Polaris Bank Moves To Reward Customers N26 Million In Savings Promo

January 13, 2021

Polaris Bank has put up New Year plans to announce the first set of winners of its on-going nationwide savings promotional campaign, known as ‘Save & Win.’ The bank said that the sum of N26 million will be won by lucky customers.

A statement from the bank said that reports from branches of the bank across Nigeria indicate an overwhelming participation in the promo by Nigerians, adding that it consists of existing and prospective customers of the Bank, who are desirous to emerge winners and make 2021 a memorable one.

Polaris Bank commenced the nationwide ‘Save & Win’ promo campaign last November to reward and empower its loyal and prospective customers by giving away N26,000,000.00 with winners picked through a transparent electronically generated process that will be supervised by regulatory institutions.

The Bank seeks to raise eight millionaires who will receive N1million each while 180 lucky customers will be rewarded with other cash gifts of N100,000 each.

The promo is aimed at making millionaires of everyday Nigerians by encouraging current and prospective customers of the Bank to save minimum incremental of N10,000 monthly for any three (3) consecutive months within the promo period, starting from November 2020 to April 2021, to qualify and be part of the winners of the promo.

The first draw, which will herald the first set of winners, will be announced next month, February. On that day, the first 60 winners of N100,000 each will emerge from the six (6) geo-political zones, plus one Millionaire.

The same process will be repeated in March while the month of April will be for the Grand-finale leading to the emergence of sixty winners of N100,000 each across the six geo-political zones and six ‘Millionaires’ of N1,000,000.00 (one million naira) each, across the six (6) geo-political zones, bringing the entire draw to a total of 188 winners.

The Managing Director/CEO of the bank, Innocent C. Ike, expressed satisfaction with impressive number of participants in the promo and restated: “the essence of the initiative is to give back to customers and encourage savings amongst Nigerians.”

He said that the campaign is a reward for the traders, artisans, public servants and indeed professionals who in spite of the challenging times, are able to put aside some money.

He reiterated that in tough times such as we are now, there is a compelling need to save, not only to win a prize, but also to plan for the rainy day.

Savings Account accessibility is simple and swift in Polaris Bank. Prospective customers can dial *833*0# on their phones to follow the prompt or simply create or reactivate their own savings account from their devices by visiting https://accounts.polarisbanklimited.com/opening/ or any of the Bank’s branches across the country.

NECO Releases SSCE Results, De-Recongnizes 12 Schools Over Cheating

Editorial staff

January 13, 2021

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the internal Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) results with a two per cent increase of candidates who made five credits and above in all subjects.

The Council also de-recognized 12 schools for their involvement in mass cheating and whole school cases of malpractice.

The Registrar, Professor Godswill Obioma, who announced the results today, January 13 at the NECO Headquarters in Minna, listed the schools de-recignized as four in Adamawa, two in Kaduna, two in Katsina, two in Niger, one in Taraba and one in FCT.

He said that 24 supervisors were blacklisted for various offences ranging from poor supervision, aiding and abetting, connivance with non candidates to write answers on chalkboards.

Source: The Nation.

NNPC Vows To Focus More On Gas, Condensats, For Revenue Growth

Editorial staff

January 13, 2021

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has vowed to focuse more on gas, condensate and other revenue streams to tackle the revenue challenge arising from the OPEC+ production cut arrangement.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, made this known today, January 13 at the ongoing virtual Gulf Intelligence “Global” UAE Energy Forum 2021.

According to him, gas had proved to be a steady and reliable revenue stream during the height of Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Mallam Kyari said that gas production and utilization would remain a key priority for the Corporation in 2021.

He reiterated the commitment of the NNPC to abide by the output cut agreement of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies aimed at stabilizing the global oil market.

Mallam Kyari said that despite the negative effects of the production cut on government revenue, it is the best step towards redeeming the value of hydrocarbon resources at the global market in the interest of all.

The NNPC boss, who spoke on the topic: “Outlook for Africa/Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Sector in Post-Covid Era,” said that the Corporation is hopeful that by the end of the year, demand for crude oil would pick up and there would be a marginal increase in output.

Earlier in his presentation, the Minister of Energy & Agriculture, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Engr. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, appealed to all oil producing nations not to flood the market with crude oil.

