₦airaland Forum

FMN reaps the benefit of border closure as food revenue turns a corner

Recently, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) released its 9M 2020 (Apr 2019 – Dec 2019) results where it announced a 5.7% y/y growth in revenue to N423.5bn, from N400.6bn in 9M 2019. We note that the improved performance came largely in Q3 2020 with revenue in Q3 climbing 12.3% q/q to N152.7bn. The improved performance in Q3 is evidenced in the 8% growth in volumes sold, as against 6% in the first 2 quarters of the financial period. Across business segments, food revenue turned a corner growing 3.0% y/y to N262.1bn in 9M 2020. The improvement in food revenue was driven by improved volumes in pasta and bread flour which we believed was as a result of the land border closure which prevented influx of lower quality flour, while consumers switched to pasta products as an alternative to rice. The fastest-growing business units as at 9M 2020 were agro-allied (+19.6% y/y to N81.3bn) and sugar (+13.5% y/y to N67.6bn) while support services (-32.8% y/y to N12.5bn) disappointed. The growth in agro-allied business was driven by higher volumes in fertilizer and animal feed sales.

Cost of sales edge higher on higher volumes

The cost of sales grew 6.1% y/y to N375.7bn in 9M 2020 from N354.0bn in 9M 2019. The increase in the cost of sales was largely in line with growth in revenue albeit higher by 0.4ppts. Thus, we think the growth in the cost of sales was largely volume-driven. The growth in the cost of sales was driven by higher material costs (+5.6% y/y to N323.4bn) and factory staff payments (+12.5% y/y to N13.0bn). Consequent to the slightly faster growth in the cost of sales, gross margin was pressured lower by 0.3ppt y/y to 11.3% in 9M 2020. Nevertheless, gross profit was still higher by 2.6% y/y to N47.8bn in 9M 2020 from N46.6bn in 9M 2019.

Operating expe nses remain high…puts pressure on operating income

The company recorded a 13.4% y/y increase in operating expenses driven by increases in selling & distribution expenses (up 8.0% y/y) and administrative expenses (up 15.6% y/y). Increased spending on advertising, in a bid to expand B2C channels due to the presence of better margins, continues to drive the increase in Opex. The faster pace of increase in operating expenses weighed on EBITDA as it declined 5.8% y/y to N34.6bn for 9M 2020, from N36.8bn in 9M 2019. Increase in depreciation & amortization (+5.1% y/y to N9.9bn in 9M 2020) and a decline in net operating gain (-66.9% y/y to N518.4m) pressured operating profit lower, which was down 9.6% y/y to N24.7bn in 9M 2020.

Leverage position continues improvement

The company’s sustained efforts at deleveraging its balance continued to bear fruits as finance costs dipped lower by 20.7% y/y to N13.1bn in 9M 2020, from N16.6bn in 9M 2019. Finance income increased by a 35.8% rise to N728.3m in 9M 2020. Consequently, net finance costs slid lower by 22.6% to N12.4bn in 9M 2020, from N16.0bn in 9M 2019.

Against this backdrop, profit before tax edged higher by 9.0% y/y to N12.3bn for 9M 2020, from N11.3bn for 9M 2019. Tax expense jumped higher, recording a 22.1% y/y increase to N4.1bn, with management declaring it took a prudent approach in estimating the impact of the finance bill on its tax assessment. Nevertheless, net income climbed higher by 3.4% y/y to N8.2bn in 9M 2020. However, earnings per share for 9M 2020 declined to N1.84/s from N1.89/s in 9M 2019 on the back of lower net income attributable to shareholders, with profit growth driven by subsidiaries.

Overall view – revenue recovers but operating performance remains a concern

Flour Mills recorded a significantly improved performance in Q3 2020 as the company recorded impressive revenue growth while reining in on operating expenses within the quarter, while the high base in H1 2020 still created pressures. In our last note, we highlighted how we expected the border closure to impact flour and pasta sales as well as sustained recovery in sugar, following the reduction in the influx of smuggled low-quality sugar. These factors played out within the quarter. However, we remain cautious about the strength of this recovery as the reopening of the border may bring in renewed pressures, from smuggled low-quality flour and sugar coupled with an increase in rice imports, thus weakening demand for pasta products. Nevertheless, we expect FMN to continue to be resilient and to post improved performance.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/17/flour-mills-earnings-update-9m-2020-strong-q3-provides-support-for-2020-financial-year/

The Director-General, Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni has re-emphasized the importance of hygiene in schools and homes in the State as a preventive measure against the outbreak of Coronavirus infection.

Seriki-Ayeni said that the Office of Education Quality Assurance is responsible for ensuring and upholding standards in schools below the tertiary level and has made the health and safety of students a priority.

While noting that adequate safety measures have been put in place by the Lagos State Government, through the State Ministry of Health, she implored all Heads of Schools and Administrators to promote the culture of thorough washing of hands with running water and soap; installation of hand washstands at strategic locations and accessible areas within the school premises for staff and students as well as the provision of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Other measures, according to her, include encouraging students to keep fingers away from the nose, eyes, and mouth; making tissue papers available to all students; preventing contact with people suspected to be infected and advising students with suspected symptoms or high temperatures to stay at home.

Seriki-Ayeni also implored school leaders, students, and families, to maintain a high level of personal and environmental hygiene to safeguard pupils, stressing that during routine monitoring exercises, OEQA evaluators will continue to emphasize hygienic practices and also monitor compliance in schools.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/17/coronavirus-lagos-state-oeqa-advises-precautionary-measures-in-schools/

After the end of an eventful decade that saw over 300,000sqm of space being delivered to the Lagos Office Market, there is still a healthy statewide development pipeline of over 120,000sqm. Despite the existing supply overhang and a low take-up as shown by occupiers shuffling between A & B Grade Offices, Converted Residential Buildings and Serviced Office Spaces, new developments are still breaking ground almost quarterly. Though many of the projects in the pipeline are part owner-occupied, consistent development starts to demonstrate that some investors still have confidence in the market.

While some recently delivered buildings including Temple Tower and Heritage Place among a few others are nearing or at full occupancy, many others are struggling. Here are 5 properties that have been empty since they were completed over 5 years ago.

Why are they still empty?
A lot of emphases have been placed on the completion of A-Grade developments and the ensuing dip in their achievable rentals, however, many B Grade properties on the market have had it worse. The graph below shows the trend of rents over the past few years.

Year on Year, B Grade property rents have noted an annual decline of over 23.8% on average, much worse than the annual average decline of 12% seen from A+ and A-Grade property. Even though there is a clear case for investing in refurbishments and renovations or strategically located B Grade developments, the brand new B Grade stock delivered when better quality space was under pressure gave them little to no competing chance.


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/17/5-lagos-office-buildings-that-have-been-100-vacant-for-over-5-years/

Oil prices rebounded in the second half of this week, as markets eyed progress in China on the coronavirus. “The market is getting more comfortable that we’ve hit the bottom,” Rebecca Babin, a senior equity trader at CIBC Private Wealth Management, told Bloomberg. “Oil markets have discounted the worst case and could show more resilience as long as cases outside of China are not spiking.”

Gas writedowns reach Europe. The U.S. shale gas industry revealed more writedowns this week when they reported fourth-quarter earnings, as the financial pressure continues to mount with Nymex prices under $2/MMBtu. Range Resources (NYSE: RRC) and Gulfport Energy (NASDAQ: GFOP) were downgraded by Sander Piper. Noble Energy (NSYE: NBL) took a $1.1 billion writedown, and Occidental (NYSE: OXY) took a $1.7 billion write down. The impairments stretched to Europe, where Centrica (LON: CNA) took a $1.4 billion writedown.

IEA: Demand will contract in 1Q. The IEA not only revised down its full-year 2020 oil demand forecast, but it also said that first-quarter consumption would contract by over 400,000 BPD, the first year-on-year contraction in more than a decade. The agency said that the market remains in flux, and predicted a steadying of the supply/demand balance in the second half of the year.

Nigeria’s oil could fall by 35 percent. Nigeria’s oil production could decline by 35 percent in the next ten years due to regulatory uncertainty, high costs and low prices.

Capital drying up for E&Ps. E&Ps are under intense financial pressure and rising investor scrutiny. They face long-term peak oil demand and short-term struggles with profitability. “[T]here may well be too few ‘quality,’ competitive investment opportunities for the E&P industry as a whole; parts of the industry will not be able to attract investment capital,” said Jerry Kepes, Keith King, and Siddhartha Sen of IHS Markit.

BP outlines energy transition. BP (NYSE: BP) said that it would cut emissions from its operations to zero by 2050, while also cutting scope 3 emissions – those that result from the end-consumer burning fuels – in half. It’s an ambitious plan, one that tries to position the oil major as a leader, not a laggard, in the fight against climate change. It may also put additional pressure on the American oil majors – Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) – to step up climate commitments.

Exxon cuts employee travel. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) cut back on employee travel, an unusual austerity drive that comes shortly after the company posted its worst quarterly result in years.

