FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, makers of Peak and Three Crowns brands of milk, has donated the sum of N500million as a contribution towards Nigeria’s COVID-19 intervention fund organized by the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).
The donation, which is coming as part of FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s corporate social responsibility follows the company’s recent donation of N100million worth of Peak and Three
Crowns milk products to support over 100,000 families in low-end communities and vulnerable groups who are at risk of compromising their nutritional needs. This donation is in
line with its purpose of providing better nutrition.
Explaining the corporate gesture in Lagos April 16, the Chairman of the Board of Directors,FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Mr. Moyo Ajekigbe, said “The novel coronavirus
pandemic is a global disaster that has cost the world thousands of lives and threatens its economic well-being.
“At FrieslandCampina WAMCO, we believe that everyone must come together to make a difference. If we all join hands with government and credible associations to provide
substantial palliatives, critical medical supplies, and with the cooperation of every Nigerian through the adherence of precautionary measures, we will defeat the COVID-19. Hence our donation of products and funds” Ajekigbe said.
The Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Ben Langat further said, “As a company, we have made several donations to support meaningful initiatives in the fight
against the COVID-19 pandemic; this indeed represents the confidence and care we have for Nigeria. As we encourage Nigerians to unite to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and reach for their peak again, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria will continue to take responsible actions that ensure we make nourishing dairy nutrition accessible for Nigerians.”
Heritage Bank Plc has disclosed that the safety and wellbeing of its customers and employees are amongst the most pressing business needs, as the world grapple with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on human lives, businesses and economies.
In view of this development, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo in his message to customers, explained that the bank has adapted to the changing environment swiftly to offer more seamless services that is usable and accessible without interruption.
According to him, the bank adopted a systemic business continuity management strategy, as a crisis response measures in place to minimise and manage the risk arising from the disease and ensure that the payment infrastructure and logistics to maintain seamless operations are readily available.
Mr Ifie Sekibo
He stated that despite the cessation movement by the Federal Government to contain the spread, “Heritage Bank remains resolute to continually serve you seamlessly despite prohibitions imposed on physical contact through our bouquet of electronic products which have been made available on notable mobile stores and our website (www.hbng.com).
Sekibo, who reiterated that Heritage Bank is people focused, noted that a percentage of its workforce work from the business offices to carryout duties which cannot be executed remotely, whilst others work remotely from home for safety.
He further stated that efforts were ongoing via the bank’s intranet and other channels to keep staff and customers up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 information and provide clear direction and guidance expected of workers and customers.
“All Heritage Bank staff have been trained in safety and protection measures and I will make it a responsibility that our organization continues to practice goof hygiene, through frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers, and practicing social distancing during and beyond the pandemic.
“We have setup a COVID-19 Support Centre to offer COVID-19 safety tips to all our customers during this period, in support of the efforts of the Government and relevant bodies. Please send any information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic via these channels: E-mail: HeritageBankCovid19Support@hbng.com and contact number: 01-2369099,” the bank’s helmsman stated.
Sekibo, who said, “we are in this together,” noted that the world are inspired by the selfless health workers on the frontlines; whilst commending them for their self-sacrificing and bravery in the fight to contain the spread of the virus to keep the world safe and inhabitable.
Meanwhile, the MD, who expressed his heartfelt wish for full recovery of those affected directly or indirectly by the virus, stated, “it is my supreme hope that the global halt comes to an end and that its cause, the virus, is vanquished sooner than later. I know that when this happens, we will rise from it all, stronger, as we started together.”
Strong indication has emerged to the effect that the running mate to Late Chief MKO Abiola in the annulled 1993 Presidential election, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe may replace the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari whose death was announced by the Presidency late Friday night.
In a statement released by the Presidency yesterday, Mallam Abba Kyari, who had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020.
ThePage reliably gathered that plans have started in earnest to fill the vacant office of the Chief of Staff to the President even as checks have revealed that Babagana Kingibe may be appointed the new Chief of Staff.
“Forget his ignoble role in the June 12 saga, Kingibe is a diplomat and a technocrat. He is close to the President. He is the unseen hand in charge of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA as it is today. He is one man who has been part of this government from behind the scene” a source privy to the plans towards the appointment of a new Chief of Staff revealed to The Page.
If Kingibe is eventually named the Chief of Staff, the appointment may be a good step towards his realising his Presidential ambition.
ThePage gathered that Kingibe may have before now, been one of the favourites, penciled down to succeed President Buhari, hence his involvement in the behind the scene day -to -day running of the Buhari administration.
Information just reaching us now is that President Buhari Chief of Staff Mr. Abba Kyari has lost the battle against the Covid-19.
Making this known few minutes ago through his twitter handle the SA Media to the President announced that the Chief of Staff is dead and that burial announcement will be announced by the family.
Mr Kyari was tested positive to the novel Corona Virus weeks back, he was thought to be coming out until the news was broken of his demise, we pray God grant his families and loved ones the power to bear the loss.
It was a bloody Thursday for the family members of Kuje Amuwo Orofin a community at Whitesand, between Festac and Amuwo Odofin as popular Mushin elder statesman who has since relocated to Isheri-Oshun, Alhaji Taoreed Farounbi popularly known as Alado has been fingered in breach of public peace.
It was a big shock to many people when investigated and discovered that the whole attack was masterminded by Alado, a Chieftain of APC in Mushin and who always preach against violence each time there is election.
Alhaji Taoreed Farounbi (Alado)
The whole saga started on Thursday March 19, 2020, investigation revealed that over 50 hoodlums attacked members of Kuje Amuwo Orofin’s family, the members are: Monsuru Akande, Surveyor Bayo Benson (Whose security details was seriously wounded and attacked) , Alhaji Akande’s Vehicles windscreen was broken and vandalised, his Techno LA 7 Phone was forcefully taken and confiscated by the hoodlums who are said to be from Alado.
The sad part of the scenario or what can be termed as Alado’s boys reign of terror is that they killed two of the boys working for Kuje’s family on the land, the boys are Oluwoyo Debo (a labourer) his dead body was taken to Festac Police station, we gathered that he had multiple deep machete cuts.
The other person who was unlucky in the hands of death was Daniel Chibuzor, a recharge card seller , he was severally stabbed, taken to Ikoyi hospital where he later gave up the ghost.
This menace was properly monitored by Alhaji Taoreed Farounbi ‘Alado’ , Segun Akinde (A.k.a Segun Echo), Ayokunle Fakiyesi, Ikechukwu (a.ka Ik), a police officer Inspector Nureni Agoro, Musiliu Idowu, Inspector Adewale Olopa from SARS among others.
According to investigation conducted in the neighborhood they confirmed to us that they have to run for cover because the attack was much on the Kuje’s family.
Who is Taoreed Farounbi on the land ?
According to our investigation, we gathered that Fagbile Isheri-Oshun employed the service Alhaji Taoreed Farombi also known as Alado as their agent on the land.
It will be worthy or constructive to also mention that there had in the past been misgivings and allegation of trespass unto the land between Kuje Amuwo royal family and Fagbile Isheri-Oshun.
Cause of Attack
According to investigation and a report by Vanguard Crime Guard, The Cable and Daily Independent, we gathered that the attack was as a result of a misunderstanding between two families from Amuwo Odofin and Isheri –Oshun, over land boundary.
We also learned that those attacked were invited to Whitesand on the pretext of a peace meeting on the disputed boundary, only to meet the unexpected.
Narrating what transpired that fateful day, head of the Kuje Amuwo Royal family, Chief Ligali Suabu Hassan, said, “For some time now, we have been having issues with the Fagbile family in Isheri Oshun over boundary issues on our land but we have never experienced anything like what happened on Thursday.
“We have our surveyor and they have their surveyor too but they hired an agent to be selling the land for them.
“The two families met and agreed to invite a neutral surveyor, who has a vast knowledge of the boundaries of all the communities in Amuwo-Odofin, Isheri Oshun and other parts.
“Before the agreed date for the boundary resolution, we wrote a letter to the police at FESTAC division to give us policemen who would serve as witnesses.
“When our people got there, they saw policemen and soldiers around and they felt assured that there wouldn’t be any problem.”
“But to our surprise, there were hoodlums there too and before our people could think of what to do, the hoodlums descended on them and began to use different weapons on them, right in the presence of the policeman who accompanied our surveyor to the site.
“A member of the family who escaped death by the whiskers, Alhaji Monsuru Akande, said ‘despite the fact that I told them that I had come to buy land there, they kept attacking me with charms and machetes’.
“There were over 50 hoodlums, soldiers and policemen around, who watched them unleash mayhem on us.
“We went there in two vehicles and were expecting policemen whom we had earlier written letter to, to join us when the hoodlums approached our vehicles and ordered us to come down.
“I told the driver to wind up all the glasses in the vehicle but they showed us guns which were carefully tucked under their shirts. Others came out from where they were hiding and there was nothing we could do.
“I told the driver to escape but they caught up with us and descended on us. We ran into different directions but they still caught up with us.”
Police delay
“To my surprise, the same policemen who were watching us from a distance still came to pick those of us who were injured, to Isheri Oshun police station, instead of taking us to the hospital. Policemen from Alagbon came to pick us from Isheri Oshun, to their command.
“It was when they saw the degree of injuries on Daniel and Debo, that they allowed them to be taken to the hospital. But first, they took them to FESTAC police station for medical report before they were taken to the hospital.
“Unfortunately, Debo died later that day while Daniel died on Saturday”.
Call on IGP
Determined to get justice for those killed, Counsel to the Kuje Amuwo family, Bayo Omoniyi in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Mohammed, dated March 19, 2020 demanded an investigation to be carried out to know why there was no response from the Police in spite of previous report on the attack.
Part of the letter read: “Recall that we had recently cried out over the menace of armed bandit attacks, which had become a recurring decimal in the area and sought the deployment of armed personnel to ensure safety of lives and property in the area in respect of which your office has graciously approved the deployment of mobile policemen to secure the area”.
Some alleged principal actors in the attack were mentioned in the letter, with a call to the IGP to investigate their culpability.
We are not responsible
But a member of the Fagbile clan who spoke to Crime Guard on the condition of anonymity, said his party did not have a hand in the attack.
Though he admitted there was supposed to be a meeting between both parties that day, he maintained that “we were preparing to come when we heard that some hoodlums were attacking some persons there. Perhaps we were their targets”.
All the letters written shown below;
Police arrest two
Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Command said it had begun investigation into the attack with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
Already, two persons, according to the command spokesman, DSP Elkana Bala, had been arrested in connection with the attack.
He said, “There was an attack on some people but the police at FESTAC division was only contacted when there was an issue and they quickly deployed officers to the scene.
“Two injured persons were rescued and were rushed to the hospital by the police. One of them died that day and the other died later. Two persons have been arrested in connection with the attack and investigations are ongoing.
Two persons, whose names the police in Lagos would not disclose yet, are being detained at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID), Yaba, over the murder of two persons in a land dispute between two families in Amuwo-Odofin and Isheri Oshun communities in the state. The slain men, Oluwoyo Debo and Daniel Chibuzor, were hacked to death penultimate Friday by some thugs allegedly contracted by some unknown persons during a peace meeting said to have been called to settle the dispute. It was gathered that five other persons sustained injuries during the meeting. SCIID detectives were understood to have begun a manhunt for other fleeing members of the gang of hoodlums that invaded the venue of the meeting.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident and the death of the two persons. Elkana said policemen at the FESTAC Town Division responded to a distress call that hoodlums were invading the venue of a peace meeting. “The Division quickly deployed officers to the scene. The officers rescued two injured persons, who they rushed to the hospital. One of them died that day and the other died later. “Two persons have been arrested in connection with the attack and investigations are ongoing,” he said.
Emmanuel TV has released a video to YouTube showing citizens and residents of China confirming the ‘controversial prophecy’ from Prophet TB Joshua that the coronavirus outbreak would end in Wuhan, China by 27th March 2020.
“I had been hearing about TB Joshua since I was a kid but I never believed in him,” one of the residents explained.
However, he heard the prophecy on social media where Joshua declared “rain would fall to wipe away all fears of the unknown”, specifying it would fall in Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and mentioning the date of March 27th 2020.
He immediately dismissed it as a “fake prophecy” but became perplexed when heavy rain fell across the region from 23rd to 26th March 2020.
Within that time-frame, Wuhan declared it had no new confirmed cases of the disease, leading the resident to change his perception of Joshua’s authenticity.
“On March 27th 2020, the government declared China free of coronavirus; everything has since gone back to normal,” a Chinese citizen went on to confirm, adding that the few cases being managed now arose from foreign travelers but domestic cases had completely ceased.
“March 27th was the last day for the virus to finish in the epicenter,” a Chinese doctor further corroborated, explaining that the heavy ‘lockdown’ imposed by the Chinese government has now been lifted.
“We started working on March 27th,” a Chinese citizen in Shanghai equally stated. “95% of our offices are now working.”
Joshua came under scrutiny on social media after clips of his prophecy regarding coronavirus were taken out of context, isolated soundbites shared and quotes wrongly attributed to the cleric publicised.
However, the full clip of the prophecy clearly shows Joshua’s message on March 1st and 2nd was directed specifically towards Wuhan, China.
In his prophecy for 2020, Joshua had declared it “the year of humility”, specifying that “God would use challenges such as affliction to humble us’ – leading many of his supporters to link such terminology with the ongoing outbreak and its extraordinary ramifications.
VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EESZVfYIks
Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion services provider, FirstBank, has unveiled enhanced palliative measures to help its customers and Nigerians through these times of the extended COVID 19 lockdown in some states.
Amongst these measures are; the introduction of special waivers on repayment fees on the Bank’s credit cards as well as up to 90-days moratorium on SME loans. The aim of these is to cushion the impact of the toll on employment and livelihoods.
It was announced in the course of the week that the Lagos State Government & Roducate e-learning initiative – sponsored by FirstBank – had kicked off. The initiative includes the government accredited curriculum for primary, secondary and tertiary schools designed to ensure children are adequately guided and engaged through their learning experience.
Upon the lockdown in March, the Bank had announced to move One Million children to e-learning which is implemented with a number of renowned organisations that have come on board from within and outside the continent. These partners include IBM, which is providing opportunities for the acquisition of digital skills including Coding, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science & Analytics which would promote opportunities to learn skills of the future. These measures are taken in identifying with the roles of children at securing the future of any country.
Reflecting on the words by Benjamin Franklin, thus ‘an investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, FirstBank said “in keeping with who we are at FirstBank, our commitment to self-development and continuous improvement is never far from our thinking. As such we are encouraging all to consider and register for any of the excellent programmes being offered free by Ivy League schools and have curated a list of them covering topics such as management, personal development, and entrepreneurship which can be found on our website.
In addition, Dr. Adeduntan stated that “with these measures, we are delighted to support our customers because you all have empowered us to do so by choosing to Bank with us. This is indeed a time to double down efforts and explore opportunities to ease the impact of the extension on you.
Once again, we appreciate our customers for the giant strides achieved on our alternative channels, as we assure you of our commitment to continue to work tirelessly to provide essential banking services across these channels. The transaction volumes is a positive testimony to the resilience of our staff and your Bank to keep things going as COVID 19 will neither defeat nor slow us down. We remain fully persuaded that together we will overcome this too.”
“Our experience over 126 years tells us the solutions lie within us, more than ever as we uphold our promise to you to be here for you and put You First always,” he concluded.
Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, Minister of State for Labour and Employment
The honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, FCIArb has warned the general public to be wary of fraudsters who’re on the prowl to swindle innocent citizens in this trying times.
Mr. Keyamo specifically hinted on a particular misleading recruitment information circulating on a fake website for the proposed federal government’s special public works program meant to run in all local government councils across the nation.
An official statement personally signed by the Minister categorically denied the said advertorial which is circulating on social media and titled, ‘Application Opens For 774,000 Employment By FG: See Requirements, Salary And How To Apply’ and which also stipulates stipends and commissions.
“As the Supervising Minister over the National Directorate of Employment in which the Special Public Works Programme of the Federal Government is domiciled, and having conferred with the Director-General, Dr. Nasiru Ladan Mohammed Argungu, we wish to alert members of the public that the said advertorial or anything of such presently circulating is fake and should be disregarded”, the Minister stated.
I have just finished consultation with the Hon. Minister of Finance and we are presently working out how the scope of the program would be expanded and executed with other relevant Ministries and stakeholders across the country.
The public would be duly informed by this office when all the modalities have been graciously approved by Mr. President.
We are also informed of instructions by certain persons going round in some States to the effect that names of those to be employed under the program should be compiled. We also urge these people not to embark on an exercise in futility as the guidelines for such recruitment and those to be involved have not been released by the agency.
Finally, we assure all that this well-intentioned program of the Federal Government would be carefully planned and executed in such a way as to meet its target of empowering the largely unskilled labour in rural areas, he said.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, the leading financial inclusion bank in Nigeria, has reassured its customers that it would remain steadfast and ready to show up for them at these “unprecedented times.”
The Bank, in a statement released on Thursday and signed by its chief executive officer, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, hailed its Nigerian customers for their resilience especially in the last two weeks despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ravaging the country.
“As I reflect on the last two weeks, I am comforted by the resilience of our people,” the bank’s chief said.
Commenting on FirstBank’s strides in the last one week, Adeduntan disclosed that the lender has over 53,000 agents across the country who have processed over 5 million transactions with differing values in the last week alone.
“We’ve recorded approximately 2.5 million withdrawals which amounts to N35 billion across our ATMs over the last week.
“Our larger corporate customers have done over 1,700 succesful transactions worth N6.8 billion on our e-bills platform during this challenging period.
“Nigerians with FirstBank cards have used them 21 million times to make payments or withdrawals worth N268 million as they rely on us to settle their banking needs.
“Our customers have made transfers over 10 million times with a total value of about N615 billion across our digital channels.”
The FirstBank CEO further assured its customers that the bank is working tirelessly to ensure that banking transactions continue seamlessly, and that COVID-19 will neither slow it down nor defeat its workforce.
“Expertise and resilience are in FirstBank’s DNA. We are holding up our side; and COVID-19 will not slow us down.”
“More than ever before, the bank will uphold its promise to its customers to be there for them “and put them First.
“We recognize our role in keeping the engine going, keeping society going and recognize further that it is our responsibility to remain at the forefront of this.
“Our unparalleled network and total coverage of the nation serve us all well at this time; ensuring that safe alternative channels are available for our customers 24/7.
“Rest assured that we are in this together and together, we will emerge stronger at the end of this period because this too shall pass,” he further assured.
Adeduntan, while reassuring Nigerians of FirstBank’s commitment to support the fight against COVID-19, however said that customers can reach the bank via its email – firstcontact@firstbanknigeria.com and through their relationship managers, throughout the lockdown period.
Since its establishment in 1894 (125 years ago), FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes.
The advent of the novel coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19, into the country seems to have destabilized our social norms and behaviour. Nigeria, like all other countries of the world where this pandemic has visited, has responded by both treating the people who have contracted the disease and putting some preventive measures in place to minimize the rate to which her citizens get infected.
Some of the measures the government has put in place to forestall transmission of the virus include the restriction on movement, closure of schools, ordering some cadres of the employees to stay home for some time, closure of markets and enacting laws limiting the number of people permitted at social gatherings, religious worships, markets, etc. to a specific number at a go among others.
While no measure taken to forestall the transmission of this pandemic could be said to be excessive, some of these rules, especially that of market closure, would pose the greatest difficulty to the Nigerian people, given our physical shopping culture, where one must personally go to the market, select and pay for his or her goods and take them home by themselves. This shopping culture has served us well in the past, albeit it cost us a little more, both financially and physically.
Given the prevailing circumstances, occasioned by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this shopping culture is no longer tenable, or at least cumbersome and needs to be changed if one would meet his or her recurrent shopping needs. This is the time for Nigerians to switch fully to the e-commerce platform and become online shoppers.
Let us take the experience of Lagosians, for example. When the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the closure of the markets on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, residents of the state immediately besieged the various markets and supermarkets in the state to stock up their homes with their prospective needs to beat the deadline that was slated for Thursday. The traders were overwhelmed by this upsurge in patronage that some even restricted the number of customers they allowed into their shops at a time in order to have full control of their sales.
On Wednesday, despite the fact that the governor exempted the markets and stores that sell food, medicines, water, and other essential commodities from the ban – which again was for seven days – most of the racks, especially in the food/groceries section became virtually empty as people, in panic-buying, have bought almost the products they thought they could need, even beyond the period the closure is supposed to subsist, thereby creating artificial scarcity and causing price increases for most of these food items.
While panic buying, with its attendant consequences of scarcity and price increases, is a natural fallout of such restrictions as was seen in some other countries that have experienced or are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, it is quite unnecessary, especially in Nigeria, where the restrictions do not affect traders of food items and all other necessary products. It is further unnecessary, given the presence of the various e-commerce platforms that people could log on to and purchase all their needs in Nigeria. Shoppers could do their purchases – from food/groceries, medications, water, and other essential needs to even personal electronics and gadgets – and have them delivered to their doorsteps even without going to the physical stores.
What is more is that these deliveries are done in absolute compliance with the social distance requirements, as prescribed by the federal government and the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC). Jumia Nigeria, in its bid to further curtail the transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic, has begun what it calls contactless deliveries to its customers. In contactless deliveries, the delivery men drop customers’ orders at their doorsteps, move three meters back and call the customers to come and pick up their orders.
The advantages of switching over to the online platforms for shopping now, and the folly of physical shopping, are that online shopping is more convenient, cheaper and has the products more readily available at all points in time than in physical shopping. Above all, with Jumia’s contactless delivery, online shopping has become more COVID-19 compliant than traditional shopping.
Since the year 2012 that e-commerce platforms debuted and remained in business in Nigeria, there has been a reluctance on our part to change our shopping culture to the modern online platforms due to our attachment to the old ways. This is in spite of the increased number of merchants and goods and services available on these platforms, the increased ease, convenience and safety that come with the platforms, as well as the various incentives like price slashes, sales promotions, free deliveries, etc. offered by the e-commerce platforms.
With the presence of the coronavirus disease in Nigeria and the announced restrictions that are in place as a response to the pandemic, this seems to be the best time for Nigerians to switch over to the e-commerce platforms for a COVID-19-compliant lifestyle as well as enjoy safer and better shopping experience.
