We received in audience, the officials of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by Barr. J.I. Ogamba at the EXCO Chamber, Imo State Government, Owerri.
They read out a catalogue of areas the NBA would want the government to pay more attention to, like: security, welfare of judicial officers, the return of touts on the streets of Owerri, establishment of more Customary Courts, appointment of more judges, among others.
During the interactive session, I also pledged the commitment of the Imo State Government to partner with the NBA Owerri branch in the members’ quest to immortalize the late Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, former Justice Sylvester Nsofor.
No honour done to Late Justice Nsofor is too much, therefore, I urged the NBA to properly develop the concept on how they intend to immortalize him so as to enable the government consider the budgetary implications.
We will critically look at the other demands made by the lawyers and we will not disappoint their reasonable expectations while also not ignoring the other sectors of the State.
I took time to brief the NBA on the state of affairs in Imo, stressing that the State was taken off-track, making it difficult for things to be done properly for years. Our priority is to return the state to track by developing working data, planning with the data and setting in motion an operation that is development- oriented.
It is regrettable that the civil service is the weakest link in our efforts to redirect the state on track. This is as a result of the penchant of the civil servants for corruption.
I thank them for their commendation over the manner we handled the Covid-19 pandemic in Imo, harmony in the three arms of government, rejuvenation of infrastructures, report of the Judicial Commission of inquiry on lands and other related matters, and efforts being made to sanitize the rot in that sector.
Going by the determination of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration to promote healthy living and safeguard environmental quality that is consistent with the social and economic needs of the people, the State government, through LAWMA and LASEPA, has partnered with the National Environmental Standards & Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to encourage proper handling and management of e-waste in the State.
Speaking at the tripartite meeting held in Ikeja, the Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, stated that 30 pick up locations have been identified for the smooth kick-off of the scheme amid strict observation and compliance with safety guidelines in line with global best practices.
“The scheme is leveraging on the established foundation of LAWMA, which is recognised even beyond the shores of Nigeria. The State would provide a conducive environment, in addition to a robust monitoring system to ensure success and continuity of the scheme. This laudable initiative will shape the future of waste management, create job opportunities and promote a harmonious public-private initiative that is beneficial to all”, Odumboni said.
Also speaking, the General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, affirmed the readiness of relevant stakeholders in the epoch-making project, adding that the team has developed a framework for sustainable e-waste management through aggressive advocacy campaign on attitudinal change, manufacturers’ behaviour with attention on the non-availability of adequate information to the end line user of products and likely dangers inherent in indiscriminate disposal of electronic waste in an unfriendly manner.
“Lagos has been picked to test run the scheme, therefore, all hands must be on deck for the success of the project, its continuity and extension to other States of the Federation. Adequate training would be organised to enable the collectors to perform their duties seamlessly and systematically. The collection centres cut across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State, in affirmation of government commitment to the scheme”, Fasawe reiterated.
On her part, the Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, Mrs. Miranda Amachree, disclosed that the choice of Lagos as the pilot for the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) project was not by accident but in recognition of its environmentally-friendly nature and commercial hub of the nation.
“Government recognises the need to sanitise the unwholesome management of e-waste and to also protect our people from unhealthy situations associated with constant exposure and haphazard disposal of electronic waste. We are building on the existing structure of Lagos; therefore, we are not relenting until the menace is uprooted from our system”, Amachree asserted.
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ForAGreaterLagos
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PIX1 (L-R): NESREA project Manager, Halima Kolo Muhammed; General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and Managing Director, LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni.
PIX 2: Group photograph of participants at the tripartite meeting held at LASEPA Conference Room in Ikeja.
PIX 3: Cross-Section of participants at the tripartite meeting held at LASEPA Conference Room in Ikeja.
Construction work has commenced at the site designated for the new Massey Street Children’s Hospital located at the Adeniji-Adele Road, Lagos Island.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who was at the construction site on an inspection tour, stated that the commencement of construction is in fulfilment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Medical Infrastructure Blueprint strategy and his promise to replace the current Massey Street Children’s Hospital with a new specialist Children’s Hospital that is spacious and fit for purpose.
Speaking on the rationale for embarking on the project, Abayomi explained that the construction of a new Children’s hospital is geared towards addressing the challenge of space and expansion being encountered at the site of the current Massey Street Children’s Hospital.
His words: “Government is aware of the challenges encountered at the old Massey Street Children’s hospital; we understand that there isn’t enough space for expansion and this prompted us to look for a new location that is not too far away because we want to keep the important historical heritage associated with the Massey Street Hospital”.
