Sterling Bank Accelerates Nigeria's EV Race With Qore

From left: Group Head, Channel Operator, Sterling Head Office, Abubakar Soyemi; Group Head, Energy, Dele Faseemo; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Lagos, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Shola Shasore; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Omobolaji Gaji; and the Group Head, Transport and Renewable Energy, Sterling Bank Plc, Olabanjo Alimi; during the launch of Nigeria first Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Lagos by Sterling Bank Plc

Lagos, Nigeria: Nigeria's leading commercial bank and one of Africa's fastest-growing companies, Sterling Bank, has changed the course of Nigeria's energy and transportation sectors with the launch of Qore; its suite of renewable energy-powered transportation solutions. Qore will offer the purchase and financing of electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging stations, conversion of fossil-fuel-powered engines to EV engines, battery swapping services for modular EVs, and more. 

Speaking at the launch of Nigeria's first publicly available EV charging station in Lagos, CEO of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said that the launch of Qore is a significant milestone in the bank's journey towards powering Nigeria's transportation sector with renewable energy.  

According to Suleiman, “Qore will revolutionise the very idea of how we power movement by providing clean, sustainable and cost-effective options for individuals and businesses, while impacting positively on the sector’s environmental footprint.“

Also speaking at the launch, Group Head for Renewable Energy and Transportation at Sterling, Olabanjo Alimi, further explained that Qore focuses on improving mobility services in Nigeria by providing affordable and cleaner transportation alternatives to petrol and diesel powered vehicles. He described Qore as a "mobility project" that will offer a range of products, including the manufacture and sale of EVs, financing for the purchase and distribution of EVs, and mobility-as-a-service options to cater to first- and last-mile transportation. 

Alimi said, “Qore will deliver innovative solutions through partnerships that provide sustainable energy options for vehicles through stations such as this. This will accelerate the adoption of clean mobility solutions that allow interested customers to buy EVs directly, or even convert their existing petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles to run on electricity.” 

“Along with the readily available technology to convert petrol or diesel powered vehicles, Qore will drive EV adoption in the Nigerian market by providing charging infrastructure and battery swapping services to quicken the turnaround time of restoring power to EVs.”

He continued by saying that Qore had pioneered, along with the first publicly available charging station in the country, a proprietary payment solution that will allow for direct interaction with the battery management system of vehicles that charge up at the station. 

The Group Head concluded by highlighting that this is a watershed moment for the Nigerian EV market, emphasizing Qore’s openness to partnerships and collaborations to increase the creation of EV infrastructure and adoption in the country.  

The adoption of Qore’s suite of solutions is already increasing with the acquisition of 100 electric tricycles to power transportation in the Kano metropolis, as well as the conversion of diesel-engine ferries to electric power to improve the commute of individuals and businesses on Lagos’ waterways. The newly launched charging station adds another layer to the robust offerings. 

Sterling has set itself apart as the first corporate organisation on the African continent to fully power up its offices with a renewable energy source by installing over 3000 Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) panels, generating 1 megawatt (1 MW) of electricity. This move will make the structure one of the largest on the continent, primarily powered by renewable energy, demonstrating the bank's commitment to the growth and development of renewable energy in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the bank recently launched Imperium; an alternative energy solution, to power Nigerian homes and businesses through solar and renewable energy services tailored specifically for Nigeria's peculiar energy needs. 

Renowned for its now famous HEART of Sterling strategy; which focuses major investments in the Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation sectors of the Nigerian economy, its irreverent brand voice and enviable talent management practices, the bank recently completed a major milestone towards the completion of its transformation into a financial holdings company with the relisting of its shares on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).    

The bank has maintained and increased momentum in 2023 with her citation as Africa’s Most Valuable Commercial Bank Brand for 2023 by the African Brand Magazine , in a poll conducted by GeoPoll and Kantar; two of the world’s leading brand research firms, a top three employer in Nigeria by LinkedIn in the social network’s annual Top 25 List, and most recently, one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in Africa by the prestigious Financial Times.

Eid el-Kabir: TRACE Warns Unruly Motorists, Threatens Sanctions

Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has warned motorists to obey all traffic rules and regulations as the 2023 Eid el-Kabir celebration approaches.

TRACE, in a statement on Sunday, threatened to impound vehicles driven by persons who violate traffic rules.

The statement signed by the TRACE spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi, charged motorists to “observe strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations because any vehicle contravened for any traffic infraction(s) during the celebration would not be released until Tuesday, 4th July 2023, when TRACE would have ended her Eid el-Kabir Operation Order.”

