Why We Are Supporting Security Agencies – Alhaji Ogunbiyi
Alhaji Waheed Usman Ogunbiyi, Chairman Oguns Investment Ltd, has said the reasons he continuously extends supports to security agencies is to ensure safe environment for social and economic activities to strive.
The frontline real estate investor stated this Friday afternoon when he played host to a team of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE which honoured him with NAOSRE Security Excellence Award.
Acknowledging the honour, an obviously elated Alhaji Ogunbiyi thanked NAOSRE for recognizing him, saying he never knew that an association as credible as NAOSRE had kept a close observation on his supportive efforts to security agencies.
“I really appreciate NAOSRE for nominating me. We are sufficiently encouraged by this honour. So we will continue to do more to support our security agencies so that our community can be safe.
“We have been doing our best but we never knew that association like yours has been monitoring us.
“We are happy with your association and we expect others to emulate your good work,” Ogunbiyi stated.
Earlier, the Head, Research and Intelligent Unit, RIU, in the NAOSRE PR Department, Lateef Owodunni, explained in details the rationale behind the award which he stated emanated from Alhaji Ogunbiyi’s noticeable supports to the Nigeria Police Force and other para military agencies for effective security service delivery within and outside Lagos State.
Owodunni added that the Comrade Femi Oyewale led media union will continuously recognize individuals and institutions that are supporting security agencies in line with the administrative focus of NAOSRE.
The NAOSRE team included National General Secretary, Osho Oluwatosin, National Registrar, Gbenga Isaac Shaba, Director of Process & Planning {NAOSRE President Office} Aina Iyabo Bose and Idumonza Isidahomhen, Public Relations Officer.
Mother of all Party!!!…. Akinsiku of Lagos Celebrates Life at 50
as Fuji Icon, K1 lead Davido, NairaMarley, Olamide others to the jamboree
Chief Adebola Dosunmu, the Akinsiku of Lagos (Olori Eyo), who is the custodian of Lagos most popular cultural festival, the Adamu Orisa, popularly known as Eyo will celebrating his 50th birthday on 21st of March 2022.
The real estate mogul and socialite said he is grateful to God for all he has been through in life and it is worthy to celebrating the landmark age of 50.
‘From my humble background in Isale-Eko, to my days at Methodist Boys High School, where I was mates with my friend now father, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, to my sojourn in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, up on till I was selected to become the supreme head of the Adamu Orisa, God has been faithful. All praises to Almighty God.
Chief Adebola Dosunmu, who is married to another prominent Lagos indigene, Abimbola Ashake Dosunmu, and blessed with six children, is the chairman and chief executive of Utica Homes, a real estate company, which has developed over 10 housing estates within the Victoria Island and Eti-Osa corridor.
As the custodian and supreme head of the Eyo festival, Chief Adebola Dosunmnu leads thousands of performers anytime the Adamu orisa play is staged in Lagos, usually at the behest of the Oba of Lagos.
“I am happy to lead the Eyo clan, this is what my forbearers has done for hundred of years” Akinsiku said enthusiastically. The last Akinsiku of Lagos was Chief Taoreed Ibikunle, before him was my grandfather, Chief Olayinka Dosunmu, so I am happy to step in the shoes and continue to make the Eyo masquerade and its festivals, the pride of Lagosians and one to be identified with by our friends from outside of this city.
On his 50th birthday, Chief Adebola Dosunmu is celebrating in grand style. He said reaching the age of 50 is a big deal, if one considers all the challenges that we have faced individually and as a people. It is indeed worthy of celebration.
“I will be celebrating with my people at Isale-Eko, on my birthday, which is the 21st March, where we hope to host our people and members of the Eyo festival. We also have some arrangement for the less privilege in the society”.
A grand ball event is being planned as part of the birthday celebration. On the 24th of March, 2022, the king of fuji music, Wasiu Ayinde will lead other stars such as Davido, Naira marley, lil kesh to what promises to be an evening of festivities.
The PUNCH learnt that Obiano, who had been on the watch list of the EFCC, was arrested while trying to board a flight to the United States.
Recall that the commission had in a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service dated November 15, 2021, asked immigration to place Obiano on a watch list and inform it anytime he is travelling out of the country from any of the International airports and other points of entry and exit.
The Commissioner for Information, Don Adinuba, had, however, dared the EFCC, insisting that his boss would return to the US – his original base – after leaving office.
However, barely hours after handing over to his successor, Prof. Charles Soludo, it was learnt that Obiano made his way to Lagos after which he proceeded to the international airport.