“Luckily, we found this site and we have spent a lot of time designing a specialist Children’s hospital. It is going to be very iconic, designed fit for purpose and will serve us for decades”, he added.
The Commissioner disclosed that the site for the new Massey Street Children’s Hospital has also been earmarked for some other medical infrastructure projects which will help Lagos to develop high resilience to shocks.
“We also have this area mapped for additional medical infrastructure that is going to support the long term Lagos Medical Infrastructure strategy, as well as some additional specialist medical projects that will support the State in developing a high resilience to shocks. Lagos will also be able to develop advanced medical infrastructure that will help us compete internationally and enter the medical bio-economy”, he explained.
While revealing that the construction of the new Massey Street Children’s Hospital will span 18 months, the Commissioner noted that land preparation and environment clearing is ongoing, adding that fencing will soon commence.
“We are looking at the next 18 months to complete this project at least in terms of construction. Massey Street is part of a bigger plan. The first important thing is that we have moved to this location and created a new open space. A nice edifice, something that is befitting for Lagosians as specialist Children’s facility would be erected and then we decongest the old Massey Street Hospital and keep that as a satellite facility”, Abayomi stated.
Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had revealed plans to commence the construction of a new Massey Street Children’s Hospital and some other health facility when he recently commissioned the Badagry Maternal and Child Centre earlier this year.
Airbus and Atlas Telecom, a UAE-based communications technology integration and security solutions company, signed a strategic partnership agreement at the ongoing IDEX 2021 to combine their local and global expertise and reinforce collaboration among public safety agencies in Abu Dhabi.
The cooperation will lead to the integration of Airbus’ Tactilon Agnet, Everus Manpack and Tactilon Dabat into Atlas Telecom’s solutions for defense and security applications.
Tactilon Agnet brings terminal radio and smart device users together, allowing real-time sharing of voice, data, video and location information. Embedded in Tactilon Agnet, the portable Everus Manpack LTE tactical bubble enables voice and video services, and gives users a direct link to the headquarters.
In addition, Airbus’ Tactilon Dabat device allows users to switch between Tetra or LTE network services, according to availability, thanks to its state-of-the-art hybrid roaming feature.
In the frame of the agreement, Airbus will also provide the TW1m Tetra modem, which will unlock the capabilities of Atlas Telecom’s E-passport tracking device, an advanced compact and intelligent vessel tracker.
“Atlas Telecom always emphasizes the need to provide a reliable and secure critical communication infrastructure for reinforced collaboration between security forces and personnel across sectors. Through our new partnership, we can further strengthen our capability to deliver secure and modern devices for efficient exchange of data, voice, and information.” Samer Jammoul, Managing Director of Atlas Telecom, explained.
“In the Middle East, where we have strong market presence, our collaboration with Emirati companies such as Atlas Telecom allows us to jointly deliver better products and services. It results in an engagement that brings economic benefits. This reflects our commitment to introduce technology-driven solutions to the region, especially in the UAE where we are witnessing a rapid upgrade of infrastructure and security as it bids to become a leader in the global security and safety industry.” Added Selim Bouri, Vice President and Head of Region MEA & Asia Pacific of Secure Land Communications at Airbus
About Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2019, it generated revenues of € 70 billion and employed a workforce of around 135,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
Secure Land Communications (SLC), an Airbus programme unit, offers advanced communication and collaboration solutions enabling its customers to gather, process, and deploy intelligence. Its portfolio is tailored to the needs of professionals from Public Safety and Transport, Utility and Industry (TUI). It includes infrastructures, devices, applications and services based on Tetra, Tetrapol and Broadband technologies. As the European leader and a key international player, SLC has customers in more than 80 countries and employs around 1,185 people in 16 countries.
Tell us about VPD money as an app that enables financial transaction?
VPD money is a financial services App brought to you by part of the team that delivered VoguePay (A leading payment solutions provider that was founded in 2012 and now operating across 5 continents). At VPD money, we believe financial services should not limit businesses and individual’s potential regardless of regional boundaries. VPD money is a financial services and lifestyle App that offers its users money management tools, instant access to a digital wallet and bank account. We are unifying the wallet, and digital banking experience in order to bridge the gap between Africa and the global e-commerce market. Enabling connectivity that drives performance powered by individuals, African & International SMEs, and the diaspora community seeking to trade or conduct transactions in/with Africa. In a nutshell, VPD is the new way of living. The banking choice for the smart, and new generation. It is a lifestyle banking app.
