The management of Cooperative Mortgage Bank (CMB) has introduced a unique Agency Banking system, Coop One-Stop , this us to bring banking closer to the populace for efficiency and transparency,
The initiative is designed to allow agents who would be physically present in Cooperative Society Offices, local governments, universities, markets, villages and small communities to provide regular banking services and perform other functions which encompass National Social Housing Savings Scheme, Cooperative Save for Shelter and Thrift Savings (Ajọ).
The Head of Agency Banking, Mrs Stella Abu, explained that Agency Banking has grown over the years since it was first initiated in Brazil in 1999 due to its versatility, a method CMB is currently adopting to make banking easier for all.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Head, Communications and Public Relations, Cooperative Mortgage Bank (CMB) Mrs Olufunmilayo Afolabi stated that, Coop One-Stop project will provide employment for Nigerians who are willing to take banking to their neighbourhoods and make huge profit.
Mrs Abu, however called on interested Nigerians to embrace the opportunity, saying, Agents will benefit from adequate training and provision of necessary facilities specially designed for the project.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CMB, Kabir Tukur, also assured both existing and potential customers of exceptional service delivery and commitment to satisfaction.
He urged cooperators, who are the main beneficiaries of the Coop One-Stop Agency Banking initiative, and Nigerians in general to key into the project for maximum benefits.
Established in 1994, Cooperative Mortgage Bank’s twin objectives are: provision of affordable and durable houses to the populace, and provision of structured mortgage for ease of home ownership.
As an award-winning financial institution with over 13 contact centres across the nation, CMB is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and accredited by Federal Department of Cooperatives as a cooperators’ bank.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib disclosed that as at 24th May, 2021 the agency has been able to provide first COVID-19 vaccine doses to a total number of 1,929,237 Nigerians, representing 96% of the targeted population.
He also added that, they have begun providing second doses, and that number has reached 4,683. Those individuals currently eligible for second doses will have received their first dose 6 to 12 weeks ago.
Shuaib made this known at a press conference on update in Nigerian on the status COVID-19 vaccination which will henceforth become routine every Tuesday at 1.00pm on Tuesday at the NPHCDA headquarters in Abuja.
NPHCDA boss, however, advised all Nigerians who have received their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose, and ensure that they receive the second dose to gain full protection against COVID-19.
His words , “As we transition to administering second doses, our teams have assessed the communication and mobilization activities that have been undertaken thus far to create awareness for the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage uptake. We will be building on the work we’ve already done in these areas to ensure that Nigerians can easily access accurate information about COVID-19 vaccination. Our goal is to do everything possible to educate, combat misinformation, and ensure confidence in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and to ensure all Nigerians have clear information on how, where, and when to get the vaccine. We will do this through continuous engagement and communication with communities across our country.
“Permit me to say that the success we have achieved with the first dose is the collective efforts of all stakeholders, for which we are most grateful.
“In particular, I want to use this opportunity to sincerely appreciate the father of the nation His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his exemplary leadership and for providing all the needed resources to enable us successfully conduct this unprecedented massive vaccination. We also wish to appreciate the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 response under the leadership of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha for his guidance. Our partners and donors have been with us providing technical support and resources. They are represented here by the WHO and UNICEF Country Representatives Dr Walter Mulombo and Peter Hawkins respectively. We thank you so much”.
He also noted that, the global community is facing great challenges regarding vaccine supply. Like most nations, this impacts the clarity over Nigeria’s next shipment. Saying, While we have information that we may get the next consignment of vaccines by end of July or August, these have not been officially confirmed. When we are able to, we will provide an update regarding timelines and details of the next shipment. At present, we do not have that information available due to the wider context we are in.
“However, we can update you on some positive developments. Pfizer and BioNTech pledged on Friday of last week to provide 1 billion doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to low-and-middle income countries by the end of 2021, and another 1 billion doses in 2022. Johnson & Johnson also announced it has signed a deal to provide 200 million doses of its vaccine to Covax.
He continued; “Separately, the International Monetary Fund is now advocating for a $50 billion fund to be spent on ensuring a faster rollout of COVID-19 vaccines globally and is calling for at least 40% of the global population to be vaccinated by the end of this year, and at least 60% by June 2022. The fund would be used to increase COVAX vaccine coverage, procure additional tests, and expand vaccine production capacity. We strongly endorse the creation of such a fund, and emphasize that all nations must have comparable access to COVID-19 vaccines in order to end this pandemic.
