News
Rural Infrastructure: Wike flags off construction of 15 kilometre road in Kwali Area Council
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said that the provision of rural infrastructure will bridge the disconnect between the Abuja city centre and the FCT Area Councils and also discourage rural urban migration.
The FCT Minister said this during the flag-off of the construction of the 15-kilometer A2 to Pai road project linking the Abuja-Lokoja expressway to the Pai Community in Kwali Area Council.
Wike observed that the disconnect between the Abuja Lokoja Expressway and the Pai Community was due to the absence of good motorable road, and said the award and construction of the A2 to Pai road project, will enhance the living condition of the people within the community as well as improve the security situation in the area.
He said the road project would be completed by May next year and expressed confidence in the capacity of the contractor to deliver the project within the stipulated timeframe, even as he assured them of adequate funding.
Recounting the events that led to the flag off exercise, the Minister said, “Some few months ago when we came here to flag off the Pai to Gomani road and on our way going to that place, I was asking questions, what happened here. Why is there no road. How do you get to that area. The people going to that area must pass through this place?
“And we did say that we will come and flag off this road so that as the contractor is working from Pai to Gomani, then this people will work from A2 to Pai. If you add the 15-kilometer to the almost 18-kilometer from Pai to Gomani, you are talking about over 30 kilometers.
“You can imagine what the people here will benefit. You are talking about insecurity. Why will you not have insecurity when there are no access roads”.
He acknowledged the synergy between the FCT Administration and the Area Council Chairmen, as well as the traditional rulers, saying it has brought about the accelerated development of the FCT Area Councils. He also stressed the commitment of the FCTA to the provision good governance in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Barr. Wike said, “We believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda, what the President is doing through us is to connect the satellite towns to the main city so that you don’t have to say let me go and stay in the city. By the time we provide water to the satellite towns and good roads, then you will have the positive impact of governance.
“I believe by the time we put solar light on this road, it will look like the city. Be assured that under Mr. President’s tenure, every promise we have made, every project we have started, we will complete all of them. We are not going to abandon any project”.
While reiterating that all the projects undertaken by the FCT Administration were duly provided for in the budget of the FCT, Barr. Wike assured that every aspect of the projects would be fully implemented and thanked the National assembly for their continued support to the FCTA.
Giving an overview of the A2 to Pai road project, the Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said it will be provided with all the facilities of a well-designed road, including streetlights and drainages, adding that its completion will enhance smooth and free access from the A2 to Pai, down to Gomani communities.
In his remarks, the MD, Zeberced Group Ltd – contractors handling the project, Aiden Adil Kurt, committed to the timely delivery of the road project while assuring that the highest quality and standard would be adhered to. He thanked the FCT Minister for the confidence reposed in his company and pledged to also carry along members of the community during the course of the road construction.
On his part, the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Hon. Danladi Chiya also thanked the FCT Minister for the provision of infrastructure in the entire FCT Area Councils.
The traditional ruler, Etsu Kwali, HRH Luka Ayedo Nizasaan, while making his remarks, presented a symbolic letter of indigene of Kwali to the FCT Minister, which he says signifies the adoption of the Minister as a son of Kwali, with the name, Shagasa, which he said means, ‘Heavens share opportunities’, in appreciation of the Minister’s developmental efforts in the Area Council.
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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