Virginia votes to phase out coal. The state house and senate in Virginia passed legislation this week that would target 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 or 2050 (each chamber passed different versions). The legislation calls for a partial coal phase-out by 2024, and for the remainder by 2030. It also incentivizes offshore wind.

Shell, EDP set record-low offshore wind cost. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) and EDP Renovaveis SA agreed to sell power from an offshore wind farm they are building in the Atlantic Ocean for a record-low price. The project, in the waters of Massachusetts, would supply electricity for $58/MWh.

EIA: U.S. coal output to fall 13.7 percent. The EIA says that U.S. coal production will fall 13.7 percent this year.

Permian gas flaring worse than thought. According to new research from Rystad Energy, the rate of flaring in the Permian basin is much worse than previously thought. Gas flaring reached 810 million cubic feet per day, up 190 mcf/d after including data from gas processing facilities.

Investors back away from oil sands. BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) said this week that one of its green-oriented funds would no longer invest in companies that operate in Alberta’s oil sands. “If you look at how destructive oil sands can be, there’s a very strong rationale,” Armando Senra, head of BlackRock’s iShares Americas funds, told the NYT. They, along with coal, are “the worst offenders, if you want, from a climate perspective.”

Marathon cuts the drilling budget as profits fall. Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) said that it would cut its drilling budget by 10 percent after it reported a $20 million loss in the fourth quarter.

WoodMac: Fracking ban hits 1.2 mb/d. A study by Wood Mackenzie finds that a fracking ban on federal lands could cut into supply by as much as 1.2 mb/d, although less of an impact in the short run.

TC Energy not ready to commit to Keystone XL. More than a decade in limbo, the Keystone XL pipeline has still not received the go-ahead from TC Energy (NYSE: TRP). The Canadian company’s CFO said that there’s still uncertainty. “If we can get the comfort that the risk-reward proposition is attractive to us, we will proceed. If we can’t line all that up, the project will stay where it is,” TC Chief Financial Officer Don Marchand said.

Leviathan gas hit by the malfunction. Israel’s Leviathan gas field curtailed production to 60 percent because of a problem with a subsea pipeline.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/17/oil-markets-bounce-back-as-coronavirus-fears-fade/

The global smart speaker market reached a new high in 2019 with sales of 146.9 million units, an increase of 70% in 2018, according to new research from Strategy Analytics. Amazon remained the leading brand with a share of 26.2%, down from 33.7% in 2018. Google retained second place with a 20.3% share, also down from 25.9% the previous year. Chinese vendors Baidu, Alibaba and Xiaomi all increased their shares, while Apple remained in sixth place with 4.7%.

The full report from Strategy Analytics’ Smart Speakers and Screens (SSS) service, Smart Speaker Vendor & OS Shipment and Installed Base Market Share by Region: Q4 2019 can be found here.

Sales in Q4 2019 also achieved a new record of 55.7 million units, the highest ever quarterly sales figure. They were driven by strong holiday sales in the US and Europe, as well as a recovery in Google’s smart speaker business following new product introductions, improved components supply, and strong promotional activity. Strategy Analytics expects 2020 to be another record year for smart speaker sales, in spite of the near-term impact of disruption to supply and demand caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19).

David Watkins, Director at Strategy Analytics, commented: “Consumer appetite for smart speakers remained undimmed during the all-important Q4 period as newly launched devices with improved feature sets and audio performance helped drive record quarterly shipments. Consumers across the world were once again enticed by scarcely believable deals from leading brands such as Google, Amazon, Baidu, and Alibaba, while Google, in particular, stepped up its giveaway promotional activity in partnership with brands such as YouTube and Spotify.”

David Mercer, Vice President at Strategy Analytics, added, “In 2019 Amazon and Google retained their strong leadership positions in North America and Europe, where they accounted for more than three-quarters of all smart speaker sales. However, their shares fell slightly in both regions, confirming our user research findings that buyers are prepared to invest in other brands. Competing vendors must focus resources on specific smart speaker customer segments and use cases in order to maximize revenues and profitability.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/13/new-record-for-smart-speakers-as-global-sales-reached-146-9-million-in-2019/

Throughout your career, you will be judged on your hard skills. But you will advance faster and further based on your soft skills. Having technical skills that qualify you to do the work will only take you so far. Soft skills bolster your career by allowing you to effectively interact with others in your work setting.

In this article, you will understand more about what hard skills and soft skills are, and how to equip yourself with these skills to advance your career.

Hard Skills vs Soft Skills: What Are They?
First, let’s start with some definitions.

Hard skills are the technical skills and knowledge that you need to do a particular job. Depending on your field, these hard skills will vary quite a bit.

If you are a coder, for example, you will need to become proficient in one language (such as JavaScript), develop your logic skills, and learn to think like a computer.

If, on the other hand, you are a hedge fund manager, the hard skills you’ll need to master will include having a deep knowledge of hedge funds and superb analytical skills, among others.

Soft skills, by contrast, are the skills it’s useful to have in any job. Since most jobs involve interactions with people, skills such as patience, listening ability, and enthusiasm will get you far. Other soft skills, such as dedication, organization, and having a good work ethic will make your hard skills shine brighter.

Your hard skills define your level of expertise; your soft skills define your personal character and often, promotability.

How to Improve Your Hard Skills
All skills — be they hard or soft — improve with practice. You may well have to take classes to master the technical skills you need to succeed in today’s rapidly changing economy, and because the technical requirements of many jobs keep changing, you may have to continuously learn new skills.

If you’re rusty, the good news is that hard skills are teachable.

Brush up on your hard skills by taking refresher courses. Continuous learning is already built into some professions. In some states, real estate brokers need to complete 22 to 90 hours of coursework every two years to be eligible for renewal. Lawyers who move from one part of the country to another may have to sit for a bar exam in every new state.

How to Improve Your Soft Skills
Unlike hard skills, where you can always show your grade in a class, it’s sometimes hard to prove that you possess a particular soft skill. After all, saying that you’re a team player or super organized does not always sound believable. However, if you can get someone else to say that you are — a former boss or colleague, for example — that makes a more credible case.

According to LinkedIn, the five soft skills most sought after by employers today are:[1]

Creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and time management.

Think you can’t learn creativity? Think again. There are numerous online classes that show you how to stretch your creative muscle. You’ll earn a badge, which attests that you’re creative.

The trick, of course, is taking what you learn online and remembering to apply it to the real-life situations you find at the office.

Another creativity enhancer: walking. According to a study conducted at Stanford,[2] creative thinking sharpens while a person is walking. You don’t have to walk outdoors to be creative either. Walking indoors is just as impactful. The next time someone at your company suggests a brainstorming session, why not ask if you can all walk while you toss out ideas instead of just sitting stationary.

Enhancing Persuasion Skills
Developing your art of persuasion can also happen outside a classroom. Keep in mind that persuasion doesn’t just fall under a prosecutor’s or salesperson’s purview. Working on your own power of persuasion starts with becoming more aware of your colleague’s preference or viewpoint — and addressing his particular concerns. Listen hard to understand his perspective, and then try to find common ground upon which you both can agree.

Start by observing coworkers who excel at persuasion. They often begin by building rapport, and then adapting their pitches to address the individual or team’s needs. Some will be moved by numbers and data. Other colleagues may prefer a more emotional approach. Your task is to persuade hearts and minds, so you may want to prepare in advance to make both types of arguments. In either case, make every effort to show your authentic passion for what you’re pitching.

Honing Collaborative Skills
To hone your collaborative skills, take note of the personalities on your team. Think of the team in terms of a wolf pack.[3] Only one alpha is allowed to preside. The beta types will follow and the omegas will do their own thing regardless of the group’s decision. If your team needs an alpha, be prepared to step up. This means understanding how to build alliances and trust, and to communicate so that others know precisely where they fit in any plan to move forward.

Some self-awareness on your part regarding whether you prefer to give direction, take direction, or go off on your own direction will give you a sense of your collaborative style. Asking family members or close friends if they perceive you as a leader or follower can provide insight. Tread carefully if you set out to unseat an alpha. Understanding that a cohesive pack is the basis of collaboration will work in your favor.

Developing Adaptability
Adaptability as a soft skill has become a more desirable trait than ever as companies face disruption and must continually remake themselves with new technology, new products, and new services.

Hard skills alone won’t help you to navigate industry shifts. Adaptability comes from staying future-focused. You know change is coming soon; therefore you are prepared to embrace it.

Improving Time Management Skills
Finally, when you can show your manager that you have excellent time management abilities, you automatically become a person he or she will look to. This means that you’re able to prioritize your tasks, know when to delegate, and always meet (or surpass) your deadlines.

Start each day by putting together a list of all that needs to be done. Then, separate the priority tasks from those that can wait. Look for any work that you can delegate to an assistant. Then, put the tasks queue aside while you dive in and give the priority assignment your full attention. For complex, long-term projects, try to make incremental progress each week so that the giant project doesn’t loom over you.

