News
Lalong tasks Plateau traditional rulers to shun partisan politics
Plateau State Governor Barr. Simon Bako Lalong has on Saturday tasks traditional rulers in Plateau State to shun partisan politics and concentrate on uniting the people and sustaining peace in their domains.
Lalong stated this during the installation and presentation of first class staff of office to Da John Putmang Hirse as the new Mishkaham Mwagavul, Mangu Local Government warned traditional rulers to shun politicians who want to use them to create division, acrimony and violence in their domains for their selfish political interests.
The event which took place at the Mangu mini stadium had in attendance dignitaries from all over the country including APC Vice Presidential running mate Senator Kashim Shettima, Yobe State Governor Maimala Buni, APC Deputy National Chairman Sen. Abubakar Kyari and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, APC Candidate Dr. Yilwatda Nentawe among others.
Lalong while congratulating the Miskaham Mwagavul for ascending the throne of his forefathers, said the new traditional traditional ruler has a very enviable record of service within his community, Plateau State and Nigeria which gives anticipation that he will excell in the onerous assignment.
He said “Let me advise His Royal Highness and all other traditional rulers to be careful of their conduct and utterances during the political season. You must remain apolitical and demonstrate that you are fathers to all. Resist every attempt by politicians to drag you into their scheming, maneuvering and desperation to get power using ethnicity, religion and other sentiments. Pray for them and admonish them to convince the people and play by the rules of the game. Anyone who chooses to leave his duty and dabble into politics will have himself to blame”.
The Governor said while his administration has no intention of imposing any traditional ruler on the people, it is worthy to say that the Government is disappointed that the efforts to fill some vacant stools in the State are being frustrated due to lingering litigations among the Royal Class. Nevertheless, he said he will continue to do his best to ensure that where vacant stools exist, necessary steps are taken to resolve the issues.
“I must remind you that although I have no part in the emergence of any traditional ruler, I have a duty and powers to remove anyone found to be working against the interest of the people or the State. Those who are privileged to occupy these positions must carry out their assignments based on trust and transparency. No traditional ruler should be a tyrant to his people to take sides with those who are working against the welfare and well-being of the people” he said.
The Mishkaham Mwaghavul Mwaghavul Da John Putmang Hirse in his acceptance speech said he was privileged and honoured to be enthroned as the ruler of his people who are known for hardwork, unity and peaceful coexistence.
He thanked the Governor for allowing the process of his emergence to be free and fair and for making sure the will of the king makers prevails.
In a goodwill message, APC Vice Presidential running mate Senator Kashim Shettima congratulated the Mishkaham Mwaghavul and said the Kanuri people share historical ties with the Mwaghavul people which is well documented and cherished.
He wished him well and assured him of the support and prayers of the people of Borno and Yobe States.
COCIN Vice President Rev. Dr. Timothy Nwan prayed for the new traditional ruler and committed his reign to God. Various District Heads, title holders as well as leaders of resident ethnic groups in the Chiefdom paid homage to the Miskaham Mwagavul.
The Education Ministry said it is in contact with security and education officials and is coordinating with admins and parents.
A plane carrying a group of 150 Israeli students on a trip to Poland made an intermediate landing in Antalya, Turkey, the Education Ministry said on Monday.
The landing was made following concerns about a technical malfunction, and for reasons of caution, a decision was made to stop in accordance with aviation rules.
N12 reported that a bird had entered the plane’s engine during the flight.
The high school student delegation – from Ein Kerem High School in Jerusalem – was en route to Poland on a standard school trip to learn about the events of the Holocaust. They were accompanied by security personnel from the Shin Bet, as is customary for any delegation to Poland.
The Education Ministry said that they are in continuous contact with security and education officials and are in coordination with school administrations and parents.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. September 19, 2021. (credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)
It was reported that all the students “are feeling well, staying in a safe and protected area within the airport, and are closely accompanied by the teaching staff who are with them at all times.”
In addition, the ministry was informed that a replacement plane is on its way to them, and it is estimated that at 3:00 p.m., they will take off for Krakow to continue their educational journey.
Holocaust learning
Israeli school trips to Poland typically take place in the winter and the summer, and, according to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, aim to allow “students to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, to be exposed to the atrocities that took place, and to prove the victory and resurrection over the attempt to destroy the Jewish people.”
In November 2023, the ministry announced it would cancel the winter Poland trips due to the rise of antisemitism worldwide in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.
…Declares a total dividend of N2.10 per share
Lagos, Nigeria, March 29, 2025: Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, released its 2024 full-year Audited Financial Statements, reporting a 210% growth in Profit Before Tax to N385.2 billion.
