Heritage Bank, others bankroll SCOA handover of trucks, equipment to Julius Berger worth N15.5bn
R-L: Ralph Brendicke, Representative of the MD of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Mother Dan-Egwu, Regional Head, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Mainland Zone of Heritage Bank Plc; Engr. Amresh Shrivastava, Deputy CEO of SCOA Nigeria Plc and Federal Republic of Germany’s Head of Mission in Lagos, H.E Ambassador Dr. Von Munchoe-Pohl, during the Official Handover Ceremony of State-of-the-Art Man Trucks and Wirtgen Equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with Heritage Bank being one of the lead financiers, weekend in Lagos.
Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service provider and seven other banks have provided a total of N15.5billion to assist SCOA Nigeria Plc for the importation and supply of MAN Platform Trucks and equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria for construction of 380km Abuja-Kaduna-Kano roads and many others across the country.
Specifically, Heritage Bank availed SCOA Motors an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) N4.64 billion for the project.
Whilst, other banks – Zenith, Wema, UBA, Union, Unity, Coronation and Providus Banks complemented the global total sum.
The sum total covers for 33 trucks and technological equipment. For the first phase during the ceremony, 16 of the trucks were handed over to Julius Berger and the second phase of delivering will be executed next month.
Commenting on the Official Handover Ceremony of State-of-the-Art Man Trucks and Wirtgen Equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo stated that the support efforts through project financing in the various sectors of the economy is one of the platforms that underscores our resolve and readiness to make a mark in the financial sector as a major pivot of socio-economic transformation of the country.
The Regional Head, Lagos Mainland Zone of Heritage Bank, Mother Dan-Egwu, who represented Sekibo, said the bank partnered to support SCOA Nigeria Plc for its long and outstanding presence in the automobile market, by retaining the cutting edge in their line of business.
Dan-Egwu disclosed that the Heritage Bank’s philosophy is to support businesses to grow in their discharge of duties; she was quoted as saying, “For us at Heritage Bank, our core business philosophy as a timeless wealth partner to our customers is captured in our mission to create, transfer and preserve wealth.”
According to her, the bank’s field of engagement of support has so far been diversified, covering economic sectors such as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, agriculture, entertainment and arts, education, oil and gas, aviation and haulage as well as the public sector.
Earlier in his address, the GMD/CEO of SCOA, Dr. Massad Boulos commended Heritage Bank and the other banks’ roles, as the transactions were made possible through their solid partnership.
“I will also thank Heritage bank, their Directors, MD; Unity Bank and other senior bankers official & the entire team of banks, they’ve worked closely together with us on this project, same with Providus Bank, they all have worked together tirelessly for the success of this project,” he said.
R-L: Mother Dan-Egwu, Regional Head, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Mainland Zone of Heritage Bank Plc; Henry Agbamu, Chairman of SCOA Nigeria Plc; MD of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, represented by Ralph Brendicke and GMD/CEO of SCOA Nigeria Plc, Dr. Massad Boulos, during the Official Handover Ceremony of State-of-the-Art Man Trucks and Wirtgen Equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with Heritage Bank being one of the lead financiers, weekend in Lagos.
According to him, this partnership is like no other considering the parties involved especially SCOA Motors and Julius Berger in the official hand over of state of the art modern trucks for use on the road constructions’ equipment for the execution of the biggest and the most significant project in Nigeria; the Abuja/Kaduna/Kano express way.
SCOA Motors Plc has been operating in the Nigeria Market since 1922. The company has over the years expanded from Automobiles to other lucrative ventures such as importation and assembling of Vehicles and Generating plants, Agriculture /Food processing.
ABUAD Teaching Hospital’s Edge Over Others In Nigeria
ABUADTH
In this exclusive interview with a team of reporters, Dr. Akinola Akinmade, Deputy Chief Medical Director of the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, ABUADTH, talks about Aare Afe Babalola, the founder’s commitment to attracting the world to Nigeria for excellent medical care through its well funded and well equipped Teaching Hospital
How did the process of this mega hospital start?
It started in April 2018. We have several innovations we have put in place to make sure we have seamless health delivery here in ABUADTH.
The first is the reception. You can get registered to access treatment, see a doctor, consultations. All these can be done electronically. We don’t have case files. We don’t give patient a card or make them sign a paper. Once you register here, your information will be available at all the service centers in the hospital.
And if you come back in 20 years, your information will be intact because we have the information stored in a backup cloud
Can you highlight the makeup of the different units?
We have six multifunctional dental chairs that can do a wild range of dental procedures.
You can do dental implants, from basic things like scaling and polishing and they are affordable.
Scaling and polishing can make your teeth whiter and nicer. These chairs can do a single tooth x-ray.
We also have the OPG machine that can do a panoramic view of the entire skull.
ABUADTH
If you want to do a reconstruction surgery from the dental bones and things like that, you will do a reconstruction with the OPG first. We have six chairs, we have one dedicated for Paediatrics.
All the compressors are there, based on this, we have started a dental school here in ABUADTH and they are currently in 200 level going to 300 level and all the specialties are represented here.
We have done all sort of major dental surgeries.
We also have a machine that does the panoramic view of the head. This helps to have the overall view of the skull.
Ekiti does not have an airport. How can emergency cases get here for attention?
We have a helipad. That’s the Helipad. {Pointing to the direction}
The helicopter lands on it, the ambulance goes from here and there is a dedicated road for it, picks up the person and brings him or her straight to the emergency.
We have received several patients through the helipad.
Do you have equipment for Ears, Nose and Throat, ENT infection?
Yes, here in ABUADTH we have. This is the workstation, this is the piece of equipment, {Pointing at equipment}
If there are 100 procedures in ENT, this can do 90 percent. So the patients don’t have to go to the theater.
Once they are here, we can do most of the ENT procedures.
For instance, if a child puts an object in his or her ear, instead of going to the theater looking for it, you can remove all that here. We can remove stuff in the throat, ear and so on.
This equipment, (pointing at a piece of equipment) is a stand-alone piece of equipment. This is very expensive. We have two of them in case we have a lot of patients. But the equipment is very expensive.
Audiology
This is the audiology booth,{Pointing at the machine} for those who have hearing defects.
Patient can go in here and out on the head phones and they are tested for their range of hearing and all that.
We fix patients for hearing aide.
Eye
If patient has eye defects and has undertaken measurement, the glasses are cut immediately and in two hours it is ready.
We have the optician and once you have your records, they do the cutting for you and in two hours you can get your glasses. You don’t have to come back or wait for days.
Cardiac Arrest
If the patient can get here within six hours and gets on this machine (pointing at a machine) the patient has bright chances of recovery.
That is why the helicopter is very important. If there is an accident victim and there is a cardiac arrest at home and the patient gets to the hospital in six hours, the patient goes home the next day. We have received patients from Sokoto, Kano, Lagos anywhere. We have 3 of these.
Heart Surgery
We have an open-heart surgery centre. It is for those that need heart surgeries including deformity of the heart, hole in the heart, atrial septal defects, etc.
They need the theater. We have the machines. We actually have two other machines for backup. When the patient gets here, they open the chest because they cannot operate on a breathing heart.
But sometimes, we can. But we can’t operate while the blood is in there. The blood flows into the heart-lung machine. We paralyize the hearth and work on the heart. When it is completed, the blood flows back into the heart and the machine is used to bring back the heart.
It’s a form of electrical shock and the heart comes back to life.
Then you take the patient back to the ICU, we have done more than 100 since we started. We have someone who does this. He is an Indian and he is on the ground full time. It is very expensive to keep them.
How many theaters do you have in this teaching hospital?
We have 10 theaters and these are modular theaters will full equipment.
These equipment cost so much. But how can average income earners access these facilities?
Yes, you have a point. One of the problems we have in the country is the absence of medical insurance. If the government can make health insurance available to all, medical care will as well be available to all.
However, our founder has ensured that health care in this Teaching Hospital is affordable to all.
Why is this teaching hospital under-publicized?
In the medical profession, we don’t do adverts or any form of publicity. It’s against the regulations of the profession. People get to know we have this equipment here either by referral or when reporters visit hospitals like you are doing.
Which prominent Nigerians have visited this place?
Governors across the country have been here. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ex President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and many more have been here.
Alleged Fraud: Why Govenor Ganduje’s son Dragged his mother to EFCC
Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje’s wife, Hafsat Ganduje, shunned an invitation extended to her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to report for questioning, last week, over a bribery and land fraud case reported by her son, Abdualzeez.
According to Premium Times, Mrs Ganduje was asked by the anti-graft agency to report last Thursday to its Abuja headquarters.
Abdulazeez had dragged his mum, Hafsat Ganduje, to the EFCC, sources familiar with the matter said.
Governor Ganduje, had previously been involved in a corruption-related scandal.
Abdulazeez reported to the EFCC that he was approached by a property developer to help facilitate the acquisition of some plots of land in Kano with some hundreds of thousands of US dollars and at least N35million as “facilitation commission.”
It was further learnt that Abdulazeez said he paid the sum in dollars to his mother, Mrs Ganduje.
“But three months later, (the property developer) discovered that the plots of land he wanted and had paid the first family for had been allocated to other buyers and he then requested to be refunded,” a source was quoted as saying.
A spokesperson for Kano State Government, Mohammed Garba when asked to comment on the matter said, “I am not aware”.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, did not comment on the matter as at presstime on Monday.
Gunshots As Heavily armed IPOB militants chase WAEC students away from school in Imo
Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday stormed the Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkume in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State and stopped students from taking their examination.
According to Daily Trust, the students were preparing to sit for English in the ongoing Junior Secondary School Examination (Junior WAEC) before the hoodlums forcefully dispersed them.
Both teachers and students fled in different directions as the gunmen shot sporadically into the air.
The gunmen set ablaze some motorcycles belonging to some of the staff and students.
Although there were no report of casualties, a video of the incident showed the students and staff shouting and running for their lives.
Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, could not be reached for comments.
IPOB had declared Monday as sit-at-home to drum support for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing some charges before an Abuja High Court.
BREAKING: 240 Inmates Escape As Gunmen Attack Kogi Prison
At least 240 inmates have escaped the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kabba, Kogi State, following an attack by yet to be identified gunmen.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesman, Mr Francis Enobore confirmed the incident in a communique on Monday, stating that the attack took place at about midnight on Sunday.
According to him, the attackers in their numbers arrived at the custodial centre heavily armed and immediately engaged the guards in a fierce gun battle.
Mr Enobore further disclosed that the Comptroller–General, Haliru Nababa has ordered a recapture procedure to be activated immediately and detailed investigation carried out even as he leads a team to assess the situation.
The Comptroller-General also appealed to the general public to furnish security operatives with useful intelligence that will assist in recapturing the escapees.
Kabba MSCC was established in 2008 with a capacity of 200.
As of the time of the invasion, 294 inmates were in custody out of which 224 were pre-trial detainees and 70 convicted inmates.
The latest jailbreak comes a few months after gunmen attacked the Nigerian Correctional Service and the police headquarters in Imo State, freeing 1,844 inmates, after which the hoodlums set the facilities ablaze.
The gunmen also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command’s headquarters. No fewer than 50 cars were set ablaze in the process.
A similar attack was carried out at the correctional centre in Ubiaja, Edo State; however, the jailbreak was foiled by officers at the facility.
The inmates, after breaking out from their cells, engaged the correctional officers in a fight, leaving some of the security personnel injured.
It took a combined effort by officers from the Nigerian Army, 4th brigade, and the Edo command of the Nigeria Police Force, to eventually overpower the inmates and return them to their cells.
How ECWA Reverend Silas Yakubu Ali was hacked to death in Kaduna
A respected pastor of ECWA church in Kibori-Asha Awuce in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Silas Yakubu Ali, has been murdered by unknown assailants.
Reverend Ali departed for Kafanchan on Saturday, September 11 and was not heard from until his corpse was found by a search party on Sunday morning at Kibori community, near Asha-Awuce, where he was attacked and macheted to death.
The Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, appealed for calm after the “cruel and horrifying killing”
“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep sadness at the report of the killing, which he described as horrifying and cruel. The Governor offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the cleric,” the commissioner stated.
“Going further, Governor El-Rufai sent his condolences to the family of Reverend Silas Yakubu Ali, and to the ECWA Church in Kibori-Asha Awuce, as he prayed for God to grant them fortitude and comfort over this sudden and painful loss.
“The Governor urged security agencies to intensify efforts towards apprehending the perpetrators of the heinous killing, while appealing to members of the community to maintain calm. Security agencies are conducting investigations in the general area.” he added.
Bimbo Oshin’s husband, Ola Ibironke AKA Dudu Heritage is dead!
Popular music promoter and husband of Bimbo Oshin, Ola Ibironke better known as Dudu Heritage is reportedly dead. The socialite and a prominent golfer in Ibadan died some few hours ago.
Dudu Heritage lived in the United States some years ago where he was a music promoter before relocating to Nigeria to run a private business.
The true cause of his death is still unknown.
One of his closest friends who live in the United Kingdom confirmed his demise, describing it as a rude shock.
Faithia Balogun, Bimbo Oshin, Myde Martins, Wumi Toriola, Tope Alabi storm Biola Adebayo’s wedding (photos, videos)
In an earlier interview with City People, Dudu Heritage had opened up on his marriage to Bimbo Oshin, debunking the viral rumours that they had parted ways.
He said, ” There are so many rumours out there that made me to develop a thick skin. So I keep them guessing all the time because the news still keeps circulating. The wedlock has produced two lovely children; a boy and a girl. So what else is there to say? For a man clocking 60 and still talking about a marriage that has happened 2004/2005?
We have been around for a very long time so stories don’t bother us again. But I can authoritatively tell you that Bimbo Oshin is in my house, any time, any day. Since she has been in my house she has never left. She is my wife. And to prove to you, maybe that would put the issue to rest, I will call her now for you to talk to her. (He called his wife, Bimbo Oshin and put the phone on speaker).
