Ecobank Nigeria has launched an Application for Businesses. Known as Omni Lite App, it is targeted at enhancing the banking experience of its large pool of Commercial Banking customers. The Ecobank Omni Lite App is a highly secure, world-class and integrated electronic banking platform designed to help Clients manage their Business accounts online in a secure, flexible, efficient and convenient manner. It is a fully integrated multi-geography, multi-lingual and multi-currency online, web-based cash management platform. The App is being launched by the Ecobank Group across 33 countries in Africa where the Bank operates.
Speaking in Lagos, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Carol Oyedeji, said the new App is in line with Ecobank’s policy direction to meet and surpass customers’ expectations, noting that it will bring flexibility, safer and convenient banking to the users. She disclosed that it is available to existing Omni Lite users, urging them to download it from the Apple Store (IOS) or the Play Store (Android).
“With the new Omni Lite App, users can view their accounts and transactions in one place, make payments and pay bills with ease, set up multiple users with different access launch, make and manage loan payment, book time deposits and view exchange rates. This electronic portal also allows customers manage all their online business, banking transactions and information 24/7. With easier navigation and experience that is perfectly suited to smartphones, clients can enjoy features similar to the desktop version,” she stated.
The Ecobank Omni Lite App enables faster processing of instructions with loading option or file import for mass payments. It also features a customizable environment with choice of language, time zone and comprehensive user-friendly navigation menu. It’s state-of-the-art architecture meets international safety standards and it is designed to enhance productivity and manage cash flow. These largely enhance the cash management capabilities of Businesses which include account services, payments, collections, liquidity management, detailed and customisable reports, amongst others.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, says maritime agencies are looking at the workability of 24-hour port services to tackle congestion.
Jamoh disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos, after the second edition of the monthly meeting of heads of maritime parastatals, held at the NIMASA headquarters.
The NIMASA DG said that the heads of agencies agreed to play their respective roles to facilitate the operation of 24 hours a day, seven days a week port services.
He said that this would help to decongest the ports and tremendously impact on the Ease of Doing Business initiative of the Federal Government.
Jamoh said the meeting constituted a committee to produce a work plan for the 24-hour port system, and agreed to carry communities around the port environments along.
He said this was in order to ensure safe operations within the port vicinity and beyond. “We are looking at the workability of 24-hour port services to ease the pressure on our ports in terms of congestion.
“We also agreed to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on how movement of cargoes from the ports can be done by rail to reduce the pressure on our roads.
“Our focus is also to ensure containers are moved by barges to dry ports outside the port environments. All these will help in the efficiency and effectiveness of our ports,” he said.
Jamoh said the meeting discussed issues bordering on maritime safety and security, port efficiency, intermodal transportation, as well as synergy among agencies in the sector.
He said the forum of CEOs of the agencies had given the maritime industry a platform to grow and contribute more to Nigeria’s economic development.
According to him, the meeting, the second in the series, has started yielding positive fruits. “For instance, the issue of berthing the NIMASA floating dock, which has lingered for a couple of years has been resolved through this meeting and very soon it will be deployed for use,” he said.
Speaking at the session, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, emphasised the need for intermodal transport system in and around the port environments.
Bala-Usman said Nigeria must prioritise intermodal transportation to reap the benefits of shipping and port activities.
She said the heads of maritime agencies agreed to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to facilitate movement of cargo from the ports by rail.
The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr George Moghalu, said that safety was paramount in the whole issue.
Moghalu said all the maritime agencies agreed to work together to rid the Nigerian waters of unsafe craft and practises that endanger passengers and other users of the waterways.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, said the new synergy among the heads of maritime agencies was a significant building block for efficient economic activities within the country’s maritime domain.
Bello said the ultimate aim was to make Nigeria a maritime hub in Africa through efficient and effective maritime operations and infrastructure.
The meeting was also attended by the Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) Mr Sam Nwakohu; and Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Commodore Duja Emma Effedua (rtd) who joined via zoom.
