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Heritage Bank wins Lagos Environmental Sustainability Award, commits to nature protection

R-L: Kehinde Olugbemi, Ag. Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank; Captain Babangida Zakari, Deputy Director of Coordination, Armed Forces Settlement Centre, Oshodi; Prince Ademola Docemo, MD, Lagos State Signage and Advertising (LASSA); Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Government Representative; Brigadier General Maxwell Ejike, Director of Training, Armed Forces Settlement Centre, Oshodi, as Heritage Bank wins Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 World Environment Day event held in Lagos State.

For its contribution and support towards Environmental Sustainability, especially, in Lagos, the state government, awarded Heritage Bank with its 2022 Environmental Sustainability Award.

The bank joined other corporate organisations and schools within the State, awarded for their efforts towards protecting nature and limiting the impact of climate change on Earth.

The Award was given to the bank by the state government through the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State in the commemoration of 2022 World Environment Day Celebrations in which the bank was also a major sponsor.

Speaking at the year 2022 World Environment Day finale held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend, the managing director/CEO, Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo, commended Lagos state government and its ministry for the efforts exuded during environmental sustainability to protect ecosystems in supporting health and wellbeing of all creatures.

Sekibo, who was represented by the Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank, Mr. Kehinde Olugbemi, said: “as this year’s World Environmental Day Celebration theme implies, we have ‘Only One Earth,’ and truly, only one earth to protect. The fact is that human well-being is closely linked to the health of the environment. And our planet is reaching a breaking point. We are beginning to see the consequences of global warming on ecosystems and communities.”

Today, he said, industrialisation, though positive for human well-being on the flip side, has raked lots of havoc on human existence.

Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said, 24% of deaths can be traced back to avoidable environmental factors, adding that, Heritage Bank Plc has continued to prioritise and make huge commitments to environmentally sustainable practices to help build thriving communities and secure future growth potential.

R-L: Ozena Utulu, Ag. Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank; Kehinde Olugbemi, Ag. Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank; Dr. S. Olayiwole Onasanya, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASEIC) and Titilola Docemo, Regional Head, Lagos Island 2A, as Heritage Bank wins Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 World Environment Day event held in Lagos State.

“We realized that our people and other dwellers need clean air to breathe, fresh water to drink, and places to live that are free of toxic substances and hazards.

“So, as a part of our sustainability drive in the Corporate social responsibility space, we have continued to put sustainability at the heart of our decision-making for the sake of humanity and the bank’s own bottom line because a healthy planet is the backbone of nearly every industry on Earth,” he pointed out.

Earlier at the event, Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that, there is an urgent need for everyone to focus on the need to live sustainably with nature for the benefit of mankind, adding that, this has become necessary to shift to a greener lifestyle through both policies and individual choices.

He added that sustainability of the environment is among the most pressing issues in the world today out of which the Earth faces triple planetary emergencies namely, Climate change, loss of biodiversity and Environmental Pollution.

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omolaji Gaji, added that, the impact of the challenges has negatively made the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) less successful.

“With nature in emergency mode, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign for World Environment Day 2022, wants us to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action”, he said.

The governor commended Corporate Organisations, such as Heritage Bank for ensuring that the persistent drive of the State’s policy towards entrusting the legacy of greening and restoration of indigenous trees to the citizen is sustained.

Similarly, the commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello said, government through the ministry of the Environment & Water Resources has implemented several programmes to mitigate these challenges through Tree planting, Climate change summit, Environmental bees’ clubs in schools, waste to wealth and ban on open defecation.

Speaking through the Director of Sanitation Services Department, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, the PS added that, the government keyed into this call in 2021 by commencing the greening of Abraham Adesanya setback, together with restoration of some historical plants in specific locations like Agege, Idi-Mangoro where Mango trees were planted, Idi-Agbon in Ifako-Ijaiye where coconut trees were planted and in Lagos Island where breadfruit trees were planted at St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Breadfruit Lagos as part of this year’s celebration.

The guest lecturer, Dr. Ayo Tella while delivering his paper, noted that, Anthropogenic effects caused by human activities such as the felling of trees have altered the earth’s natural systems and survival of many species.

Heritage Bank had earlier donated plastic bins to Navy Town Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos, to mark the World Earth Day even as it has embarked on a project to address water crisis, whilst contributing towards making clean and potable water accessible to all.

Similarly, a global open-source movement known as Liter of Light Nigeria partnered with Heritage Bank Plc to provide sustainable solar electricity for Itomaro community in Lagos State while the bank, in 2020, had been on the move to distribute over 10, 000 mosquito nets to rural dwellers.

Four Killed As Police Nab Suspected Female Gun-runner In Kaduna

The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended a woman allegedly supplying firearms to terrorists in the state.
The suspect, Naija News understands was captured by the operatives of the Special Tactical Squad Force Headquarters, Abuja (STS) in a recent raid where it worked alongside Operation Yaki of the Kaduna State Command.

The police command in a statement on Thursday evening said it was on a trail of suspected armed bandits on June 15 when the operatives encountered the targets along Saminaka–Jos expressway in a Sharon vehicle.

The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Muhammad Jalige who gave updates on the development said the suspects on sensing an unavoidable danger “posed in their way to deliver some dangerous weapons to their cohorts engaged the operatives, firing sporadically. However, the operatives with tactical precision were able to terminally injure four suspects.”

Jalige explained that the injured suspects were immediately evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna where they were pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

The encounter according to him lasted about 30 minutes as the firepower of the Police forced them to retreat into the forest with bullet wounds.

He added: “When a search was conducted in the vehicle and around the vicinity, the following exhibits were recovered: one AK-$9 rifle loaded with six rounds of live ammunition, AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine, 134 rounds of different calibre of live ammunition and operational motor vehicle.

“The operation led to the arrest of a female accomplice, who during the investigation, confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to bandits within Kaduna State.”

Lagos Inaugurates Anti-Okada Squad to enforce ban on commercial motorcycles

The Lagos State Government has inaugurated an anti-Okada squad to enforce the ban on commercial motorcycles in six LGAs and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

The squad will join the police to maintain the ban in line with the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018.

The ban on Okada in the affected LGAs and LCDAS took effect on June 1, 2022. The affected LGAs are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, explained that the anti-Okada squad would report to the police, and urged Lagosians to collaborate with the state government to combat the Okada menace across the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Kamar Olowoshago, also urged the anti-Okada personnel to be diligent and honest in the discharge of their duties.

Fr Mbaka Hits Peter Obi Again, Says ‘Stingy Man Can’t Be President’

Priest and founder of Adoration Ministry of the Enugu Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has unleashed fresh attacks on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, describing him as “a stingy man that will never be president.”

Mbaka’s preaching was released by the BBC Igbo, showing his relentless attack on Obi, denoting that he’s busy spreading poverty while stashing billions of his money in foreign land.

The fiery Catholic priest questions Obi’s thought processes in a renewed unprecedented attacks coming against the backdrop of the rising profile of the former Anambra State Governor, since his defection from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Mbaka warned those supporting Obi to stop wasting their money as the man is not prepared to be president going by the life austere life he lives.

He lamented that Obi is not concerned about the plight of the people around him, declaring that he’s under a curse and only an apology can undo the curse.

Mbaka said, “A stingy man, that cannot give people his money, with this hunger ravaging the land, and you are saying he is the one you want. Do you want to die of hunger? Are you people insane? Where is the Holy Spirit?

“It is now that Atiku is seriously contesting for President; now that he is contesting without Peter Obi; it is now that he is serious? We want somebody that is serious. Unless Peter comes here to kneel, if he becomes President, he will close down this ministry. What we are doing is spiritual,” he said.

Mbaka who once delivered scathing attacks on Obi in the run up to the 2019 presidential election, when Obi was Atiku’s running mate, further declared, “Listen, a good old man is better than a young wicked man; Peter Obi is going nowhere as far as God lives. If Igbos want a representative, it is not someone like Peter Obi.

“I should not have talked but I saw my video going around everywhere as if Fr. Mbaka wholeheartedly came out and apologized. No, I didn’t apologize wholeheartedly, it was out of duress. I had to obey my Bishop, in obedience I had to, it is not of my volition. I did it because I am a Catholic Priest, my Bishop said, do it, my own is ‘Yes my Lord’.

“I did not say he is a bad man; I said he is a stingy man. A hungry man wants someone that is generous; the man has so much money, but he is ‘I, me, myself’. But that money will not be useful to him. I am very happy now that I have spoken out. That apology is a poisonous curse against Peter Obi,” he added.

Warning Obi, he said, “If he is wise, he should have come here after that apology to say he is sorry but he waited. Anybody supporting him is wasting his money, he is going nowhere.

“He is my friend. When he was chased out of Government House, he knew the role I played to bring him back, but how did he pay me back? Night meetings we attended to bring him back, ask him, ask Eselu Uga, ask Archbishop Anikwenwa, they know where and how we did it and he was brought back,” he pointed out.

He challenged people to, “Ask Peter since then what he used to reward Adoration. If you like Peter Obi, tell him to come and ask for forgiveness. Let him come and redo what he did. There is an altar of God he blasphemed; he defiled an altar of God, the Holy Spirit.

