By Justina Auta

A group known as Emmanuel TV Partners, on Sunday, distributed food items worth over N15 million in FCT communities.

Mrs Ogechi Tagbo, Coordinator of the group, said that the food items were distributed in commemoration of the third anniversary of the passing of Temitope Joshua (TB Joshua), Founder of the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emmanuel TV is the media arm of SCOAN

According to Tagbo, the initiative is to honour the legacy of the late Joshua and support the less privileged in the society.

She recalled his humanitarian services and its impact both within and outside Nigeria, especially during natural disasters and conflicts.

“Emmanuel TV Partners Abuja made a vow to continue spreading the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by TB Joshua.

“Our outreach today is a testament to the selfless and generous spirit of our late Prophet. We aim to continue his legacy of love, faith, and support for the less privileged,” she said.

She said that the essential items including 350 tubers of yam, 300 bags of rice, 350 cartons of noodles, wrappers, mobile phones for the elderly, bread, and beverages, drinks, toiletries and cash gifts were distributed.

Tagbo said these would support the elderly, widows, and other vulnerable members in the community, especially with the economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

Tagbo said that the group would also visit the Gifted and Talented Orphanage in Trademore and the FCT School of the Blind in Jabi to support the vulnerable groups as part of the evangelical outreach.

She revealed that similar gestures would also be replicated by Emmanuel TV partners all over the world, where food items and livelihood support would be distributed to support the less privileged.

Eno Ekanem, one of the partners, said that the outreach was to show love and give back to the community to show God’s blessing.

“Our goal is to reach out to those who can not provide for themselves, especially the elderly and the downtrodden,” he said.

Similarly, Nneka Mba, another member, commended the substantial nature of the donations in spite of the current economic situation.

“Considering the current economic situation, we have managed to gather significant quantities of rice, beans, noodles, and other essentials.

“Our contributions are valued between N15 million to N16 million,” she said.

Japhet Akawu, traditional ruler of Tasha Village Jiwa Chiefdom, expressed appreciation for the gesture.

“Today’s generosity from Emmanuel TV Partners signifies a turning point for our community. This act of kindness brings hope and is a blessing for us all,” he remarked. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Angela Atabo

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) on Monday inaugurated seven specialised task teams to recover all the bank’s Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) nationwide.

While inaugurating the teams in Abuja, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the bank, Shehu Osidi, said the move was to reduce non-performing loans.

Osidi said the move became expedient to safeguard the bank’s financial interests and sustain its lending operations.

He said that over the years, FMBN had played a crucial role in providing affordable housing finance to Nigerians, hence contributing significantly to advancing the national housing agenda and promoting the home ownership scheme.

“However, the sustainability of these efforts hinges on our ability to recover loans effectively and reinvest them in future projects; unfortunately, the bank has performed poorly in this regard.

“Loan recovery is a critical component of our financial management strategy.

“This is to ensure that funds are available for disbursement to new beneficiaries while maintaining the integrity of our lending operations.

“Regardless of the successes recorded in our home delivery efforts, we must acknowledge the enormous challenges we face with our non-performing loans.

“While some of the non-performing loans are due to infractions from external parties and factors, a huge chunk of blame also lies with us as internal stakeholders hand-in-hand with glaring administrative and operational inefficiencies.’’

Osidi said henceforth, staff would be held accountable for the outcome of credit decisions over which they had played critical roles.

He said the strategy adopted by FMBN in the loan recovery endeavour was to follow a different path by challenging, “ourselves to deliver tangible results in pursuance and defense of our common destiny.

“The inauguration of these task teams marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance the financial stability and operational efficiency of the bank,’’ he said.

Osidi added that part of the assignment of the task teams includes conducting desk reviews of assigned loan portfolios, including the history of loans, houses available, state of collaterals, outstanding balances, and personalities behind the loans.

He explained that the teams are expected to look at the segmentation of the loans and the chances of recovery, develop an overreaching recovery strategy, engage relevant stakeholders, and use both conventional and informal, but acceptable strategies to carry out the recoveries.

