General
Heritage Bank, Cross River, Ita Giwa Raise Climate Change Awareness
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The two devastating hurricanes in the United States of American (USA) in the past weeks have made some people around the world see the threat posed by climate change.
In Nigeria, the flooding in Lagos and Benue States this year and also the flood alert this week to states around the River Niger by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has further let Nigerians know that the issue is not for the western world alone.
In view of this, Heritage Bank Plc has aligned forces with Cross River State and Senator Florence Ita Giwa-led Seagull Band to educate the people on Climate Change: A time for Change.
The event, which held in Lagos recently, was put together by Seagull Band, one of the five bands of the Carnival Calabar at a symposium titled ‘An evening of lecture and stage presentation of the Seagull winning theme of the 2016 Carnival Calabar’ edition which dwelt extensively on climate change and the need for an affirmative action to manage the environment on a sustainable basis.
Speaking at the programme, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, said the bank collaborated with the state government because it believed so much in making the lives of mankind better by preserving it today so that it could transfer it to future generations.
He also explained that the bank developed interest in the alignment because the cause conforms to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulation on Sustainability Banking.
Represented at the occasion by Chioma Obiakor, Head, Sustainability Banking, Mr Sekibo said Heritage Bank always operates in tune with the standard set by the apex bank for operators in the sector.
His words, “We have set up a framework within Heritage Bank which helps us to work with the CBN’s principles for sustainability banking. We are very much interested in collaboration with any corporate organization that shares the vision of safety of environment and its sustainability with us.”
The Chief Executive Officer observed that “if we destroy the environment, we will pay for it,” adding that there is need to prevent what is happening in Benue State where several thousands of people had been displaced by floods.
He said the bank was very happy to collaborate with the Cross River State Government for putting together the platform to discuss and find solutions to the issues of climate change. He noted that people build on waterways without conducting proper environmental scanning, remarking that calamities may not happen today, what about tomorrow!
The deputy governor of Cross River State, Professor Ivara Esu invited all the participants at the symposium to the 2017 edition of Carnival Calabar, adding that the theme of this year’s programme is Migration, which is how people are dying in Sahara Desert trying to seek greener pasture in other countries. He said the state would also unveil a new city to be called Calasvegas in December during the carnival.
In her opening remarks, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, leader of Seagull Band, refused to agree to the public perception that the yearly carnival is Africa’s Biggest Street Party. According to her, the carnival is not a party but a platform for interpretation of crucial issues in our society through various literary techniques.
She said except one understands the basic motive behind the carnival, the person would lose the essence of the various activities organized during the event which has become a means of global tourist attraction for the nation.
According to her, many people who hitherto did not understand what climate change meant before the 2016 carnival were educated by the various activities at the event. She therefore, implored investors, tourists and other willing individuals to ensure participation in this year’s edition as it promises to be electrifying.
In his lecture on effects/impact of climate change, Mr Desmond Majekodunmi gave international and local perspectives of what the negative impacts of mankind was doing to the environment which has resulted in Hurricane Harvey in Houston Texas, which was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States of America since Wilma in 2005, ending a record 12-year drought in which no hurricanes made landfall at such an intensity in that country.
He said in Sierra Leone about 400 died due to over flooding while in Benue State in Nigeria about 110,000 people were displaced by floods, adding that if care is not taken, Lagos and South-South coastal cities might be affected by the rising sea levels from the Atlantic Ocean.
Mr Majekodunmi said global warming caused ice to melt and ocean levels to rise, adding that it also increases the magnitude and incidences of ocean surge due to thermal expansion of water.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has pledged its commitment to provide the regulatory leadership, technical coordination, and stakeholder engagement required to successfully develop and implement a robust National Action Plan on maritime decarbonization in Nigeria.
The Director General of the agency, Mr Dayo Mobereola, made this known during the National Stakeholders’ workshop on the development of a National Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan, further describing the workshop as a critical step in actualising the Federal Government’s blue economy and climate objectives.
Represented by the Executive Director, Operations, Mr Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, the NIMASA DG underscored the significance of the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project, a technical cooperation initiative /designed to support developing countries in implementing the IMO GHG Strategy.
According to him, the National Action Plan being developed will reflect national realities, leverage existing capacities, address identified gaps, and align with broader economic and environmental priorities of the federal government.
Mr Mobereola stressed that “this transition is not merely about compliance with international obligations, it is about safeguarding our marine environment, protecting public health, strengthening the blue economy, and ensuring that our maritime industry remains competitive and future-ready”, the DG said.
Also speaking at the event was the Technical Manager of the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project, Ms Astrid Dispert, who highlighted that the overarching objective of the initiative is to advance a coherent and globally aligned regulatory framework to accelerate maritime decarbonization.
She also emphasised that NIMASA plays a pivotal role in driving the project at the national level.
The IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project provides technical expertise and institutional support to assist countries in developing and implementing National Action Plans that promote sustainable shipping practices, encourage investment in clean technologies, and strengthen capacity for long-term emissions reduction.
Through this collaboration, the federal government is advancing deliberate steps towards maritime decarbonization, reinforcing its commitment to global climate goals and ensuring a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for the sector.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with its digital submission process effective March 1.
The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Director-General of the Bureau, Mr Adebowale Adedokun, noting that the move was part of the bureau’s commitment to digital transformation and paperless governance.
It explained that the transition followed an earlier circular of Aug. 4, 2025, which introduced electronic submission procedures.
According to the bureau, it has successfully moved from physical filings to a dedicated e-mail service for document submissions and is now advancing to a more robust and integrated system.
The circular announced the inauguration of the BPP Digital Submission Portal, a web-based platform designed to enable MDAs submit procurement-related documents directly to the Bureau.
It stated that the automated platform would streamline the submission process, enhance transparency and ensure accelerated tracking of procurement-related documents and petitions.
“With effect from March 1, all MDAs will be required to use the portal to submit requests for ‘No Objection’ Certificates, approvals for ‘No Objection’ for special procurements, clarifications and status updates on submissions,” the bureau said.
It added that the portal would be hosted on the Bureau’s official website and would become fully operational from the effective date.
The bureau warned that physical submissions or manual hand-deliveries would no longer be prioritised and would eventually be rejected following the full transition to the digital platform.
It urged accounting officers to brief their procurement departments and ICT units on the development to ensure seamless processing of procurement activities from March 1.
It further advised MDAs to contact the Bureau via its official email for information on the onboarding process and integration into the portal.
The bureau emphasised that full compliance by all MDAs was required to ensure a smooth transition and avoid delays in the implementation of the 2026 fiscal year procurement processes.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate has asked President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, from office.
The Senate Committee on Finance, while passing a resolution in Abuja on Thursday, accused Mr Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), of failing to honour the Senate’s invitations to account for the finances of his agency.
“He refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee.
“We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.
“Each time we invite him, he gives us excuses,” the Chairman of the committee, Mr Sani Musa, said as the committee passed the resolution.
CAC was part of a group of agencies that the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommended zero allocation for the year 2026, for allegedly failing to account for public funds appropriated to them.
The committee, at an investigative hearing held two weeks ago, accused CAC and some other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of shunning invitations to respond to audit queries contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s annual reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The PAC chairman, Mr Bamidele Salam, stated that the National Assembly should not continue to appropriate public funds to institutions that disregard accountability mechanisms, saying this will create fiscal discipline and strengthen transparency across federal institutions and conform with extant financial regulations and the oversight powers of the parliament.
“Public funds are held in trust for the Nigerian people. Any agency that fails to account for previous allocations, refuses to submit audited accounts, or ignores legislative summons cannot, in good conscience, expect fresh budgetary provisions. Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation,” he said.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn