Nigerian Traviation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has spoken out after a video surfaced this week of a medical doctor who testified to receiving healing from COVID-19 after receiving prayers from Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua.

During an interactive press briefing organized on Wednesday 1st July 2020, a panel of top WHO officials was questioned on the miracle by Cameroonian journalist Simon Ateba of Today News Africa.

“On Monday, a very popular pastor in Nigeria, T.B Joshua, released a video of a medical doctor in Cameroon who was said to have been cured of the virus through prayer,” Ateba stated, asking the panellists for their reaction.

In the video he referenced, Dr Kameni Pierre – a gynecologist and obstetrician – receives prayer after affirming he was positive to coronavirus during an ‘Interactive Prayer Session’ organised by Emmanuel TV.

After ‘vomiting out’ the disease during prayer, the medical doctor held up his medical report days later confirming he was diagnosed negative to COVID-19.

In response, Dr Michael Ryan, the Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme, affirmed the readiness of WHO to collaborate with bodies like The SCOAN to advance the cause of the war against the deadly virus.

“Certainly, spiritual leadership is very important in times like this,” Ryan stated, praising the role of faith-based organisations in providing accurate information to communities.

Speaking further, the WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus added that faith and science should “go together”.

“We know many religious leaders who would really advise their followers to follow their faith and at the same time use science. The two do not contradict; they go together… We will call on all religious leaders to be in this fight and save lives,” he stated.

Ghebreyesus had earlier echoed TB Joshua’s prophecy where he declared 2020 “the year of humility” in which “God would humble us with our challenges”.

“If this virus is teaching us anything, it is humility,” the former Ethiopian Minister of Health asserted.

Emmanuel TV’s popular YouTube videos, many of which show similar case of miraculous healing through prayer, have accumulated over six hundred million views.

Zenith Bank Plc has again emerged as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the 2020 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine.

Climbing a whopping 29 spots from 415 in 2019 to 386 in the 2020 global ranking of banks, Zenith Bank retained its position as the number one Tier-1 bank in Nigeria with Tier-1 Capital of $2.79 billion, an increase of 16.1% on the $2.40 billion recorded in the 2019 rankings.

The ranking which was published in the July 2020 edition of The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group, United Kingdom, was based on the 2019 year-end Tier-1 capital of banks globally.

According to the Ranking Report, Zenith Bank extended its lead over the second-placed bank in Nigeria.

Zenith’s financial performance for the year was underpinned by a 29% increase in non-interest income, with an improved market share in both retail and corporate sectors.

Speaking on the latest rankings, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “this ranking, which further attests to our market leadership, is the outcome of a well-thought-out strategy of always delighting and creating value for our teeming customers through a broad range of superior product offerings, best-in-class service and top-of-the-range technology”.

Tier 1 capital describes the capital adequacy of a bank, and it is the core measure of a bank’s financial strength from a regulator’s point of view.

According to the ranking, Tier 1 Capital, as defined by the latest BIS guidelines, includes loss-absorbing capital, i.e. common stock, disclosed reserves, retained earnings and minority interests in the equity of subsidiaries that are less than wholly owned.

Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices.

The bank, with a knack for setting the pace and raising benchmarks, is a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.

As a testament to its resilience and market leadership, Zenith Bank announced an impressive result for the year ended December 31, 2019, with profit after tax (PAT) of N208.8 billion, achieving the feat as the first Nigerian Bank to cross the N200 billion mark.

In the recently released Q1 2020 unaudited financial results, the bank also recorded an improved result over the corresponding period in 2019, with gross earnings rising by 6% to N166.8 billion and profit before tax (PBT) growing 3% to N58.8 billion.

Consistent with this excellent performance and in recognition of its track record of exceptional performance, Zenith Bank was ranked as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co.

The bank was also voted as Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

Most recently, the bank was recognized as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria, for the third consecutive year, in the Banker Magazine “Top 500 Banking Brands 2020”, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance “World’s Best Banks Awards 2020” and the Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020.

A Nigerian Civic organisation, BudgIt has said that Lagos state earned almost 3 trillion naira between 2015 and 2018.

The Non Governmental Organisation made this known via its official twitter.

It, therefore, questioned the commensurable development of the state compared to its earning within those periods.

“Lagos State (@followlasg) earned almost N3Trillion as revenue between 2015 & 2019

“Are we seeing a commensurable development in the 7th largest economy in Africa?

“It’s high time citizens focused more on States’ fiscal transparency & accountability” It stated.

An airline company, Air Peace has declared its readiness to commence flight operations in the country.

This is coming after the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has lifted the ban placed on flight operations amidst the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The Company made this known via its official twitter handle.

“We are very much ready for the skies.

“Visuals from our shakedown flights on June 24, 2020. 

“We operated multiple shakedown flights to Abuja, Port Harcourt and back without passengers” It said.

We take the use of masks and face coverings very seriously, like we do for any safety, health and well-being issue for our guests and employees.

Overwhelmingly, those who fly with us understand and appreciate the importance of wearing masks and face coverings during this time of COVID-19. We also rely heavily on our guests to do the right thing for the greater good of everyone onboard our flights.

Our flight crews encounter moments when some travelers disregard or disobey our mask requirement. It creates tension and anxiety for many of our passengers who do have their face coverings on. So, a change is needed.