“I called Atiku after that apology, he was in Dubai, I told him that there is a revelation on your presidential election; that you are going to be the President of Nigeria on one condition, that Peter Obi is not going to be your running mate. Peter Obi has incurred a curse to himself, which means that he is carrying a curse; if you want to be President, change him.

“Atiku responded that I cannot, Peter must be my running mate, we must win. You saw what happened. Atiku is still alive. That is why I said it is now that Atiku is preparing to be President.

“Just like Jonathan, I called him, God has shown that you are going to win this election but on one condition; Jega should be changed. If you change Jega you will win Buhari, but if you don’t, Buhari will win you. Goodluck told me, ‘Fr. I will not remove Jega, we will still win’. He held on to Jega and failed.”

The latest attack which video is making the rounds will bring back fresh memory of the pre-2019 presidential election episode, when Obi refused to make donations to the Adoration Ministry despite repeated entreaties and pleas from Mbaka, forcing the fearless yet controversial priest to declare his endorsement for Buhari/Osinabjo ticket.

He later declared Atiku/Obi will be defeated, which put him into troubled waters with the Catholic authority.

Obi is in far away Egypt in a trip he said he embarked on to understudy Egyptian electricity sector.

But he has come under heavy criticisms for it with emerging news that he lied about the purpose of the trip to score cheap political game.

Femi Adesina Mocks Bishop Oyedepo Over Difference Between Auditor General And Accountant General

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has accused the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo of harbouring hatred for the president.
Recall that the cleric had stated that the Buhari government deceived Nigerians with talks of fighting corruption but was not making the country better in any way.

He added that the government claims to be fighting corruption, yet its officials are also corrupt.

Oyedepo shared his disappointment with the Buhari-led administration during a church programme, Special Prayer for The Nation, on Monday.

Adesina while reacting to Oyedepo’s statement said the cleric doesn’t understand the difference between the Accountant General and the Auditor General of the Federation.

He further stated that Oyedepo can’t even get his facts right.

The spokesman in a post on his Twitter account wrote, “The bishop at Ota can’t even get his facts right. Blinded by hatred for PMB, he says Auditor General stole N80bn.

“Pity! He doesn’t know the difference between Accountant General (only alleged) and Auditor General. Like OBJ said long ago, we should begin to ordain our bishops.”

June 12: Why I Served In Abacha’s Govt – Kingibe Opens Up

The running mate to late MKO Abiola in the 1993 presidential election, Babagana Kingibe, has revealed why he served in the Sani Abacha government.

In a chat with reporters in Maiduguri on Sunday, Kingibe said his decision to serve in Abacha’s government was due to his love for national interest and not personal gain.

He stated that he jettisoned his own personal interest to serve in the regime of the late dictator, adding that his decision was in line with the teachings of the Islamic faith.

He said: “When we think of the collective good there are times when we have to sacrifice personal interest and join hands in rebuilding society and bringing peace and harmony to our people: I have addressed this issue of why did I join Abacha’s government and so on.

“I know we won the elections on June 12, 1993, I know that injustice was done when those elections were annulled but there is always one guiding principle in my public life which is that the national interest supersedes any other consideration and all my actions have been informed by this consciousness of what is best in the national interest.”

Kingibe commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State for the June 12 celebration in the state to mark the new Democracy Day.

He said the celebration signifies love and solidarity towards him as a son of the soil and a key player in the events of that year.

He said, “I don’t think the celebration on the actual 12th of June 1993 was any greater than the celebration of the first democracy day on June 12; And for that I have to thank the Governor who gave the leadership, thank the people of Borno not only for celebrating June 12 as democracy day per se, but I know that they also had in mind that one of their own, their own son was also a critical player, I appreciate the confidence and love.”

Three military Officers Faint At Eagle Square Parade

Three military officers who were participating in the Democracy Day Parade, on Monday, slumped at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

It gathered that the gallant officers have stood for hours on one spot under the scorching sun, they were believed to have succumbed to exhaustion.

According to ThePunch, the unfortunate incident caused a bit of confusion as some security and medical personnel rushed to the parade ground with stretchers and whisked the collapsed colleagues to the medical shed on the left side of the State Box where the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was seated.

However, no casualties were recorded as they were successfully treated and soon regained consciousness.

The ceremony featured performances by the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police.

The Nigerian Army Female Corps also performed a combat display followed by traditional dance performance from various ethnic groups.

The President, who was the Special Guest of Honour, inspected the guards, and was followed by a military/police march past in slow and quick time.

To round up the ceremony, there was a combined silent drill display by the Armed Forces and Police, and a playlet performance before the advancing of the parade in review order.

In attendance were former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, Service Chiefs, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Youth Corps Members and former Cabinet Member under President Yar’Adua, Babagana Kingibe.