He said the UAE is at the moment more concerned about balancing the market forces of demand and supply in the global market than growing market share.

For Now, January 18 School Resumption Date Not Changed – Task Force On Coronavirus

Editorial staff

January 13, 2021

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on cornavirus, Dr. Sani Aliyu has said that the January 18 date for resumption of schools across the country has not changed at least for now.

Dr. Aliyu, who spoke when he featured in a Television Continental (TVC) program in Abuja, said that schools would resume on January 18 unless the Federal Ministry of Education comes up with a new directive on the matter.

“On the resumption of schools, I just want to make a clarification, what the minister said on Monday was that they were going to review the date. He didn’t say that they were going to change the date. He said they will review the situation and let the nation know.

“So, for the moment, it is still January 18 until the Ministry of Education comes back either with an alternative date or reconfirm that.”

The Federal Government had last year, ordered schools across the country to resume from the Christmas and New Year holiday on January 18.

Many states in the country had initially ordered the indefinite closure of the schools over the spike in coronavirus cases.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said at the PTF briefing yesterday, January 11 that the Federal Government would review the January 18 date for resumption of schools across the country.

Women In Global Health Name 4 Nigerian Nurses, Midwives For Global Award

Editorial staff

January 13, 2021

Women in Global Health (WGH), have nominated four Nigerians, among 100 outstanding women nurses and midwives’ leader as part of activities to mark the 2020 International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

In a statement on its website today, January 12, WGH said that the 100 women were chosen for heroism and service amidst global health challenges.

The Nigerian women who have been listed for the award are Mary Agholor, Edidiong Asanga, Emmanualla Inah and Onyinyechi Madu.

WGH said that Agholor, born and bred in Ile-Ife, Osun State by Delta State parents, was the first Nigerian nurse to become a broadcaster as she founded the Nightingale Radio as a platform for nurses to speak out and express themselves, and to also serve as an information hub for nurses and nursing body, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

On Edidiong Asanga, WGH said that she was the first and only nurse/midwife in Akwa Ibom State, who combined American and Nigerian sign languages for the care of hearing-impaired patients.

“Asanga has been a surgical nurse, midwife, and even legislative intern carrying out health policy analysis. She’s highly experienced and sensitive nurse-midwife with an exceptional record of providing stellar medical and emotional services to all kinds of patients.”

On Emmanuel Inah, WGH said that as practicing nurse and midwife, the school sent few of them to rural villages where none of them could neither speak the native language nor understood the culture, practices and beliefs.

WGH said that Susan Madu was named “community hero” because her dedication deeply impacted the local midwifery nursing community, as well as the broader global health ecosystem.

Madu was also said to have contributed regularly to courses, healthcare, and movements at the grassroots level to improve access to quality healthcare through extensive research and intervention schemes.

“She participated extensively in research and community care work that positively impacted the lives of the poor and underprivileged in rural communities of Imo State, Nigeria. As a nursing officer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State, she was involved in activities at Cholera Treatment Centre to create awareness and carry out research on the 2014 cholera outbreak.”

Source: Daily Sun.

We’ll Resist Attempt By Fulani Herdsmen To Join Amotekun, OPC Warns

Editorial staff

January 12, 2021

Publicity Secretary of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, has warned that the body will resist any attempt by members of Fulani community, under the umbrella of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN) to infiltrate the Southwest Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun.

Speaking against the backdrop of the call by the group for the inclusion of its members and other ethnic groups in the southwest outfit, OPC expressed worry that MACBAN has created the greatest security challenges in Nigeria, adding that the call by the group was a ploy to weaken the south west security outfit and also put the region in perpetual security threat.

The OPC publicity scribe described the call as an attempt to overrun all the security architectures of the region.

“OPC will never allow Miyetti Allah to set our region on fire. We cannot afford to see the southwest facing the kind of security challenges faced daily in the North East and North West.

“Our group will never fold its arms and see the southwest being overrun by herdsmen and marauders. That is why we are warning leaders of the group to desist from their sinister motives and leave Amotekun alone in the region.

Oguntimehin described the call by the leader of the Oyo State chapter of the Fulani herders, Ibrahim Jiji as unrealistic, saying that the group lacked the credibility to call for its inclusion into Amotekun.

He also called on the Federal Government to beam a searchlight on Jiji for making such requests, adding that no Yoruba group has ever called for inclusion into the Northern security outfits like HISBA, or the Middle Belt security outfit.

“What does these Fulani herders want from us? Do they want to weaken or polarise our security outfit? The call was irrational and unjust, and we will resist any attempt to soil the name of Amotekun”

“Operation Amotekun is a child of circumstance, it is the southwest arrangement to curb the spate of insecurity ravaging the region, and since its inauguration in Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti respectively, the response has been encouraging. So, we need to support and encourage them in their quest to curb insecurity in the southwest.”

Oguntimehin charged all Yoruba traditional rulers across the southwest to support Amotekun in their respective domains,stressing that the efforts of the Oyo State chapter of Amotekun to secure the state is yielding positive results.

“I want to commend the Director General of the Oyo State Amotekun, for standing firm in ensuring that Oyo state is safe for residents.I will also commend the governors of Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun states for championing the cause for southwest safety and security. And I want to appeal to the Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu to fast track the recruitment of the Lagos State Amotekun because from our investigations, it is sad that Lagos State still remains the most volatile state.”

“There are signals that killer herdsmen have invaded Lagos state. But it is also sad that southwest is full of hypocrites. From our findings, a large percentage of the enemies of Yoruba race are within the nucleus of the south west. Many of those behind the media propaganda against Amotekun are Yoruba and their target is to soil the image of the region

”Many of those opposing Amotekun are prominent sons and daughters of the Yoruba race. And I want to assure all honest Yoruba sons and daughters that OPC will soon expose those behind the verbal attacks against the southwest security outfit.”

Source: Daily Independent.

Impeachment Move Against Me Is Causing Anger, Danger: I Want No Violence – Trump

Editorial staff

January 12, 2021

President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has warned that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer’s move to impeach him again is causing tremendous anger and danger, saying that he wanted no violence.

“This impeachment (move) is causing tremendous anger and they’re doing it, and it’s really a terrible thing that they’re doing for Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to continue on this path.

“I think it’s causing tremendous danger to our country, and it’s causing tremendous anger, I want no violence.”

The President Trump expressed surprise that both lawmakers have continued on this “terrible” path, even though he does not want violence.”

The Nancy Pelosi-led US House of Representatives had introduced the article for Trump’s second impeachment yesterday, January 11.

The President, for the second time, denied he triggered the deadly attack on the US Capitol and his rally speech before the riots meant no harm.

“They’ve analysed my speech, my words and my final paragraph, my final sentence and everybody just thought it was totally appropriate,” Trump told reporters today, January 12.

Management Of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Announces Jan 25 For Re-Opening

Editorial staff

January 12, 2021

The management of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna State has fixed Monday, January 25th, 2021 as the date for the reopening of the institution for academic activities.

In a statement today, January 12, the Director of Public Affairs of the ABU, Mallam Auwal Umar said that the resumption date will be subject to review by the Federal Government.

The statement titled: ‘Ahmadu Bello University fixes January 25 for reopening,’ said that the resumption date was approved by the Senate of the University at its 501st (Special) Meeting on Tuesday

The statement read: “The 2019/2020 academic session would be completed based on the adjusted calendar as approved by the Senate.

“The decision to reopen the University followed the suspension of ASUU strike, and the directive by National Universities Commission based on the advisory/clearance by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID- 19 that Universities could reopen as from 18th January 2021 under strict observance of COVID-19 protocols.”

It added that the reopening of the university would be on a phased basis.

The statement said the first phase of resumption would include, all graduating/final-year students, 100 and 200 levels students, all clinical medical students and all postgraduate students to be handled virtually using online ICT-supported blended teaching and learning arrangement.

The second phase, the statement added, would comprise all other non-graduating classes, 300 level in the case of four-year degree programme, 300 and 400 levels in the case of five-year degree programme as well as 300, 400 and 500 levels in the case of six-year degree programme.

It added that “It should be noted that all non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 protocols would be strictly observed anywhere on campus and every student must submit online an undertaking to abide by all the COVID-19 protocols both within and outside the Campus. Students who failed to complete and submit this form online will not be able to print their exams card.

