NIGERIA'S NEWS/INFO HUB *Authentic *Reliable *Unbiased

FIRST Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc has unveiled a humanoid robot at its branch at Adetokunbo Ademola in Victoria Island, Lagos, called Digital Experience Centre.

Humanoid robots are professional service robots built to mimic human motion and interaction and provide value by automating tasks in a way that leads to cost-savings and productivity.

FBN said the first industry-led robot is equipped with Video Banking and Artificial Intelligence (AI), taking on the role of a friendly branch staff and can engage customers in conversations and through a touch screen strapped to his chest.

The services performed by the robot, according to reports, include responding to customer enquires on cash deposits, withdrawals and ATM cards, aids complaint management, as customers can log a complaint via QR, with feedback generated within the advised time, keeps customers up to date with happenings about the bank, including products launch and upgrades designed to strengthen the customer experience and satisfaction.

The Chief executive Officer (CEO) of FBN Group, Adesola Adeduntan, said: “The addition of the Humanoid Robot to our state-of-the-art Digital Experience Centre
represents a purposeful stride towards transforming the banking landscape in the country and further showcases the priority we give to innovation within the bank.

“With its advanced capabilities, the robot is designed to elevate the quality of our customers’ lives in today’s rapidly evolving digital world. Our unwavering dedication to delivering unparalleled banking services remains steadfast, as we leave no stone unturned in innovating to fulfill our customers needs.”

The introduction of the robot, FBN stated, is among its phased configuration of the state-of-the-art digitally-led self-service branch, called Digital Experience Centre, launched in
December 2021.

It added that another robot would also be deployed in the bank’s next and second Digital Experience Centre to be announced in the coming months.

FBN explained that the robot is a one-stop point to keep customers informed about it, even as it also effectively manages customers accounts.

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu met with his Guinea-Bissau counterpart, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who doubles as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at his Lagos residence on Saturday, June 1, 2023.

Embaló had on February 10, 2023, visited the country when he met with former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the general elections.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Embalo  said ECOWAS supports Tinubu’s efforts to reposition Nigeria, saying the economic steps so far taken would not only be for the good of Nigeria, but also the entire West Africa.

On his part, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, said the visit was strictly private, adding: “It was a meeting between two African brother Presidents, and it was very cordial.

“Of course, the visiting President appreciated the steps taken by Tinubu within the last one month. He said he is ready to cooperate with Nigeria and Tinubu at all times, just as the rest of the world have commended him over his recent policies.

“They also spoke of the ECOWAS head of government meeting, which is imminently coming up and also spoke on other areas of cooperation.”

The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others.

THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has denied alleged plan to increase pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from the current N570 to N700 per litre across the country.

  Southwest Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, while denying the allegation in Ibadan, urged Nigerians to disregard the speculation and desist from  engage in panic buying, stressing that the price would not be more than what it is being sold currently.

Tajudeen commended President Bola Tinubu for removing the subsidy on petrol, which he said was long overdue, adding: “Even in PIA Act, it has been clearly stated that the subsidy must be removed.

“So, I want to commend him for removing the subsidy and I want to say that we are in support totally, because the subsidy was a scam.”

He said the increase in pump price was because of the transportation cost, saying: “I want to disabuse the mind of the people that they should not panic about it, there is no cause for alarm, we are in control and there is nothing like that.

“So, people should be rest assured that there is no way they can buy petrol more than the price it is being sold now.

“If we look at the price from NNPC retail, which is an integral part of NNPC Limited, they have more advantages than independent marketers and major marketers. So, it was the retail price that they announced, they had never given a specific price to the independent marketers.

“However, I have read what somebody put into the paper; it is just speculation, it is not a reality. Nothing like that, I want to assure the masses.

“There is no how the price can go to N700, as we speak, because even if the FX is N700 or N800, that has not nothing to take the price of petroleum from N500 to N700.”

Tajudeen noted that the product had been deregulated; hence the differential in prices was due to transportation as it is related to location.

“If you are moving products within Lagos, the price may not be more than N300,000, but if you are moving up to Ibadan or thereabout, it could be as much as N500,000. And if you are going to Ilorin, it could be as high as N700,000. That would account for differential in prices.

“I want to say with all sense of authority that as of today, within Lagos metropolis, nobody should sell more than N515 to N520 per litre.

“Though NNPC has given us the price, but the reality of it is that what we buy from the market, because NNPC limited is not the only source for our product; we get from private depots.

“So, whatever we buy is what we put our own margin and sell. But as of today, the highest you can get anywhere should be around N550; Lagos N510 per litre; Ogun State between N500 and N520.”

THE Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, while condemning an incident where a police team ran a vehicle over a handcuffed man on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Ekpoma, Edo State, ordered the transfer of the erring policemen, who had been in detention in Edo State, to report to the Force Headquarters Abuja on Monday, July 3 for further action.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi (CSP), read: “Members of the public, particularly the people of Ekpoma, are implored to remain calm, as the present leadership of the NPF will not condone such an act of unprofessionalism and illegality.”

THE new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to commands, instructional and staff institutions across formations and units in an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army for operational efficiency and functional administration.

The army chief directed all newly-appointed senior officers, as they assume their new appointments, to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security.

According to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, those affected by the redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders and Commanding Officers, among others.

Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs of the AHQ include Maj-Gen A.B. Ibrahim, who was posted from Headquarters 3 Division to the Department of Policy and Plans and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army); Maj-Gen. B.R. Sinjen, posted from Nigerian Army  Corps of Artillery to the Department of Army Operations and appointed Chief of Operations(Army); Maj- Gen. O.R. Aiyenigba from Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army); Maj-Gen. N.C. Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs and Maj-Gen. E. Akerejola from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).

The new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Maj-Gen. B.A. Alabi from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC; Maj-Gen. A.E. Abubakar from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC, 3 Division/Commander Operation Safe Haven; Maj-Gen. P.P. Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army to  Headquarters 7 Division as GOC/Commander Sector 1 Joint Task Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, as well as Maj-Gen G.U. Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force in Ndjamena to Theatre Command Joint Task Force,  Northeast Operation and appointed Theatre Commander, while Maj-Gen. I.S. Ali was redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander and Maj-Gen E.A.P. