GTBank Launches Bank 737

March 23, 2016

Over the last few weeks, Nigerians all over the country have been faced with the question; Whatisthe737? From billboards to hash tags and radio hypes.

The Guaranty Trust Bank plc has introduced what it called Bank 737 which it said is more than just well rhyming numbers.
“It is a simple, smart and safe way to bank anytime, anywhere and on any device.”
The bank said that imagine of opening an account is as simple as dialing a number from mobile phone and that transferring funds is as easy as sending a text message. It added that paying bills could be done at any time of the day, even long after banking hours.
“Imagine if you need to make an urgent transfer online and your data just ran out and you don’t have your hardware token to complete the transaction. Truth is, at some point or the other, we have all experienced those moments when we wished banking could be as simple as ABC’s and 123’s.
Al these, it said, have been made simple by GTBank through 737.
It recalled that in recent years, mobile phones have made life easier, adding that it is easy now to shop online, watch movies, surf the internet, play games, chat with loved ones, share and download information with the simple push of a button.
“While mobile penetration has witnessed an impressive growth in Nigeria, Internet proliferation hasn’t experienced similar success, owing largely to the cost of data. Built on a USSD interface, GTBank’s 737 banking is phone agnostic and works on any type of mobile phone and does not require internet access or registration protocols. With GTBank’s Bank 737, your mobile phone is now a service channel for all your banking needs. “Users simply have to dial the short USSD *737# code on any mobile device to experience a new world of simple banking.
“With Bank 737, GTBank customers can perform banking functions such as transfers to all Banks in Nigeria, check account balance, open a GTBank account, buy airtime, pay bills, BVN linking, token code generation, card less withdrawals and lots more from their mobile phones.”

Commenting on the launch of the product, Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc said; “The launch of this product marks another milestone in our quest to make banking truly simple for our customers. We remain firm on our objective to deliver banking products and services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our ever-growing customer base by leveraging technology to make banking faster, safer and more accessible for all our customers.”

GTBank is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions in Nigeria and across its subsidiary countries. The bank is renowned for its innovative financial solutions, superior financial performance, world class corporate governance standards and excellent service delivery. The bank’s latest E-payment service, known as the 737 banking, is considered a veritable alternative to in-branch banking as it offers a faster, safer and more convenient way to perform financial transactions.

About 87 Million Children Grow In Conflict – UNICEF

Greenbarge Reporters

March 23, 2016

More than 86.7 million children under the age of seven are said to have spent their entire lives in conflict zones, putting their brain development at risk.
According to the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), during the first seven years of life, a child’s brain has the potential to activate 1,000 brain cells every second.
Each one of those cells, known as neurons, has the power to connect to another 10,000 neurons thousands of times per second. Brain connections serve as the building blocks of a child’s future, defining their health, emotional well-being and ability to learn.
UNICEF further said that children living in conflict are often exposed to extreme trauma, putting them at risk of living in a state of toxic stress, a condition that inhibits brain cell connections — with significant life-long consequences to their cognitive, social and physical development.
“In addition to the immediate physical threats that children in crises face, they are also at risk of deep-rooted emotional scars.”
UNICEF Chief of Early Child Development Pia Britto said that the figures show that globally, one in 11 children aged 6 or younger has spent the most critical period of brain development growing up in conflict.
“Conflict robs children of their safety, family and friends, play and routine. Yet these are all elements of childhood that give children the best possible chance of developing fully and learning effectively, enabling them to contribute to their economies and societies, and building strong and safe communities when they reach adulthood.
“That is why we need to invest more to provide children and caregivers with critical supplies and services including learning materials, psychosocial support, and safe, child-friendly spaces that can help restore a sense of childhood in the midst of conflict.”
A child is born with 253 million functioning neurons, but whether the brain reaches its full adult capacity of around one billion connectable neurons depends in large part on early childhood development. This includes breastfeeding and early nutrition, early stimulation by caregivers, early learning opportunities and a chance to grow and play in a safe and healthy environment.
As part of our response in humanitarian emergencies and protracted crises, UNICEF works to keep children in child-friendly environments, providing emergency kits with learning and play materials. The emergency kits have supported more than 800,000 children living in emergency contexts in the past year alone. [myad]

Election Violence Is Primitive, Says Sports Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