He said in case the teams resorted to security agencies or the court, such action should not be made without the Executive Management’s approval.

Osidi observed that the team will be required to render regular updates and progress reports to the executive management and monitor and track the progress of debt recovery efforts.

He added that they will also implement measures aimed at preventing NPLs, developing risk mitigation strategies, and enhancing the credit assessment process, among others.

He said the teams were segmented along geo-political zones and each team would handle all delinquent loans within its jurisdiction.

He said Team One (FCT) would be led by Dr Kabir  Yagboyaju as Chairman, Mr Jibo Ibrahim Chairman of Team Two (North-West), TLG Elayo, Chairman of Team Three (North-Central), and Mr Gbenga Babade, Chairman of Team Four (South-West).

Others included: Ms Oby Nwokedi, Chairperson of Team Five (South-East), Mr Nafada Ibrahim, Chairman of Team Six (North-East,); and Ms Felicia Aningo, Chairperson of Team Seven (South-South).

“Speed is of the essence because each team has only 10 weeks to complete this assignment and deliver results.

“That is two weeks for desk review and eight weeks for the assignment,” he said.

Ms Chinenye Anosike, Executive Director, Business Development and Portfolio Management, FMBN, congratulated the members of the task teams.

She told the teams that they were carefully selected to deliver on the mandate.

Anosike, therefore, urged them not to pay lip service to the loan recovery task but to work hard and use their expertise to deliver good results within the expected timeframe.

Mr Muhammed Abdu, Executive Director, Loans and Mortgage Services, FMBN, said the loan recovery task given to the teams was an onerous responsibility and an epoch-making exercise aimed at reinventing the growth, development, and future of the bank.

Abdu then assured the bank’s management of the team’s commitment to working in synergy, to be selfless, objective, time-conscious, and passionate about the job, to make the bank very proud and bigger at the end of the day. (NAN)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Emmanuel Yashim

By Leonard Okachie, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

At the foot of the destroyed bridge is a monument which reads: “We remember you who died at this bridge that we may live. Rest In Peace (24th Dec. 1969).”

The bridge is on the Achingalli-Udo-Na-Obizi-Umunwanwa-Ubakala road. It connects parts of Imo and Abia. It took a hit during the Nigeria civil war and for 55 years has been in ruins.

While the construction of second Niger Bridge has huge headlines over the decades, the hardship suffered by the commuters on the Achingalli-Udo-Na-Obizi-Umunwanwa-Ubakala road has gone unreported.

Therefore, no government has taken any practical step to restore the road and reconstruct the damaged bridge.

The closest the people of the area have used 21-kilometre road was in June 2020, when the Federal Executive Council of then President Muhammadu Buhari awarded contract of N11.540 billion for its reconstruction.

The contract included construction of 120 metres bridge close to the destroyed facility across the Imo River in Imo. Since, then nothing concrete has been done.

However, since the inception of the President BolaTinubu’s administration, so much work has been done at the site and the people of the area are excited at the prospects of using the road again.

They also look forward to the contribution that the road would make in their socio-economic lives.

Eze Azubuine Obizie, the traditional ruler of Obizi in Ezinihite Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo, expressed happiness over the level of work done so far.

“We are pleased that the job is going on; we owe much gratitude to the then Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who saw the need to give the road and the bridge back.

“We are only praying and urging the government to continue so that the dividend of that project will be realised,” he said.

Eze Obizie also expressed gratitude to Mr Amanze Uchegbulam, an indigene of Obizi for his efforts towards rehabilitating the road.

Obizie observed that he and his counterpart from the neighbouring Umunwanwa in Abia, had in 2017 wrote a letter to Fashola on the need to rebuild the road.

Also, Eze Stephen Ihuoma, the traditional ruler of Umunwanwa, in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia, thanked Tinubu for carrying on with the project that was initiated by Buhari-led administration.

He said a site visit by Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, was an indication of the president’s desire to complete the project.

According to Ihuoma when completed the road will make travel from Umuahia to Owerri easier.