Starting in early July, our flight attendants will be empowered to issue a final notice to any guest who repeatedly refuses to wear a mask or face covering on board our aircraft. With that warning – in the form of a yellow card handed to them – the guest’s travel with us will be reviewed and could be suspended for a period. That would be a decision we do not take lightly. By working together, we do more for the common good.

“We take pride in our excellent customer service, a main reason so many of our guests enjoy flying with us. That stays the same,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska’s president. “We’re counting on both our guests and employees to be considerate of one another to wear face coverings and contribute to our constant effort to keep everyone healthy and safe.”

We understand not everyone is able to wear a face covering when traveling. A few exceptions include children under age 2; anyone with a medical issue that creates trouble breathing; anyone who cannot remove a mask without assistance; or anyone with a disability that prevents wearing a mask. (It’s okay if the mask is temporarily adjusted to eat and drink while in your seat.)

Another reminder of how seriously we take our mask enforcement policy begins on June 30.All of our guests will be asked during check-in to sign off on a required health agreement to acknowledge and attest to their willingness to adhere to the mask policy.

For guests who might forget their own mask, we will have them available upon request. Starting in July, we’ll also provide individual hand-sanitizer wipes on board.

We’ve recently made significant investments in enhanced cleaning procedures, hospital-grade air filtration systems and other approaches to ensure your safety throughout the travel journey.

Learn more about how we’re earning your confidence with Next-Level Care on alaskaair.com.

We realize a piece of fabric across your nose and mouth is probably not your ideal way to travel. But if we all take that small step while flying, we’ll be better off in the long run.

 

This report is just to take us down the memory lane of how the Vice-chancellor of the prestigious University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe performed excellently well above others in an interview conducted in selecting the best candidate for the position of the Vice-chancellor of the university.

It is equally important to note that this report will bring closer to you those salient information about the Vice-Chancellor particularly his biography.

The Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious university of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was appointed as the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos in November 2017 having emerged highest in the interview conducted, beating Professor Olukayode Amund, and Professor Ayodeji Olukoju to the post. 

Until his appointment in November, he was the deputy vice chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe (born 31 May 1960) is a  Nigerian academic, author and a Professor of botany. He is the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos.

Ogundipe was born on May 31, 1960. He attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he obtained a Bachelor of science (B.Sc.) degree in Botany.

He holds a master’s degree in Botany from the University of Ife and Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) from the same University.

Thereafter, he obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos and bagged a certificate of attendance from University of Reading in 1998.

Professor Ogundipe began his academic career at the University of Lagos as a lecturer where he rose to the rank of professor of Botany in 2002.

He was Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies from August 2007 to July 2011 and Director, Academic Planning Unit April 2012 to April 2016.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has generated the sum of N66 billion from stamp duties between January and May.

The FIRS Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Abdullahi Ahmad, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ahmad said the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Muhammad Nami, disclosed this at the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Audit and Recovery of Back Years Stamp Duties and the unveiling of the FIRS Adhesive Stamp in Abuja.

Mr Nami said the money realised in the first five months of the year from stamp duties represented about 1,000 per cent increase.

He stated that the increment was unprecedented when compared to six billion naira collected from January to May 2019.

The FIRS boss attributed this increase to the dynamism triggered by Finance Act 2019, sums warehoused by the CBN in respect of prior years and the deployment of technology as well as stakeholders’ collaboration.

“The introduction of the FIRS Stamp Duties Adhesive Stamp will, among other things, plug the revenue sink-hole, enable proper accountability and transparency, simplify administration of Stamp Duties and reduce disputes”.

The statement disclosed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, gave the assurance that the collection from stamp duty would be second to oil revenue, as it had the potential to yield up to a trillion Naira if properly harnessed.

Mr Mustapha also directed that all institutions of government and related stakeholders should support the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Audit and Recovery of Back Years Stamp Duties to enable it succeed on its assignment.

‘In the face of dwindling oil revenue, and the global shift away from oil dependent technological products, it is even more compelling now to begin to think out of the box in order to safeguard the future of our country.

“Therefore, this administration has resolved to widen the revenue base by activating stamp duties revenue collection which has been neglected for more than 20 years.

“I hereby also direct and request that all relevant MDAs, particularly the Central Bank of Nigeria, NIBBS, MDBs, FIRS, NIPOST should give maximum cooperation to the Committee in the discharge of its mandate.” Mr Mustapha said.

The Controversial Politician and former Nigerian senator, Senator Dino Melaye has urged Nigerians not to dream about success.

Dino made this known via his official twitter handle on Tuesday evening. 

He said that they should work for success instead of dreaming it. 

“Never dream about success. Work for it” He said 

The attention of Unity Bank plc has been drawn to the claims by a certain whistleblower that the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA operated a secret account containing the sum of $1 billion with the Bank. We hereby state categorically that the said claim is false, baseless and lacking in merit whatsoever.

The clarification has become necessary following certain online reports citing the whistleblower’s petition to President Muhammadu Buhari.

As a responsible organization conducting its business with utmost professionalism and due regard for all extant regulatory and statutory requirements, the Bank’s banking relationship with the NPA is without any blemish.

We advise the general public to ignore the entirety of the spurious report, which apparently was concocted deliberately for mischief. We are confident that the relevant apparatus of government must have investigated the alleged whistle blower’s claim, found same untrue and therefore unworthy of any further consideration in the circumstances. The bank remains determined and focused to provide transparent banking services to all her customer’s within the ambit of the law and duty of confidentiality.