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COVID-19: Zedcrest Gives Ventilators, Face Masks to Kano
by Modupe Gbadeyanka
A new-age financial solutions powerhouse, Zedcrest Group, has donated 10 ventilators and 1,500 KN95 face masks to the Kano State government.
The items given out to support the state government’s response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which has infected over 5 million persons globally.
“As an organisation committed to humanitarian service and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we decided to contribute our own quota by supporting the government of Kano State with 10 ventilators and 1500 KN95 face masks.
“We recently donated over 10,000 food boxes in Lagos as well to our frontline medical personnel and less privileged Nigerians,” the Group Managing Director of Zedcrest Group, Mr Adedayo Saheed Amzat, said.
As the Federal Government of Nigeria extend the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown across the country by two additional weeks, Mr Amzat urged all Nigerians to consciously observe all the preventive measures as advised by the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
“We urge everyone to wash their hands regularly with soap or alcohol-based sanitizers; cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze; avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell; stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell as advised by NCDC and WHO.
“Social responsibility is part of our core values as an organization and we are very keen about sustainable development.
“At Zedcrest Group, we will continue to do our best where we can for our economy, society and environment at large,” he assured.
Receiving the items at his office, Governor of Kano State, Mr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, commended Zedcrest Group for their support and gesture in complementing the efforts of the government in fighting the deadly coronavirus in the state.
Mr Ganduje promised that the state will use the items for the purpose intended. He also urged other wealthy individuals and organisations to emulate the company.
Donating the items to the Governor, the Managing Director of the consumer lending arm of the company, Zedvance Finance Limited, Mr Ever Obi, said the items would go a long way in containing the spread of the pandemic in the state.
“We are supporting Kano state’s capacity to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of the board and management of our company, I would like to commended the Governor’s effort in fighting the dreaded COVID-19 disease and also commiserated with the government and people of the Kano state for their resilience and efforts towards containing the spread of the virus,” he said.
To date, 7,016 cases have been confirmed in Nigeria, 1907 cases have been discharged and 211 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory having carried out 40,043 tests. About 339 new cases were recorded as at Thursday, May 21, 2020, according to NCDC’s report.
Recall that two weeks ago, the company distributed over 10,000 food boxes to less privileged Nigerians and medical personnel in Lagos through its Employee Volunteer Scheme (EVS) initiative.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the federal government to review the fuel import licences recently issued to some marketers, saying the policy is driving up fuel prices, putting pressure on foreign exchange and creating instability in the downstream petroleum sector.
Speaking in Abuja, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Chinedu Ukadike, said the current import regime has not achieved its goal of making fuel more affordable. Instead, he argued that it has encouraged the importation of more expensive petrol while increasing the country’s dependence on foreign exchange.
According to Mr Ukadike, some importers plan to sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, for about N1,350 per litre, which is higher than the ex-depot price offered by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The IPMAN official questioned the need to import fuel at higher prices when locally refined products are available at lower costs, noting that the situation has made it difficult for independent marketers to plan their businesses because import costs continue to fluctuate.
Mr Ukadike also raised concerns about the quality of some imported fuel and called on regulators to ensure that only products that meet Nigeria’s standards are allowed into the country.
The association warned that continued fuel imports also increase demand for the US Dollar since importers pay for products in foreign currency. This, the association said, puts additional pressure on the naira and contributes to higher fuel prices.
The association stressed that Nigeria should focus on supporting local refining to improve energy security and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
It noted that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has helped maintain steady fuel supply despite global disruptions, including tensions in the Middle East.
According to IPMAN, greater use of locally refined fuel would reduce FX demand, strengthen the refining industry, create jobs and improve economic stability. It also said producing enough fuel for local consumption while exporting excess output would help Nigeria earn more foreign exchange.
The association called on the federal government, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Presidential Committee on downstream reforms to engage stakeholders and adopt policies that support domestic refining.
IPMAN said strengthening local refining remains the best long-term solution for affordable fuel, stable supply and improved energy security in Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has reiterated that the July 31, 2026, deadline for insurance companies to meet the new minimum capital requirements remains firm, warning operators against treating it as a mere formality.
The Commissioner for Insurance of NAICOM, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, who gave this warning, urged companies that have yet to meet the new minimum capital requirements to act with urgency.
Speaking on Friday at the investiture of Mr Akinjide Oluwarotimi-Orimolade as the 53rd President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) in Lagos, Mr Omosehin said the recapitalisation exercise remained a critical pillar of the Commission’s ongoing reforms aimed at building a stronger, more resilient and consumer-focused insurance industry.
According to him, the new minimum capital requirement is designed to improve insurers’ claims-paying capacity, strengthen their balance sheets, support higher domestic risk retention and prepare the industry for a risk-based capital regime.
“With about 14 days to the July 31 deadline, we commend operators that have made significant progress in raising capital, engaging investors, strengthening governance and submitting for the Commission’s verification process.
“However, the deadline is not symbolic; it is regulatory, and the industry must treat it with the urgency it deserves,” he said.
The Commissioner assured stakeholders that the insurance sector regulator would maintain a transparent, fair and firm process, stressing that every operator must demonstrate financial soundness, regulatory compliance and operational readiness.
He added that stronger capitalisation must ultimately translate into better service delivery, prompt settlement of claims, improved consumer protection and greater public confidence in insurance.
Mr Omosehin noted that the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 has provided a stronger legal framework for a more resilient, better-governed and responsive insurance market, adding that NAICOM’s reform agenda is focused on market conduct, policyholder protection, governance, insurance penetration, financial inclusion and responsible innovation.
He described professionalism as the foundation of a trusted insurance market, saying the industry’s growth depends not only on adequate capital and effective regulation but also on ethics, competence, innovation and public confidence.
“The strength of insurance depends not only on capital and regulation but also on professionalism, ethics, innovation and public confidence. A trusted insurance market cannot be built on capital alone. It requires competent professionals, ethical institutions, credible advice and fair treatment of policyholders,” he stated.
By Bon Peters
About 29,645 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, as well as industrial palm oil, edible palm oil and vegetable oil with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N26 million have been auctioned by the Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The products were seized by the agency from some smugglers and auctioned on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Oron Outstation of the Command in Akwa Ibom State, in strict compliance with Section 119 of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.
It was gathered that the command auctioned 14,720 litres of petrol and 14,925 litres of industrial palm oil, edible palm oil and vegetable oil, according to a statement issued over the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the command’s spokesman, Mr Joshua Iliya, a Deputy Superintendent of Customs.
It was disclosed that the exercise aligned with the service’s statutory mandate to transparently dispose of seized, forfeited, and abandoned goods after all due legal processes have been completed.
The petrol had a DPV of N11.4 million, 14,200 litres of industrial palm oil with a DPV of N14.1 million, 600 litres of edible palm oil with a DPV of N840,000, and 125 litres of vegetable oil with a DPV of N141,000.
Declaring the auction open, the Acting Comptroller of the Eastern Marine Command, Mr Esien Etim Esiet, stated that the items were intercepted during successful anti-smuggling operations within the command’s jurisdiction, adding that the seizures followed direct violations of the NCS Act and other extant laws governing restricted goods.
“This exercise reflects our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the prudent management of government assets,” he stated, reiterating that, “Beyond the lawful disposal of goods, this auction serves as a stark reminder that smuggling is an economic crime.”
“It undermines national development, threatens local industries, and deprives the government of critical revenue,” he averred, commending the resilience and professionalism of the command’s officers for securing Nigeria’s maritime borders despite operating in challenging terrains.
The customs officer assured bidders that the process was structured to be fair, open, and legally compliant while offering equal opportunity to all eligible participants.
