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‎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...

‎The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRaraq, has been lauded for developing a new moral climate, unlocking new energies in a people who had lost faith in government’s ability to meet key challenges and bringing about political and economic reorganization in the state. ‎ ‎‘’History will record the administration of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the most important and far-reaching in Kwara State’’ ‎ ‎They also applauded him for unifying the people, improving farmers’ condition, reducing unemployment, giving strength to organized labour, establishing decent working conditions and switching the people from an ox-cart to an airplane. ‎ ‎‘’The more enduring achievements of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq lay in the economic and social fields. He accomplished a fantastic series of reforms. He provided infrastructure, delivered the dividends of democracy and gave new status to the people'' At a press conference in Lagos, the Nigerian Media Professionals emphasized the governor’...

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Mfr, Phd has pledged to revitalize the long-standing institutional relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service and Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), with renewed support aimed at improving learning, research and student development. ‎ ‎CGC Adeniyi made the commitment at the Customs Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, who led the institution's principal officers on a courtesy visit. ‎ ‎Speaking during the engagement, the Comptroller-General recalled his long-standing institutional relationship with the university, noting that efforts to establish a formal partnership between the two institutions date back several years. ‎ ‎ He said, “I have a long institutional history with this university. During my tenure as Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, we made serious efforts...

From left: President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola and Head, SME Segment, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Ayokunnumi Abraham during the presentation of the Best Bank for SME Growth Banking Initiative Award, 2025, to Union Bank of Nigeria at the 6th Nigeria National SME Business Awards (NNSBA), held on April 30, 2026, at the Rotary Centre, Ikeja, Lagos Union Bank of Nigeria has been named winner of the Best SME Growth Banking Initiatives Award (2025) at the Nigeria National SME Business Awards, organised by the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON) in partnership with the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment. The recognition arrives at a moment when the relationship between Nigerian banks and Nigerian small businesses is being quietly redefined. Awards in this space have historically rewarded scale and product breadth. The ASBON criteria, by contrast, ask a more practical qu...

Chris Ofikulu, Executive Director, Retail & Commercial Banking, Polaris Bank, presents office equipment for takeoff and smooth operation of NACCIMA Export Support Centre in Lagos recently. P olaris Bank, Nigeria’s leading digital retail and commercial bank, has proudly facilitated the launch of the NACCIMA Export Support Call Center, a vital initiative designed to provide comprehensive support to Nigerian exporters, especially those operating in the non-oil sector and enhance their ability to access global markets. This partnership marks a significant step in the Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s export ecosystem. ‎ ‎Chris Ofikulu, Executive Director of Polaris Bank, in his address, emphasised the Bank’s commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses for global markets. He highlighted the importance of the NACCIMA Call Center as a key resource for exporters, offering valuable information, knowledge, expert guidance, and advisory services to navigate the complexities of i...