If you tend to lose track of time, consider assigning a timeframe for addressing each item on your list, and cross off each item once it’s accomplished. This gives you a sense of forward progress. Give yourself a mini-celebration of a coffee break, a walk around the block, or a quick chat with a coworker before tackling the next item. This will clear your head and reset your focus.

Another key to time management: limit the number of phone calls, meetings, texts, and interruptions. There is some evidence to show that few workers can multi-task effectively. It’s best to complete a task before you check your texts and emails.

Strive for a Hard Skills-Soft Skills Balance
It’s necessary for those with technical jobs to adopt some soft skills and those with soft-skill jobs to adopt more hard skills. Both hard skills and soft skills are important to employers.

So, work to cultivate each set of skills. Strive to excel in any course work related to your essential hard skills to ensure technical expertise.

To improve your soft skills, intentionally put yourself in team-related projects or in leadership roles that provide opportunities for personal development. (If you can’t seem to do that at the office, consider joining a volunteer organization. Volunteering is a proven way to burnish your soft skills.)

As there’s really no metric for knowing precisely how adept you are at soft skills, ask for feedback. It will help you see how others perceive you — an important diagnostic for your own improvement. And remember, the more you practice, the better you will become.

In sum: Master your hard skills because they are the foundation of your career. And then resolve to treat bosses, coworkers, and underlings with civility. Listen well, and regularly deliver more than is expected. By doing so, you’ll stand out to your superiors and your career will soar.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/12/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills-why-are-they-important-to-your-career/

Lagos Gov: Investment In Infrastructure, Attraction For Diasporan Investors

The ongoing infrastructural development programme of the Lagos State Government is a deliberate effort to make the State attractive to Diasporan investment, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

Sanwo-Olu said there would be no point requesting Nigerians abroad to come back home to invest if the local business environment was not made to support their aspirations.

The Governor disclosed this while receiving His Worship, Mr. Patrick Brown, the Mayor of Brampton City in Ontario, Canada, who led a delegation to the State House in Alausa on a courtesy visit.

Sanwo-Olu said the Canadian city shared similar history with Lagos, stressing that both cities had grown over the decades to become the hubs of commerce and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The Governor acknowledged the efforts made by the Mayor to accelerate more development in Brampton, which hosts a large population of Nigerians. He said Lagos would be seeking bilateral cooperation with the political leadership of the Canadian city in the areas of cybersecurity, food security and technology among others.

He said: “It feels great to know how much effort you, as a Mayor of Brampton, are investing in driving more development in your city and this is similar to what we have been doing in Lagos. We have embarked on an intensive infrastructural programme to make Lagos more attractive to people in the diaspora to invest in.

“All these efforts will sustain the position of Lagos as the first destination for business and keep our economy growing at a steady pace. Lagos is the tech hub in sub-Saharan Africa and there are many collaborations we can seal with Brampton in the area of cybersecurity. Only yesterday (Monday), the State cabinet passed the development of 3,000-kilometre metropolitan fibre initiative all around the city.

“When this is done, we will be able to leapfrog on this to build several capabilities using technology. It means that we are transforming Lagos to a smart city and city of the future driven by technology. This will also enhance our Ease of Doing Business Policy, which foreign investors and Diaspora can tap into.”

Sanwo-Olu said the smart city initiative of his administration would enhance the capacity of the Government to leverage technology in improving security and drive up tourism potential of the State.

Brown described Nigerians living in Brampton as “resilient people”, saying their influence on the city’s economy and culture contributed to its economic prosperity and social development.

The Mayor welcomed Lagos Governor’s invitation for collaborations in various areas, including education, ICT, agriculture and cybersecurity.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/11/sanwo-olu-canadian-mayor-discuss-bilateral-cooperation-in-technology-food-security/

11th February 2020: New data from Juniper Research forecasts that global contactless transaction values will reach nearly $6 trillion in 2024, up from $2 trillion in 2020. It found that this increase will be driven by significant growth in OEM Pay and contactless card transaction values, especially in the US.

The new research, Contactless Payments: Market Status, Vendor Analysis & Market Forecasts 2020-2024, identified the rollout of contactless cards in the US and improvements in China’s contactless POS infrastructure as key drivers of this increase, as well as strong growth from Apple Pay. However, the research found that OEM Pay, payment options from smartphone manufacturers, will account for higher-value payments over the forecast period, due to restrictive payment limits for contactless cards.

Contactless Card Usage in the US to Accelerate
Juniper Research anticipates that contactless cards will experience significant growth in the US, with transaction values surpassing $1.5 trillion in 2024, rising from $178 billion in 2020. The research found that growth will be fuelled by the promotion of contactless cards by major US banks, reductions in the costs associated with issuing contactless cards in the US and their increasing use in the ticketing space. The research recommends that US retailers and technology providers urgently prioritize improving contactless infrastructure to capitalize on this growing trend.

Apple Pay Still Leading OEM Pay Battle
The research found that Apple Pay will account for a 52% share of OEM Pay transaction values, up from 43% in 2020. The expansion of Apple Pay’s user base in key regions, including Far East & China and Europe, will drive growth, as well as the extension of Apple’s reach outside OEM Pay through its Apple Card initiative.

Research author Susannah Hampton explained: “Apple is now leading the space, owing to its unified ecosystem. Competitors, including Google and Samsung, must continue to expand the reach of their services in order to make strides in the market”.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector; providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/11/contactless-payment-transactions-to-reach-6-trillion-globally-by-2024-fuelled-by-increased-card-use/

The Department of Petroleum Resources and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers have resolved to flush out all unregistered dealers of liquefied petroleum gas, popularly called cooking gas, after two months of grace.

According to both organisations, dealers of LPG should within this period endeavour to register their businesses with DPR in order to end the unwholesome activities of quacks in the sector.

Speaking on the sidelines of the DPR 2019 Annual General Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the agency’s Zonal Operations Controller, Abuja, Abubakar Buba, said the removal of unregistered LPG dealers from streets would be nationwide.

He said, “We’ve agreed that we are going to flush out unregistered retailers. We also agreed that the ones that are going to be regularised should be regularised within two months so that they get their licences.

“And for those who fail to come, they themselves agreed with us that after the two months, the union, civil defence and DPR will jointly flush them (defaulters) out completely.”

On whether the resolution to flush out unregistered LPG dealers was solely for operators in Abuja and neighbouring states, Buba replied, “No, it is all over the country.

“Right now we are handling that of Abuja and its environs and we have agreed with the union that this is the way to go. We have told them to talk to their members on the danger of not registering and opening LPG shops anywhere they find space.

“They agreed with us that they will talk to their members to register and when they come, we will look at the issues very objectively. We will not give them site suitability anywhere, rather it must be a site suitable for LPG retail.”

The Principal Organising Secretary, NUPENG, Alexander Stephen, confirmed that the union had reached an agreement with DPR to flush out quacks who deal in the retailing of LPG.

He was, however, quick to state that the union requested for three months, while the DPR insisted on two months.

Stephen said, “Our suggestion was that they should give us three months to do that but DPR is insisting that two months should be enough for us to achieve it.

“However, the bottom-line is that we want to start first. Wherever we get to in two or three months, at least we will be able to assess it and take it further from there.”

On how the union intends to sanitise the sector, Stephen said NUPENG had introduced identification cards as a means of identifying its members.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/10/dpr-nupeng-vow-to-clear-unregistered-gas-dealers/

The long-drawn saga over an alleged N170m Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) contract involving Benjamin Joseph, self-acclaimed Managing Director of a tech company, Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd., reached a new turn recently when Princess Kama, a former associate of Joseph, told a Federal High Court how the plaintiff’s allegations bordered on a betrayal of trust.

Princess Kama, testifying as to the first defendant as the defence opened its case on Thursday, January 30, 2020; noted that Joseph has turned around to falsely accuse her of fraud after she helped him win and execute a contract for the supply of laptops to the FIRS in 2012.

Specifically, Princess Kama told the court how she singlehanded helped Joseph, who she described as a former friend, to win the FIRS contract. Princess Kama disclosed that she invested her personal funds, resources and network to not only win the contract but also financed its execution by Citadel Oracle Concepts.

She told the judge: “My Lord, I used my money and experience to package the bids. When the award was given to Citadel, we met with the point-person at Utako to agree on the sharing formula of the profit. We agreed that Mr Joseph will take the profit from one of the three lots. All the agreement was verbal, based on trust, in view of our over 10 years’ of friendship.

“The genesis of the whole problem was the decision to transfer the N38 million profit to him. But he wanted me to bring the entire value of the contract including the invoice value of the laptops supplied to us on credit by Technology Distributions. I refused because TD is supposed to take the agreed invoice value of the laptops while we take the profit,” Kama said.

Indeed, in his statement of claim in a civil suit no. LD/4335/14 at the Lagos High Court, Joseph admitted that he issued a Letter of Authority to the FIRS with copies of his company’s corporate papers, accepting the contract and appointing Princess Kama as his authorized representative to handle the transaction. Kama had subsequently approached Technology Distributions Ltd., Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest product distributors and an authorized HP distributor, for assistance in executing the contract by supplying to them the laptops on credit for onward delivery to the FIRS.

In view of previous bad experience and in order to avoid exposing the business to bad loans, TD had nominated its staff – Mr. Chris Eze Ozims and Mrs. Shade Oyebode – to be signatories to an account opened for the purpose of disbursement of funds as regards the contract, solely as security for the laptops supplied on credit. Upon payment of the sum for the contract, TD had gone ahead to deduct the invoiced sum of the supplied laptops and had its staff resign as signatories to the account.

However, Joseph turned around to allege fraud.

Meanwhile, Princess Kama told the court on Thursday that Joseph was offered N10 million during a reconciliation meeting with Chief Babalola he attended along with other parties in Ado Ekiti.

As a matter of fact, this was initially confirmed by Joseph. In his Statement of Claim and Witness Statement on Oath filed by Joseph in the civil suit No. LD/4335/14 at the Lagos High Court, Joseph clearly admitted in paragraphs 36 and 37 that meetings were held between him, the said Princess Kama and Chief Igbokwe at his then-counsel, Afe Babalola’s office in Ado Ekiti on September 26th, 2013. Additionally, Joseph admitted in paragraph 34 that Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) wrote letters dated August 2nd, 2013 on his behalf to Princess Kama and Chief Igbokwe.

Surprisingly, Joseph denied it all immediately Ms. Kama gave her testimony on Thursday, January 30th when the defence opened its case.

“My Lord, I never attended any meeting with Afe Babalola. All are cooked up lies,’’ Joseph who dramatically wept openly in court said. However, this is quite contradictory to his Witness Statement of Oath, as seen by this medium, filed in the said civil suit at the Lagos High Court, where he narrated the meetings and the letters written by Afe Babalola SAN on his behalf.

Meanwhile, at the penultimate hearing of the case on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, Joseph who was scheduled to testify and give evidence as to the fifth prosecution witness, was not in court, for undisclosed reasons.

In his place, his legal counsel, Mouka Jude, tendered in court a letter addressed by Joseph to the acting director in the legal unit of the EFCC, Abubakar Madaki, in which said he no longer had any interest to give evidence in the case.

“In view of the foregoing and the concerns raised in this correspondence, I express my sincere reservations about the modus and the end objective of the criminal trial above referenced. Regrettably, I do not feel in this circumstance that it would be safe for me to testify in this case with Mr Jude Obazuwa as the prosecutor, believing that he would lead me in destroying myself in the circumstance,” Joseph said.

Indeed, his resolve not to give evidence in the case was widely reported by some media houses including Premium Times on November 13, 2019, and Nigerian Herald on the same date.

Consequently, the EFCC prosecutor Obazuwa had no option than to close the case of the prosecution. Thereafter, the case was adjourned to 30th January 2020 for the defence to open their case.

Once again, Joseph suddenly made a volte-face at the resumed hearing on Thursday, January 30, 2020. He broke existing court protocols, asking Justice D. Senchi, for an opportunity to testify. Even though the Prosecutor made an oral application to reopen his case, His Lordship ruled against him as the court noted that it had adjourned twice for Joseph to give evidence but he refused to testify. Equally important, the court noted that Joseph was in court on 24th September 2019 but failed to testify and the matter was adjourned to 12th November 2019 but he, again, failed to turn up. The court viewed it as a ploy to further delay the case. When Joseph witnessed the gravity of the testimony of Kama as against his self-induced lost opportunity to testify, he broke down in tears in court, clearly regretting his decision not to testify before the prosecution closed its case. At this point, he became dramatic; weeping and rolling and appealing to the judge to testify in the case.

In court, Joseph alleged that the prosecutor refused to tender additional documents he gave to him. “My Lord, the prosecutor has refused to present the passport and other documents about the crime in court. Everything they are saying are lies, my Lord. Chief Afe Babalola is still alive My Lord,” he wailed.

However, the prosecutor maintained that the prosecution had factored in all the documents Joseph submitted during investigations before opening and closing his case. He made it clear that he is proceeding on the report and the documents given to him by the investigative team. Indeed, a case can only be tried based on documents that formed proof of evidence and not documents generated by a complainant mid-course, which the investigative team had no opportunity to look at to ascertain their veracity.

Moreover, such personal documents could only be tendered through Mr. Joseph but he refused to testify. Indeed, the prosecutor could not have tendered Joseph’s personal international passport through the Kama or any other witness who has never seen the document and never had any dealings with it.

In addition, Joseph, in court, claimed that the EFCC prosecutor slapped him in his office, an allegation denied by Obazuwa, as that cannot be supported by the CCTV evidence in their office. He said he only refused to shake Joseph who was following him around to shake his hand for reasons he could not understand.

The defence is expected to continue its case against Joseph when the trial resumes.

Indeed, this case bordering on alleged N170m contract has a chequered history. Mr. Joseph and his company, Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited, had initially reported to Chief Afe Babalola Chambers that his company was used to defraud the FIRS by Princess Kama and her allies and that the laptops were not supplied.

When Princess Kama narrated the true story with documentary proof including a letter of authority signed by him, Joseph withdrew from Afe Babalola Chambers and petitioned the EFCC, Lagos who investigated and saw no merit in his complaint. He then lodged another complaint with Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police, Ikoyi, alleging that his signature on the board resolution to open the account at Access Bank was forged. The SFU launched an investigation at FIRS offices and confirmed that the laptops were supplied with serial numbers intact. Mr. Joseph then filed another petition to the Nigerian Police (Force CID) Headquarters, Abuja, who conducted another round of investigations.

However, since the crux of the matter was the denial by Joseph of not signing the Board Resolution to open the account with which the FIRS remitted payment for the supplied HP laptops, the Police sent the documents for forensic analysis to determine its veracity. The evidence proved that the documents were not forged, and were actually signed by him. Consequently, the Police charged him for false petitioning and deceit in Charge Number CR/216/16 before an Abuja High Court.

Mr. Joseph is still standing trial in that case and is expected to open his defence since the prosecution has concluded its own case in 2019.

The case comes up on February 25, 2020.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/10/alleged-n170m-firs-contract-complainant-causes-drama-weeps-in-court/

Four insurance companies are finalizing arrangements to raise about N20 billion in new equity funds from existing and new investors as insurers step up efforts to meet new minimum capital requirements and strengthen their positions ahead of expected industry consolidation.

The four insurance companies – Prestige Assurance Plc, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, AIICO Insurance and Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc are raising about N20 billion in the next round of capital raising by insurers.

The companies are mostly sourcing for the new capital from existing shareholders, a traditional method for most companies in the recent period.

Authorities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) at the weekend indicated they have approved the new capital raising by Prestige Assurance and Consolidated Hallmark Insurance.

Prestige Assurance is seeking to float a rights issue of 13.47 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at par value of 50 kobo with a view to raising N6.74 billion from existing shareholders.

The rights issue will be pre-allotted on the basis of five new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for every two ordinary shares of 50 kobo each held as at the close of business Friday, January 31, 2020.

In preparation for the new capital raising, Prestige Assurance had created additional new 14 billion ordinary shares by increasing its authorised share capital from N3 billion of 6.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to N10 billion of 20 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The New India Assurance Company Limited, Mumbai, the precursor and founder of Prestige Assurance, is expected to provide more than two-thirds of about N4.7 billion of the new capital raising.

The New India Assurance Company Limited, Mumbai holds 69.50 per cent majority equity stake in the Nigerian subsidiary while Leadway Assurance Company, an unlisted Nigerian insurance company, holds 11.47 per cent equity stake.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance has received approval to raise new capital through a rights issue of 2.03 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at 52 kobo per share.

In the tradition of the rights issue, the new shares to be offered for sale will be pre-allotted to shareholders on the basis of one new ordinary share of 50 kobo each for every four ordinary shares of 50 kobo each held as at the close of business on Monday, February 03, 3020.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance is expected to raise N1.056 billion through the rights issue in what appeared to be the first round of multiple capital raising programmes of the insurance company.

Shareholders of AIICO Insurance and Sunu Assurances Nigeria are scheduled to meet early next month to consider and approve new rights issues.

AIICO Insurance plans to raise up to N3.5 billion in new equity funds from existing shareholders while Sunu Assurances plans to raise N8 billion through any of the various capital raising methods.

AIICO Insurance’s share price closed weekend at 82 kobo per share while Sunu Assurances closed at 20 kobo per share.

Under the capital raising plan, Sunu Assurances plans to create the headroom for new share issuance through a share reconstruction that will cancel four out of five ordinary shares held by shareholders.

With these, a total of 11.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each will be cancelled, reducing the company’s issued share capital to 2.80 billion ordinary shares.

Insurance companies are in a hot race to raise new equity capital to meet new minimum capital requirements for various insurance functions as directed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

NAICOM had in May 2019 released new capital requirements for insurance businesses with a 13-month compliance period for operators to shore up their minimum capital base to the required level.