According to the Bank’s results released on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Friday, 28 March 2025, Gross Earnings increased by 87.7% to N1,043.4bn, driven by 106.9% growth in interest and similar income to N950.6bn. The increase in Interest Income was led by a combination of improved yield on earnings assets and 51.6% expansion in earnings base to N6.3tn. This led to a Profit After Tax of N278.1 billion, representing a 179.6% annual growth.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc said, “We are delighted with our 2024 full-year (FY) performance, which showed strong growth across key revenue lines, improved asset quality, and significant traction in our strategic business segments. Our impressive results led to a triple-digit increase (210.0%) in Profit Before Tax (PBT), rising from N124.3bn in 2023 to N385.2bn in 2024.”
A further review of the financial performance revealed that the bank’s net interest income increased by 127.1% to N629.8 billion, driven by a high-yield environment in 2024. To optimize its margin, the bank sustained its asset yields above funding cost by maintaining a high low-cost deposit profile at 92.6%. This led to an increase in its Net Interest Margin from 8.1% in 2023 FY to 12.0%.
Similarly, the bank continued to deepen its market share in both the corporate and retail segments, with customer deposits increasing by 47.9% from N4.0trn in 2023FY to N5.9trn. The increase was driven by strong double-digit growth across all deposit types. The Retail Banking Business gained significant traction with savings deposits increasing by 28.8% to N1.1trn, marking the 10th consecutive year of double-digit annual growth in savings deposits.
Despite the difficult economic terrain in 2024, the bank has continued to support the real sector of the economy by increasing its Net Loans & Advances from N3.1tn in 2023FY to N4.4tn in 2024FY.
“This remarkable performance demonstrates our capacity to deliver superior returns to our shareholders. In line with our commitment to them, we have declared a final dividend of N1.25 per share, bringing our total dividend for the 2024 financial year to N2.10 per share”, explained Onyeali-Ikpe.
Having consistently paid dividends since 2006, Fidelity Bank will pay investors a total dividend of N2.10 per share for the 2024 financial year, subject to shareholders’ approval at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 29 April 2024. The dividend will be paid on 29 April 2025 to shareholders whose names appear on the register of members as of 15 April 2025.
It will be recalled that the bank successfully completed the first phase of its capital raising exercise through a Public Offer and Rights Issue in 2024, which were oversubscribed by 237.92% and 137.73%, respectively. The positive result is a testament to the strength of the Bank’s franchise in the capital market. A total of N175.9bn was recognized as fresh capital in 2024 financial year from the exercise, which had a positive impact on its Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 23.5%. The bank plans to conclude the second phase by Q3 2025, ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s deadline, which will further strengthen its capital base and reaffirm its attainment of Tier 1 Bank status in the Nigerian Banking Industry.
Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial bank with over 9.1 million customers who are serviced across its 251 business offices and various digital banking channels in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.
Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
By Sunday James
The gruesome killing of 16 innocent northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, over false accusations of kidnapping is yet another damning indictment of the failure of law and order in Nigeria.
Time and again, innocent lives have been lost to the mindless brutality of mob justice, a savage and inexcusable act that has become far too common across the country.
This is not an isolated incident. Nigeria has witnessed several tragic cases of jungle justice where angry mobs, fueled by misinformation and misplaced aggression, have taken the law into their own hands.
The Aluu Four incident in 2012, where four young university students in Rivers State were falsely accused of robbery, beaten, and burned to death in a horrific public spectacle, remains one of the most chilling examples.
In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a young student in Sokoto State, was lynched by fellow students over alleged blasphemy, an incident that sparked outrage but yielded little justice. In Lagos, several suspected petty thieves were set ablaze by mobs in broad daylight without any fair trial.
Across the country, from Anambra to Kano, Port Harcourt to Abuja, numerous cases of public executions by mobs continue to surface, often with little to no legal consequences for perpetrators.
The rise of mob justice is fueled by a cocktail of systemic failures that have left Nigerians disillusioned with formal justice mechanisms.
The breakdown of law and order, where the Nigerian police fail to deliver swift and transparent justice, has led to public distrust, encouraging citizens to take matters into their own hands. Rising insecurity, including the surge in kidnappings, banditry, and violent crimes, has left many communities in perpetual fear, triggering knee-jerk reactions to perceived threats. Ethnic and religious tensions have also played a major role, with deep-seated biases making certain groups more vulnerable to targeted attacks.
The proliferation of unregulated local vigilante groups and security outfits has further emboldened extrajudicial actions against innocent civilians. Additionally, the slow pace of criminal trials and the failure to punish perpetrators of jungle justice have normalized impunity.The Edo killings, like many before them, must not be swept under the rug.
The government must ensure immediate arrest, prosecution, and conviction of all those involved in this heinous act. Strengthening law enforcement agencies to curb vigilante excesses and restore public trust is paramount.
There must be massive public enlightenment campaigns to educate citizens on legal redress rather than mob action. Strict penalties must be enforced against communities and groups involved in jungle justice to deter future occurrences.The Nigerian government must wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and ensuring justice for all.
If mob justice continues unchecked, no one is truly safe. This latest atrocity in Edo should be the final warning: justice delayed is justice denied. The killers must be held accountable, and a nationwide crackdown on jungle justice must begin immediately. Enough is enough. The rule of law must prevail.
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