“Additionally, the United States announced it will donate 20 million vaccine doses by the end of June to the COVAX scheme”, he explained.
Providing an update on the rescheduled dates for the PSC’s Zonal Town Hall meetings across the remaining Zones, Shuaib said, North-East is scheduled for 8th of June in Yola, Adamawa State; South-South Zonal Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 15th of June 2021 in Benin, Edo State; The South-West Zonal Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 22nd June 2021 in Lagos, Lagos State; The North-West Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 29th of June 2021 in Kano, Kano State; and the last Town Hall meeting in the South East is scheduled for Owerri, Imo State on 6th of July 2021.
NHPCDA boss noted that, the Federal Government is taking significant precautions to protect Nigerians against B.1.617.2, known as the Indian variant. Flights from India and other high-risk countries such as Turkey and Brazil have been barred from entering Nigeria, we are ramping up our test and trace measures, and we are accelerating the national project to establish production of oxygen supplies across all states of Nigeria.
He also seized the opportunity to enjoin Nigerians to continue to observe the Public Health or non-pharmaceutical measures in place to curb the transmission of Covid-19, as we are not out of the woods yet.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has expressed concern over alleged outrageous demands and notices of multiple taxation in the territory and vowed to put an end to it in line with the ease of doing business, and for the benefit of Abuja residents.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who spoke on Tuesday at a retreat: “Resolving the conflicting issues on tax collections in the FCT”, however, noted that the retreat was one of government’s sustained efforts at providing the platform for building a bigger economy.
Aliyu acknowledged the acrimony between the FCT Administration and the Area Council authorities as it relate to the collection of levies, rates, charges and other demands, however, affirming that the administration was not unmindful of the position of the constitution as the supreme law of the country in the discharge of this essential function of government.
She also assured that efforts are in place to further fine-tune the constitutional provisions especially with respect to the status of Abuja as the seat of the federal government, adding that the authorities are doing everything possible within the confines of the law to reaching an amicable agreement with the political leaders in the area councils in areas of misunderstanding.
The Minister further stated that in the spirit of ease of doing business the FCT Administration welcomes any initiatives that would open the door for investments, create job opportunities and optimally utiliszed the God-given resources which the Federal Capital Territory is blessed with.
While appealing to residents for their support by committing to regular payment of taxes and charges due for services, she, however, stressed that the administration and indeed the six Area Councils, could hardly achieve any development without the payment of taxes, levies and charges on services being rendered.
Aliyu assured chairmen of the six Area Councils of the readiness of her office to collaborate with them for a mutual desire to make life better for residents at the grassroots in the interest of good governance.
Similarly, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, noted that the imposition and collection of tax revenues was a constitutional obligation that binds the citizens and their leaders and provides the needed resources for progressive national development.
Adesola, hinted that collection of tax revenues in the FCT to a large extent are being undertaken in a brigand fashion, thus inflicting mental and physical torture on the citizens.
His words; “We can easily recall and relate to the viral but avoidable incident where customers were locked inside a restaurant in the FCC by overzealous Area Council’s revenue officials; a situation that gravely caused serious embarrassment to the government.
“The more friendly our businesses environment is, the more we will be able to attract investments that will in turn result to higher tax revenue. The corollary will undermine our revenue generation efforts to the detriment of all,” Adesola affirmed.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),Mr. Olusade Adesola has describe as totally unacceptable and reprehensible, the spate of destruction of government critical facilities.
While calling on the acting Managing Director of Water Board, Mrs. Joy Okoro to work with the Security Department to ensure men of the Civil Defence Corps are redeployed to protect all facilities owned by the Board in line with the mandate of the Corps.
Adesola made this known when carried out an inspection tour on the Lower Usuma Dam Treatment Plant located in Bwari Area Council of nation’s capital with a view to ascertaining areas the Administration needed to improve on.
According to him, FCT Administration is taking all necessary precautionary measures to avert any ugly situation around the Dam, he however expressed shock over the massive encroachment around the Dam reserve areas, explaining that in the event of any failure, the volume of water from the Dam can submerge the entire Bwari.
He also stated that, the construction of the water treatment plant shows the administration’s huge investment in the advancement of the welfare of her citizens.
While adding that the FCT Administration would continue to prioritize the maintenance of the Dam for optimum service delivery.
A tanker fully loaded with about 45,000 litres of PMS exploded immediately after crashing at Banire-Ejigbadero Busstop, Egbeda of Lagos state.
The incident which occurred in the midnight on Monday involved a tanker which reportedly loaded at Abuke Ado, in Lagos.