Notably, Kingibe who was the running mate of the winner of the 1993 presidential election, M.K.O. Abiola, was introduced as former Vice President and invited to join in a group photograph with President Buhari, Jonathan, Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Chief Justice of the Federation, Ibrahim Tanko, and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu.

Nigeria National Electricity Grid Collapses For Sixth Time In 2022

Nigeria’s national electricity grid has collapsed again, leaving several cities including the federal capital Abuja in darkness.

Electricity companies announced Sunday night that the collapse happened just before 7pm.

It is the sixth reported collapse in 2022.

The government blames the collapse on poor management and low gas supply.

The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc informed its customers through its Facebook page on Sunday about the interruption in Electricity supply.

“The Management of Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc wishes to inform the general public that the current outage being witnessed is a result of system collapse,” the head of Corporate Communication, Friday Elijah, said.

“We hope to restore supply as soon as supply is restored,” he added.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc based in Enugu said, “EEDC wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a system collapse which occurred at 6.49pm this evening, Sunday, 12th June, 2022.”

More Trouble For Nigerians As National Grid Collapses For Second Time In Two Days

Mar 15, 2022
The statement signed by spokesperson Emeka Ezeh said as a result of the development, all outgoing feeders were out and this has affected supply to its customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

“We are on standby, awaiting further information on restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC),” he added.

Also the Eko Electricity Distribution Company said, “Dear Esteemed Customer, we regret to inform you of the system collapse from the National grid. This has affected our entire network and impacted our ability to deliver optimum service.”

“Please bear with us as we are working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria partners on a swift resolution. Power Outage In Our Franchise Due To Grid Collapse,” it concluded.

The spokesperson of the Kaduna electricity distribution company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi also said
“We regret to inform you that the power outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to System Collapse of the National Grid. The collapse occurred at about 18:47 pm this evening hence the loss of supply on all our outgoing feeders,” the notice said.

The company promised consumers that power will be restored as soon as the National Grid is powered back.

“Please be informed that the current power outage is due to a system failure from the National Grid. The system collapsed at about 6.49pm today 12th June, 2022, causing the outage currently being experienced,” the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company posted on Facebook.

“We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply,” it said.

Nollywood Actress Angela Okorie Shows Off Newly acquired Pistol After Owo Catholic Church Attack

Popular actress-turned-singer, Angela Okorie has stunned her fans after showing off a newly acquired pistol loaded with bullets a week after dozens of Christian worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State were brutally murdered by gunmen.

Naija News reports that the actress and mother of one showed off her pistol on her verified Instagram page on Sunday, June 12, a week after gunmen invaded a Catholic church, throwing explosives and shooting many worshippers dead on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

In the video shared on social media, Angela was captured cocking her gun whilst asking her fans how their Sunday service went. The mother of one had gone to church all knitted and prepared.

Sharing the video, she captioned it; ‘” HAPPY SUNDAY Fam. How was church today? #legitqueen”

Recall, that perpetrators who attacked the Christian worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, were said to have fled the scene immediately after they carried out the killing, leaving many people dead.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that 11 children and 30 adults were admitted to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo’s emergency wards.

The occurrence sparked a national outcry and was widely condemned in Nigeria and the international community.

Popular Nigerian Pastor And Wife Declared Wanted By EFCC Speaks

A couple identified as Onyinmiebi and Beatrice Bribena who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has said they never received any invite for any questioning or interrogation before declaring them as wanted persons.
The president of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited (BMCSL), Pastor Oyinmiebi Bribena and his wife, Beatrice, on Saturday, June 11th was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly defrauding Nigerians to the tune of N2Billion

The statement was signed by the Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujuren.

Reacting to the declaration, Bribena, who is also a pastor in a popular church told the Nation: “We did not receive an invitation letter from the EFCC and were not aware of any summons or pending charge against us by the EFCC.

“It is therefore surprising that the commission will go to such length to damage our reputation and make me and my family go through ‘media trial’.”

He said the EFCC had no right to interfere in disputes between members of the cooperative society, considering the provisions of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act of 2004.

He added that the anti-graft agency did not invite them for interrogation before declaring them wanted.

He said that some members of the cooperative society had approved that the cooperative traded with their contributions at an Online Foreign Exchange Market for monthly returns, which ran smoothly until the unfortunate events where most of the funds were lost in the market.

He said despite the loss, he has been making efforts to recover and refund members their contribution as authorised by the general meeting of the cooperative, but the actions of the EFCC had constituted a spoke in the wheel of progress.

Brianna, who assured contributors, pleaded they remain calm, adding that all hope was not lost, and stated that he would not relent in the efforts being made to clear his name.