How are you different from other Fintechs?
In the fintech ecosystem we are all the same or have many things in common, but the difference is that we try to resolve a wide range of problems. We are borderless, we provide borderless solutions. We believe that if you go to any part of the world be it Kenya or Gambia, you shouldn’t be bothered about remittances, payment and exchange rates-that is where VPD money comes in. Though, we have Fintechs in payment, digital banking etc. we are into digital banking that is supported by artificial intelligence (AI) these solution helps with gathering data for you, tries to answer critical questions that seeks to understand how to serve you best. For instance, you may be interested in getting the best rate for a currency of your choice-Our solution addresses these questions. We ensure that banking is made easy using our digital intelligence financial solutions. We have made banking, and saving culture easier. For instance, you can decide to save money for a wedding in the next 6 months, Our solutions enable you to do this depending on the milestone you have put in place. The app addresses a lot of financial questions.
How has this solution been accepted in the market?
There was a time that we did a test campaign and we were overwhelmed with the response, about 35,000 Nigerians downloaded and keyed into the application in just one week. We had to make a difficult call to stop the scheme so that we can provide top notch services, and support to our existing customers. Our customer services were overwhelmed then, this shows how people are interested in our solutions!
The Legacy or conventional banking has been around, how is your relationship with them?
Well, our relationship has been great, as banks, the traditional banks ought to work with us and they are doing that. Though the regulation is developed around the legacy banks, a lot of smart banks are working hand-in-hand with innovative fintechs so as to disrupt themselves. Some are even buying fintechs and investing massively, any bank that wants to be part of the future must align with the realities which is fintech If they want to go far in this ecosystem, they need to align themselves with fintechs. If General Motors knew that Tesla would be this big, they would have invested in the technology, this is the same for traditional banks. Complacency is what is happening to African banks, they believe in might, number of staff and branches, it is not it, it is about agility and smartness. Unfortunately, a majority of the Banks’s solutions are from India and many of these solutions are ancient and obsolete technologies.
Majority of Banks are running on foreign software, do you think that this is a wrong approach?
It is not only a wrong approach, but a gross betrayal to millions of Nigeria that have the capacity to deliver and also a capital flight to the nation. It is worrisome. We have the human resource pool in Africa- when you go to Silicon Valley, you will notice that a lot of Nigerians are thriving, and manning serious IT projects, why are the Nigerian banks deploying obsolete Indian software in our home country? A majority of Nigerians in the IT sector feel so betrayed by this, For Bangalore, Nigerian financial institutions are their major customers. We want to change this narrative; in our company we have many nationalities among us, and that is why we are trying to change the narrative. If the banks support these IT firms and tech guys, they can build a robust system, most of the banks here are operating on an old system.
What are the challenges that you face doing business?
Well, doing business here on average day is hectic especially with the bureaucracy. Another challenge is the limited access to talented individuals, finding adequate talents is difficult. Yes, we have talented people in Nigeria, but a majority require further training and orientation, so we have to refine them, and help them unlearn the old systems, and start adopting our way of working.
Any expectations for the 2021, and how did you cope with lockdown?
I think that digital banking is well placed in Covid era, However, there are some minor ways this industry was affected. We are charged up, and we have a lot of things we are going to unveil this year.
How are you trying to address banking solutions for millennials?
We believe that the way financial services are consumed with the millennials have changed, we believe also that experiences have changed, and these are the things we want to address. Nigerians are very brilliant people but most of these brilliances are shown abroad and we want to bring this expertise back home. We are doing the bank of tomorrow today. The benefit of that is that Nigerians would see a significant change and even removal of transfer charges. We are poised to change banking for good. We believe that everyone deserves access to at their convenience. With my background in the payment industry, we had a partner that introduced a modern technology that altered the payment connectivity that in turn, changed the Nigerian banking space. We made payment connectivity free. Prior to this, it was one thousand dollars for payment connectivity, this is what we want to make available to Nigerians.
What are the features of your app?
Our App is tailored for your everyday needs, these needs such as Payment for utility bills, shopping globally, monthly entertainment subscriptions, flight, and event tickets on the go. We offer cash-back, when you the VPD money app, we give you Cash-back on all eligible purchases (Earn up to 3%) or via any of our partners. Another thing we have that is unique is our Contactless Card feature. This is a simple and secure way to make everyday purchases quickly and safely.
