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SEC Extends e-Dividend Free Registration

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended period for the free e-dividend registration to February 28, to encourage more shareholders participation in the initiative
The commission in a statement obtained by The Tide source, recently in Lagos, indicated that the extension was part of its developmental role.
It said that the extension became necessary to encourage more shareholders mandate their bank accounts.
The statement said in reviewing the progress of the e-Dividend Registration after the December 31, 2017 deadline, there was still a great influx of shareholders desirous of mandating their bank accounts for payment of dividends electronically.
“In light of the foregoing, the SEC, as part of its developmental role, has extended the period for the FREE e-Dividend registration till Feb. 28, 2018, to encourage more shareholders mandate their bank accounts.
“Accordingly, shareholders that are yet to register should continue to approach their Banks or Registrars to mandate their Bank Accounts for the co!lection of their Dividends electronically, including unclaimed dividends, not exceeding 12 years of issue,” it said.
Recall that the SEC had announced that the e-dividend registration would continue seamlessly in spite of the expiration of the initial December. 31 2017 free registration deadline with a fee of N150.
Acting Director-General of SEC, Dr Abdul Zubair, who made the announcement at a news conference recently, said that all investors that had yet to enroll are enjoined to continue with the registration.
“Such investors should continue to approach their Banks or Registrars, as usual, to seamlessly mandate their Bank Accounts for the collection of their dividends electronically, including unclaimed diVidends, not exceeding 12 years of issue.”
Zubair also announced an extension of the forbearance window for multiple accounts consolidation to March 31.
This he said was to “encourage many more investors to consolidate their multiple subscriptions into one account, the SEC wishes to announce an extension of the forbearance for Multiple Accounts till March 31, 2018.
“Accordingly, investors that bought shares of the same company during public offers, using different names, are allowed till March 31, 2018 to continue to approach their stockbrokers or registrars, to regularise their shareholdings in line with SEC rules on customer identification.
“Thereafter, all shares not regularised shall be transferred, on trust to the Capital Market Development Fund”.
He said that in line with approved rules of the commission, all registrars had been directed to stop the issuance of dividend paper warrants with effect from January 1, 2018.
He said that for the avoidance of doubt, all paper dividend warrants issued up till December 31, 2017, were valid and should be honoured.
Zubair said that banks ana registrars were accordingly implored to note and adhere.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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