The minimum paid-up share capital of a life insurance company was increased from N2 billion to N8 billion, non-life insurance from N3 billion to N10 billion, composite insurance from N5 billion to N18 billion while re-insurance companies were directed to raise their capital base from N10 billion to N20 billion.

Many insurance companies had recently raised new equity capital in what was regarded as the first round of the capital raising session for the industry.

Wapic Insurance recently closed application list for N5.9 billion rights issue. It offered 15.61 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at 38 kobo per share.

The rights issue was pre-allotted to shareholders on the register of the insurance company as at the close of business on Thursday, September 19, 2019, on the basis of seven new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for every six ordinary shares of 50 kobo each already held.

Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) also raised N2.09 billion through a rights issue. STI offered 4.17 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at a price of 50 per share.

As rights, the new shares issued were pre-allotted on the basis of one new share for every two ordinary shares held as at the close of business on January 15, 2019.

Many other insurance companies including Universal Insurance and Niger Insurance have also launched preliminary processes in their quest to raise new capital, in what may form the third round of capital raising under the current recapitalisation programme.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/10/aiico-sunu-assurances-nigeria-and-2-others-seek-n20b-as-recapitalisation-race-thickens/

Speaking to journalist in Lagos, Technical Director; Abubakar Yaro said “The year will kick off with training course for our coaches, Referees and Administrators followed by a return to the National Sports Festival in Edo after a 10 year absence. We will then take a break due to Ramadan fast. The President’s Cup between Police and Barewa will usher in the 2020 League Season after which Nigeria will host the West African Rugby Series in Lagos’’.

Abubakar further said the Black Stallion Men’s Sevens will engage in the Africa Cup 7s later in the year. “As you know, we will not play in the Africa Cup 15s this year having lost the pre-qualifying match in Madagascar last year. Abubakar further explained that Nigeria could have avoided Madagascar, the highest ranked team in the preliminary rounds. “If we didn’t get the ban in 2017, we would have easily avoided Madagascar because we fell behind to the lower regional league and had to play our way back up in Niger Republic and Ivory Coast in 2017. We then emerged the last ranked team after readmission into the 15s World Cup pre-qualifiers and Africa 7s in 2019. It was an avoidable pairing; however, we have to work towards ensuring we don’t find ourselves in such situation ever again.

“We are also looking at our Women’s Sevens competing on the continent this year after another ten year absence. “Recall our Women’s Sevens team last participated in the year 2009 in Ghana where they finished runners up to Tunisia. They were sponsored by Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu who was Chairman of Friend’s of Rugby at the time and now that he is President, he is working hard to ensure our Women’s team feature on the Continent again. We have identified a number of them playing in Canada and the USA. They converged and participated at the Las Vegas 7s International Open Tournament in March, 2019 where they reached the Cup quarter finals. We look forward to having them come home and mix with our home based girls to represent Nigeria this year”.

Speaking to the NRFF President; Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu, “We’re very much looking forward to starting 2020 with some capacity building programs and we will pay more attention to schools Rugby. The President’s Cup between Police and Barewa is pending so it is imminent that we conclude it. The Board agreed to start a Cup competition alongside the League this year to give the players more playing time as well as include a Sevens circuit and Women’s Sevens League towards September. We enjoin corporate Nigeria, Individuals and foundations to partner with us to grow Rugby in Nigeria. Our doors are open to discuss.”

NRFF Program of Activities 2020


NRFF CALENDAR 2020

February Board Meeting

March Coaches & Match Officials Training.

March 22 – April 1 National Sports Festival

March Annual General Meeting

April Easter Sandie Beach Rugby

April 23 – May 23 Ramadan Fast Break

June President’s Cup (Police Lagos Rfc vs Barewa Rfc)

June Northern & Southern League Season

June Northern & Southern League Season

July Camping for West Africa Regional Series (WARS)

August West African Regional Series Tournament

August Lilleker Tournament Zaria

August Northern 7s

August National 7s Circuit Tournament

Sept National 7s Circuit Tournament

Sept Camping for Safari Sevens

Sept Safari Sevens Invitational Tournament, Kenya

Sept National Youth Games

Sept National Womens 7s Camp

October Nigeria International Sevens
(Independence 7s) / State Schools 7s / Womens 7s

October Africa Cup Sevens (Women’s)

November Africa Cup Sevens (Men’s)/ HSBC 2021 World Sevens Series Qualifiers

November iTry

November Rock ‘N’ Rugby Beach Tournament

November Sandie Beach November Edition


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/10/the-nigeria-rugby-football-federation-nrff-announces-2020-calendar/

If you are responsible for the employee(s) at the workplace, then you need to read this. I have found these tips very helpful for me and I am still learning them daily.

1.Not really caring about the people you work with.

I understand that work can be very demanding with targets to meet, clients to please, teams to run and top management meetings to attend to. Give it 5-10 years, and you won’t remember much of the tasks you are assigning today, instead, you will be left with a clear reminder of how your relationships with the people you worked with were great or not. So, show care in your words and in your actions. A little how is your health now? How is your baby doing? How did your exams go? Are you sure you are okay? Will go a long way in adding value to the people who work with you. There’s a saying that people don’t care what you know, till they know that you care. If your employees send you messages of ill health, respond with a message as well or a call. Your employees are not machines that deliver at the press of a button, they are human too, make them feel you care about them.

2. Transferring the aggression of past hurts from Boss-employee relationships that went wrong.

If you have unresolved issues from past work relationships, you will most likely bring them forward to every other relationship you have at the workplace. Your unresolved hurts will form the basis of some of your decisions which may include, lack of trust, a decision to only look out for yourself alone, care less about others but work, step on every toe to get whatever you want and other projected insecurities. For example, if you got fired on a job for signing off on a paper that led to fraudulent actions, even though you didn’t partake in the fraudulent actions. In your next job, tendencies are that you may never trust anyone who brings you a document for sign-off. You may have an opinion that such people are there to bring you down as before. If this is not consciously addressed, you will consistently react extremely to people in this role and may trigger a freeze and flight mode of communication with them.

3. Your direct reports walk on Eggshells around you,

If your junior colleagues can not express themselves freely or find it hard expressing a different opinion from yours on work issues, you may need to take a second look at this. If you are the only one who speaks for the most part during your team meetings, you may need to look at this as you may be crushing your team instead of building it. The people who work with you should trust you enough to share their opinions on the work without been maligned, shut up or down or emotionally abused.

4. You hardly stand up for your team.

It’s every man for himself on your team. Every member of your team is responsible for himself. Good or bad…. erm especially bad.

5. You Never Celebrate your team, nor increase their visibility in the organization in any way.
You always want to be at the forefront without acknowledging the efforts and much hard work and support given by members of your team to ensure that quality work is delivered consistently.

6.You make Performance Appraisal periods your weapon.
You never give ongoing feedbacks to your team during the year, on their areas of strength and areas they need to improve on. You prefer to wait until that period to exert your “power and authority”. Giving people feedbacks will open up their perspective and help them develop on the role.

Do not crush your teams, Build them, you will be a better leader as you do.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/09/6-ways-you-may-be-crushing-your-team-without-even-knowing-it/

This isn’t an uncommon situation to find yourself in. Digital technology has seen the recruitment industry evolve at a rapid rate, with recruiters now using new technology and data science techniques to identify or find the best candidates for any given role.

There are a number of ways recruiters do this, but there are three common reasons that a person’s profile attracts the attention of recruiters. Firstly, you may have your LinkedIn profile set to “open to hearing about opportunities”. Secondly, the skills and experience listed on your profile categorise you as a suitable match for the available vacancy. Thirdly, you have been active online.

As David Moore, Global Account Manager at LinkedIn outlines in his blog: “Active members of the LinkedIn community sharing relevant updates and insights are more likely to get noticed by recruiters and other professionals looking to expand their network.”

In the message you received, the recruiter will most likely have asked if you are interested in discussing the opportunity further, either over the phone or in person. They want to provide you with more information about this opportunity while also learning more about you, where you are at in your career, how open you are to new opportunities at this point in time, and whether you would be a good match for the role they have available.

The question is, what do you do now that a recruiter has reached out to you?

Step 1: Responding to the recruiter
The first step is to respond to the recruiter. How you respond will depend on your current circumstances. If you want to know more – and there’s no harm in learning more about this job opportunity – you can have a confidential discussion with the recruiter. Remember, you don’t need to share anything with the recruiter until you are ready. On the other hand, you may be adamant that you are happy in your current role and not interested in hearing about new opportunities. Here’s how to respond in both scenarios:

How to respond if you aren’t interested

Thank the recruiter for getting in contact and suggest when they could check back in to see if your circumstances have changed. If you are open to new opportunities but this role isn’t right for you, let the recruiter know what you are looking for so they can ensure that you are only contacted about relevant roles in the future.

You may also like to send the recruiter your current CV. While you aren’t looking for opportunities now, you may want their help in the future and you don’t want to cut your ties.

If the recruiter sent you an InMail, you’ll be given the option of replying with an automated response, i.e. – “interested”, “maybe later” or “no thanks”. In this case, it is still worthwhile taking the time to tailor your reply for the sake of building a better rapport with the recruiter – think of your future long-term career advancement.


How to respond if you are interested

If you are interested in the job opportunity, reply to the recruiter’s message as soon as you can. You could either ask the recruiter to email you a copy of the job specification or suggest an initial phone call so that you can have an open and fluid conversation about the role. Remember, this is simply an exploratory conversation. It doesn’t tie you into applying or taking your application forward.

If you decide to speak on the phone, then before the call:

Find out about the consultant and the areas they recruit in by reviewing their LinkedIn profile and recommendations. This can give you a better idea of their area of expertise, and which other roles they may be able to place you in
Make sure you find a space where you can talk confidentially and take notes about the opportunity
Have a copy of your CV in front of you, and be ready to talk through it, highlighting your key skills and experience
Prepare some questions about the role and organisation, depending on what your career priorities are. For instance, does the organisation offer training and progression opportunities? How does the organisation describe its culture?
Step 2: Do you want to be put forward?
As the conversation draws to a close, the recruiter will ask if you are interested in being put forward for the job.

If you need more information or time to think

If you need more time to think about the opportunity, say so. If you haven’t already received a job specification, ask that they email this to you. Then draw up a list of pros and cons about the opportunity, factoring in what this role can provide you with versus your current job. Crucially, consider how the role fits with your career ambitions. You could also use this time to research the organisation, looking at their website and employee review sites. Just make sure you don’t take longer than a day to go back to the recruiter with your decision.

If you want to be put forward for the role
If you are interested in the role, then let the recruiter know. From here, they will send you a job specification if they haven’t already. They’ll also ask you to send across your CV. At this point, I advise that you review the job description, highlight the keywords and phrases, and tailor your CV accordingly so that they can pass this to their client for interview consideration. The recruiter will also suggest meeting up so that they can get to know you and your ambitions more and discuss any other job opportunities they have available.

If this isn’t the right role for you
If you feel that this isn’t the right opportunity for you, inform the recruiter. Thank them for reaching out, and explain why this opportunity isn’t a good fit.

Don’t leave things there though. You could connect with them on LinkedIn and send them an up-to-date version of your CV so that they can consider you for further opportunities that do match what you are looking for. After all, you never know what jobs they might be working on next time you are ready to explore your options in the job market.

Having a recruiter reach out to you on LinkedIn is a positive sign. It means you have a strong profile and relevant, employable skills. Regardless of whether you are interested in the opportunity or not, by keeping the lines of communication open you will build your professional network, learn about current opportunities and mark the start of a new promising career partnership.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/10/how-to-react-when-a-recruiter-messages-you-out-of-the-blue-on-linkedin/

Former Nigeria international Finidi George has been announced as the brand ambassador of the betting outfit, Luckybet.ng.

In an event held in Lagos, the winger – who helped Ajax win the Champions League in 1995 and helped Nigeria win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations – was unveiled due to his personality and achievements which reverberates the bookmakers’ uniqueness.

“Luckybet.ng provides a world-class series of entertaining and rewarding opportunities, and its state of the art platform will empower Nigerians during this economic situation by tapping into the passion points of Nigerians.

“I think they have shown that they care, they are willing to create jobs for over 20,000 people using a distinctive franchise model and with the presence of soccer, you will see that it is a combination of everything, and I key into that. I am glad to be a part of this too because I have a role to play in helping punters to bet wisely,” George said.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/07/luckybet-ng-unveils-finidi-george-as-brand-ambassador-photos/

More Pictures...

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public: When and how to use masks

If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with the suspected 2019-nCoV infection.
Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.
How to put on, use, take off and dispose of a mask

How to put on, use, take off and dispose of a mask

Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of the mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/07/coronavirus-should-i-wear-a-mask/

The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has called for the understanding and support of stakeholders for the construction of junction improvement works at Ikotun roundabout in lgando-lkotun Local Council Development Area of the State.

The Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako made this plea at the stakeholder’s meeting held on Wednesday at Alausa, saying the motive behind the initiative was to ease the perennial traffic gridlock being experienced in that corridor.

Speaking through the Director, Development Matters, Tpl. Oladimeji Animashaun, Dr. Salako explained that the junction improvement initiative of the Lagos State Government was in line with the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s urban regeneration drive and part of efforts to ease traffic gridlock across the State.

He added that the essence of the interactive meeting was to seek and obtain the mutual understanding of all stakeholders in the community for the smooth and successful take-off of the project.

The Commissioner enjoined everyone to give their unalloyed support to the project by cooperating with the staff of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and other government agencies for the realization of the project.

He assured that the project would be executed without delay and would be delivered in the next four months as planned.

On the scope of the project, the Project Consultant, Engr. Asamo Adebayo, noted that facilities to be delivered along with the project include walkways, intelligent traffic signalization, drains to connect with the existing drain, alignment kerbs, and service ducts. Others are culverts and alignment of Jersey barriers.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, who was represented by the Director, Transport Engineering Services, stated that the junction improvement works of the Ikotun roundabout was one of the several junctions being improved by the State Government to address the traffic challenge in the State and create investment and job opportunities to the benefit of the people of Lagos State.

In the same vein, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Hon. Ganiu Adele Ayuba called for people’s understanding towards the projects, adding that the Lagos State Government was desirous of bringing development to all nooks and crannies of the State.

The Chairman of Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Hon. Morenike Williams commended the Administration of Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for considering her domain for the proposed project, saying it would further catalyze development in the axis.

She pledged the cooperation of the Local Council Development Area for the actualization of the project.

A landlord in the community, Alhaji Adele appealed to the State Government to show compassion to stakeholders whose property would be affected in one way or the other by ensuring they are compensated.

Also at the stakeholders’ meeting were community leaders, leaders of the lgando-lkotun Market Association, lgando-lkotun Resident Association, among others.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/06/lagos-seeks-cooperation-of-stakeholders-on-the-expansion-of-ikotun-roundabout/

Nike’s successor to the popular ‘Naija’ kits is an eye-catching ‘Swoosh’ design that won’t disappoint Super Eagles supporters Sports manufacturers Nike have revealed the 2020 Nigeria kits, with the Super Eagles set to don an eye-catching ‘Swoosh’ design during the World Cup 2022 and Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualifying campaigns.

Nike enjoyed immense success with its previous Super Eagles design, which enjoyed record-breaking sales ahead of its release before the 2018 World Cup.

The Naija designs were always going to be a hard act to follow, but Nike has unveiled a stylish successor which will surely win over Super Eagles supporters.

Nike revealed designs for the United States, South Korea, and Nigeria national teams, with the remaining federations set to be launched over the coming months.

“The extensive array of federations donning the Swoosh each have unique histories and cultures,” read a statement on the Nike News website. “In 2020, their distinctive attributes are celebrated with highly differentiated collections.

“Building upon the learnings from the successful 2018 Nigeria Collection, Nike undertook deep cultural immersions and collaborated with each federation to ensure the designs truly resonated.

“From hand-drawn prints to custom fonts, each team’s look will be its own,” the statement continued. “Counter to templatization, Nike designers had 65 chassis options available to them across varying necklines, sleeves, cuffs, badge placement, etc.”

In June 2018, Nike confirmed that their Naija collection had broken records, with the manufacturers revealing 3 million pre-orders for the jersey, a new record for an African nation.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/06/super-eagles-nike-unveils-new-kit-inspired-by-traditional-agbada-design/

More Pictures...

Lagos State Government has formally kicked off commercial waterways transportation, with the official launch of eight newly acquired speed boats by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday.

Sanwo-Olu unveiled the speed boats, which will be operated by the Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), at a ceremony held at Badore Ferry Terminal in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The event marked the commencement of commercial operations in waterways transportation by LAGFERRY. The Governor also launched a mobile application designed to facilitate easy access to water transportation services.

Sanwo-Olu said the intervention represented a “great leap” in his administration’s strategy to deliver an effective and integrated intermodal transportation system in addressing the perennial issue of traffic congestion on the roads.

He said: “The narrative of transportation in Lagos is about to change for good, as we are set to take full advantage of the water bodies to decongest our roads and substantially reduce travel time for commuters.

“Today, we are launching eight units of additional ferries to complement the existing six ferries in the fleet of Lagos Ferry Service. It is glaring that for Lagos to be a functional smart city that we desire, there must be diversification of the mode of transportation. There must be interconnectivity of the rail, road and water transportation systems.”

The design and fabrication of the new boats were totally worked out by two local boat manufacturers in line with Sanwo-Olu’s promise to exploring local capacity in providing solutions to various challenges.

The Governor observed that the commencement of commercial operations on waterways would promote healthy living and restore the aesthetics of the environment through the reduction of carbon emission.