March 23, 2016

Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has described violence during election in Nigeria as primitive.
He lamented the recurring incidence of violence during elections in Nigeria, with particular reference to the last Saturday’s rerun election in Rivers State during which a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was killed.
“The act of violence during election is not only condemnable but is indeed a reflection of what I can refer to as primitive political culture. It is primitive for anybody to assume that he must shed blood to be able to access power.”
He appealed to politicians to play the game of politics in accordance with existing laws.
“At no point should officials and spectators of our game be made to be casualties of that game. Power is not worth the life of one single Nigerian.”
The Minister assured that the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators of the evil act are brought to book and faced the full wrath of the law.
“We want to assure Nigerians that under this administration of change, impunity will never be celebrated. Actors of the wicked act in Rivers state must be brought to book and must be punished.”
Also the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Johnson Bamidele Olawunmi, called on the government of Rivers state to do everything possible to ensure that those who killed this innocent young man were brought to book.
“It is a shame that a society where there is a government, where there are community leaders and elders will allow an innocent corps member to be killed within where this Corps member was offering national service.”
General Olawunmi said that he had set up a Committee of Inquiry into the death of Mr. Okonta, and had mandated the Committee to go to Port-Harcourt to do a full investigation into the incident.
He commended the efforts of INEC in ensuring the safety and security of Corps members on election duty.
“INEC has been doing its best as far as the security of Corps members is concerned. I must also seize this opportunity to appreciate the security agencies for their efforts, because if not for them, perhaps it could have been more than that.”
This was even as the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who paid a condolence visit to the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General insisted that nothing justified the cold blooded murder of an innocent official conducting a legitimate national assignment intended to afford citizens the right to freely choose their leaders.
Professor Yakubu, who led a high-powered delegation of the Commission consisting of National Commissioners and Directors said: “it pains INEC profoundly when life is lost in the course of conducting elections. No matter the grievances of those involved in political contest, nothing justifies the cold blooded murder of an innocent official conducting a legitimate national assignment intended to afford citizens the right to freely choose their leaders.”
He assured that the Commission would fully participate in honouring the sacrifice of late Okonta Samuel and other members of the NYSC who may have suffered injury or even worse in the course of election duty in Nigeria in any way the NYSC considered appropriate.
Okonta Samuel, a serving Youth Corps member, lost his life as an ad-hoc election official during the Saturday 19th March, 2016 Rivers state re-run elections. [myad]

EDITORIAL: Brussels Attacks And Humanity

Greenbarge Reporters

March 23, 2016

The world woke up yesterday to be confronted with the sad news of brutal twin bomb blasts at Zaventem airport in Brussels, capital of Belgium and an hour later another explosion struck in Maelbeek metro station near EU headquarters in the same country. In the two targeted places, no fewer than 30 innocent people were confirmed dead while 105 sustained various degrees of injuries, in addition to the damage done to structures and the fear the incidence had driven into the people’s psyche.
The horrendous attacks which the Islamic State (IS) had already claimed responsibility for, came a few days after a key suspect in the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam was apprehended in Belgium.

Indeed, the latest attacks in Brussels have come to signify various basic and important points, first is that any threat from the militants to Europe may rise and fall, but does not disappear. The second is that both terrorists and those trying to stop them seek to keep the initiative. This has a practical and a psychological aspect.

For counter-terrorist agencies, the aim is to get information fast enough to mount raids and sweep up suspects before they even have time to work out who among them has been detained and who might have talked, let alone plan a new strike. Networks quickly fall apart under such relentless pressure, as was shown in Iraq in the middle of the last decade.

As a matter of fact, the terrorist attacks, which unfortunately, have been launched by criminals hiding under Islamic religion, have so far been widespread. Such attacks have taken place in the United States of America, Paris, Kenya, Nigeria, Niger, Tunisia, Sana’a Mosque in Yemen, Tunisia, Denmark, Pakistan, Australia, China, Canada, Iraq, Ukraine, Syria and other countries across the world.

The culprits, to be sure, are not likely launching those attacks for the purpose of taking over the government of any country, because they know that it is not possible, but just so as to embarrass the governments and the world. In fact, for them, the aim is to show they can still terrorize, mobilize and polarize with violence. This is not so much about revenge, but simply demonstrating a continued capability. They may be down but, they are saying, they are not out.

This is the more reason that the security should never at any time be relaxed or taken for granted anytime anywhere. For, what has come out clearly is that the terrorists usually study the security networks and work to take advantage of loopholes created by relaxation in the systems, to launch attacks.

For terrorists, one strike anywhere in the world is enough to attract attention, and cause anguish, pains, tribulations, gnashing of teeth and other unspeakable reactions.
There is no gain saying the fact that the world leaders need to put heads together and address this serious challenge, at least to save their citizens from the devils that have emerged to take pleasure and pride in seeing people reel in pains and anguish.

We in Greenbarge Reporters grieved over the attacks yesterday and other attacks in many countries, including Nigeria and wish to register our sympathy to the families of the victims, the government and people of Belgium and other nations that have been so struck in the past.

It is our honest advice that time has come when the whole world must stand to confront these common enemies of humanity. Christians, Muslims and other religion adherents must not be led into believing that terrorist by whatever name called and under whatever guise is all about religion. It is, like we said, a common enemy to humanity and must be so fought. [myad]

‘Hahaha You Did Well Kemi,’ – Osinbajo

Greenbarge Reporters

March 23, 2016

After the minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun had delivered a paper on how to move Nigeria forward to the next level, at just concluded two-day economic retreat by members of the National Economic Council (NEC) and other stakeholders, the Vice President who presided over the retreat, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, seems to be saying: Kemi, you did well in your presentation’ with a hearty laugh. [myad]

We Are Re-Starting Nigeria’s Economy – Finance Minister, Adeosun Says

Greenbarge Reporters

March 23, 2016

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has assured Nigerians that Muhammadu Buhari’s government is restarting the country’s economy in a way that everybody would be better off than before.
“Companies that had laid off staff and those that had abandoned projects are going back to sites and the economy will restart. Our priority is engaging Nigerians and resuming our capital projects.”
The minister, in a paper she present at the just concluded National Economic Council (NEC) retreat in Abuja, said that as a sign of the federal government’s commitment to stimulate the economy, a total of N350 billion would be pumped into the system in form of capital spending within the next one quarter.
She said that the federal government is planning to use the 2016 budget to fast-track economic diversification, adding that efforts have been put in place to ensure that the spending on the capital projects trickles down to all Nigerians.
“We are going to spend money and this will be done in a disciplined manner and in right places.
She assured that the government had designed a platform and system to ensure transparency, saying that spending will be controlled.
“We are pumping N350bn into the economy in the next one quarter to help the economy.”
Adeosun asked state governments to take their destinies in their own hands by proactively driving revenue generation, adding that now is the time to put in place a robust revenue drive by the states.
“There is need to have a business and commercial approach to revenue generation.
“There is need for us to look at data management because nobody can succeed in revenue generation without the data.
Speaking on the plans for the Customs service, the minister said the Federal Government has agreed to review the remunerations of the Customs Service.
“We look at the Customs and found out that it has one of the lowest salaries at least from their peer group. That is a problem. Here you have a custom officer being paid N50, 000 monthly and you task him to collect duty of nearly N2 million. So we are working on better remuneration for the Customs.
“The other issue is the equipment being used by the agency. Their ability to scan containers is very important. Classifications of containers are faulty now because of the kind of equipment they use. Ability to scan a container and know what is in it is limited.” [myad]

