Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Zenith Bank Plc has made public the appointment of Mr. Kennedy Onuwa Okwudili as an Executive Director, effective May 1, 2026. The appointment reflects the bank’s long-standing commitment to internal talent development and strategic succession planning, further reinforcing its executive management team. Mr. Okwudili holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Accounting from University of Maiduguri, earned in 1998 with a Second Class Upper division. He later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ahmadu Bello University in 2008, and a Master of Science in Accounting from Veritas University in 2021. Carrying  well over 25 years of extensive banking…

Elegbede Abiodun • Halts ongoing recapitalisation and investor selection processes. • Says CBN went beyond its statutory powers. Federal High Court in Lagos has knocked-off the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) takeover of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Responding, the apex bank said the status of the institution remains “unchanged”, noting that it would review the certified true copy of the judgment for appropriate action. The regulator assured that it would continue to provide necessary regulatory oversight to ensure the bank operate in a sound, stable and safe manner. The court ruled that the apex bank acted beyond its statutory…

Elegbede Abiodun • Those permitted on BRT lanes are emergency response vehicles. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has threatened to arrest and prosecute military personnel, local council officials and others found on the corridor of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). LAMATA warned that no other vehicle than designated BRT buses and vehicles operating under franchises duly regulated by LAMATA, is allowed to use the dedicated lanes. It added that only emergency response vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances, were exempted from the rule, when responding to emergencies. Head, Corporate Communication of LAMATA, Kolawole Ojelabi, stated that there…

Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, Abuja. • Action to take effect from May 1. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all international money transfer operators (IMTOs) to deliver remittances through naira settlement accounts held with authorised dealer banks (ADBs). The directive reiterated the position of the bank as contained in an earlier policy issued in 2024. The bank also directed IMTOs to settle remittances using Bloomberg BMATCH real-time rates to enhance market transparency and confidence. The directive, signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Musa Nakorji, applies to all disbursements to beneficiaries and related…

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the private security firm responsible for protecting the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), has warned its surveillance contractors and guards against negligence following two recent cases of attempted crude oil theft in Rivers and Bayelsa States. The warning came after operatives intercepted two tankers attempting to load crude oil at the Atali axis in Zone 4, an operation the company says was foiled only by its backup intelligence system. Preliminary findings, according to PINL, point to a possible coordinated conspiracy involving insiders. PINL, whose operations also cover the Eastern Gas Network (EGN),…

MFB Alert Microfinance Bank (Alert MFB), in collaboration with CreditCorp and Visaro, have inaugurated a specialised Fly Now, Pay Later (FNPL) service to boost travel financing. This three-way partnership is set to redefine travel accessibility for millions of Nigerians by providing seamless, flexible credit at the point of booking. In an economic climate where rising airfares often limit personal and business travel, the collaboration offers a timely financial solution. The FNPL service enables travellers to book flights instantly and spread payments over a fixed period through manageable, low-interest instalments. This initiative responds to the growing demand for credit-backed lifestyle solutions…

MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank (MMPSB), Nigeria’s leading payment service bank, has said that it has further strengthen its mobile banking application to improve the order flow for its airtime and data products to improve customer experience. For airtime, the Moneymaster mobile banking app now has an enhanced visual appeal, thus, providing customers with a cleaner, and more modern interface that streamlines account selection, denomination selection and a dynamic input validation. For its data products, the new interface organizes data into logical tabs of hot, daily, weekly, monthly, exclusive and special. In addition, each data now clearly displays data volume, validity…

Elegbede Abiodun With AI Reshaping PR, EvaluatePR Examines Trust, Truth And The Future Of Communication. P+ Measurement Services, Nigeria’s leading independent media intelligence and PR measurement agency, will play host to the 31st edition of its flagship thought-leadership platform, EvaluatePR, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (WAT). Themed “PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026,” this virtual session will convene professionals across public relations, communications, and media measurement to explore how algorithms, artificial intelligence, and digital ecosystems are reshaping reputation management, media influence, and audience trust. With the increasing role of automation in communications, the…

The refinery was forced to source preferred Nigerian crude grades from the international market at higher costs. The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, David Bird, has said the facility is receiving far below its agreed crude oil supply under the Federal Government’s crude-for-naira arrangement. Bird disclosed this during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, noting that the refinery currently gets only about five cargoes of crude monthly, against an expected 13 to 15 cargoes. He said the shortfall has affected the refinery’s ability to fully optimise local crude supply despite existing agreements. “What we see under that agreement,…

Polaris Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen gender equity as a business and growth imperative during its 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) event, spotlighting sustained investments in women’s empowerment, financial inclusion, and leadership development. In line with this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” highlighting a call to action for accelerating gender equality through generosity, collaboration,and investment in women. The speakers emphasized intentional contribution as a catalyst for collective progress. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO, Kayode Lawal, underscored the strategic value of the theme, “Gender Equity as a Business Imperative: The Give to Gain Advantage.” He noted that…