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Shareholders Decry Cornerstone, Linkage Assurance Merger

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The National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association
of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, said that Cornerstone Insurance Plc
shareholders were not happy with the company’s merger with Linkage Assurance
Plc.

Nwosu expressed their feelings at the 20th Annual General
Meeting of Cornerstone Insurance in Lagos.

He said that their displeasure stemmed from absence of any
positive outlook from the merger of the two insurance companies.

According to him, the five years financial performance of
Cornerstone and its present operating status was not conducive for the company
to merge with another company.

“For the past five years now, the company has not paid any
dividend to its shareholders. Every year we kept receiving series of promises
of better performance from the board of directors.

“Today shareholders are going home with zero dividends, the
operation of the company need to be firmly strengthened before going into
partnership with any company.” Nwosu said.

President of the Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity
Association (NSSA), Mr Timothy Adesiyan, said that Conerstone rehabilitation of
the road in front of the company’s new office was ill advised.

He said that the company was not supposed to embark on
cooperate social responsibility when its financial positions are in the
negative.

According to him, the company should be looking for
profitable investments and not ventures that would drain its balance sheet.

Chairman of Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Mr Adedotun Sulaiman,
said that the idea behind the merger with Linkage Assurance was to boost the
financial and overall operation status of the company.

Sulaiman said that the merger would help the company’s
resolving the company’s negative reserve position.

He said that Cornerstone also entered into partnership with
Linkage to enable them meet the required capitalisation for operating insurance
companies.

He said that the merger would increase the capital base of
the company to N12 billion from N6 billion.

Sulaiman said that re-capitalisation would pave way for
better profit and future payment of dividend to shareholders.

“We would continue to work on building relationships and
alliances with credible institutions both local and international to leverage
the performance of this company.

“We look forward to 2012 with cautious optimism and are
excited by the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.

On the future outlook of the company, Sulaiman said that the
company would continue to pursue the implementation of the strategic
initiatives aimed at returning the company to path of sustainable
profitability.

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Information Technology

On Top Of It All: 5 Practical Tips For Optimizing Your Rivian R1S Roof Rack.

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The Rivian R1S has quickly become one of the most versatile and capable electric SUVs on the market. It has gained this status because it combines powerful performance, third-row seating, and ample storage both inside and out.

One crucial element that maximizes the R1S’ utility is its roof rack system, which allows owners to securely transport various outdoor gear, whether for rugged off-road adventures or everyday errands.

However, some optimization is recommended to get the most from the roof rack.

Tip 1: Organize with separators and totes

While throwing loose items directly onto the rack works for some essential transport, a more organized approach makes contents more accessible to access and manage. Dividers allow the partitioning of the Rivian r1s roof rack surface into sections, keeping groups of things separated.

Mesh cargo organizers fitted across the bars create pockets that hold gear upright. Storage totes specially designed for roofs further contain belongings and some feature handles for easy loading and unloading.

Together, these accessories introduce a structure that makes the most available space. Padded totes protect fragile items, while transparent ones allow quick visual checks of contents. Placing bulky or lightweight things into designated areas maintains an optimized load balance.

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Tip 2: Consider a gear track system for racks

 

Roof rack gear track systems offer fully modular loading configurations, taking organization one step further. They consist of adjustable aluminum beams that mount perpendicular to the crossbars, forming a rail framework.

Besides, frequently used gear finds a dedicated slot, ready when wanted. Less often transported items remain safely stowed until the next outing requires them. This ultra-organized approach maximizes space utilization. It functions similarly to drawers in a tool chest.

With tracks installed, packing and unpacking the rack becomes intuitive. Everything finds its place, and owners know exactly where each item is located—saving valuable time when loading up.

Tip 3: Mind weight limits and balance loads appropriately

 

While the R1S roof can bear a significant payload, it is still essential owners respect the maximum capacity and distribute weight evenly. They exceed and risk reducing the mount points or affecting vehicle handling characteristics at highway speeds. The standard rack specs for a single-motor R1S allow up to 300 pounds total and 165 pounds per crossbar. 

However, dual-motor and max-pack models see increases to 330 pounds overall and 187.5 pounds per bar. Either way, these thresholds should always be maintained, as overloading could cause mounting hardware or bars to fail.

As for load balance, it is wise to position bulkier or heavier gear toward the front half of the roof and over the cabin, balanced by lighter accessories in the back. Center loads over each crossbar section.

Distributing weight evenly maintains optimum stability with minimal impact on fuel efficiency or ride dynamics. Taking the five minutes to arrange packages thoughtfully ensures security and safety over long drives.

Tip 4: Consider an extension kit for extra-long items

 

While the rack provides approximately a six-foot capacity along the roof, longer shapes like canoes, kayaks, or lumber occasionally require extra coverage. Rivian designed roof rack extension kit options for these situations.

Besides, they consist of additional bars that bolt to the outer ends of the stock crossbars, effectively doubling rack length to around 12 feet total. Extension bars feature all the same strength and attachment points as the original crossbars for a fully integrated expansion.

Also, those hauling longer cargo can now do so securely elevated off the truck bed. Extension kits maximize versatility for transporting uncommon geometries. Whether moving a sheet of plywood or a fiberglass boat, owners can safely secure unusually long loads to the R1S roof—further expanding its practical utility beyond most other vehicles.

Tip 5: Use Ratcheting Straps for Secure Loads

 

Yes, any items placed on the roof rack must be fastened down securely so they do not shift or come loose during driving. While the rack features heavy-duty mounts and crossbars to hold weight, wind resistance at highway speeds can still put stress on loose objects.

Therefore, the most effective method is to wrap ratcheting straps around the entire load, corner to corner, and ratchet them until very tight.

Furthermore, additional straps should angle diagonally over the top as a crossover reinforcement. Ratcheting straps are convenient because their mechanical lever allows extremely tight tensions to be achieved with less effort than conventional straps. This compression holds loads snuggly in place, absorbing vibration.

As an additional precaution, delicate or expensive gear should be wrapped in protective materials like foam or padded covers when using a roof rack. Taking these steps ensures loads remain stationary even over rough roads.

Conclusion

 

Applying these five simple tips—from load-securing techniques to organizational accessories and proper weight distribution—unlocks the full potential of the R1S roof rack. Owners gain a mobile, weatherproof storage system optimized for adventure, hobby, or job site needs. Following best practices maintains the rack mounting points’ structural integrity and rated load capacity over thousands of miles.

Most importantly, well-managed loads arrive safely at their destination after long highway hauls or rugged trails. The roof becomes a maximum utility zone that expands cargo practicality.

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Business

Electricity: Bands BCDE Suffer No Power

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As DisCos struggle to meet the required 20 hours power supply to “Band A” customers following shortage of gas which has hindered power generation since January, customers on Bands B, C, D, and E are left with no light, according to The Tide’s source.
The source learnt that the distribution companies were concentrating more on the Band A customers to keep their Band A feeders from being downgraded.
Band A customers enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily.
On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission announced that subsidies would no longer be paid for the electricity consumed by Band A customers.
The electricity tariff for Band A customers was revised upward from N68 per kilowatt-hour to N255/KWh.
1 kWh is the amount of energy that could be used if a 1,000-watt appliance is kept running for an hour. For example, a 100-watt light bulb operating for 10 hours would use 1 kWh.
After the power subsidy was removed, the NERC directed the 11 DisCos to release their lists of Band A customers, who must get at least a 20-hour supply daily.
The regulator and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, emphasised that there would be sanctions should the distribution companies fail to supply Band A customers with 20 hours of electricity.
The DisCos were also mandated to inform customers whenever they failed to meet the required minimum service level.
NERC said where a DisCo failed to deliver on the committed level of service on a Band A feeder for two consecutive days, the DisCo should, by 10 am the next day, publish on its website an explanation of the reasons for the failure and update the affected customers on the timeline for restoration of service to the committed level.
It stated that if a customer’s service level improves to at least 20 hours, they should be upgraded from lower service bands to Band A, adding that if the DisCo fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder will be downgraded to the recorded level of supply by the applicable framework.
In their efforts to meet up with the service level, the source gathered that some of the DisCos were gradually resorting to diverting the little allocation they get to the Band A customers.
This is in spite of the fact that the gas constraints that have hindered power generation since the beginning of the year have yet to be addressed.
Many communities said they could not boast 30 hours of power supply since January, a development the government blamed on the refusal of gas companies to supply gas to power-generating companies due to heavy debt.
Recall that recently, the IBEDC spokesperson, Busolami Tunwase, explained that, “One of the primary factors is the low supply of gas to generating companies, which has led to a gradual decrease in available generation on the grid.

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Business

‘Inappropriate Insider Dealing’ Earns Julius Berger NGX Sanction

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Authorities at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) have sanctioned Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc for engaging in inappropriate insider dealing in shares.
According to a document obtained by The Tide’s source, JBN, Nigeria’s leading construction company, was sanctioned for “insider dealing during closed period”.
Incorporated in 1970, Julius Berger, Nigeria, which was incorporated in 1970, became a publicly quoted company in 1991 and has more than 10,000 shareholders.
NGX Regulatory Company (NGX RegCo), the self regulatory organisation (SRO) that regulates activities at the NGX, stated that JBN breached certain provisions of the listing rules and was thus sanctioned accordingly.
According to NGX RegCo, JBN violated provisions on “closed period”, in breach of the construction company’s commitment to adhere to listing rules and standards.
The NGX had tightened its rules and regulations to checkmate boardroom intrigues and block information arbitrage that tend to confer advantages on companies’ directors.
The amendments expanded the scope and authority of corporate financial reporting while eliminating gaps that allowed companies to sidetrack relevant rules in stage-managing corporate compliance.
The enhanced framework provided clarity and greater disclosures on directors’ trading in shares, corporate liability for accuracy and compliance of financial statement, dissuade bogus dividend payment and other sundry boardroom’s maneuverings that tend to favour insiders.
The amendments came on the heels of noticeable increase in violations of rules on ‘closed period’, a period when directors are banned from trading in the shares of their companies.
Rule 17.17 of the NGX disallows insiders and their connected persons from trading in the shares or bonds of their companies during the ‘closed period’ or any period during which trading is restricted.
This period is mostly at a period of sensitive material information, like prior knowledge of financials, dividends or major corporate changes, which places directors and other insiders at advantage above other general and retail investors.
A review of the disclosure violations at the stock market had shown that all violations in 2021 were related to violation of Rule 17.17 on ‘closed period’.
Under the amendments, in addition to the provisions of relevant accounting standards, laws, rules and requirements regarding preparation of financial statements, companies are now required to include several specific declarations on securities transactions by directors, changes in shareholding structure, self-assessment on compliance with corporate governance standards and internal code for directors on securities transactions among others.

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