“It is not only a wrong approach, but a gross betrayal to millions of Nigerians that have the capacity to deliver, and also a capital flight to the nation. It is worrisome. We have the human capital- when you visit Silicon Valley, you will see a lot of Nigerians thriving and manning serious IT projects, why are Nigerian banks not giving Nigerians the same opportunity in our home country ? ”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office on Monday, February 22, 2021, arraigned one Mary Maisirat Akerele on a five count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of Thirty Five Million Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N35,520,000:00) before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court 4,Abeokuta.
Trouble started for the 46-years-old socialite, who resides in Aseko area of Idiroko Ogun State, when the EFCC received a petition, alleging that she collected the said sum in installments from one Alhaja Oladoja Abike for the purpose of supplying four truck-load of rice from a rice milling company at Bida, Niger state but diverted the funds.
One of the charge reads: ” That you Mary Masirat Akerele (trading under the name and style of Goodness of Jesus Global Ventures) on or about the 19th day of September, 2018 at Abeokuta within the Abeokuta Judicial Division of the Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to the your own use the sum of Eleven Million Naira (N11, 000,000.00) only property of Fausia Abike Oladoja and thereby committed an offence of stealing contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30, laws of Ogun State, 2006”.
The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charge was read to her.
Counsel to the defendant, H. A Omikunle made an oral application for his client’s bail. However, Shamsuddeen Bashir, counsel to EFCC, opposed the application due to the defendant’s failure to keep the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted her.
Justice Akinyemi adjourned the case till March 4 for determination of the bail application an ordered the remand of the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ibara,Abeokuta
The trial of a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode before Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja continued today, Tuesday February 23, 2021 with the testimony of Mohammed Goji, the third prosecution witness, PW3.
While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Faruk Abdullahi, the witness who is an Operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC narrated how during the course of investigating contracts executed by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), N26m was traced to the defendant.
“We got Intelligence report about some certain amount of money running into billions of naira meant for contracts in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA. Along the line, we discovered that N26m was paid for Media Consultancy for which there was no record that the project was executed.
“We wrote series of letters to the Office of the NSA where we got payment vouchers and proposals indicating how the said sum was paid.
“In the course of investigation we gathered that the defendant directed his domestic servants comprising of his driver by name, Francis and his personal assistant named Victor, to access the funds from the NSA.
“They took the cash sum in a ‘Ghana –Must- Go’ bag from the account section of the NSA and took it to the defendant’s residence as directed”, Goji said.
The witness also narrated how a search warrant was executed in the residence of the defendant on 10th May 2016 and afterwards invited the defendant to the EFCC office for interview. He said the defendant volunteered his statements under caution on May 11 and 12, 2016.
Prosecuting counsel Abdullah, after the testimony of the witness, tendered in evidence, documents comprising the search warrant and the three statements which the defendant made while in EFCC custody
Justice Tsoho adjourned the case till April 21, 2020 for continuation of trial.
The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdulahhi, CCIE said that to achieve Digital Transformation in Nigeria, there is need was to efficiently use of the vast opportunities embedded in the Space Technology ecosystem.
Abdullahi made this call yesterday at the Corporate Headquarters of the Agency when he met with delegates from the Nigerian Institute of Space Engineers (NISEng) led by its National Chairman, Engr Dr. Okpanachi George, who came to seek for possible collaboration with the agency.
The NITDA boss said that it is a good development for federal government agencies to partner with private organizations, adding that NITDA as the regulator of IT in the country, has put in place, policies and created an enabling environment for producers and professionals to come in and create innovations which will sustain a digital Nigeria.
He further stated that contrary to beliefs that satellites are obsolete, emerging technologies is now transforming the Space technology ecosystem which will evolve a new chapter and give rise to enormous transformation in the industry.
Abdullahi averred that the agency is excited to partner with the NISEng because he believes the collaboration will drive innovations, as the Space Technology Ecosystem is everywhere and encompasses different sectors like the Communications, Agriculture and Security.
He said that the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics play a key role in the digital space and NITDA through its National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) will collaborate with the NISEng in coming up with ideas which will transform the country through initiatives such as the Research and Development, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Innovations.
The DG added that capacity building is an important factor in research and development and the agency will give its support in capturing all demography especially the young start-ups in order to create a robust local content which will prepare and position the country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He said the agency is really looking forward to the collaboration because he believes the two organizations will exploit all possible innovations, ideas and commercialize them which in turn will consequently transform NISEng into a competitive, globally standard institute and sustain a digital Nigeria as a whole.