However, the traditional ruler expressed concern over the slow pace of work at the Umunwanwa axis, and urged the government to put more effort.

He said: “The tarred section in Umunwanwa is not up to half kilometre and my people are suffering it because from the spot where they stopped work to the bridge head is bad.

“Without the intervention of the communities about three years ago that road would have been a different thing all together.

“My people are united in ensuring that the project is completed but I am appealing to the Federal Government to let my people feel the tarred portion of the road”, he told NAN.

Meanwhile, Mr Dennis Orji the consultant for the project and a former Director, Federal Ministry of Works, said erosion at Umunwanwa posed a major challenge to the project.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Works was considering an augmentation to be able to tackle the challenge.

As for the completion period, he said that it was difficult to determine when the project would be completed considering various potential challenges, including weather.

The consultant said that Imo and Abia belong to the rainforest and as a result not much would be achieved starting from May because of heavy rain.

He affirmed that the bridge construction was still going saying “we at the piling stage and once the bridge is done we will focus on the road.”

“But there is a remarkable progress and the Federal Government is trying because the road is being funded through Skukuk.

“Of course, governance is a continuum and luckily they are of All Progressives Congress party.

“I think if there must be progress there must be continuity, otherwise there will be so many abandoned projects.”

Ongoing construction of a new bridge at Imo River
Also, Eze Stephen Ihuoma, the Traditional Ruler of Umunwanwa, in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia, thanked Tinubu for carrying on with the project that was initiated by Buhari-led administration.
He said that the visit to the project site by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, was a clear indication of the president’s interest to see that the road was completed.
According to Eze Ihuoma, the road when completed will make travel from Umuahia to Owerri very simple and will ease trade between Imo and Abia.
However, the traditional ruler expressed concern over the slow pace of work at the Umunwanwa axis, and urged the government to put more effort.
He said: “The tarred section in Umunwanwa is not up to half kilometre and my people are suffering it heavily because from the spot they stopped work to the bridge head the road is bad.
“Without the intervention of the communities about three years ago that road would have been a different thing all together.
“My people are united in ensuring that the project is completed but I’m appealing to the Federal Government to let my people feel the tarred portion of the road.”
Meanwhile, the Consultant, Mr Dennis Orji, a former Director at the Federal Ministry of Works, admitted that the serious erosion problem at Umunwanwa was one of the challenges to the project.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Works was considering an augmentation to be able to tackle the challenge.
As for the completion period, he said that it was difficult to determine when contracts and projects would be completed in Nigeria considering the problems of funding and weather.
The consultant said that Imo and Abia belong to the rainforest and as a result not much would be achieved starting from this month(May).
He affirmed that the bridge construction was still going saying “we at the piling stage and once the bridge is done we will focus on the road.”
Orji continued; “But there is a remarkable progress and the Federal Government is trying because the road is being funded through Skukuk.
“Of course, governance is a continum and luckily they are of All Progressives Congress party.
“I think if there must be progress there must be continuity, otherwise there will be so many abandoned projects.”

Completed section of the road at Achingali
Rep. Emeka Chinedu, Member representing Ahiazu /Mbaise Ezinihite Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, expressed happiness for the progress on the road.
He also thanked Tinubu for his efforts in sustaining the road as well as Fashola for his critical role in the award of the contract.

Chinedu recalled that the road was approved by 9th Assembly but was not funded in the budget.

He said that he and Chief Sam Onuigbo, former member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives also met Fashola to facilitate the project.

The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on the Federal Character Territory, equally commended the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, for his commitment in ensuring that the road was completed.

“If you go on inspection there you will see the level of progress recorded.

“That road is so significant to Imo and Abia because it is a link road between the two neighbouring states.

“If it is completed there is going to be heavy trade relationship between the two states and that will bring a lot of economic benefits to the people,” he said.

Corroborating him, the ex-lawmaker, Onuigbo, said the completion of the bridge and the road would go a long way in enhancing the economic fortunes of the people.