Akinbiyi avowed that the corps will ensure effective traffic management at Eid praying grounds in Ogun State with 24-hour prompt rescue and emergency services on 12 Ogun major roads, before, during, and after the Eid el-Kabir celebration.

The Eid el-Kabir Special Patrol schedule exercise will commence on Monday, June 26 and end on Monday, July 3, 2023, on all major highways in the state, including the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

According to Akinbiyi, the activities would “involve monitoring of motorists and other road users, inclusive of high and low capacity vehicles, for the safety of lives and property to be guaranteed on Ogun roads.”

Meanwhile, TRACE operatives have been advised to be civil, professional, fair, and firm, where and when the need arises, in the discharge of their duties.

Three Feared Dead, 11 Rescued As Boat Conveying Fun-seeking Medical Doctors Capsizes In Calabar

Three medical students lost their lives after a speed boat capsized into the Calabar Channel Saturday afternoon.

It was gathered that 14 medical students, who visited Calabar for their annual medical week, went to the popular Marina Resort to have fun on their social day.

Findings confirmed that they boarded the speed boat for Oron Beach in Akwa Ibom State, but high waves were said to have tossed the boat as soon as they left the Marina Resort jetty. 

An eyewitness said, “The boat capsized due to high waves on the Calabar Channel and the 14 passengers, including the driver, drowned.

“But the fortunate thing is that the Nigerian Navy patrol teams were nearby. So their divers were able to save 11.”

A source from the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, who pleaded not to be named, confirmed the incident.

He added that their men are still in the water, trying to see the possibility of rescuing the remaining three.

He asked for prayers, as hope of finding them was dimming by the minute.

An official of the Nigeria Medical Association, Cross River State chapter, who also asked not to be mentioned in an interview, confirmed that the three might have died.

“The 2023 Nigeria Medical Association Health Week and the Medical School in Calabar are hosting this year’s health week.

“Students across Medical schools in Nigeria came to Calabar just to have their annual health week.

“So in the course of doing their social activities, the plan was for them to go to Marina Resort and visit the Slave History Museum.

“Few of the students decided to go on a boat cruise and it happened that when they were coming from the boat cruise to move to Tinapa for their normal social ride, the boat capsized.

“There were 14 occupants, including the driver of the boat, eleven of them came out safely, while three of them are still missing.

“Two are from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and one from the University of Uyo.

“The navy has been trying to see how they can retrieve their bodies because they cannot find them.

“They are saying we should come tomorrow and get their floating bodies; that is what is on ground for now.”

Soldier Shoots Bus Driver Over Parking Space In Ogun State

Magboro  town in Obafemi Owode Local government of Ogun state was on Saturday afternoon  thrown into pandemonium after  One of the soldiers attached to a truck terminal close to the Bus stop shot a bus driver twice on the back over an argument bothering on parking space.

It was gathered that the bus driver had parked his bus somewhere close to the truck terminal where the soldiers were guarding when suddenly an argument broke out.

According to a female eye witness who doesn’t want her name in print, she said that the soldiers shot his two tyres and when the bus  driver fumed, one of them chased him and fired shots at him at close range.

Another  eye witness account said that the soldiers wanted the driver to part with some money but his refusal angered them, and one of them chased him and shot him twice on his back.

The victim, soaked in blood, was reportedly taken to a hospital in Ibafo for medical treatment as sympathizers thronged the scene.

Whilst people gathered round the areas where the soldiers gathered another set of  soldiers came around and ferried away their men from the scene.

Few minutes after policemen from Warewa division in Ifo Local government arrived on the scene but the soldiers had already left.

However, they scooped information and obtained videos and photos from those present on the scene.

How God Saved Me From Being Part Of Titan, The Submersible Debacle -Senator Ned Nwoko

Senator Ned Nwoko has disclosed that the late British businessman, Captain Hermish Harding, invited him to the Titan adventure.

Harding died with four others inside a submersible that imploded in the North Atlantic Ocean while en route to view the wreck of the Titanic on June 18, 2023.

Nwoko paid tributes to Harding on his Instagram post on Friday after Harding’s death was confirmed.

He shared photos of himself and the late pilot when they both embarked on an expedition to Antarctica, adding that the Harding loved adventure.

“I have lost a very dear friend and business partner, Captain Hermish Harding. We both went on a very dangerous expedition to the Southpole Antarctica a few years back,” Nwoko said.

“He was a gulf stream pilot who flew across the world in a record-breaking expedition by Guinness world record for circumnavigation of the earth some years ago.