He charged private investors to move in and harness opportunities in the value chain, noting that the Government had solved the teething problems associated with the mode of transportation and infrastructure.

“We are fully committed to increasing investment in the development of more routes on the waterways. To consolidate on the infrastructure we have provided on the waterways, we will embark on the construction of more jetties and provision of more modern ferry boats to create opportunities for more private sector participation in water transportation,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor said the State would drive full compliance on measures put in place to ensure the safety of commuters using the waterways, adding that the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) was being strengthened to effectively discharge its monitoring and regulatory duties in line with best practice.

He said: “We are going to spread the efficiency of the LAGFERRY services to meet the demand of the people at various times of the day. Before the end of the year, we will double the capacity in the LAGFERRY’s fleet from 14 to 30 boats. This is to enable the agency to discharge its mandate to ease the movement of Lagosians from various parts of the city to another through the waterways.”

Sanwo-Olu promised that modern jetties would also be built in Badagry, Lekki, and Ajegunle, pledging that the one being built in Ijegun would be completed.

Chief Executive Officer of LAGFERRY, Hon. Abdulbaq Balogun said the launching charted a new course for water transportation in the State.

The agency, Balogun said, remained fully committed to exploring the capacity of waterways to strengthen mass transportation in line with transportation blueprint of the Sanwo-Olu administration.

With over 30 jetties across the State, the LAGFERRY boss said Lagos had provided infrastructure to boost water transportation, adding that the commencement of commercial operations by the agency would reduce persistent gridlock on the highways.

He said: “With our global water transportation licence, LAGFERRY will operate on all the waterways routes in Lagos, starting gradually according to the available capacity. We will be deploying all our 14 available ferries to cover the three senatorial zones immediately.

“Our well developed and properly coordinated water transportation is also helping in haulage across the State, moving trucks, containers and goods, thereby relieving the roads of heavy-duty trucks which contribute in no small measure to failure of roads.”

Before the fourth quarter of the year, Balogun said LAGFERRY would extend its services to all 40 water routes licenced for Lagos.

Also, Commissioner for Transport, Dr Frederic Oladehinde, described the event as another giant stride in Transport Sector Reform embarked on by the Sanwo-Olu administration, saying the standard of the boats would meet the transportation need of residents in an emerging Smart City.

Oladehinde announced the six routes of LAGFERRY’s operations, which include Ikorodu to Falomo; Ikorodu to Ebute Ero and Marina; Ebute Ojo to Ijegun Egba, Apapa and Marina; Bayeku to Oke Ira Nla and Falomo; Mile 2 to Marina, and Badore to Ijede.

Three of the boats deployed for operations by LAGFERRY have the capacity to carry 60 passengers, two were built to carry 50 passengers, while another two had capacities of 40 passengers. Also, three of the boats will carry 30 passengers, four will carry 25 passengers and two will carry 25 passengers.

All the boats are built with comfortable seats, in-built Wi-Fi and modern technological devices that will aid smooth operations and safety.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/05/traffic-lagos-begins-commercial-water-transportation-as-sanwo-olu-launches-new-speed-boats/

Lagos State Government will not reverse the ongoing enforcement of its Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which restricts operations of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada and tricycles (Keke NAPEP) in 15 local councils across the State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known on Tuesday while speaking at the official launch of commercial operations in water transportation by Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) at an event held at Badore Ferry Terminal in Ajah.

Sanwo-Olu said the State Government would not give in to blackmail and “uninformed criticism” of its decision to restrict Okada and Keke NAPEP on the highways, saying the enforcement became necessary in the face of growing threats to the security of lives of residents.

Besides, Sanwo-Olu said the scary figures of accidents resulting from Okada riders’ recklessness and the disobedience to traffic laws necessitated the enforcement of the laws.

The Governor admitted the decision was a tough one but said his Government would not compromise on the issue of security and safety of residents.

He said: “I agree it’s a tough decision we made regarding the restriction of Okada and Keke in some parts of Lagos. But I want to say some facts, which people can debate. The restriction that we have done is primarily based on the security and safety of the lives of residents. We took the decision based on the level of danger we have seen to have happened to our people.

“As a responsible Government, we will not fold our arms and allow Okada riders to put our lives in danger. One life is more important to us than all the economic benefits to be made if we allowed them to continue. We understand that investment too can be critical, but keeping people alive and safe is more germane.”

Sanwo-Olu identified with commuters affected by the Okada restriction. He announced that the Government would be deploying over 500 buses to the routes listed in the restriction directive as an alternative to ease movement.

He added that the launching of commercial operations on waterways by LAGFERRY was another program introduced by the Government to address congestion on the highways.


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/05/no-going-back-on-okada-keke-restriction-sanwo-olu/

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commissioned an Ariel Foods Factory in Alaro City, Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held on Friday in Lagos, The governor said the project is a testament to Lagos being one of the leading investment destinations in Africa.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by a permanent secretary in the ministry of commerce, Bola Balogun, added that the confidence of foreign investors is an affirmation of ease of doing business in the state.

“The confidence of international and foreign investors is a testament to Alaro City as the location of choice for businesses in the Lekki Free Zone and to the ease of doing business in Lagos State.
”I am delighted to be here for the commissioning of the Ariel Food Factory, the largest ready to use therapeutic food factory in Africa as well as the ground-breaking ceremony of the 500-unit middle-income residential project and the unveiling of seven other projects across key sectors all cited in the emerging Alaro City in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
”I am pleased to witness the start of operations of Ariel Foods, which has built a remarkable facility in less than one year. I am equally pleased to welcome Universal Homes, HMD Africa, Sana Industries, Loatsad, Kenol, and ASB Valiant to the Lekki Free Zone,” the governor said.
Speaking also, The Chairman, Rendevour Group, Frank Mosier noted that the newly commissioned city would provide jobs and investment for Lagos state and the country at large.
He added that the group injected $250bn into building the City in order to bring the dream into reality.
“When we launched Alaro City one year ago, we promised to deliver investment and jobs to Lagos State and Nigeria, so it is with great pleasure that we welcome a major food producer and housing developer to Alaro City. Global, regional and local companies are building facilities in Alaro City, taking advantage of its ideal location for transport and logistics, free zone status, secure land title and high-quality infrastructure.
“As a master developer, Rendeavour invests more than $250 million in each project, creating the infrastructure and living and working spaces that will help sustain and accelerate Africa’s economic growth, meet the aspirations of Africa’s burgeoning middle classes, and serve as a catalyst for further urban development,” Frank said.
Ariel Foods Chairman, Dhiren Chandaria expresses gratification towards its expansion, assuring to play a major role in food in West Africa.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/04/lagos-state-governor-commissions-ariel-foods-factory-250m-housing-project-in-alaro-city/

Banks have adjusted the stamp duty charges on electronic and other taxable transactions with effect from February 1, 2020.

This is in furtherance of the implementation of the new Finance Act recently signed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

In a notification to its customers, the banks said the Tax Identification Number would only be required to open or operate business accounts.

Access Bank stated that while the old bill stipulated five per cent Value Added Tax, it explained that the new Act stipulated 7.5 per cent.

On stamp duty charge, it stated that under the old bill, “N50 applied on electronic funds’ transfers or deposits of N1,000 and above,” adding that under the new Act, “N50 applied on electronic funds’ transfer or deposits of N10,000 and above.”

The bank explained further that, “The Finance Bill, now called the Finance Act 2020, was recently signed into law by the President. The legislation is broad, covering many aspects of taxation and is specifically designed to stimulate small and medium business growth.”

Also, FSDH Bank stated, “Following the recent assent of the Finance Bill (now Finance Act 2020) by the Presidency, we write to inform you that all vatable transactions on your account will now attract a Value-Added Tax rate of 7.5 per cent with effect from February 1, 2020.

“This means that VAT charges applicable on all vatable transactions in your account will be increased from five per cent to 7.5 per cent in compliance with the Act.”
First Bank stated, “In line with the Federal Government directives, please be informed that VAT on each eligible bank transaction or service will be charged at the new rate of 7.5 per cent with effect from 1st February 2020.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/03/banks-adjust-vat-charges-on-e-transactions-others/

The Taraba State government has commenced the construction of the first-ever flyover in Jalingo, the state capital to ease traffic congestion in the emerging cosmopolitan city.

Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Solomon Elisha disclosed this at a press conference in Jalingo.

Elisha said the construction of the flyover bridge at the roadblock round-about and heavy-duty truck park became necessary to ease the gridlock always witnessed at the major entry point into the city.

According to him, work on the dualization of the NYSC camp to Kpantinakpo road with a flyover at roadblock round-about which will gulp over N34bn has commenced as the contractor has been mobilised to site.

“Earthmoving equipment have arrived and work has since commenced on the dualization of the road and the flyover bridge.

“The idea to dualised the road and to build a flyover is for the future of the State because sooner or later the State capital will need a flyover as the city continue to expand with more traffic congestion being witnessed already.