On sighting him at 8.30pm, immigration officers were said to have alerted the EFCC who immediately arrested him and took him down to their office.
When contacted on the telephone, the Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the former governors’ arrest, promising to provide more details later.
“It is true. He was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport around 8.30pm,” said Uwujaren.
FIRSTBANK REWARDS CUSTOMERS WITH 50 MILLION NAIRA WORTH OF PRIZES IN VERVE CARD CAMPAIGN
FirstBank, Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion services provider has urged its customers to take advantage of the Bank’s ongoing Verve Card campaign designed to reward customers for their continued usage of the Verve debit Card.
The Eight-week promo will end on Wednesday, 30 March 2022 as 2,601 customers will win various prizes. These prizes include: N20,000 Cash Prize, N10,000 Cash Prize, N10,000 worth of airtime; power generating sets, refrigerator, cooking gas and the grand prize of a brand-new car.
The promo will reward customers on a weekly and monthly basis. In every week of the promo, 200 customers who carry out a minimum of 2 transactions with their Verve debit card stand a chance to win N10,000.00 worth of airtime, cash prizes of N10,000 and N20,000.
Furthermore, 100 customers who perform a minimum of 8 transactions within 4 weeks with their Verve debit card will be rewarded with either a Generator set, Refrigerator, Gas Cooker or N50,000 cash prize every four weeks.
A Grand prize of a brand-new car will also be won by a lucky customer who performs a minimum of 16 transactions during the campaign period.
Chuma Ezirim, FirstBank’s Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products said “we are happy with the ongoing verve debit card promo designed to appreciate customers for their continued usage and adoption of the card for various digitally-driven transactions.
With the promo being instrumental to reinforcing the value placed by customers on its versatile capabilities, we encourage the continued usage of the verve card as it is a card offering that promotes safe, convenient and rewarding digital banking service to customers,” he concluded.
The Verve debit card is a Naira-denominated debit card that offers a convenient, fast, and secured payment for goods and services. It is accepted on all channels connected to the Verve International network where the Interswitch/ Verve logo is displayed; ATMs, POS and Web in Nigeria. The Bank’s Verve debit Cards make up a notable percentage of the industry’s base. Hence, this Promo is aimed at appreciating our cardholders while growing the bank’s card adoption and usage.
Visit the nearest FirstBank branch today to pick up your Verve card and start getting rewarded
The gospel music band called Gigo Global Dynamite presents a three-in-one event, marking the release of their second musical album; titled Ade-Ogo (crown of glory); alongside the unveiling of an all-new reinvigorated Gigo Band; and Praise His Majesty Concert as the highlight.
The special event which will hold at Radio Lagos-Eko FM Multipurpose Hall on Thursday, the 17th of March, 2022 starts from 12 noon.
The multilingual band led by Evangelist Deborah Semande Ochaba, sings in English and Nigerian languages, particularly Yoruba and Ogu.
The band leader, Mrs. Ochaba nee Gandonu is an ordained pastor and tele-evangelist.
Also a song writer and inspirational music minister of the gospel, Evangelist Ochaba is a passionate promoter of her cultural heritage, hence the name of her band – Gigo; which means glory in Ogu language of Badagry descent.
Notable music ministers of the gospel expected to grace the occasion are Evangelists Timi Orokoya, Tope Alabi, Adegbodu Twins, Oluwatoyin Smith and Sesi Ijitimehin. Other music artistes expected to add flavour to the event are Mega ’99 and Dare Melody.
The dignitaries expected are Mr. Samson Segun Ajibade as chairman of occasion, His Royal Majesty Oba Nelson Obayomi Ogunlari, Ogundalu I; the Olowu of Owu-Ikosi Kingdom, also His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Sejiro Olalekan Ogungbe James (JP), Okiki Arolagbade III; Aholu Henwa of Kweme Kingdom, and His Royal Majesty the Agano Toniyon I of Ajara Agamathen Kingdom; as royal fathers of the day.
Ecobank To Pay $40 Million Dividends To Shareholders
The Pan-African banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is set to pay its shareholders dividends of $0.16 per share totaling $40 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This implies approximately CFA90, N66.6, or 1.08 Ghana Cedi per share. For Nigerian and Ghanaian investors, this represents 5.5 times and 8.3 times, respectively, the most recent value of the Ecobank shares they hold.
According to the Company Secretary, Madibinet Cisse, “We are pleased to inform our shareholders and the public that the Board of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (“ETI”), at its meeting of February 25, 2022, approved the Ecobank consolidated audited accounts for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“Audited Accounts”) subject to relevant regulatory approvals. The Board also recommended the payment of a dividend of USD0.16 cents per share being a total amount of circa USD40 million. The relevant resolutions will be presented for shareholders’ approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of ETI.”