According to a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Head Media and Public Relations, NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel stated that the “tanker with no registration number is still half filled with PMS and stranded across the major highway. No live was lost or property destroyed.”l
The Police Disaster Management Unit and Gowon Estate Police Station have apprehended the driver of the truck.
“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also reacted immediately to the distress alert and quickly responded
“Presently, efforts are on to decan and transload the volatile content to another tanker before road can be reopened for traffic.”
He stated that Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit, Police DMU and the Gowon Estate Police Division were also at the scene of the incident.
A police officer, Idi Aminu, member 32 PMF attached to Afikpo police Division has been killed by an explosive device suspected to be hand grenade.
Speaking on the issue, the Police public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi state police command, DSP Lovett Odah explained that the device in the possession of the officer exploded, and killed him.
She stressed that there was no bomb explosion in Ebonyi state, noted that the public should not be thrown into unnecessary panic.
Nonetheless, the residents of Afikpo in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi state are confused, panicked.
Meanwhile , a retired veteran journalist and President General in the Afikpo community,Chief Jasper Okoro told newsmen that a number of residents of the area suspect that it was a bomb explosion.
He said the explosion was near their Eke Market and a primary school of which the casualty figure could have been more if the bearer of the explosive had reached the market or school.
The father of the late 29-year-old pilot, Asaniyi Taiwo,who flew the crashed military plane, Mr Asaniyi Rufus, has said that only God can console him and members of his family over the demise of his son.
He made this known at his residence on Monday, the 62-year-old father of the late pilot, who betrayed emotion repeatedly, lamented the death of his son.
According to him; I struggled to ensure that my children have the best. I did farming for 32 years to support my teaching job, just to ensure that my children have the best of education.
“Since my retirement in 2019, Taiwo has been the one sustaining my family. All the responsibilities of the family had been on his shoulder, being the first male child.
“He was a blessing to us and our extended family. I had thought that the chain of hardship had been broken, but God took him away,” the bereaved father said.
Asaniyi appealed to the Federal Government to help find jobs for his late son’s siblings so that he (father) would not die thinking of him.
“I want to appeal to government to please help me find jobs for them because God has taken my beloved Taiwo away,” he said, sobbing uncontrollably.
Similarly, the deceased’s mother, Mrs Rachael Asaniyi, 59, who could barely speak, also appealed for government’s assistance.
Also speaking, the eldest child of the family, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olaoye, who spoke highly of her late brother, said the family had taken solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.
“Just a day to the incident, he called me that I should get the list of things sent by our in-laws for his marriage and that I should put costs on them and get back to him.
“He also told me that the military had asked him to proceed on a course in the United Kingdom with effect from June 12.
“My brother was exceptionally brilliant; he was the shining light of both our nuclear and extended family, but God knows best,” she said.
The widow of Flt Lt Alfred Olufade, the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft that killed 11 military officers, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in Kaduna on Friday, Jennifer Olufade revealed that her late pilot dreamt of the crash a day earlier.
Jennifer, who got married to the late pilot three months ago, made this known in an emotion-laden tribute to her husband which she posted on her Instagram page, @joba_star, on Monday.
According to her, “I prayed with her husband when he woke up and narrated the bad dream to her. My husband made successful trips to Enugu and Owerri and returned to Abuja.
“I received a message from him that they were again heading to Kaduna, she tried reaching him to dissuade him from embarking on the trip but without success.
“Oh sparkle, you left me so early. Oh, my best friend, where do I start from? I am broken and pierced, my heart aches. This wasn’t what you promised me; you said you will always be there for me
“On 20th of May, at about 4am, you woke me up with fear and said ‘baby, baby, I had a bad dream. I dreamt that I crashed on my way to Kaduna.’ You said it looked very real. I prayed for you seriously that morning and asked you not to worry and asked you your mission order and who you were flying with and you told me Flt. Lt Asaniyi.
“I said ‘don’t worry, you will go and come back.’ You went to Enugu, Owerri and back to Abuja. We did video call and also spoke at length and you were just smiling. Little did I know that was your last smile.
“The next message I received was that you were going to Kaduna. My heart shattered, I smelt danger, I started calling you, you didn’t pick. Why didn’t you pick? Why? I wanted begging you not to go.
She continued; “These three months have been heaven for me. We eat together in the same plate, we prayed together, we laughed and cried together. This wasn’t the plan you had for me.