Dudu Heritage asked his wife if they are still together, Bimbo Oshin responded from the other end, assuring her husband that their marriage is still intact. “I’m in my husband’s house and I have never left,” she said with laugher.
Ola Ibironke, Ijesha man to the core had his early life in Nigeria, his university life was between London and U.S.A before he came back to Nigeria.
“Popstar (starring Justin Bieber)” – DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Directed by: Julien Christian Lutz aka Director X, OVO / We The Best / Epic Records
“Willow” – Taylor Swift, Directed by: Taylor Swift, Republic Records
“Franchise” – Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A, Directed by: Travis Scott, Cactus Jack / Epic Records
“Lumberjack” – Tyler, The Creator, Directed by: Wolf Haley, Columbia Records
Best Cinematography
“Brown Skin Girl” – Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid, Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, Mohammaed Atta Ahmed, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant, Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records — Winner
“Therefore I Am” – Billie Eilish, Cinematography by: Rob Witt, Darkroom / Interscope Records
“Shame Shame” – Foo Fighters, Cinematography by: Santiago Gonzalez, Roswell Records / RCA Records
“Holy” – Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper, Cinematography by: Elias Talbot, RBMG / Def Jam
“911” – Lady Gaga, Cinematography by: Jeff Cronenweth, Interscope Records
“Solar Power” – Lorde, Cinematography by: Andrew Stroud, LAVA/Republic Records
Best Choreography
“Treat People With Kindness” – Harry Styles, Columbia Records — Winner
“34+35” – Ariana Grande, Choreography by: Brian Nicholson & Scott Nicholson, Republic Records
“Butter” – BTS, Choreography by: Son Sung with BHM Performance Directing Team, Bighit Music
“Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran, Choreography by: Natricia Bernard, Atlantic Records
“Shame Shame” – Foo Fighters, Choreography by: Nina McNeely, Roswell Records / RCA Records
Police Sacks DPO over missing pistol, release Girlfriend
Jennifer Madueke, the 29-year-old woman arrested over the missing pistol of a Lagos Divisional Police Officer, CSP Adegoke Atilade, has been released.
The police also removed Atilade as the DPO of the Denton Police Station, Ebute Meta.
It was earlier eported that the police officer and Madueke were in a romantic relationship before Atilade was transferred out of Lagos seven years ago.
The former love birds met recently and exchanged phone numbers.
On Friday, August 27, the officer allegedly invited the woman to his office, where they allegedly made love.
A week later, Atilade arrested her and accused her of stealing his service pistol.
The officer, who denied sleeping with her, said he only assisted her to pass the night at the police station after she claimed to have been stranded.
He insisted that she took his pistol.
The suspect was detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, where she was held for three days.
A source close to Madueke said the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the SCIID, DCP Adegoke Fayoade, contacted Madueke’s relative to come for her bail after receiving a call from our correspondent on the matter.
The source said, “After the DCP discovered that the press had been involved, he called the girl’s family member to come for her bail. That was how she was released on Thursday when you called him.”
Another source said the DCP attempted to cover up for Atilade due to their ties, adding that they hailed from the same Ila area in Osun State.
“They also bear the same surname. He was trying to cover for him when PUNCH blew up the case,” the source added.
But an officer denied the culpability of the SCIID boss, saying he was a professional who would not allow parochial sentiments to stop him from doing his job.
“The DCP is a fantastic and highly credible officer. He will never demand money or returns from his men. Petitions or complaints don’t last more than two days on his table. In fact, he has reformed Panti.
“But this case, I believe he could not do anything because he knows only the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission can take action against the DPO,” the officer added.
Fayoade also denied covering up for the senior cop, saying they did not share surname or hail from the same community.
He said, “We only share the same first name; I don’t condone indiscipline.”
A relative of Madueke confirmed to our correspondent that she had been released, but said had been asked to report at the Denton Police Station.
The family member said he could not tell the reason for the fresh invitation.
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Adebutu, in a statement, said Atilade had been removed and redeployed.
The statement said, “This is to inform the general public that the Lagos State Police Command is not oblivious of the reported case of theft of service pistol against one Jenifer Madueke and the allegation of sex in the office against the DPO, Denton Police Division, CSP Adegoke Atilade, as published on pages 4 and 5 of today’s edition of The PUNCH.
“In the interest of fairness and justice, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered an independent, thorough and unbiased investigation into the case.
“Members of the public are hereby assured that appropriate actions will be taken against anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation such that at the end, justice would have been served.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has directed the immediate redeployment of the officer in the eye of the storm so as to pave way for diligent and unbiased investigation.”
A resident in the Ebute Meta area confirmed that a new DPO, Segun Abifarin, replaced Atilade.