He further stated that “The details of the audited accounts will be published upon approval of relevant regulators. Consequently, the closed period which commenced from January 1, 2022, will continue until 24 hours after the Audited Accounts for the year ended December 31, 2021, are released to the Stock Exchanges on which Ecobank Transnational Incorporated is listed.”
The dividend payout has triggered the share price in the various stock exchanges where ETI is listed. In Nigeria, ETI featured in this week’s selection for trading well below its real value, meaning it stands a good chance of considerable price appreciation in the future. The lender’s price-to-earnings (PE) ratio as of Friday was 2.54x, with earnings per share (EPS) of N4.32.
Africa’s Biggest Food And Drink Festival Is Back!… 2022 GTCo Food And Drink Festival
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), is set to continue its long-running showpiece event– The Food and Drink Festival. For the 5th Edition, this headlining event will hold from Saturday, April 30 to Monday, May 02, 2022, at the GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos.
The GTCO Food and drink festival brings together the biggest chefs and food lovers from ALL OVER the world in a celebration of all things delicious with family and friends. Over the years, the Food and Drink festival has hosted millions of people and featured enlightening and engaging masterclasses by world-renowned chefs and food business experts. This year, the free to attend three-day festival will feature cooking masterclasses of cuisines chosen from all around the world and over 140 free retail stalls showcasing everything from the best of Nigeria’s street food to bite-sized gourmet treats and fresh farm produce from the farmers’ market. The well-fitted play area is designed to add another layer of excitement for children and keep them meaningfully engaged.
Commenting on the 2022 GTCO Food and Drink Festival, the Group Chief Executive Office of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje, said; “Africa’s history and rich cultural heritage is beautifully reflected in its cuisines. The primary objective of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is to showcase our diversity and industry as a people whilst delivering a sumptuous culinary experience to food enthusiasts across the continent. As our contribution to the development of local SMEs, we want to see our retail customers who also own small businesses thrive by giving them more opportunities to connect with consumers from around the world.”
He further added: “At GTCO Plc, we are committed to offering our customers and communities great experiences with every nteraction and will continue to promote viable enterprises particularly in the food and fashion industries, given the massive capabilities and countless multiplier effects inherent in these critical industry segments.”
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc is a leading financial services company providing banking and non-banking services including Payments, Wealth Management, and Pension Fund Management, with a presence across eleven countries spanning West and East Africa as well as the United Kingdom. The Group operates a diversified, Proudly African franchise and is renowned for its innovative approach to customer service and stakeholder engagement which has endeared the brand to millions of people across Africa and beyond. Over the years, many customers have benefited from its unique loan products including the Food Industry Credit and Fashion Industry Credit designed specifically for businesses in the food and fashion industry.
The 2022 GTCO Food and Drink Festival promises to be an experience of a lifetime. If you have been keen to try all the local street food and would like to go on exhilarating culture-filled culinary adventures, this is your chance!
Hon. Temitope Adewale, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, who made the position of the Assembly known, said the legislative arm had been very proactive as it already has a law creating the Lagos State Parking Authority, which should now oversee activities at all the parks in the State.
According to Hon. Adewale, the House is fully aware of developments in the transportation union and now that the crisis has resulted in the banning of NURTW activities in Lagos, “it is clear to state that all parks, garrages and parking activities would be under the Lagos State Parking Authority as stipulated by law.”
The House said at the stage the NURTW has found itself, the State has to take charge of the situation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The House said, by law, the state’s Parking Authority has a General Manager on whose shoulders the responsibility now falls to manage the parks at the moment.
“The law approves a General Manager for the Parking Authority.
“Lagosians should be calm. The situation is under control as the government takes necessary actions,” he said in a statement.
The Lagos State Government had, late Thursday, announced the suspension of all NURTW activities in the State.
The Government has also denied appointing suspended chairman of the NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo, as General Manager of Lagos Transport Parks and Garages Committee.
N34b Security Vote: Oyo State Questioned on Increase on Insecurity
As it is in many other States in Nigeria, tales of insecurity have trailed the administration of Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, a corporate Czar, who made laudable marks in the oil and gas sector before venturing into politics.
Pre 2019, governor Makinde had solicited for votes, promising the people of Oyo State through a concise manifesto, “ Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development, 2019-2023” with Economy (through agribusiness), Education, Healthcare and Security as priority areas.
