By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says depositors of failed banks in Nigeria can now access their insured funds within days.

The corporation said the development is a part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening confidence in the country’s financial system.

The chief executive of NDIC, Mr Thompson Sunday, disclosed this on Thursday at the NDIC Special Day of the 47th Kaduna International Trade Fair, noting that recent interventions had significantly improved the speed and efficiency of depositor compensation.

Represented by Mrs Regina Dimlong, the Assistant Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Mr Sunday said the corporation had successfully deployed the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system to facilitate prompt payments to customers of recently failed banks, including Heritage Bank Limited, Union Homes Plc and Aso Savings and Loans Plc.

“Depositors were paid within days of closure without the need to fill physical forms or visit NDIC offices.

“This is a part of our reform efforts to make depositor protection faster, simpler and more transparent,” he said.

According to him, the reforms were designed to restore public confidence in the banking system and prevent panic withdrawals, especially during periods of financial stress.

Mr Sunday explained that NDIC’s mandate spans deposit insurance, bank supervision, distress resolution and liquidation of failed banks, adding that the Corporation works closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure early detection of risks in insured institutions.

He disclosed that in 2024, NDIC reviewed its deposit insurance framework, increasing coverage for depositors of Deposit Money Banks, Mobile Money Operators and Non-Interest Banks to N5 million, while customers of Microfinance Banks, Primary Mortgage Banks and Payment Service Banks are now covered up to N2 million.

He noted that the revised thresholds now guarantee full protection for about 99 per cent of depositors nationwide, particularly small savers and low-income earners.

The NDIC boss urged Nigerians to ensure their BVNs are properly linked to their bank accounts, stressing that this had become the primary channel for accessing insured deposits in the event of bank failure.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The second African Markets Conference (AMC) will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from Sunday, February to Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The event, hosted by Standard Bank, will bring together global institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and African policymakers to catalyse the flow of capital into the continent’s most critical sectors.

The theme for this year’s edition is Mobilising Global Capital at Scale for Africa’s Growth and Development.

AMC 2026 will host a high-level delegation of decision-makers, ensuring that the dialogue leads to tangible commitments.

The conference will be structured around five high-impact pillars designed to move the needle on investment, including prioritising infrastructure as an asset class, accelerating the energy transition, deepening African capital markets and mobilising private capital, enabling intra-African trade and flows of capital, and addressing Africa’s sovereign debt and cost sustainability.

It is estimated that by 2050, Africa will add one billion people, more than half in cities, yet it invests only $75 billion of the $150 billion it needs annually for infrastructure. Standard Bank aims to use AMC 2026 to ensure that African priorities remain at the centre of the global financial discourse.

“This year’s engagement bridges the gap between policy ambitions and market realities. Africa urgently needs practical measures to deepen capital pools, improve market liquidity, and strengthen regulatory frameworks that give investors the confidence to deploy capital at scale.

“Mobilising capital is not just about funding projects; it is about building the foundation of a more balanced and inclusive global economy,” the chief executive of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Group, Luvuyo Masinda, stated.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Inmates at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos were recently full of joy when Fidelity Bank Plc donated some relief items to them.

The financial institution, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative known as Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), handed over various household tools and gift items to the leadership of the correctional facility as part of its efforts to support the rehabilitation and development of indigent persons in society.

The Chief Human Resources Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr Charles Nwachukwu, reaffirmed the bank’s deep commitment to transforming lives and restoring hope, emphasising that true progress lies not only in financial growth but in extending compassion and opportunity to those that society often overlooks.

“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that every individual deserves a second chance. Our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility is rooted in empathy, standing with communities, uplifting the vulnerable, and opening doors for brighter futures.

“By supporting inmates today, we are setting them on the true path of rehabilitation, empowering them to return tomorrow as productive and confident members of society,” the banker said.

The Deputy Controller of Corrections at Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Mr Julius Ogueri, who could not hide his excitement over the gesture, appealed to Nigerians to avoid cybercrimes and stigmatisation of ex-inmates.

Highlighting the challenges faced by correctional facilities in Nigeria, Mr Ogueri noted that Ikoyi correctional center initially designed for 800 inmates, now houses over 3,000 inmates, with 396 convicted persons and 3,604 awaiting trial.

Whilst thanking the bank, the Deputy Controller also emphasised the importance of rehabilitation, citing examples of inmates who have pursued education and skills acquisition, including 72 inmates studying with the National Open University of Nigeria and 120 inmates who have benefited from WAEC and GCE support.

Business Post reports that through the FHHP, staff across Fidelity Bank branches nationwide identify crucial interventions needed in their immediate community and raise funds to execute them. The bank’s management then matches this contribution with an equal amount and disburses it for the selected project.

The visit to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre reinforces the lender’s unwavering commitment to meaningful community impact and demonstrates its strong dedication to advancing social responsibility and rehabilitation efforts across the society.