“We want to follow the Jalingo master plan. Today, in Abuja and Lagos, structures are being pulled down with heavy compensation paid by the government to open up roads due to congestion and population increase.

“We want to avoid this happening in the future by building a flyover now that we will not pay heavy compensation,” he said.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Barr. Danjuma Adamu explained that government was about service to the people and not about profit and called on the people of the State to support the developmental plans of the Ishaku’s administration.

On the planned to the borrowing of over 70bn to finance infrastructure projects in the State, Adamu said the repayment will start in three years with minimal interest, saying the borrowing will not in any way plunge the State into a fiscal crisis.

The Information and Culture Commissioner also noted that the State government was looking inward to boost internally generated revenue (IGR) by exploring the abundant untapped resources of the State.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/02/02/taraba-begins-construction-of-first-flyover-to-ease-traffic-in-jalingo/

An MTN delegation represented by Chairman of MTN Group, Mcebisi Jonas; Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr Ernest Ndukwe; MTN Group CEO, Rob Shuter and MTN Nigeria CEO, Ferdi Moolman met with His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. They also met with key government officials including Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami.

As part of its ongoing commitment to Nigeria, MTN announced a capital investment programme of $1.6 billion (approximately N580 billion) over the next three years to strengthen and expand its network and operations in the country.

The news was shared during a statement by President Buhari, whereby he reaffirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to providing an enabling environment for businesses to succeed. He went on to say that the government is also looking at ways to increase the level of security across critical national infrastructure, noting that it would guarantee seamless service delivery and also facilitate investments throughout the country.

The President expressed that he was pleased with MTN’s support of Nigeria’s digital inclusion programmes and its commitment to growing the telecommunications industry across the region.

Commenting on the news, Chairman of MTN Group Mr Mcebisi Jonas said, “We are steadfast about our investments in Nigeria, particularly over the next three years as we aim to strengthen and expand our network and systems. We are fully aligned with the strategic agenda of the Nigerian government and are committed to strengthening the digital economy of the country,” he continued.

“Financial inclusion and access to funding and digital services all become easier when our continent is powered by connectivity. The benefits of a connected continent are far-reaching, making a positive impact across Africa. We cannot achieve this goal on our own, and are working on strengthening relationships with our key partners to extend access to comprehensive and affordable solutions to all,” said Rob Shuter, MTN Group President and CEO.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/01/31/mtn-confirms-further-investments-in-nigeria/

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments held steady at zero growth to reach 375 million units in the fourth quarter of 2019. Apple grabbed the first position with 19 per cent global smartphone market share, Samsung claimed the second position, while Huawei dipped to 15 per cent share in third place. Full-year smartphone shipments totalled 1.4 billion units in 2019.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global smartphone shipments grew zero percent annually from 376.0 million units in Q4 2018 to 374.5 million in Q4 2019. Worldwide smartphone demand remains mixed for now, with sharp declines in China balanced by strong growth across India and Africa. Full-year smartphone shipments hit 1.41 billion in 2019, dipping 1 percent from 1.43 billion in 2018, due to mild inventory build in the second half of the year. Looking ahead, US trade wars and the China coronavirus scare will be among barriers to growth for smartphones in 2020.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Apple iPhone shipments rose 7 percent annually from 65.9 million units worldwide in Q4 2018 to 70.7 million in Q4 2019. This was Apple’s best growth performance since 2015. Apple’s global smartphone market share has lifted from 18 percent to 19 percent in the past year. Apple is recovering, due to cheaper iPhone 11 pricing and healthier demand in Asia and North America. Samsung shipped 68.8 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2019, dipping 1 percent annually from 69.3 million in Q4 2018. Samsung’s global market share stayed flat at 18 percent, the same level as a year ago. Samsung continues to perform relatively well across all price-bands, from the entry-level to premium models such as Galaxy Note 10+ 5G. On a full-year basis, Samsung remains number one with 21 percent market share in 2019.”

Woody Oh, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Huawei shipped 56.0 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2019, sliding 7 percent annually from 60.5 million in Q4 2018. Huawei’s global market share has dipped from 16 percent to 15 percent in the past year. Despite strong 5G sales, Huawei is slowing at home in China and facing tougher competition abroad in key markets like Europe.”

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Xiaomi maintained fourth place, capturing 9 percent global smartphone market share in Q4 2019, up strongly from just 7 percent a year ago. Xiaomi had a great quarter in Western Europe and held steady in its biggest market India. Xiaomi is pushing hard into the 5G smartphone category and this will be a solid growth area for the vendor in 2020. OPPO held the fifth position with 8 percent global smartphone market share during Q4 2019, staying at the same level from a year ago. OPPO is expanding hard into Western Europe, with new models like the Reno 5G, but it remains under persistent pressure from giant Huawei at home in China.”

The full report, Global Smartphone Shipments Hit 1.4 Billion in 2019, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, details of which can be found here:

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/01/30/apple-becomes-worlds-no-1-smartphone-vendor-in-q4-2019/

Ajua’s Customer Loyalty Benchmark for Quarter 4 2019 has shown that banks are continuing to face competition from mobile money providers and SACCOS. Data from the Integrated Customer Experience company Ajua, has shown that Kenyans are more informed and are actively exploring other options that suit their budgets particularly mobile money lenders.

Mobile money usage has grown from 27.9% to 79.4% in the last decade compared to a growth of 26% in traditional banks usage over the last 13 years according to the 2019 FinAcess Household Survey co-written by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD).

Ajua found that 27.3% of Kenyan consumers who did not have bank accounts cited low income and working in the informal sector as the main reasons for not having bank accounts. Some prefered using M-Pesa because it allows them to save relatively less money compared to banks which close an account once it remains dormant for a while. The respondents also mentioned that they were discouraged by the relatively high transaction charges. Speaking on why they preferred mobile banking to traditional banking customer shared, “I have but it became dormant account when my contract job period ended.am jobless.”

However, despite the growing demand for these services, customers increasingly reported experiencing hostile treatment when being asked to repay their loans. In a bid to recover debts, some lenders resort to accessing information from their customer’s contact list prompting their contacts to push the loanee to clear their debt without their customer’s consent, an act which many customers feel is a breach of privacy.

When Ajua asked Kenyans what they considered most important when choosing a mobile money lender most customers considered interest rates, repayment duration, the period of the loan disbursement and dignified treatment of customers. Speaking on their criteria, one customer replied, “Reasonable rates, they do not call or text everyone on your contact list to tell you to pay the loan if defaulted for sometime…”.

In the long run, these methods of debt recovery ranging from intrusive calls to aggressively texting loanees multiple times in a day are both ineffective and unsustainable for lenders as such tactics often lead to a high churn rate and loss of revenue in the process. To prevent this from happening, mobile money lenders need to improve their customer experience, stay competitive in the market and be compliant with the Data act of 2019. One way would be to leverage on the existing gaps and ensuring transparency by simplifying and communicating Terms and Conditions better, charging reasonable interest rates and ensuring fair and respectful treatment of customers.

Ajua, Africa’s first Integrated Customer experience company has been publishing quarterly Customer Loyalty Industry benchmarks to keep businesses informed of their performance in customer loyalty and help businesses understand the drivers of growth within their respective industries. The report covers 9 industries from mobile money lenders, pharmacy and food and beverage among others. If you would like to share your feedback in future benchmark reports and more, join the Ajua community to give businesses your feedback to help them serve you better. Dial *466# and earn a reward when you share your feedback.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/01/29/customers-cry-foul-over-harassment-by-mobile-money-lenders/

The perennial traffic on Ikorodu road occasioned by the failed portions between Ojota Interchange and Kudirat Abiola Junction will soon be history as the Lagos State Government has mobilised construction giant, Julius Berger to fix the road.

The Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, who made this known today, said the stretch of that road both inward and outward Lagos had defied palliative measures over time, adding that the time is ripe to address all the challenges once and for all to bring succour to the motoring public.

She sought the understanding of road users during the renovation work as traffic will slow down along the affected corridor, noting that effective traffic management measures have been put in place to reduce congestion to the barest minimum.

While appealing for the support and cooperation of general public and road users for any inconvenience the project might cause, Adeyoye disclosed that traffic signs and officers have been deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic along the axis.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/01/28/lasg-commences-repairs-of-ojota-interchange-to-kudirat-abiola-junction/

Rugby Union is set to return to the National Sports Festival 2020 after a ten year absence having missed out in the last three editions held in Lagos, Rivers and Abuja.

The Nigerian National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 States of Nigeria.

Rugby last featured as a medal-winning event in Kaduna 2009 having debuted at the 2006 Gateway games in Ogun State. Prior to that Rugby went through a mandatory demonstration in three consequent events.

Athletes from the 36 states and the FCT are expected to participate in the festival tagged “Edo 2020’’, and the events will hold in 22 venues. Rugby Players in the country from all the six geo-political zones are presently engaged in Zonal Qualifiers before the main event in March 2020.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/01/27/rugby-union-returns-to-nigerian-national-sports-festival/