News

SAD! Suspected Cult!sts Snuff Out Of Life Three Brothers

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Three biological brothers from the same mother have fallen victim to the relentless cult violent attacks in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The latest casualty, Nonso, was killed in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon near Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka.

According to a close family source, Nonso’s killing is linked to the murder of his younger brother, Buchi, three months ago around Mac Don Eatery’s axis.

Their eldest brother had also met a brutal end in a previous attack and the tragic loss has left their mother childless.

This latest incident brings the death toll from cult-related violence in Awka to no fewer than twenty persons in the past few weeks.

The ongoing conflict has revived painful memories of the Nibo Massacre and Ifite killings, which have left deep scars on the community. Cult killings have plagued Anambra State for years, with Awka being a hotspot.

Rival cult groups have been engaged in a deadly turf war and the resulting violence has claimed numerous lives, leaving families shattered and the community traumatized.

Anambra State Police Commissioner, Nnaghe Obono Itam, has condemned the latest killing, promising a thorough investigation and insists that the command will leave no stone unturned in apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has also weighed in, urging calm and reassuring citizens of increased security measures, noting that his administration is committed to restoring peace and security in Awka.

While relatives and community members throng the home of the bereaved mother of three sons to comfort her, residents are calling for urgent action to check the escalating senseless killings and restore peace to the capital city.

News

Tinubu swears in new ministers, says economic recovery is on the right path

Published

2 mins ago

November 5, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu on Monday assured Nigerians that his administration’s economic recovery plan was on the right path to realizing the nation’s dreams and aspirations.

The President stated this at the State House while inaugurating seven new Ministers after their confirmation by the Senate.

President Tinubu noted that his administration had steered the nation away from bankruptcy and stopped scavengers, profiteers and smugglers of our resources.

While congratulating the new ministers, he charged them to be committed and resilient as they join other members of his cabinet working tirelessly to rescue the nation, reminding them that they were coming in to serve at a critical time.

“The moment is challenging; the present situation calls for a very serious commitment. Yours is a duty to serve and that is what you have come to do. I really appreciate the fact that you have taken the oath of office and ready to serve your nation at a time that we are facing the challenges of economic growth and other things like the security challenges on us.

“Economic recovery is on the right path. We have a good path to realize our dream and it is not just only for us, it is for our children and grandchildren to come. Despite the challenges, we faced the job of reengineering and retooling the economic path of this country. Yes, the cost of living has gone up; yes, I recognize that, and we have satisfied our obligations of paying a new minimum wage across the board.

“For us, it was a challenge when a nation was servicing its debt with 97% of its earned revenue. It is not but the end of the cliff but today I can report that we have brought that down to 65% and we have never defaulted in paying our obligations; we have met all obligations – both foreign and domestic. We have our heads above the waters,” the President further stated.

While pointing out that such economic challenges were not peculiar to Nigeria, President Tinubu said his administration was committed to overcoming the challenges.

“Other countries too around us and across the world are facing challenges. There are a lot of crises in Europe and America. We know what pandemic has brought to the economies of the world, but we are navigating through this and we are working hard. We are not going to run away from our responsibilities; we are going to face it and we are facing it headlong,” the President stressed.

The newly inaugurated ministers are: Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi – Minister of Labour and Employment, and Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Others are Dr. Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Mr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.

News

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

Published

16 mins ago

November 5, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

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.”

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

News

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

Published

2 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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.