INSTANT NEWS

As part of the activities to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Wema Bank, the custodian of Africa’s first fully digital bank – ALAT – and one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks has introduced an Earn-from-Home scheme.

Celebrated as Nigeria’s most innovative financial institution, Wema Bank has achieved tremendous success over the years from its willingness to reinvent the narrative in the delivery of financial services and experiential banking to its customers.

In this light, the bank has launched the scheme to reward loyal customers with an opportunity to earn extra income. This is coming at a time when the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt by individuals and corporate organizations locally and globally.

This is in furtherance of the bank’s long history of socially responsible projects and is both timely and sensitive as it creates an alternative stream of income for its customers at a time when income channels are drying up.

According to the Head, Retail Banking, Wema Bank, Mr Dotun Ifebogun, “we believe this will empower our transacting customers to effectively leverage on the current lockdown situation and earn while at home by recommending the ALAT App to economically active family members and friends within their social network.”

In addition to the “earn from home” programme, the bank will also host Hackaholics 2.0, a 2-day hackathon and a tech fair event. Set up to promote the development of technological solutions for financial and institutional need and other social issues, Hackaholics was postponed for a later date following the coronavirus pandemic. Themed ‘Connecting Worlds’, the hackathon will bring developers, designers and creative thinkers together to develop products and discover new technologies.

“At 75, Wema Bank sees no limit to the magic she can create, no walls to the relationships she can forge, no barriers to the excellence of service, and no impossibilities in building the bank of the future,” Mr Ifebogun added.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has set up a 12-man committee to look into allegations that himself and some members of the House collected a $10 million bribe from a foreign sponsor to see to the speedy passage of the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill.

Gbajabiamila made the announcement at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Monday, alleged that the leadership of the House received $10 million bribe from Bill Gates to sponsor the controversial Bill.

Reacting, the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, had told THISDAY that the House could not fall for cheap blackmail.

He said the Bill is still being baked and Nigerians should make their input through their representatives or during the public hearing.

According to Kalu, “The Bill has not been passed, it is still before the House and yet to go through clause by clause consideration among other steps before a bill becomes an Act. The House will fine-tune whatever is in that Bill but not in the public interest. The Bill is still being baked, still in the oven. Nigerians should make their input through their representatives or during the public hearing and thereafter be patient to see the final copy which I’m sure will take care of all our concerns.”

The committee is chaired by Hon. Henry Nwawuba (PDP, Imo).

Source: THISDAY

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has resumed provision of foreign exchange to all commercial banks for onward sales to parents wishing to pay schools fees and SMEs wishing to make essential imports needed to revamp economic activities across the country.

CBN said in a statement that the move was in view of the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown both globally and in Nigeria.


In particular, CBN said it was resuming the provision of over US$100 million per week for both categories.

“The CBN has also made complete arrangements to resume foreign exchange sales to the BDC segment of the market for business travels, personal travels, and other designated retail uses, as soon as international flights resume,” the statement said.

“With these actions, the CBN wishes to reiterate that it is adequately meeting the needs of all legitimate users, and our continued capacity to do so should not be in doubt.

“There is, therefore, no need for panic by an end-user that could necessitate recourse to illegitimate sources and spike in foreign exchange rates.

“Given this, the Bank has ramped up its surveillance of the foreign exchange markets for speculators, smugglers and other illegal users, and will take decisive actions against anyone/institutions involved in such nefarious activities.”

- world stage

The Oyo State Executive Council, on Tuesday, approved the award of the contract for the construction of four Ultra-modern Bus Terminals to be located in Iwo Road, Challenge, New Ife Road and Ojoo.

The state’s Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Raphael Afonja, who stated this while speaking shortly after the day’s meeting of the State Executive Council, said that shop owners who will be affected by demolitions at the different locations would be considered for shop allocations when the new terminal is ready.

He stated that the bus terminals, also to be known as transport interchanges, will not only address problems associated with transportation in Ibadan, the state capital, they will also address security issues.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the commissioner as saying that the four Ultra-Modern Bus Terminals would redefine the skyline of the State capital, enhance security and the quality of life in the transport sector.

According to him, the Bus Terminals would incorporate Restaurants, Shops, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) galleries and Café, among others.

Afonja said: “The State Executive Council today (Tuesday) approved the award of the contract for the construction of four ultra-modern bus terminals that will include galleries for Automated Teller Machines, restaurants and shops.

“The purpose is also to collapse the transport units into bus terminals, beautify the skyline and also for security purpose. As you can see, the terminals are strategically located.

“They will also help the operations of the big buses that will soon start operation in the state. The four terminals combine the major inter-state transport units and that is why we are focusing on them.

“The state government has also upgraded the Fire Department to an Agency.”

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday hailed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for delivering on his words to pay frontline health workers daily allowances in appreciation of their work.

Kwara State Chairman of the NMA Dr Kolade Solagberu said in a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, that AbdulRazaq has fulfilled his promise to pay decent allowances to all the health workers involved in the COVID-19 campaign.

While medical doctors are being paid N25,000 daily, all other categories of health workers in the frontline are getting varying allowances on a daily basis to encourage them to do more.

“This is to appreciate Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who has kept to his words by fulfilling all promises, especially the recently disbursed financial motivations to the Frontline Healthcare workers in Kwara State who are actively involved in facing the COVID-19 challenge in the State,” Dr Solagberu said.

“This is no doubt motivating and an added impetus towards driving the ready spirit of the health workers. 

“The Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association is proud to have you as our Governor at this crucial time and shall sustain our collaborative stance to further break newer grounds for an overall improved health care system in Kwara State.”


The government meanwhile has commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its technical support for the state’s medical team, saying the NCDC delegation would be leaving Kwara better prepared to manage COVID-19 and similar cases in the future.

“I write on behalf of His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the good people of Kwara State to express our profound appreciation for your noble contribution while in the state particularly in the fight against COVID-19,” Kayode Alabi, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee, said in a letter addressed to the NCDC team which departed the state on Tuesday.

“Your expertise and technical know-how has tremendously improved the state’s healthcare services especially during this crucial time of combating the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic. It is also pertinent to state that the history of the present health challenges will not be complete without your contribution written in gold.”

The NCDC delegation, led by Dr Shuaib Belgore, arrived Kwara a few weeks ago to drill the state’s medical team on the handling of the pandemic, resulting in strengthened capacity and capability of the state to tackle the pandemic.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has revealed the drug used in treating COVID-19 patients in Nigeria.

Ehanire during a press briefing on Tuesday said Nigeria has started using Remdesivir.

Remdesivir is an antiretroviral drug, in managing COVID-19 patients.

“We have been using that (Remdesivir); we have tried that in Lagos too,” he said.

“So, we have tried the antiretroviral drug to see what effect it has.”

He added that Nigeria has moved from disease importation to community spread.

Recall that the US had approved emergency use of Remdesivir, for treatment of the disease.

The US National Institute of Health had said the drug proved effective against the new coronavirus disease.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has so far recorded 2802 cases while 93 persons have died from the coronavirus infection.