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Union Bank of Nigeria has reaffirmed its reputation as a strong supporter of Nigerian businesses as it received the Best SME Growth Banking Initiatives Award for 2025 from the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON) at the Nigeria National SME Business Awards, held recently in Lagos. ‎ ‎The award was presented to the Bank in recognition of its strategic leadership in advancing the growth and resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises, through a differentiated suite of solutions designed to enable business expansion and long-term value creation. ‎ ‎ ‎Receiving the award on behalf of the Bank, Ayokunnumi Abraham, Head of SME Segment at Union Bank, described the recognition as a strong endorsement of the Bank's commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. He said: ‎"We are honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects Union Bank's continued commitment to helping SMEs grow by making banking simpler, faster and more accessib...

The Ogun Area 1 Command of the  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),  has continued onslaught against smugglers and the nation's economic saboteurs as it within 41 days restricted smuggled and unwholesome goods worth ₦6.78Bn from entering the country through the Ogun state axis of the country. ‎ ‎The Acting Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni made this known  during a press briefing in Idiroko, as he  attributed the success to the renewed anti-smuggling mandate of Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.  ‎ ‎Afeni said the directive from the CGC sharpened intelligence gathering and strengthened coordinated enforcement across commands. ‎“This operation is a direct outcome of the CGC’s charge to tighten the noose on smugglers, protect local industries, and safeguard public health,” Afeni stated. ‎ ‎ Major seizures recorded during the period are Cannabis sativa: 2,543 parcels, Cannabis indica (“Ghana ...

The operatives Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has once again proved it's might in the fight against drug trafficking in the Nigeria by intercepting a major transnational drug trafficking attempt at the Tincan Island Port seizing 4,173.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica valued at approximately ₦16.6 billion. ‎T he interception, which has caused another major blow to international drug trafficking networks was uncovered inside a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 vehicle shipped in a 40-foot container from Canada , during a joint examination and was described as a significant breakthrough against an international drug trafficking network operating through maritime routes. ‎ Addressing newsmen at the Enforcement Unit of the TinCan Island Port Command, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, described the interception as a clear indication that criminal syndicates remain ...

‎Fidelity Bank strengthened its liquidity position in the 2025 financial year as cash and cash equivalents rose by 87 percent to N1.32 trillion, reflecting improved cash buffers, stronger deposit mobilisation, and growth in interest-earning assets. ‎ ‎The lender’s audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2025, showed that cash and cash equivalents increased from N707.45 billion in 2024, underscoring the bank’s stronger liquidity profile amid Nigeria’s tight monetary environment. ‎ ‎Restricted balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also increased by 4.1 percent to N1.65 trillion in 2025 from N1.59 trillion in the previous year. ‎ ‎The improved liquidity position came as Fidelity Bank recorded strong growth in customer deposits, which rose by 16.1 percent to N6.89 trillion from N5.94 trillion, indicating sustained customer confidence and expansion in the bank’s funding base. ‎ ‎The bank’s total assets also expanded by 18.6 percent to N10.46 trillion fr...

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international confidence in Nigeria’s anti-smuggling and cargo intelligence system, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally handed over intercepted stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada. ‎ ‎The handover ceremony took place on Monday, 4 May 2026, at the TinCan Island Port, where the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, officially received the recovered vehicles from the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka. ‎ ‎The recovery followed months of intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, after authorities in Canada traced a number of stolen high-end vehicles believed to have been smuggled into Nigeria via international shipping channels. ‎ ‎Internal Customs document dated 5 May 2026, showed that the intercepted vehicles included a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghin...

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional modernisation and collective growth. ‎Speaking at the 32nd Conference of Directors-General of Customs for the West and Central Africa (WCA) Region in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Adeniyi emphasised that Nigeria’s leadership role is anchored on the spirit of unity and the shared progress of all member states. ‎ ‎​Setting a collaborative tone for the high-level summit, which took place from Thursday, 7 May to Friday, 8 May 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, CGC Adeniyi highlighted the WCA region's unique tradition of inclusivity. He noted that the region's strength lies in its "rotational inclusiveness," in which every nation, regardless of size, takes a turn at the leadership baton. ‎​“This chairmanship is not mine. It belongs to the region that sent me,” Adeniyi decl...

‎L-R: Cynthia Sanyaolu, Head, Talent Management, Polaris Bank; Mathew Oji, Product Strategy, Polaris Bank; and Olanrewaju Oyekunle, Head, HR Operations, Polaris Bank, at the 2026 Jobberman Partners’ Convening in Lagos, where Polaris Bank was honoured with the Private Sector Champion Award in recognition of its outstanding contributions to youth employment, talent development, and workforce empowerment across Nigeria. ‎ Polaris Bank, Nigeria’s leading digital retail and commercial bank, has been honoured with the Private Sector Champion Award at the 2026 Jobberman Partners’ Convening held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, in recognition of the Bank’s outstanding and stellar contributions to youth employment, talent development, and workforce empowerment across Nigeria. ‎The award recognises private sector organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership in advancing youth employability through impactful recruitment initiatives, graduate train...

‎ L-R: Deputy President, Valorem Inductees Class, Fidelity Bank Plc, Olamide Wilson; Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Director, JKS Special Needs Academy, Abuja, Nifemi Ajileye; Team Lead, Human Resources Business Partner, Abuja and North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Aishatu Sambo; and President, Valorem Inductees Class, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ekeh Adaora; at the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP) CSR Outreach in Abuja recently ‎ Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, through the 'Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP)', has funded critical support for the JKS Special Needs Academy in Abuja to ensure continued shelter and care for vulnerable children. ‎The intervention was facilitated by a group of the bank’s newly recruited employees known as Team Valorem, as part of their induction activities. Through the FHHP, employees are empowered to actively contribute to social development by dedicating their time, resources and sk...

As politicians jostle for re-election in 2027, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate in Delta South, Dr. Austin Orette, has urged Deltans not to give a second chance to elected public officers who did not justify their first term in office. ‎Orette in a statement on last Friday in Owhelogbo, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta state, stated that rewarding poor performance with another term hinders growth and encourages mediocrity. ‎"I have contributed positively to the development of Nigeria’’. ‎He said it was parochial and docile for anyone to believe that a very talented and knowledgeable group of Nigerians should be ignored in the development of the country.  ‎ ‎"Those who believe that they have been slaving away because Dr. Austin Orette has been overseas have no special knowledge or advantage. If they did, where is the result of the slaving? At times like this, all hands must be on deck to drag Nigeria from the precipice. China did it and they su...