News

How PSTT Chased Customs FOU Officials From Port Access Road

Published

3 years ago

April 14, 2023

Editor

Officials of the Ports Standing Task Team, PSTT last week chased away officers of the Federal Operations Unit, FOU of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS who positioned themselves along the port access road allegedly obstructing free flow of traffic by stopping truckers and consignees from the port.

The intervention of the PSTT follows complaint by stakeholders about officials of FOU positioning themselves along the port access road where they park as many as six to eight trucks causing traffic obstruction.

Following the complaints, the leadership of PSTT dispatched its officers to outward Ijora heading towards Ijora-Olopa where the Customs officers are usually positioned.

On Monday, April 3, 2023, the PSTT officials met the Customs van with about five officers who had parked four trucks along the road.

The team leader of PSTT had asked the Customs officers why they were disobeying the directive of the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, that no officer is allowed to mount a checkpoint 40 kilometre from the port.

The officers were asked to vacate the place while the trucks parked along the road were asked to drive off. The next day, the team repeated the visit and met a different set of officers who were also asked to leave.

By Wednesday, April 5, 2023, when the team visited the area again, no Customs team was on ground. However, a Customs Agent, Jide Kolawole who spoke with Vanguard, commended the efforts of PSTT; charging the team not to relent.

According to Kolawole, “If not for the STT (PSTT) people, FOU people would not have let us rest as they are doing along the Mile 2 side. I do not know why they are not going to Mile 2 area the way they are doing at this side.

“They are not willing to leave the road because of the personal benefit,” he noted.
VANGUARD

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

1 hour 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

1 hour 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

4 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.