“In addition, the University Management would, within the limit of its resources, support the University Health Service with the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a Holding Bay to ensure safe handling of any suspected cases.

“Equally, Management would take all necessary actions to strengthen the security architecture of the University and assure the University community of adequate safety and security.”

Saudi Minister Of Media Savours The Line Project, Says It’s A World Class Future Cities

Greenbarge Reporters

January 12, 2021

Acting minister of Media in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi is savouring THE LINE project, launched yesterday, January 11, by the Crown Prince and President of NEOM Board of Directors, Muhammad Bin Salman.

The acting minister described the project as a world-class model of future cities and a hub for world dreamers who would like to see and enjoy a new ideal pattern of life.

Dr. Al-Qasabi, who is a member of the board of directors of NEOM company, shed light on the strategic location of NEOM overlooking the Red Sea coast, which is considered as the world’s economic artery linking the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe.
In a telephone interview with Al-Akhbariya TV today, January 12, the Saudi acting media minister said that at least 70 percent of the world population could reach or have direct access to NEOM in less than eight hours, poising the Saudi Red Sea site to serve as an international platform for innovation, creativity, knowledge, technology research and civilizations.
He described THE LINE as an unprecedented international project, saying that it offers as many as 380,000 job opportunities for youths in more than 16 domains.
Dr. Al-Qasabi said that the launch of the project by the Crown Prince confirmed the determination of the Kingdom to implement the project that would contribute to offering promising opportunities, enhance hope and optimism in the investment sector and put the country at the world’s advanced countries level.

Dr. Al-Qasabi also said that Saudi Arabia is currently witnessing unprecedented transformation at all levels, citing the comparative advantages characterizing its tourism, cultural, sports, commercial, investment and energy future projects.

Court Orders Emirates Airlines To Pay $1.630 Million Missing In Passenger’s Luggage

Editorial staff

January 12, 2021

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Emirates Airlines to pay $1.630 million to a businessman, Orji Prince Ikem, being the amount contained in his hand luggage that went missing in the airline’s custody during a 2007 China trip.

Justice Muslim Hassan also ordered the airlines to pay Ikem N50 million as damages for the “untold hardship and loss of earning” he suffered by the deprivation of use of his money from 2007 till date.

The judgment followed the plaintiff’s nearly 12 years battle to recover two hand luggage containing personal effects and $700,000, as well as $930,000 in 18 bundles of $50,000 wraps each and $30,000 cash not in wrap.

The court heard that the $930,000 belonged to another businessman, Olisaemeka Ugwunze, who wanted it delivered in China for purchases.

The plaintiff told the court through his counsel, Chris Ekemezie, that at the departure lounge of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Emirates Airlines’ staff requested that he hand the luggage to them for safe keeping in the cockpit, but he refused and insisted on keeping them by himself.

They insisted on keeping the luggage for him considering the huge amount of money contained therein, promising that on arrival destination, the two bags would be handed over to him.

After a prolonged argument and in order not to miss his flight, the plaintiff yielded and handed over the two bags to them, and they were tagged with numbers EK428682 and EK428683.

That was the last time the plaintiff saw the bags and the money.

On his arrival in Guangzhou, the airline could not account for his four luggage.

Ruling on the plaintiff’s prayers for the return of his $1.630 million and N100million general damages, Justice Hassan observed that the airline, through its counsel, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), failed to refute Ikem’s claims.

The judge held: “I have read all the processes filed by both parties as well as their agreements and resolved that the only issue for determination is whether the plaintiff is entitled to the reliefs sought before this court.

“A claim not controverted is deemed admitted, in this case the defendant did not call a witness but rather rested its case on that of the plaintiff which means that all what the plaintiff claimed and their pleadings are admitted.

“I hold that Emirate Airlines failed in its obligations to customers by not delivering the luggage containing the sum of $1.630 million.

“On the whole, I hereby make the following orders; An order that Emirates Airlines pay the plaintiff the sum of $1.630 million.

“An order that the defendant pay the sum N50million to the defendant as damages. Parties shall bear their own respective costs.”

Source: The Guardian.

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