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*PTD Urges DSS, NSA To Call NUPENG To Order Over Attempt To Cause Industrial Crisis, Economic Sabotage*

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to formally invite the leadership of NUPENG for interrogation over a threat by the union to halt the distribution and supply of petroleum products in Cross Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria.

PTD also condemned the highhandedness posture of NUPENG leaders accusing them of influencing their imposed-faction of the Tanker Drivers to walk out of a peace meeting summoned on the 1st of October, 2024 by the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, through his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas Mr Ukpong Imoh Jr.

Citing danger ahead, the Tanker Drivers decided to alert the DSS and NSA to avert the impending economic sabotage being hatched by NUPENG which is capable of further plunging the nation into a full blown crisis if not nipped in the bud as quickly as possible. It further alleged that NUPENG has been using one Mr Sunday Ogunleye a.k.a Otunba, Mr Edwin Ifenjika a.k.a Okwunwanne Jr, and Mr Nwaogugu Michael, who are non Tanker Drivers to be threatening the S.A on Oil GAS to the Governor, threatening the Cross River State Government, and perpetrating all manner of brutal treatments and inflicting pains on genuine members of PTD in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

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PTD in its claim also said other stooges being used to extort money from both Tanker Drivers on wheels, Applicant Drivers, and petroleum marketers in Calabar are Comrades Tijani Aliyu, Danburam Shehu Baba, Ayi Emmanuel, an Akwa-Ibomite whose mother is from Awi, in Cross River State, and one notorious imposter, Robert Obi who has been parading himself as IPMAN Chairman, despite a court judgment affirming Mr Peter Abang as the authentic IPMAN Chairman of Cross River State.

PTD’s reaction came on the heels of a press release signed by the President and the General Secretary of NUPENG on Wednesday 30th, and Thursday 31st October 2024 via thebeaglenewsonline.com where NUPENG in a show of might charged the government of Nigeria and other petroleum industry stakeholders not to recognise the Association of Distributors and Transportation of Petroleum Products (ADITOP), and threatening to down tools should ADITOP activities are not put in check.

PTD added that government should not fold its hands and allow few misguided elements in the Union to serve as a threat to its resolve in creating an enabling environment for the oil and gas workers especially the blue collar cadre to have an unfettered opportunity to freely and willingly associate with any union of their choice.

It further noted that NUPENG leadership should be thoroughly investigated and called to order for being so emboldened in causing a scare in the country in pursuit of the protection of their personal gains at the detriment of the country which also has the potential to undermine the security architecture of the country at a time the citizenry are battling with hunger and socio-economic hardship.

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PTD reaction was contained in a statement signed and made available to the media on Saturday, November 1, 2024 by an elder in PTD, Kaduna Zone, Comrade (Hajia) Hadiza Hajara Gamawa at Top Rank Galaxy Hotel, Abuja.

According to her: “The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has bitten more than it can chew by charging the Federal Government of Nigeria and other petroleum industry stakeholders not to recognise the Association of Distributors and Transportation of Petroleum Products (ADITOP), and threatening to down tools if ADITOP activities are not put in check. This is highly unpatriotic and rascallity to the extreme, therefore NUPENG should rescind its position and apologize to Nigerians.

“This is also why it is important for the Department of State Services (DSS) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to swing into action and formally invite the leadership of NUPENG, especially the President, Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale for interrogation over an attempt by the union to unlawfully halt the distribution and supply of petroleum products in Cross Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria.

“NUPENG’s press releases on Wednesday October 30, and Thursday October 31, 2024 via The Beagle News online Dot com was a clear indication that the union is set for a showdown with both the Cross River State Government, and the Federal Government of Nigeria and that is a build-up for economic sabotage which can further plunge Nigeria into a serious and full blown energy crisis if not quickly addressed.