“He descended into the Mariana. He also invited me on his space shuttle last year and this very Titan ill-fated adventure, but I was tied down with national duties. Above all, he was a partner on the various researches into eradication of malaria in Africa project. He was very enthusiastic about it and always gave his support at every given opportunity.

“His last message to me was this last Sunday when he told me they were ready to dive to the Titanic if the weather permits. He loved adventure and challenges. My heart bleeds for his dear wife and kids who have become family friends over the years. We will sorely miss his wealth of experience.”

Tinubu To Tribunal: ‘Don’t Accept My Chicago Varsity, NYSC Certificates, Forfeiture Judgment In Evidence’

The tendering of some documents by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in proof of his petition against the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the February 25 presidential election was on Friday opposed by the president.

The concerned documents are Tinubu’s Chicago University Certificate, a discharge Certificate from the National Youth Services Corps (NYSC), a copy of the transcript from South West College, and a membership card of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others are a notarization judgment of the USA court for criminal forfeiture of assets said to belong to Tinubu, a certificate of Service from Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, in addition to a printout of his alleged Guinean passport.

Others are a notarization judgment of the USA court for criminal forfeiture of assets said to belong to Tinubu, a certificate of Service from Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, in addition to a printout of his alleged Guinean passport.

Aside from President Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and his party, who are all respondents in Atiku and PDP’s petition against the outcome of the recent presidential election, also objected to the admissibility of the documents.

All the documents were tendered on Friday by one Mike Enahoro-Ebah, who testified as the 27th witness of the petitioners.

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Battered Image: Service Chiefs Face Daunting Task Of Restoring Public Confidence

Nigerian Armed Forces came under fire over the weekend for the umpteenth time when Asari-Dokubo, the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, NDVF, unleashed a barrage of allegations against them.

The Military was again accused of sabotaging the country’s security architecture, and Asari-Dokubo called it “shameful.”

The Niger Delta militant leader also termed the claim that the Nigerian military lacks sufficient weapons to battle insurgents as a “lie.”

Asari-Dokubo’s revelation re-echoed such allegations in the past against the military as a key beneficiary of Nigeria’s insecurity.

Shadows of Doubt:

For most Nigerians, the sorest point during the eight years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration was not only his government’s inability to curb rising insecurity across the country but the worrisome accusations from many quarters that the Nigerian military, rather than crush the bloodthirsty insurgent groups and herdsmen, were colluding with those terror gangs, as they unleash mayhem and perpetuate ethnic cleansing in various parts of the country.

These scary allegations started brewing, right from when Buhari stepped into power in 2015. His pattern of appointments fueled accusations of bias in favour of the North.

For example, out of the six service chiefs appointed, the North produced four appointees, while the South produced two. Also, appointments into key leadership positions of national security institutions like the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Director-General, Department of State Services and Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, were skewed to favour the north. Other positions pocketed by the North are the Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Chairmanship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Many Nigerians, particularly in the South, were concerned about the one-sided military. Their concerns were justified, because establishing a lopsided army may erode service chiefs’ neutrality and encourage them to support particular groups or persons over others.

However, the then-Buhari-led federal administration attempted to assuage anxieties by stating that the nominations were made on merit and to achieve the best possible results in combating escalating insecurity in the country. As a result, Nigerians gave him the benefit of the doubt for this unbalanced selection.

However, to the chagrin of Nigerians, years into the Buhari administration, insecurity remained insurmountable. Terror bombings, banditry, and herdsmen attacks did not only become more brazen, ruthless and widespread in the north but the bloodletting and ethnic cleansing began to happen in the southern part of Nigeria.

And despite promises by the government to stop the rampaging gunmen from further terrorising innocent communities, the ease with which the killers continued to attack helpless people across the country remained a shocking mystery. Fears were rife among Nigerians, as many were befuddled and wondered why the Nigerian army could not seem to crush these small ragtag insurgent units.

With the killings continuing unabated, there is a growing suspicion that the government is protecting the murderous herdsmen. Some commentators ascribed the seeming inability of the army to tame the herders to the fact that individuals in charge of the military are from the north and may sympathise with the bandits and herdsmen. This posture created severe concerns about the military’s integrity and adherence to its principal mission.

Disturbing Allegations of Bias

The outburst of the Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma (retd) on 24 Mar 2018 during the Taraba State University convocation in Jalingo was the first time a prominent personality openly accused the military of complicity in the killings that happened at Taraba, Benue and other riverine states in the country.