Corruption: Presidency Probes EFCC

Greenbarge Reporters

March 23, 2016

Nigeria Presidency has set up a presidential committee to investigate alleged high-profile corruption cases and compromises by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The committee, which is under the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is broadly named Presidential Committee on Verification of Assets.
It was learnt that the committee, which is yet to be inaugurated as at Tuesday, had been split into three sub committees.
One of the subcommittees is primarily charged with the verification of looted assets recovered by the EFCC while another subcommittee will have similar focus on recovered loot by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
The third subcommittee, according to a source in the Federal Ministry of Justice, will probe the alleged fraud in the nation’s pension scheme.
A document obtained from a source in the ministry on Tuesday shows that in addition to verifying recovered assets, one of the subcommittees will probe petitions alleging corruption against individuals and organisations whose cases were either compromised by the EFCC or not investigated at all.
The tasks of the subcommittees, according to the document, are: “to identify all parties that engaged in conspiratorial fraudulent activities at EFCC that led to financial loss to the FGN;
“To analyse petitions submitted to the EFCC against persons and organisations in billions of naira that were not investigated or investigated and compromised by the EFCC hence caused collateral economic loss to the FGN;
“To analyse all cases the EFCC took over from other agencies or investigated with other agencies, and report the actual and collateral loss to the FGN;
“To assess the EFCC’s standing procedure on seizures, forfeitures, management of seized properties, remittances etc;
“To verify all assets seized by the EFCC and/or forfeited by criminal suspects to the EFCC onshore and offshore;
“To verify all remittances by the EFCC to the FGN;
“To reconcile assets seized and/or forfeited vis-a-vis assets remitted to the FGN;
“To identify and audit all bank accounts opened by the EFCC and all bank accounts seized from criminal suspects onshore and offshore from inception to date, among others.”
Malami had, in his address during his maiden press conference on November 19, 2015 in Abuja, given a hint about the activities of the asset verification committee when he said suspected compromise in investigation of high-profile cases would be probed.
The minister had said his administration would undertake an audit of high-profile corruption cases “so that those who are found wanting through the compromise of investigation and prosecution processes shall be prosecuted.”
Other major tasks given to the committee include: “to report the total balance of tangible and intangible assets remittable from EFCC to FGN; and
“To engage forensic accountants, auditors, lawyers, professionals etc. to assist in analysing and reconciling all financial records, procuring vital records etc.”
Malami had, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH in January, said the petition, accusing the immediate past Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, of diverting about N1tn seized by the anti-graft agency from corruption convicts, would not be overlooked.
He had said that investigation into the allegation required time, even as he made it clear that no petition, as long as it bordered on corruption, would be overlooked.
“It is just a matter of a little patience over issues; as you know, investigation takes a lot of consideration, a lot of revelation, but whatever it is, as long as the petition relates to corruption, it cannot be overlooked.
“Whatever is presented by a way of petition will not be overlooked, and at the end of the day, appropriate step shall be taken. There is nothing that can be overlooked. Whatever is presented shall be looked into.”
Before Malami was appointed the AGF, the Federal Ministry of Justice had directed the EFCC to investigate the allegations that Lamorde diverted about N1 trillion proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency.
The ministry’s directive followed a September 18, 2015 petition to the then Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abdullahi Yola.
The petitioner, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, a security firm, George Uboh, had sent a reminder, dated September 28, to Yola, threatening to sue the ministry if it failed to respond to his petition within seven days.
Uboh had, in his petition, asked the justice ministry “through which the EFCC derives its power to prosecute, to immediately rescind the fiat to prosecute criminal suspects from EFCC.”
He also sought an immediate issuance of “fiat for the prosecution of EFCC’s past and present leadership and their known and unknown co-conspirators via the 22-page preliminary criminal charges the undersigned has prepared.”
Uboh, who had earlier petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, levelling the same set of allegations against Lamorde, had received the ministry’s letter, dated October 8, 2015.
The letter was signed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Muhammad Diri, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.
Copies of the letter were made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
It indicated that Yola had directed the EFCC to investigate the allegations against Lamorde and to forward the result of its investigation to him “as soon as it is completed.”
Also, an operative of the EFCC, Abdulrahman Biu, a Deputy Detective Superintendent, was arrested for offences bordering on extortion, influence peddling and impersonation in January.
Biu was arrested following intelligence report alleging that he extorted $150,000 from some military officers on the pretext that he would help give them a soft landing in the ongoing investigation into the arms deal scandal.
Upon his arrest, a search was executed on his residence in Abuja where the following items were recovered: $20,000 cash, N500,000 cash, two police uniforms bearing his name with the ranks of Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Police warrant card No: 27/2014 with the rank of DSP, allegedly obtained from Kano Constabulary Office, documents relating to military arms investigation and account information of several senior military officers.

Source: The PUNCH. [myad]

Belgian Suspected Bombers

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2016

These three men, suspected to be behind the bombing that occurred today at the Belgian airport, were caught by the Belgium media CCTV. [myad]

Federal Government Declares Public Holidays For Easter

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2016

The Federal Government has declared March 25 and 28 as public holidays to mark the Easter celebrations.
The Minister of Interior, retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration in a statement issued by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, today in Abuja.
The minister advised Christians and Nigerians in general to support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to build a peaceful, united and virile nation.
Dambazau further called on Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the nation.
He wished Nigerians and Christians the world over happy celebrations, even as he reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the change agenda in the country. [myad]

Medical Expert, Prof. Osagie, Advises Childless Couples To Have Sex Twice A week

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2016

A reproductive expert, Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie, has advised childless couples to consistently have sex for a minimum of two times a week. He said that findings have shown that couples who adhered strictly to the principles were 80 per cent successful in reproduction.
Osagie, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, gave the advice while delivering a lecture at the University of Benin Town and Gown symposium. The theme of the event was: “The Impact of Human IVF Test-Tube Babies on Infertility in Nigeria.”
Osagie said only five out of the 47 IVF centres in the country are government- owned.
The lecturer said that it cost between N800, 000 and N1.5 million for a circle of IVF in Nigeria, saying however, that “the success of IVF is pegged at 25 to 35 per cent.”
“The implication therefore is that there’s about 70 per cent failure. And in IVF, a couple can decide if they want another woman to carry the baby for them… But we don’t allow the person carrying the baby to meet the couples because of the possible consequence.”
“With the advancement in infertility treatment, men with zero or low sperm count can have babies. Even women who are not menstruating can have babies if they have wombs.
“People who were born without functioning ovaries or who do not release eggs – some of whom have never menstruated in their lives, can have babies.”
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Faraday Orumwense, said the symposium was borne out of the need to sustain “all-round development of the school” and deepen the existing cordial relationship between the Institution and its host community. [myad]

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