“You said you will always be my side. It is still like a dream that I can’t see you. I know you are coming back to me. All I see is condolence messages. How do I stand them? Reading them pierces my heart even more.
“I feel like a failure, I couldn’t stop you, I couldn’t stop Asaniyi, oh my God, Oh My God. You saw this.
Similarly, a childhood friend of late Olufade, Esther David, in an interview with newsmen described the late pilot as a gentle and easy going man.
“He was my very good friend. We were close, very close. I am still in shock; I wish it is all a dream. I haven’t been able to sleep since Friday.”
No fewer than 20 people have been killed in a recent Cholera outbreak in Bauchi state, the State Ministry of Health has confirmed.
The State Commissioner of health, Dr Aliyu Mohammed Maigoro confirm this on Tuesday at a press conference at the State Ministry of health in Bauchi, saying, 322 cases of gastroenteritis were reported in nine local government area of Bauchi, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Giade, Misau, Ningi, Shira, Toro and Warji.
He further stated that Bauchi local government recorded 149 cases with 9 deaths, Darazo LGA recorded 1 case, Ganjuwa recorded 7 cases, Giade recorded 10 cases with 1 death, Misau recorded 31 cases with 4 deaths, Ningi recorded 51 cases with 3 deaths, Shira recorded 1 case, Toro recorded 58 cases with 3 deaths while Warji recorded 16 cases.
He said that the first index case was that of a 37 year old housewife who was presented at Burra General hospital on the 24th of April, 2021, adding that the index cases complained of abdominal pains, watery diarrhea and vomiting, which she and others affected were successfully managed and discharged.
According to him, “The ministry through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency responded immediately to prevent the spread to other communities.It was discovered that there was an ongoing outbreak of similar disease in neighboring Sumaila and other local government areas of Kano state”
“Following intensified surveillance activities as a result of the report from Bura, four local government areas of Warji, Bauchi, Giade, Toro, detected and reported cases of gastroenteritis.No fewer than 21 samples have so far been collected and tested out of which 19 positive by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT( and culture, confirmed the presence of Cholera” he said
Aliyu said that some of the response activities so far conducted include activation of the State Public Health Emergency Operation Center, development of an incident Action Plan, surveillance activities heightened to detect and report cases promptly, setting up of isolation centers in all the general hospitals of the affected local government.
Other response activities according to the commissioner include provision of drugs and consumables to all the Isolation sites in the state, mobilization of staff to provide care to victims, chlorination of wells and decontamination of households in the affected LGAs, engagement of community and religious leaders and the general public on prevention and control measures amongst others.
The Federal Government has declared 63 Nigerians and 27 foreigners wanted for violating the quarantine provisions of the COVID-19 guidelines, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha has disclosed.
He, however, recalled that the Presidential Steering Committee on 1st May 2021 issued a Travel Advisory for passengers arriving in Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey.
He said that , these precautionary measures were necessary step to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of concern and break the chain of transmission to the population in the country.
Mustapha said under the new measures, passengers arriving from/or that have visited any of the three countries within 14 days prior to the visit to Nigeria, are required to follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities.
“The PSC has however observed that while most of the arriving passengers dutifully observed the guidelines, some (Nigerians and foreigners) have violated them in contravention of the provisions of the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Health Regulations Protection, 2021.
“Accordingly, the underlisted persons who arrived in Nigeria between 8 May 2021 and 15 May 2021 through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja and whose names and passport numbers are displayed, have been declared Persons of Interest (POI) on account of posing considerable danger to overall public health and for the violation of Nigeria COVID-19 travel protocol by evading the mandatory 7-day quarantine for persons arriving from restricted countries,” Mustapha said.
He added that members of the public were advised that these POI constitute an immediate health hazard to the society.
“They must therefore transport themselves safely, to the nearest state public health departments within 48hrs of this notice for immediate evaluation and call the Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health on 08036134672 or 08032461990 for further directions.
“The PSC shall in addition, take further steps to sanction these violators,” the SGF said.
He listed the sanctions to include disabling their travel passports for a period not less than one year; cancelation of visas/permits of foreigners that have abused Nigeria’s hospitality; and prosecution under the 2021 Health Protection Regulations.
He also said that additional list of Batch II defaulters shall be published subsequently.
Our correspondent reports that the breakdown of the 90 defaulters are 63 Nigerians, 26 Indians and one Danish (Dane).
Four of the Nigerian defaulters arrived through the Abuja airport while 42 arrived via the Lagos airport.
Seven other Nigerians listed under “Other Categories” all arrived from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