Our attention has been drawn to widely circulating stories incorrectly stating that our Managing Director, during a recent presidential hearing in Abuja, testified that the bank mistakenly transferred N573m to the account of a church and the said error was not discovered for 4 years. We feel it is in the public interest to state emphatically that there was no transfer of N573m into this account, mistakenly or otherwise.
To provide further clarity, during a maintenance upgrade of our systems in 2016, a defective file led to the aggregation of multiple unrelated entries into a single balance under the affected customer’s name in one of our reports. This aggregation occurred only in the weekly automated report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. It had no effect on any customer account balance or statements and therefore was not immediately identified. Our Managing Director clarified to the Presidential panel that the system generated report was incorrect and that there was no mistaken transfer of N573 million. He also submitted comprehensive documentary evidence to this effect.
We appreciate that comments may have been misconstrued and therefore believe it is important to emphatically clarify the position that there was no mistaken transfer whatsoever, as stated above. FCMB continues to fully cooperate with the panel, and has been entirely transparent in its reporting. We remain committed to ethical and professional conduct at all times.
Leading retail bank in Nigeria, Access bank Plc, has rewarded over 9,000 lucky customers in the DiamondXtra campaign tagged XtraWins; a seasonal offer leveraging the ongoing DiamondXtra campaign to reward customers for saving and transacting on our digital channels.
The XtraWins initiative, was borne out of the need to encourage customers to remain safe as they carry out their transactions in these times. The initiative is also aimed at rewarding loyal customers for choosing digital channels, giving them the opportunity to win cash prizes for performing transactions daily using the Access Bank USSD code *901# or the AccessMore App.
Adaeze Umeh, Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank Plc, explained that the Xtrawins initiative was born out of the need to transform the lives of the Bank’s customers who have been transacting with the Bank’s digital platforms especially with nationwide restricted movement in response to the Covid pandemic. “In our own little way of showing appreciation to our customers for their patronage and better returns on their savings, we launched the XtraWins campaign to ensure our loyal customers are rewarded. We have rewarded more than 100 customers every day and over 1,000 every week with various cash prizes since the beginning of the campaign which started about 10 weeks ago.
Lucky customers can win from N500 – N1million when they maintain a minimum of N1,000 in their accounts and conduct at least 5 transactions daily using our USSD code *901# or the Access More app to purchase airtime, pay bills, make transfers and so on.
The beauty about the Xtrawins campaign is that customers can win repeatedly as long as they keep transacting with our digital channels and carry out the number of transactions required to qualify for the daily draws. Adaeze concluded.”
Some of the XtraWins lucky winners took to their social media platforms to express their excitement and gratitude towards the Bank.
Ube James, @UbeJames N100,000 XtraWin winner tweeted: @accessbank_more can’t thank your guys enough for the opportunity of being one of the winners. Had to invest the money so as to always remember such feat. I’m so greatful. #Xtrawins.
Another winner Hamstylez , @Hamstylez1 also tweeted : #Xtrwins ..I got rewarded and it seems lika a dream…
To join the winning train, simply conduct at least 5 transactions daily using the Access bank USSD code *901#, or the Access More app or to purchase airtime, pay bills and carry out NIP transfers etc.
Please click HERE to learn more.
… As FG Inaugurates Gas Transportation Network Code to Boost Gas Penetration
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has restated its commitment to working with relevant partners and stakeholders in the Oil and Gas Sector to boost delivery of gas to the domestic market.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, made the commitment Monday at the launch of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC) which is designed to enhance the use of gas as a catalyst for national economic development.
In a goodwill message at the event, the NNPC GMD said the corporation was at the centre of gas delivery to the domestic market, stressing that it was involved in all the available gas delivery infrastructure in the country either directly or indirectly through joint venture partnership.
He said the inauguration of the Network Code was an opportunity to enhance gas delivery and utilization in furtherance of the Federal Government’s objective of transforming gas into a key component of the nation’s energy mix and revenue sources.