However, just after assuming office, a segment of the numerous crises that upturned the innocence of Igangan to the mayhem at Iwo Road and the assassination of an Ibadan On-Air Personality, showed clearly about the renewed upsurge in crime in the 46 years old State.
But an investigation by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE revealed that the governor has taken measures to enhance safety in the State.
Among other things, the governor, within one year in office, was said to have procured and distributed 100 Rio Kia motor vehicles fully equipped with modern security communication gadgets; operationalised 615 Citizens’ Emergency toll-free lines, streetlights under the Light-up Oyo Phase 1, about 49 JAC Pickup Vans for the new Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron (No. 72 PMF), refurbished 8 Toyota Hilux Pickup Vans and 1 Utility Lorry for the security outfits, enactment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (‘AMOTEKUN’) Bill 2019 which was signed into law March 10, 2020.
In May 2021, by which time the governor was two years old in office, he had operationalised the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun in Oyo State in November 2020 and recruited and trained 1,500 Amotekun Corps members.
He also expanded and upgraded the Security Control Room and City, provided CCTV cameras in strategic locations in the state and provided more communication equipment for the security agencies as well as more brand new operational vehicles for the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ‘Operation Burst’ and Amotekun.
However, further investigations indicate that though governor Makinde may have purchased security equipment, the totality of what he has expended in security operations is a far cry from the sum total of his security votes in the past two and half years, raising the questions about his genuine concerns for the safety of life and property in Oyo State.
Unconfirmed report showed that while his predecessor, late governor Abiola Ajimobi ensured safety of life and property with a monthly security vote of N250 million, Seyi Makinde, upon assumption of office, increased the monthly vote to N1 billion, translating to about N34 billion in his 34-month old in office.
Insiders averred that governor Makinde is not truly concerned about the security of people in Oyo State.
Those who spoke to NAOSRE stressed that the young governor is more interested in his second tenure, a development that may ignited the passion to save for elections and careless about the series of unrest, kidnapping, attacks on citizens and killing in major towns and cities in the state due to poor security network in the State especially in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa zones.
However, there have been arguments about the over blown security situation in Oyo State.
This argument is held mostly by the governor’s loyalists who maintain, at every available opportunity, that governor Makinde is a victim of political cross fire, essentially from the camp of opposition.
Though this might sound valid, Oyo State government’s penchant for withholding valid information from journalists rubbishes such argument with many saying that the governor has so much to hide at the expense of the safety of life and property in the State.
This is much so as the request by NAOSRE, “To access documents of the security votes accrual to the Oyo State government in the past two years,” had not yielded any response as of the time of filling this phase one report in the ongoing investigation.
NAOSRE is a body of publishers
and professional journalists from the digital and conventional news platforms, made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage.
The association’s goal is to professionally bridge the information gap between government, security agencies and the general public on security related matters.
Justice Must Be Done On Bamise Ayanwole’s Case – Speaker Obasa, Lawmakers
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Tuesday promised that the legislative arm of the State Government must ensure justice in the case of the alleged murder of Bamise Ayanwole.
Obasa said this while addressing some protesters who stormed the House to urge the lawmakers to act on the case of the victim.
The 22-year-old was reportedly killed inside a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle on her way from the Lekki area of the State recently.
The protesters, who came to the Assembly with the immediate elder sister of the deceased, said it was painful that such an incident happened. They also called for more efforts by the government to ensure the security of lives and property.
Obasa, who said he and his colleagues were very concerned about the incident, sympathised with the family and friends of the victim.
While urging Nigerians not to preempt the police which is investigating the case, he said the House would continue to follow up to ensure justice is served appropriately.
“The erroneous belief that it would be swept under the carpet is unnecessary. The driver has been arrested and is in custody.
“We are watching and must ensure justice is done on the case. The Governor has spoken about it and I just want to appeal that we work together to get justice.
“We will do everything to make sure that justice is served. Justice must be served. And everybody in Lagos must be protected,” he told the protesters.
Earlier during plenary, the Speaker urged Nigeria, its citizens and leaders to use the opportunity of the International Women’s Day to address whatever is lacking in the push for equity for women.
Commending women for their resilience and importance, Obasa, however, expressed sadness that the women have become victims of heinous crimes.
“As a government, we must look inward to see the areas that are beneficial to the women. Women have become victims of violence and other crimes. What have we done for the emancipation of our women? How much of our women have we lost during child birth?
“We must encourage our women to be successful and live better,” he said.
He charged all the committees of the House to work for the benefit of women in the State.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Photos 1-3: Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, with his colleagues addressing protesters and relations of Bamise Ayanwole.