Earlier in his remarks, Engr Dr. Okpanachi thanked the NITDA DG and management staff for taking time out of their busy schedule to receive them.
He said he had been following NITDA’s activities for some time and is greatly marveled at the agency’s dynamism and passion in sustaining a digital Nigeria.
He particularly thanked the DG for sending a representative to the institute’s 10th National Conference and Annual General Meeting in the previous year and seeks a further and deeper collaboration with NITDA on programmes that are insightfully valuable for national and professional development.
…to transform beneficiaries into skilled entrepreneurs.
Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has launched a new model of empowerment that will transform delegates into skilled entrepreneurs and/or employable citizens contributing meaningfully to the economy of the Niger Delta region, and the nation at large.
The Interim Administrator of the PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) announced this in a statement on Monday, describing it as an end-to-end empowerment model.
The statement says that PAP will partner with organizations that are ready and capable of training its delegates, employing successful trainees and mentoring them to achieve post training proficiency. Thereafter, they will be encouraged to branch out or own subsidiaries of the parent company. The catch is that since the delegates are potential employees, they will be well trained to fit into the company offering the training. Those who do not make it will have themselves to blame for a missed opportunity. According to Col. Dikio (rtd), this will curb multiplicity of the same kind of empowerment and substandard empowerment packages that are not in line with the vision for the Amnesty Programme.
“We have designed a wholistic high quality empowerment package that will reduce delegates’ dependence on monthly stipends.”
“We cannot continue to say we are empowering our delegates and they cannot boast of anything to do or even find suitable jobs that suit the skills they have learnt.”
“This is the model that is used by most businesses and organizations in the South – East and this has proven to be highly successful and effective”.
The statement further explains that vendors who wish to start their training and empowerment programmes for beneficiaries must obtain a letter of approval before commencement. Col. Dikio (rtd) assured delegates that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is currently working out the processes that will ensure that they are not short-changed or deprived of their opportunities.
It will be recalled that one of the focal points of the programme is to make the Niger Delta the best place to live and do business by directing available resources to achieve optimum results, and the leadership of the PAP is committed to actualizing this goal.
Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is one of the sectors whose performance lifted the country out of recession in the fourth quarter of 2020, contributing 12.45 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), telecommunications & Information Services under Information and Communication grew by 17.64 per cent in Q4 2020 from 17.36 per cent in Q3 2020 and 10.26 per cent in Q4 2019.
In the latest NBS report, agriculture, industries, and services sector, under which telecommunications is categorised, contributed 26.95 per cent, 18.77 per cent, and 54.28 per cent respectively. This is a pointer to the fact that telecommunications, trade, services and crop production are the main drivers of Nigeria’s exit from recession.
In specific terms, NBS report showed that largest sub-sectors in Q4 2020 are crop production at 3.68 per cent, crude petroleum and natural gas at 8.2 percent, trade at 14.9 per cent, telecommunications & information services at 12.45 per cent, and real estate at 5.7 per cent, the report says.
The telecommunications sector has, in the last five years been a major driver of the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government, as it has continued to provide the needed digital sinews that support the economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restriction period.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, government institutions, businesses and individuals have relied heavily on telecoms services to carry out their daily operations and official routines. In response to the increased demand, the Commission put a number of regulatory measures in place to ensure seamless access by Nigerians to telecommunication services and protect against any adverse impact on the quality of service enjoyed by consumers.
The steady growth of the telecoms sector over the years with its pervasive positive impact on all other sectors of the economy in terms of increased automation of processes and digital transformation in service delivery has been remarkable. The growth trend since 2015 has reawakened hope that the economic diversification dreams of the country may finally be a reality as the sector continues to energize significant economic activities in the services sector of the economy.
Through effective regulatory regime emplaced by the Commission, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, telecoms investment grew from about $38 billion in 2015 to over $70 billion currently.
Also, broadband penetration increased from 6 per cent in 2015 to 45.02 per cent at December, 2020, indicating that 85.9 million Nigerians are now connected on 3G and 4G networks which provide enhanced high-speed Internet that has continued to boost efficiency and increase productivity across the economic spectrum.
Recent statistics also indicate that between 2015 and December, 2020, active voice subscriptions have increased from 151 million to 204.6 million, with teledensity standing at 107.18 per cent. Basic active internet subscriptions grew from 90 million to 154.3 million during the period.
The Commission is committed to its culture of quality regulation of the telecommunications industry that ensures a stable and robust sector which drives the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government and ultimately leads in the growth of the country’s GDP.
