News

Group Threatens Legal Action Over Alleged Plan To Deny Edo Of NDDC Board

Published

5 years ago

December 8, 2020

Editor

Group, known as Benin National Congress (BNC) Tuesday issued a nine-day ultimatum for assurances of fair treatment of Edo State on the planned setting up of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board by President Muhammadu Buhari, just as they threatened legal action on any marginalisation.

A statement signed by the President, BNC, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, alleged that there are plots to deny the state of being a pivotal part of the planned board.

According to Edokpolo, Edo State houses the largest gas reserve in West Africa and several oil wells hence should not be denied the state’s deserved role in the next NDDC board.

He said, “Edo State as host to the largest Gas reserve is eminently deserving of the Managing Directorship and or Executive Directorship, but, those who do not mean well for the relative peace and harmony in the region have perfected plans to appropriate these positions to Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States – that have had overstretched share of chairmanship and Directorship.

“As an ethnic nationality organisation, it has become incumbent on us to formally alert Your Excellency of a very provocative plot, which could have far reaching consequences on the rule of law, peace and order on our country – as Edo people are being made to believe that peace and order minded nationalities are prone to repression, suppression and all forms of devious marginalisation, and Your Excellency’s prompt intervention may certainly be the saving grace.

“Edo State is host to some of Nigeria’s productively endowed oil wells, some of which were appropriated to neighbouring States under military regimes, while some were resolved back to us without any form of reparation whatsoever, our oil bearing communities are the most underdeveloped in Niger Delta against all established protocols of sustainability.

“The tragedy of Niger Delta underdevelopment is not unconnected to an unwritten rule by a so-called big four states that they must revolve the Managing Director and Executive Directors amongst themselves, against the unambiguous dictates of the NDDC Act as amended.

“This is flagrantly absurd, a disingenuous framework, and a tendency that is antibacterial to all known conventions of common sense and sociopolitical conviviality.”

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.