“We will continue to give our support to this process to ensure that the full delivery of this process is achieved. We commit to working closely with the DPR to ensure that the target of the government is attained.
This opportunity has provided the right framework for the transportation of gas from the source to the end user in order to get value. We are happy to have this framework on ground and we are ready to collaborate with all our partners, the gas off-takers, gas producers, transportation companies, shippers, and all those involved in the gas value chain,” Mallam Kyari enthused.
Speaking on the significance of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC), the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said it would help to grow gas infrastructure, expand gas utilization, curb gas flaring, and provide codes to standardize the gas value chain in line with global best practices.
The Minister said the NGTNC was part of the key reforms instituted by the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration to expand domestic gas-to-power, gas-to-Industry, gas-to-manufacturing and mitigate the challenge associated with gas flaring in the country.
He noted that the gas codes would go a long way in deepening economic development, improve gas supply, boost Liquefied Petroleum Gas supply, and attract more investment opportunities in the nation’s gas value chain.
Chief Sylva commended NNPC and its gas subsidiary, the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), for partnering with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to meet the six-month target to bring the Network Code to life.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director of DPR, Engr. Saraki Auwalu, noted that the Department has emplaced the network code platform and would continue to work with all Industry players for the success of the NGTNC.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the unveiling of the Network Code Electronic Licensing and Administrative System (NCELAS) portal and the supervision of the signing of framework agreements between NGC, Gas Hub, and Dangote Fertilizer Limited by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
The Nigerian Gas Company will serve as the transporter while Gas Hub and Dangote Fertilizer Limited will serve as the shippers, with the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria Limited (GACN) in the role of agent as provided by the framework.
Jeva store, Nigeria’s one-stop online shopping platform, powered by Spherical System Limited is set to launch in Nigeria and has called on vendors in the country both wholesalers and retailers in various sectors to partner with the newly launched online shopping platform for advertisement and sales of their products.
The online shopping platform which is set to officially launch in October is calling on vendors of various products; Home and Office Furniture, Automobiles, large and small home, and office appliances, Musical Instruments, Foods Stuffs & Perishable Items, Sporting equipment, Health & Beauty products, Stationaries, Electronic gadgets (Phones, Laptops, tablets and Computers), Fashion (Women, Men, and Kids), Baby Products (Apparel, Accessories, Diapering, Toys, Feeding, Bathing & Skin Care), Gaming (Play-station and Xbox), Supplements and Pharmaceuticals, Others (Toys, Games, Books, Pets Supplies, Spices), etc., to partner with the platform by advertising and selling their products to potential customers at the lowest commission rates in the country.
Jeva store is committed to ensuring that vendors enjoy increased visibility for their products with nationwide market access and sell at the best rates possible. Jeva store has partnered with various delivery companies to ensure ease of product delivery from vendors to consumers, with 24/hours customer support and convenient product management while providing platforms for vendors to grow by organizing annual general meetings and seminars on how they can develop their business and products.
Marvellous Odeode, the founder of Jeva Store, urged vendors in various states in the country to partner and sign up on the website www.jevastore.com so as to help grow the Nigerian e-commerce industry. He also stated that the platform is opened to both retailers and wholesalers of different products.
“We call on vendors across all sectors in Nigeria to partner with us on our platform which is aimed at providing a safer and faster online shopping experience for customers. We are also committed to ensuring that our vendor partners sell on our platforms at the lowest commission rates possible in the industry. To further show our commitment to our vendors we will be organizing annual general meetings and seminars which we believe will help us improve our business skills and also serve as a platform where we as an organization can listen and assist with whatever issues our vendors might encounter in the business”.