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“It is needless for NUPENG to cause any scare in the country or sow seeds of discord amongst the leadership of National Association of Road Transport Owners, (NARTO), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Dangote Refinery and other key players in the industry for relating with Association of Distributors and Transportation of Petroleum Products (ADITOP). Petroleum Tankers Drivers, (PTD), aren’t toddlers; they know who to affiliate or associate with, they also know who can protect their interest. There should be no cause for alarm and NUPENG shouldn’t stir up a hornet’s nest on behalf of PTD.

“It is also important to set the record straight that Comrade Lucky Osesua remains and is still the National Chairman of PTD, while Dayyabu Garga is the 1st Deputy National Chairman, alongside Comrade Chief Peter Moudebelu (Onwa) 2nd Deputy National Chairman, while Comrade Dr Humble Obinna Power is currently serving as the National Secretary: these are the authentic National leadership known to the bonafide members of PTD.

“These genuine leaders of PTD are not as insensitive as NUPENG, Lucky Osesua and his team will not call for any senseless strike against the Cross River State Government or the Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in this very challenging times over what should be celebrated as a welcome development to lessen the burden of the ordinary Nigerian citizens. It is also important to dispel any speculation purporting that tanker drivers have been directed to stop the lifting of petroleum products in Cross Rivers State and other depots in the country. This can’t be true under our watch, and Nigerians should not as a result of this misinformation engage in panic buying; and we strongly assure stakeholders in the petroleum industry’s value chain that PTD is committed to its noble roles of lifting and distribution of products across the country. No union can be bigger than Nigeria particularly when the interest of the country is not accordingly served,” the union stated.

Continuing, the 72 year old Hajia Gamawa further stated, “It has become very obvious that NUPENG doesn’t have the interest of her members and that of the country at heart by fighting hard since November last year to ensure that innocent executives and members of PTD are sent to jail, and being so emboldened to issue such press release without considering the collateral damage and negative impact it could have on the citizens especially ordinary Nigerians.

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“his tactless and tasteless alarm is obviously not grounded in logic and it shows the quality of leaders NUPENG currently has who are obviously toothless bulldogs. There is no shortfall in the distribution of petroleum products across the six geo-political zones of the country and PTD under the legitimate leadership of Lucky Osesua and his entire executives have redoubled their commitment to ensure and guarantee the lifting and distribution of petroleum products without encumbrances in observance of the Union’s statutory responsibility.”

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Multiple Accidents Involving Four Vehicles On 3rd Mainland Bridge +Video

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Multiple accident involving four vehicles was reported at Ilaje on 3rd Mainland Bridge on Monday, November 4, 2024.

No life was lost in the accident according to the video posted on x.com by LASTMA officials.

“There’s a report of a multiple accident involving 4 vehicles at Ilaje on 3rd Mainland Bridge inward Adeniji.

Backlog now at Iyana-Oworo. Men of The Nigeria Police are on ground and effort is on to evacuate then to the side of the road to ease better movement towards Adeniji. Officers are on ground managing the traffic accordingly.”

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WATCH THE VIDEO: https://x.com/WAJU73/status/1853424263727915308

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Access Holdings Reports ₦41.1trn Total Assets, ₦3.4trn Gross Revenue In Q3

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By Gloria Ikibah
 
 
Access Holdings Plc has reported its unaudited results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, as the financial results reveals the group’s continued growth momentum, emphasising resilience and sustainable performance as it works to deliver good returns for its shareholders.
 
Gross revenue for the nine-month period rose by 114.5% year-on-year, climbing from ₦1.6 trillion in 2023 to ₦3.4 trillion in 2024. Interest income, a major driver of this growth, represented 70% of gross revenue at ₦2.4 trillion, while non-interest income contributed ₦1.0 trillion, marking an 87.2% increase due to higher transaction volumes on digital channels and other alternative platforms. Despite inflationary pressures, the cost-to-income ratio remained stable at 60.8%, while profit before tax saw an 89.6% rise to ₦558.2 billion, and profit after tax rose 82.8% to ₦457.7 billion. This robust performance translated to an annualised return on equity of 22.2%, with earnings per share up to ₦12.40.
 