Onuigbo, who represents South-East on the Board of the North-East Development Commission, said that it was important road that Tinubu administration was executing the project as part of his Renewed Hope agenda.

He said the government should be commended for taking up the project even when Tinubu did not get win South-East states in the 2023 general elections.

“Another reason for the commendation is that the bridge being reconstructed was one of the bridges destroyed during the 1967-1970 civil war.

“Therefore, continuing with this project without abandoning it is a sign that President Tinubu is focused on the overall development of Nigeria.

“I must also commend the minister, Umahi for visiting the site and working tirelessly to see that the project see the light of the day.”

Interestingly, Mr Amanze Uchegbulam, former First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation also heaped praises on Tinubu and Fashola.

He said that he would eternally remain grateful to Fashola, whom he described as his friend and teammate at Eagle Club Surulere, for granting his request.

“I really thank the Federal Government because our people have suffered for over 50 years from 1969-2019, when nobody cared for us.

“My people are so happy for this project and they wanted to give me an award but I refused to take it.

“I told them that I would not take any award until the road was completed and we drive on it,” said Uchegbulam, a former Vice President of Confederation of Africa Football Appeal Committee.

A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Izuchulwu Ukuwa, who plies the road is excited that the project would completed soon and urged the government to step up its effort.

Ukuwa, the Youth Leader of Umuoke in Umunwanwa, said that the road was very significant because it links some states including Imo, Abia, Enugu.

“Our people are known for agriculture, especially cassava farming. If this road is completed it will help us in transporting our farm produce to the market.

“I’m very happy that the government has remembered us and I pray that it try its best to complete the project,” he said.

A commercial bus driver, Mr Valentine Chukwu, a native of Umuawada Onicha Mbaise, commended the government for committing to the project, especially the bridge.

“When I was younger, it was plank that was used to cover up that bridge.

We were always scared whenever my father carried me and my siblings through it on his motorcycle to take us in our primary school.

“So the fact that the government is now constructing the bridge gives me joy. When the road is completed it will help our people in their daily businesses,” Chukwu said. (NANFeatures) (www.nannews.ng)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Joan Nwagwu

The Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW), says it will hold its 8th meeting on June 4 to continue negotiations.

Mr Ekpo Nta, member and Secretary of the committee said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Nta, I respectfully invite you to attend the 8th meeting of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.

“The meeting is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Area 11, Abuja at 10.00 a.m. prompt,’’ he said.

He said that he minutes of the 7th meeting, the draft agenda for the 8th meeting, and the Zoom Link for virtual attendance will be forwarded in due course.

Nta called on the chairman of the committee, members and observers to take note.

It would be recalled that Organised Labour at the 7th TCNMW meeting had expressed disappointment that no governor was present at the last meeting.

Labour had also complained that ministers were absent except the minister of State for Labour and Employment who also doubles as a conciliator.

Labour said that there was none present on the side of the government with appropriate authority to commit them to any outcome.

Meanwhile, labour has begun an indefinite nationwide strike following the Federal Government’s failure to meet their demand on the new minimum wage.

It would be recall that the Federal government was offering N60, 000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in the country while Labour is demanding for N470, 000. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Angela Atabo and Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Mohammed Ali said on Monday the agency would “adopt the military style of pulling out its retirees” from service.

Ali said this during the send-off party organised for the agency’s immediate past Head of Politics Desk Mr Inuwa Ali, after 35 years of service.

Military pulling-out parades, also known as farewell parades, are held at the instance of retiring senior officers who have served the nation meritoriously.

According to the managing director, the military-style pull-out ceremony will be significant because it will indicate that their contributions and service of more than 30 years have been recognised and acknowledged.

“I think we will now adopt the military style of pulling out its retirees because they have contributed enormously.

“This style of celebrating our retirees in the newsroom will have to change and we will now have to pull them out like it is done for generals in the military,” he said.

Ali reiterated his commitment to leveraging technology to deliver the agency’s mandate by building a workforce that is in tune with technology and digitally savvy.