He further explained that Jeva Store was created to fill all the gaps in the current e-commerce industry in Nigeria and the uniqueness of the organization lie in the seamless shopping experience customers get to enjoy on the platform. “Our range of service is designed to ensure optimum levels of convenience and customer satisfaction, these services include our lowest price guarantee, 7-day free return policy, order delivery-tracking, and dedicated customer service support,” he said. He also stated that as an organization, the success of its vendors and buyers equals the success of the organization. And the main goal of the organization is to become the number 1 e-commerce platform for all Nigerians to buy and sell. As the organization continues to expand the mall, its scope of offerings will increase in the variety of simplicity and convenience, so vendors are urged to partner and enjoy various increasing benefits.
The attention of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC (“the Bank”) has been drawn to a publication by various online media, which purports to indicate that Ascon Oil Limited (“Ascon”) ‘retook possession’ of a property along Lekki Admiralty Way, pursuant to an alleged Court Order issued in their favour.
This is certainly a gross misrepresentation by Ascon, as no Court Order was granted to Ascon to warrant their extra-judicial action, which they undertook in forcefully seizing a Petrol Station validly belonging to a third party, in total defiance and disregard of Ruling of Justice Liman of the Federal High Court on 24 July 2020.
Please take note that the Federal High Court had on 24 July 2020, clearly REFUSED to grant Ascon’s Application to set aside the Order earlier granted to the Receiver appointed by the Bank to take possession of the Petrol Station located on Lekki Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos. In total contempt of the Ruling by the Federal High Court, the Directors of Ascon resorted to self-help, and forcefully seized the property from the valid title holder.
The Bank is taking all lawful steps to ensure that the illegal and unlawful ‘possession’ is reversed and the directors of Ascon are brought to book.”
The Dangote Refinery Group in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has began a six-month skills’ acquisition programme for the second batch of 200 youths in Ibeju-Lekki Community in Lagos State.
The training, which was flagged-off by Dangote Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, is aimed at curbing unemployment among the youths.
The programme cuts across a wide range of vocational skills including welding, electrical technician, plumbing, auto mechanic, radio and television repairs, refrigerator and AC repairs, building and furniture making.
Edwin said the initiative was in line with the vision of Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, to provide employment opportunities for youths, especially those found within the company’s host communities.
He said addressing Nigeria’s unemployment crisis requires providing platforms for youths to learn various vocational trades that would enable them to develop themselves and also become employers of labour.
“We know that there are a lot of graduates out there looking for jobs and that is why you should focus and take this training by the NDE seriously. We will train you; we will equip you, and also ensure that you will be employable or become entrepreneurs.
“My advice is that you should take advantage of this training to better your lives and contribute positively to the society,” Edwin said.
He commended NDE for making a success of the first batch training programme, which he said has totally transformed the lives of those who were trained.
The Lagos State Coordinator of the NDE, Mrs. Serena Edward, lauded the Dangote Group for initiating the vocational training for the youths in the community, which began in 2019.
Edward said: “We are training the youths to acquire skills in various trades through master trainers. This is the beginning of good things for the youths. Their lives are going to be totally transformed.
“The objective of the training is to give youths skills that they will be able to generate wealth and curb unemployment. The skills will make them useful to themselves and the society. They will become self-employed and also generate employment for others.”
She disclosed that some Ibeju-Lekki Youths who graduated from the 2019 pilot scheme of the programme were employed by Dangote Refinery and its contractors, while others chose to operate on their own.
Edward noted that the training would be conducted in line with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Chief Operations Officer, Dangote Oil Refining Company, Giuseppe Surace encouraged the trainees to use the opportunity provided by Dangote to acquire new skills.
On his part, the Oni-Lekki of Lekki, Oba Olumuyiwa Ogunbekun, commended Dangote Refinery for initiating the training and for the support to the communities in the locality.
Ogunbekun, represented by the Awo of Lekki, Chief Adewale Salami, advised the participants to fully utilise the training to improve their lives and make positive impact in the society.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Abiodun Ajayi said they were excited to be given the opportunity of acquiring vocational skills that would impact their lives positively.
Ajayi, who thanked the Dangote Refinery Group for the training, promised that the participants would be focused in order to actualise its objectives.
Recent Comments