General Danjuma revealed that the military was not neutral and was covering those behind the attacks, which had claimed scores of lives.

He said, “There is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in this state and, of course, in all the riverine states of Nigeria. We must resist it. We must stop it. Every one of us must rise up.

“The armed forces are not neutral; they collude with the armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movement. They cover them. If you are depending on the Armed Forces to stop the killings, you will all die one by one.”

The allegation riled up the country and ruffled the military. And responding, the Defence Headquarters denied General Danjuma’s allegations of bias but assured that they would investigate the claim and punish any personnel found guilty.

But after the army’s response, nothing was heard again. The military made no effort to state the finding of their investigation on the allegations of bias. The carnage and brigandage were reported in states such as Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Ekiti, Delta, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, and Enugu.

Calls were made for a shake-up of the service chiefs but were ignored by the government.

The disturbing allegation of bias was repeated by another former army officer, Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi (Rtd).

Commodore Olawunmi during an interview on Channels Television on 25th August 2021, hinted that the Nigerian government knows those behind the insurgency in the country but has chosen to look the other way, refusing to prosecute them.

Before his allegation, the then Buhari government in April that year, told Nigerians that they had arrested 400 Bureau De Change (BDCs)-related people that were sponsoring Boko Haram. The presidency said it would publish the names of those behind Boko Haram, but years after that promise, the long-awaited list was never made public till date.

Another shocking disclosure of military alleged connivance with bandits was made by Methodist Church Nigeria Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Kanu Uche after he was abducted and later released by the kidnappers. The cleric was kidnapped in May 2022 around Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state. And after paying N100 million ransom, he regained his freedom.

Narrating his ordeal in a press conference in Lagos, the cleric revealed that their abductors were Fulani and that they were operating right behind army checkpoints. He said military personnel of Fulani extraction were aiding the kidnappers who disguise as herders in the daytime, but are kidnappers at night.

New Phase, Renewed Hope?

These and many more were the sorts of nasty allegations that stained the reputation and questioned the integrity of the Nigerian military under the Buhari administration.

However, the newly installed government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seems poised to reinvigorate the army with the service chiefs’ appointments he made on Monday.

Unlike the previous administration, President Tinubu’s appointment was not only acclaimed for the pedigree of the personalities he chose, but for also respecting the principles of federal character.

Former Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani, in his tweet, praised the new administration’s appointments and policies which he said have revived the hope of Nigerians.

“Wherever he is, the former President is watching how power can be effectively used to reawaken and reinforce the spirit of a nation. This a contrast to his boring era that was characterised by deficiency of vision, subservience to a parasitic cabal and notorious for its emptiness.

“He called all the previous Governments ‘kwarapt’ while he cultivated, incubated and harboured the most larcenous and opaque Federal Cabinet in Nigeria’s history,” Sani wrote.

Also, rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, while applauding the new service chiefs, advised the President and all the other appointed officials to move fast and halt the rot experienced by Nigerians.

He said, “As Nigeria gradually exits a period where political appointments, once made, were retained for the duration of their term, irrespective of the appointee’s incompetence, it is important to remind President Tinubu that military appointments are not to be made as political patronage.

“If the new service chiefs fail in their duty, they should equally be sacked without much ado. Only through this means can we have service chiefs whose loyalty is to the Nigerian state.”

Adeyanju also called on the new service chiefs and the acting Inspector General of Police to eschew inter-agency conflict and corruption.

In the same vein, a faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo- an Igbo socio-political organisation, applauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing an Igbo man, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla as the Chief of Naval Staff.

A chieftain of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, had told the DAILY POST that Ogalla’s elevation as a Service Chief is cheery news.

“We applaud Tinubu for making an Igbo man the Chief of Naval Staff, which is one of the things that fuel agitations in the Southeast. Ohanaeze commends the president for respecting federal character by ensuring that all the political zones are represented in his appointment of Service Chiefs.

“This appointment has given a sense of belonging, and the Southeast appreciates this, and he has proven to be a progressive president, and we expect more infrastructural revolution. The appointment is the right step in the right direction to arrest oil theft and all the corruption seen in the military.

“We applaud Mr President for giving Ndigbo this sense of accommodation and honour for finding our beloved son Ogalla worthy of being the Chief of Naval Staff. We are expecting more appointments to come our way,” Isiguzoro said.

High expectations from Nigerians and the international community are already before the new service chiefs. And all eyes are on them to not only curb insecurity and restore calm in the country, but to rebuild the damaged reputation of the Nigerian defence structure.