer software at the centres.”
The acting IGP was quoted as saying: “I felt that as a security agency, we need to synergise with other security outfits. We don’t have the air capability but the NAF has them. With this, we can have a joint operation to deal with this security issue.”
Idris hailed the CAS for making NAF air assets available for the operation and also availing the NPF and DSS of the capabilities of the GIDC and SAOC.
SIR: The essence of democracy is to give citizens equal access and conducive atmosphere to elect their leaders; anything less is a threat to democracy. The current progressive decline of the quality of elections is not only worrisome and frightening; it is pushing the country’s democracy to the precipice. I refer to the just concluded supplementary elections in Kano, Sokoto, Plateau and Benue states.
The desperation exhibited by the incumbents and the opposition is taking us back to square one particularly with politicians deploying every trick in their hats to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election. In fact, the electoral guidelines did not appear to matter at all, going by the level of intimidation of voters especially women, election observers and journalists witnessed during the elections. Political actors from both sides had a field day in undermining the sanctity of the process.
More controversial was the Kano rerun election described by most election observers as nothing but a sham and a charade. In broad daylight, politicians deployed political thugs that overpowered the security agencies and forced the electorate to leave the polling units. There were clear instances where party agents and political thugs tortured and intimidated voters into voting their candidates. In Nasarawa, Dala, Bichi and Minjibir local governments for example, thugs restricted the electorate’s access to polling units, stoning them and violently disrupting the peaceful elections. Several observer groups reported irregularities, harassment of voters and INEC officials.
In Benue State, despite the heavy security deployment, an INEC returning officer was shot dead by political thugs in Gbokoand election materials burnt to ashes. Polling officials were assaulted and disallowed from performing their duties. While, Sokoto and Plateau recorded minor incidents, there were issues of underage voting and high rate of voter inducement. In Bauchi State, the election was peaceful as reported, but there were incidences of policemen leaving polling units as a result of rancour among the party supporters and agents.
This is not the kind of elections that Nigerians need. Nigerians deserve to have their elections all at once. This will enable the country to cut down on election expenses, and above all discourage voter apathy. INEC should be given the power to disqualify any candidate or political party that cause electoral violence from participating in such elections.
The quest for power among Nigerian politicians is borne out of the huge financial benefits attached to the offices. We need to make politics less attractive. If politicians see politics as a call to duty, many would drop their desperation to clinch power against all odds.
A prolific writer, journalist and Associate Editor with The Nation, Mr Olukorede Yishau, has donated 40 copies of his novel titled: In the Name of Our Father, to the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The books were presented to the Rector, Dr Samson Odedina, at the Ogere Campus, Abeokuta, by the author’s representative, Ernest Nwokolo who. The Nation’s Correspondent in sthetate.
Odedina hailed the courage, diligence, skill and commitment of Yishau that crystalised into the writing of the novel, saying it was worthy of emulation by aspiring and budding writers.
The Rector, who was represented by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Adeleye, also expressed the polytechnic’s gratitude to the author for the donation, praying that God would grant him more wisdom and strength to keep writing for the intellectual nourishment of the present and future generations of Nigerians.
He assured that the institution, staff and students would make judicious use of the book.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari could be blunt at times. He also has a wry wit. In fact, some of those who know him very well would swear that his sense of humour is remarkable. He deploys it in unusual ways.
Consider that German trip on which he was asked about his wife’s comments on his administration. He did not simply tell his audience that his wife is no politician; he said “she belongs to the other room”. I am sure His Excellency must have let loose a loud guffaw anytime he got comments of women rights activists who suddenly woke up to launch a campaign that he wasn’t right to say that a (his) woman’s place is in the kitchen or in “the other room”. And comedians seized upon the phrase to fuel their trade, ascribing all manner of innuendoes to “the other room”.
The President could also decline to join issues with his critics, taking it all on the chin. Even then, his silence is as loud as thunder. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s epistolary (mis) adventures failed to attract a wink from Buhari, who perhaps in the best traditions of military orientation, would not join issues with a senior officer. Now, who needs to be told how silence has been golden, trumping the din of the marketplace? But Obasanjo, being Obasanjo, would not hold his fire. He keeps screaming that Atiku Abubakar is better than Buhari. Is anybody listening?
Buhari has been asking some hard questions. Sound replies have been hard in coming. He once asked governors: “How do you sleep soundly when workers are not paid?” Of course, there was no reply. A cheeky fellow who claims to be close to some governors sneered at the question. He wondered how the President could understand it all as he does not know how Champagne tastes. “Who won’t sleep soundly after a glass of chilled champagne?” he said derisively.
The President remarked that $16billion was spent on power. He asked: “Where is the power?” Obasanjo, wily and crafty, actually admitted that $6.5b was spent. He advised those searching for answers to visit the ports where the equipment for power projects he initiated were rotting away.
Buhari has also said Nigerians would like to have answers to the “irresponsible expenditures of 1999 to 2004 when oil earnings peaked at about N140 a barrel”.
Now a foreshadow of his last four-year tenure which begins on May 29. I will take tough decisions, he warned when members of the Federal Executive Council visited to congratulate him on his victory at the February 23 election. Ever since he announced this, questions have been flying all over the place. What are the “tough” decisions our President is likely to take? There have been speculations, postulations and permutations on the “tough” decisions.
Will Buhari grab the evil hands behind the herdsmen-farmers killings that have debased our claim to decency? Will he expose their sponsors, seize them and bring them to justice for their horrendous crimes? The military have been battling Boko Haram, the fiendish group that has killed many innocent Nigerians. At a point, we all felt helpless. Now the herdsmen-farmers wars are as worse as Boko Haram’s madness. How sweet it would be if Buhari decides to go all the way against the killers and their sponsors, who the security agents should know.
Will private individuals who own oil blocks be made to shed some of their holdings for states to get a piece of the action? There is the thinking that many rich individuals have lost focus on how to spend the cash they harvest from their oil blocks; they funnel some to oiling the destructive machines we have all over the place. Will Buhari tackle them?
The Malabu oil block (OPL245) scandal remains unresolved, a bad sore that won’t just heal. About $523m of the $1.092b paid for the block was shared out as bribes to some former ministers and by politicians. A former president was named in the dirty deal. Will Buhari hauled them all before the courts?
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may wish to lengthen the list of banned items to save the naira from pressure and boost our foreign reserves? Local manufacturers will be happy, if we actually stop importing biscuits, cotton wool, eyelashes, eye shadows, eye shades, Brazilian hair, lip stick, lip balm and such frivolous items in the name of beauty care. Will the President approve that more items should join the list?
Will the government carry out its threat to go after the billionaires who don’t pay taxes and won’t even come forward to negotiate how to pay? This also shall pass seems to be their thinking.
Will petrol price go up for the embarrassing high subsidy to end? Will Buhari, being a friend of the poor, embrace the age-long official line that stopping subsidary will free some huge cash for infrastructural development?
A special court for corruption cases has been advocated? Now injunctions are jamming injunctions as lawyers and judges argue over jurisdiction. Corruption cases take years to complete as defence lawyers take advantage of the loopholes in the system. With a special court, so goes the popular thinking, those who deserve to go to jail will go fast and return home early after learning a lesson or two in how to handle public trust. Those who don’t will know their fate as fast as possible. Will Buhari pursue this idea?
Will the President listen to the mercantile advocates of restructuring if they agree that they know what they are talking about? Beyond being a vote harvesting and money minting gimmick in the hands of its insincere advocates, how good is this phenomenon?
A friend of mine could hardly name six ministers and their portfolios the other day. Many are believed to be bench warmers in the cabinet, enjoying all the appurtenances of office without the commensurate hard work that these times demand. Will Buhari throw away the dead woods or kowtow to political considerations in his choice of a cabinet? How long will it take to raise a cabinet?
Many have pointed at the detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki as a stain on the human rights banner of this administration. Dasuki is being held for alleged diversion of about $2.1b cash meant for arms to fight Boko Haram. His case is in court. He has been given bail, but the authorities won’t let him go home. Will Buhari say why Dasuki must remain incarcerated or let him go?
The Shi’ites keep protesting the detention of their leader El- Zaky Zaky and his wife. Like Dasuki, he is also being held under a thick security veneer that the public finds hard to understand. Will Buhari let El-Zaky Zaky go?
A word of advice: If Buhari wants to have an opportunity to take some tough decisions that will form the legacy of his administration, which will be tabled when the verdict of history comes, he must pay attention to the shenanigans of some opposition figures in the battle for the leadership of the National Assembly.
The UAE robbery suspects
FIVE Nigerians are being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for alleged robbery. They were said to have smashed their way into a bureau de change, grabbing its cash and injuring the staff. The camera on the premises gave them out.
When the President’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, broke the news and named the suspects as some of those disgracing Nigeria overseas, there was anger – apparently because the youngsters (gangsters?) belong to the same ethnic group. Why won’t others be named? Are they the only people disgracing Nigeria overseas? Is it fair? Outrage.
Abike Dabiri- Erewa
It is all disgusting. We should be ashamed of what these youths have done instead of playing the ethnic card, as we often do. Some of the critics of the name-and-shame went ahead to release on the social media their own lists of Nigerians who are facing one allegation or the other overseas. Okay. But what is bad is bad.
We all have a duty to educate our youths that crime doesn’t pay. It used to be drugs, 419 and prostitution. Now, it is armed robbery. The path of hard work, integrity and honesty can sometimes be strewn with thorns, but in the end it leads to success and peace of mind, which no hot cash can buy.
In scolding our wayward compatriots, ethnicity shouldn’t feature. Crime wears no ethnic badge; it is a universal phenomenon that should be condemned by all – always.
