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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Jimoh babatunde L AGOS— Two months  after a building of eight bedrooms was sealed up by operatives of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, in Kirikiri area, Apapa, Lagos, for being stocked with expired and fake products, two other buildings in the vicinity (Comfort Oboh Street) were, weekend, discovered to be stocked with expired household products. The fake products, which the importer has been arrested, were household consumables imported by the same company accused of tampering with products’ expiry dates and labels two months ago. SON’s Director-General, Osita Aboloma, who was represented by the Director of Inspectorate and Compliance, Bede Obayi, said most of the substandard products that had left the warehouse will be traced and recalled. He said: “We acted on the intelligence report received from well-meaning Nigerians and a tip-off courtesy of the Nigeria Police Force. You can see the volume of expired products here and imagine the implicatio...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Providence Obuh ACCION Microfinance  Bank (AMfB), weekend, revealed a disbursement of N62 billion since inception in 2007 and N15 billion in its financial year ended, December 2016. Also, the bank’s loan portfolio grew from N5.45 billion in 2015 to N6.12 billion 2016 representing a 12 percent growth with a corresponding growth of 20 percent in the number of customers who are saving money with the bank. Speaking at the 11th  Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, Chairman AMfB, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, said that business environment in the year under review was not easy as the economy experienced slow growth and had its full year recession since 1987. He added that despite the challenges in the year, the bank remained strong and profitable while serving an increasing number of clients. Akinwuntan assured that the bank would in the new year deepen its use of technology to serve customers better through multiple channels to access and transact on their...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Favour Nnabugwu, Reporting from Kampala THE agitation of labor unions for full payment of workers’ accumulated funds in their pension accounts under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) represents misguided perception of the scheme. Managing Director of IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Glory Etaduovie, who took this position told Vanguard Insurance that the government acted in the best interest of the country’s pensioners. He stated: “There is still a serious gap in understanding the Contributory Pension Scheme. The passion and negative emotions of those fighting implementation was palpable. “Some information making rounds is that the states that adopted the CPS are failing like Kaduna and Niger, which clearly, are not true because we have facts of the schemes. The mix-up is coming from the challenges of transition from the old scheme to the new one.” Etaduovie added, “This is especially so for those caught in between of both schemes. This will dis...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J AFRICAN Brand Congress is set to host   this year’s event soon in Lagos. The African Brand Congress is an annual fiesta of best brains behind most successful and sought after African brands. According to the Convener, Desmond Esorougwe, the congress is designed to educate, engage and inspire brand managers and professionals in the pursuit of best practice in brand building and value creation. It is an appropriate platform for all brand owner and industry players to discuss how brands in Africa can increase their global competitiveness. He said, “Seeking to enhance professional development skill in the area that are most relevant to the business community today; the congress will provide hand on skill building experience for brands and brand management community. “Therefore, the congress expects participants from all over Africa. Participants will find a full year’s worth of thought provoking, insightful and tangible ideals with speakers and peers throug...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the Central States of the country on Monday. NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday also predicted day and night temperatures of 25 to 36 and 16 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to NiMet there will be prospects of localised thunderstorms over Jos, Kaduna, Minna, Bida and Yola axis in the afternoon and evening hours. The agency predicted increase morning cloudiness over the southern states with chances of localised rain over Lagos and Calabar with day and night temperatures of 31 to 35 and 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. NiMet also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over Ado Ekiti, Oshogbo, Abeokuta, Owerri, Awka, Abakaliki, and Port Harcourt during the evening and night period. According to NiMet, northern states will experience partly cloudy conditions with day and night temperatures of 38 to 40 and 24 t...

http://ift.tt/2qpYcGt Kaduna – Some political analysts in Kaduna on Sunday hailed President Muhammadu for his handling of corruption and insecurity issues since coming to power tow years ago. President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo[/caption The analysts in separate interviews said the administration has also brought about greater openness, transparency and accountability in the business of governance. Muhammad Ibrahim, National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said Buhari’s two years were largely a huge success. He noted that the fight against corruption has not only brought the issues to public discourse by also made those running public affairs conscious of the need to be transparent and accountable. “The whistle blower policy of the government has also yielded positive results with the discoveries of stolen public funds hidden in banks, homes, farms and obscure places and the forfeiture of such monies to the Federal Government.” He ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Peter Duru M AKURDI— ONE person was beheaded and three others hacked to death, while scores sustained injuries, weekend, as rival militant gangs clash at Tse-Igbe, Abaji, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The crisis also led to the razing of many houses, huts and food barns with many fleeing their homes for fear of being killed by the armed gangs. Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the two militant groups had over time engaged in battles of supremacy, leading to the death of many and destruction of property in the area. The eyewitness said: “The groups, known as 20-20 and Tor Abaji , have always been at loggerheads.” Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Moses Yamu, said it was a reprisal attack, which also led to the burning down of over 30 houses. Yamu, who said police had moved into the community to ensure peace, urged members of the public to always avail police useful inform...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Coalition for Truth and Justice has described the calls in some quarters for the resignation of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello by ‘some misguided elements’ as ridiculous and unnecessary. Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State have recently called on Governor Yahaya Bello to resign over the accusation that he registered twice for Permanent Voter Card. The spokesman for the members, Sen. Dino Melaye had claimed that the people of Kogi State and the party were dissociating themselves from the act and called on Bello to resign immediately or risk impeachment. “We are saying that as stakeholders in Kogi politics and the All Progressives Congress, we condemn in its entirety the fraudulent behaviour of Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State.” “Kogi people are responsible people and we expect to have a responsible governor. As at the time he was contesting that election, it showed that he was not a registered voter in Kogi state...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J ACCESS Bank Plc has unveiled a new savings scheme tagged ‘Family Savings Scheme’ initiated to give its customers a boost in their savings. The exercise is in line with the Bank’s commitment to promoting savings culture among the populace. The ‘Family Savings Scheme’ is a savings scheme designed to encourage families to save together and enjoy exclusive privileges such as high interest rates and family rewards while they continue to enjoy the confidentiality of their banking relation and manage their accounts as unique individuals. The Scheme provides access to people who are presently excluded from financial services whilst promoting capital accumulation and investment boom. Under the scheme, a minimum of four family members are encouraged to bank with Access Bank and enjoy exclusive value propositions. Eligible family members include partners, children, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. According to the Bank’s Executive Director, Personal Bank...