“Recently we made some changes in the editorial department – at least in the multimedia unit – because we want to reposition the agency such that it can face the impending challenge of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“Now the shape of the newsroom in the digital or AI era is quite scary and unless we wake up to that reality and equip ourselves with the right knowledge and tools, we will be left behind.

“We are determined to collectively confront and understand the threat of job losses because, with AI, you won’t need many people in your operations,” he said.

He congratulated Inuwa on his retirement, describing him as a close friend, a selfless and generous man, and fun to be with.

In his speech, Mr Ephraims Sheyin, NAN’s Editor-In-Chief (EIC), said Inuwa was not only an effective staff member but also one of those persons a leader could rely on for their support.

Sheyin said Inuwa always made everyone around him in the newsroom feel at ease and laugh even when the situation was tense.

“He seemed to know many things happening in many parts of the country and would tell stories using the happenings and make everybody around him laugh,’’ he said.

The EIC described Inuwa as one of the staff members always willing to do their best and sacrifice for the agency, advising editorial staff to continue to offer their best services.

The agency’s Director of Administration, Mr Abdulkadir Khaliel, also congratulated Inuwa on his retirement and prayed to God to grant him a brighter future in his retirement life.

Also speaking, the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Mr Mufutau OJo, described Inuwa as an effective media manager who offered his subordinates effective leadership and trained them to become better reporters without having to bully them.

He urged other leaders in the agency to emulate Inuwa’s leadership style.

“One thing we have learned about him is that you can be an effective media manager without being a bully.

“He is a type that has been doing a lot, even without being noticed,’’ he said.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief (DEIC) and Head of NAN Abuja Newsroom, My Kayode Olaitan, described Inuwa as a friendly and calm person with whom he had worked over many years.

“One thing I know about him is that he is a very calm person who will never reject a request from you,’’ Olaitan said.

Another DEIC, Hajia Hadiza Aliyu, the Head of the Health and Gender Desk, described herself as a member of “Inuwa’s tea-drinking club’’.

She said that Inuwa was retiring even when he still had so much to offer the agency and the nation.

She said  Inuwa would be remembered for his sense of humour in the newsroom and for sharing tea with his colleagues.

Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Mrs Ese Eniola-Williams, also extolled the good qualities of Ali, describing him as a generous person always willing to share good things with his colleagues.

Another Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Gregory Mmadukolam, urged NAN management to find a way to re-engage Inuwa even after retirement for his wealth of experience and skills.

A politics correspondent, Emmanuel Oloniruha, described Inuwa as hardworking, jovial, and open-hearted.

“Inuwa is a man who does not hide his feelings when you fail to carry out instructions.

“However, the moment you let him see reason and apologise, he let go,’’ Oloniruha said.

He prayed to God to grant him a fulfilled life in retirement.

Another reporter, Angela Atabo, described Inuwa as a good boss always willing to assist reporters with their reports regardless of the time of the day.

“As my desk head, I learned a lot from him, especially how to cover civil society organisations.

“He will be greatly missed. I wish him all the best in life,’’ she said.

Responding to the encomiums poured out upon him, the retiree, thanked his colleagues for the outpouring of love and for celebrating him.

“I started my career in the Lagos office of the agency on the sports beat and met colleagues who became like brothers to me.

“I have travelled to more than 10 countries across the world in the course of my job.  I covered three Africa Nations Cup tournaments.

“I have been to South Africa, Spain, the U.S., and Sydney, among others, covering sports.

“I am proud to have worked in NAN.

“All the experiences helped to shape my life and made me who I am today, and I am fulfilled because I am leaving NAN today feeling like a two-star general,’’ he said

According to Inuwa, journalists give their all in their jobs, yet what they are paid is not commensurate with what they put in for the sake of society.

He called for the implementation of a decent media salary structure acceptable to Nigerian journalists.

“We are getting so much less. Nigerian journalists are suffering and I think it is time now for the NUJ to champion this cause, for them to have a better salary scale in this country.

“That is the motivation. We have offered so much to Nigeria. We deserve so much from Nigeria too,’’ he added. (NAN) (www.nannnews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim