Sports
Bankers Integrate 10,000 Customers Into Biometric Scheme
The Bankers Committee
has said 10,000 bank customers have been integrated under the biometric scheme at the pilot phase.
Mr Philip Oduoza, Managing Director, United bank for Africa said this at a news briefing on the outcome of the committee meeting in Abuja.
Oduoza said the biometrics entailed taking the picture and finger prints of customers, noting that it would help to ensure effective implementation of the cashless policy.
“We are ready to rollout the cashless policy in the whole country in July as planned.
“We have integrated 10,000 customers in the bank biometric verification scheme which we concluded at pilot scheme last week Friday.
“The verification has been rolled out for all customers in the banks since yesterday,’’ he said, stressing that the volume of transaction in the electronic banking had increased tremendously.
Oduoza also said that migration by customers from banking hall to electronic banking was fast growing.
He said banking penetration was still low at about 25 per cent, but expressed the hope that it would improve with the biometric verification.
“We have about 30 million accounts in the banks but all phone users are potential bank customers.
“We have 120 million lines in the country, we hope to bring in so many unbanked people into the system,’’ he said.
The Central Bank of Nigeria Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs Tokunbo Martins, said the meeting focused on three areas of macro-economic, financial system stability and development banking and cashless Nigeria.
Martins said the CBN had zero-tolerance for any form of infractions, especially with serial bad debtors.
She said efforts would be made to ensure that those involved were blacklisted and would not get loan from any bank.
“The blacklisting is going to be done gradually. We are looking at all those who borrowed five million naira and above.
“Those involved in the bad loans that Asset Management Company of Nigeria bought over, we are looking at bringing the threshold down. The process will soon be rolled out,” she said.
Also, Mr Ladi Balogun, Managing Director, First City Monument Bank, said the committee discussed issues on how to support the various development activities to help drive inclusive growth.
Balogun said the committee agreed to continue to support the agricultural sector, small and medium enterprise and the power sector.
“Under the power sector, we want to ensure that we support the companies to ensure that the existing assets are maintained in their installed capacity,’’ Balogun said.
The Managing Director, Guarantee Trust Bank, Mr Shegu Agaje, said the committee agreed to support effort that would drive lower interest rates and maintain the inflation rate at single digit.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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