Access Holdings reported significant gains in Q3 2024, driven by strong performance across its banking and non-banking subsidiaries, including Access ARM Pensions, Hydrogen Payments, and Access Insurance Brokers. The Group’s total assets surged to ₦41.1 trillion, up by 54.0% year-to-date, while shareholders’ equity grew by 51.0% to ₦3.3 trillion. Customer deposits saw an impressive rise of 45.4%, increasing from ₦15.3 trillion in December 2023 to ₦22.3 trillion by Q3 2024, while gross loans and advances grew 56.2%, reaching ₦13.9 trillion.
 
Access Bank continued its strong performance, with both interest and non-interest income contributing significantly to gross earnings. Subsidiaries in the UK and across Africa performed particularly well, delivering 54.8% of the Banking Group’s profit before tax, an increase of 185.8% year-on-year. The Group remains committed to expanding its footprint by offering tailored banking solutions in each region, enhancing customer experience, and advancing cross-border banking capabilities.
 
The non-banking subsidiaries of Access Holdings also delivered consistent growth. Access ARM Pensions, following a merger with ARM Pensions, now oversees ₦3.1 trillion in assets under management. Hydrogen Payments processed ₦27.5 trillion in transactions, growing its operating profit by 516% year-on-year to ₦5.7 billion. Access Insurance Brokers, still in its first year of operations, posted a gross written premium of ₦8.3 billion and a profit before tax of ₦641 million. New entrant, Oxygen X Finance, the group’s digital lending subsidiary, reported ₦2.1 billion in operating income and a profit before tax of ₦412 million.
 
Looking ahead, Access Holdings remains focused on enhancing profitability through diversified revenue streams across all markets. The group is deeply committed to advancing sustainability, embedding environmental, social, and governance principles into its operations to foster positive community impact. Through ongoing investments in employee development, Access Holdings is building a culture of innovation and excellence, further positioning the group as a driver of long-term value for its shareholders.
 
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Digital Excellence: Access Bank Clinches Best Digital, Best Website Awards

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 By Gloria Ikibah 
 
Access Bank Plc has won the 2024 Best “Digital Award Winner” in the Commercial Banks Category at the Digital Jurist Awards, organized by Phillips Consulting (pcl.).
 
The Bank also secured the “Best Website Award”, achieving an impressive score of 201 points for its engaging and user-friendly digital experience. Access Bank’s cumulative score of 380 points reflects its excellence across digital touchpoints, including its website, web portal, mobile app, and social media.
 
Commenting on the recognition, Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer of Access Holdings PLC, said, “We are honoured to receive the Best Digital and Best Website Awards at this year’s Digital Jurist Awards. 
 
“At Access, our focus on digital innovation is driven by our commitment to deliver seamless, secure, and customer-centric solutions across all touchpoints. 
 
“This recognition validates our ongoing efforts to enhance our digital platforms, making financial services more accessible and efficient for our customers. We thank Phillips Consulting for recognising our efforts and will continue to raise the bar in digital excellence.”
 
Phillips Consulting has long served as a development partner to Nigerian financial institutions and other organisations with an online presence. Leveraging its proprietary Digital Jurist platform, the firm has conducted assessments of digital touchpoints in various sectors, from financial services and insurance to telecommunications and government agencies, over the past 17 years. 
 
Originally established as Web Jurist®, the platform was reimagined as Digital Jurist to assess new and diversified digital channels in the evolving digital economy. Digital Jurist’s evaluation framework examines a range of factors, including user experience, accessibility, performance, functionality, security, customer service, support, marketing, and content engagement across digital platforms.
 
These awards reinforce Access Bank’s leadership in digital banking, adding to recent accolades including 2024 Best Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App by World Finance, Best Mobile Banking App and Best Digital Bank by The Digital Banker Awards, and Best Digital Banking Initiative at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2024.
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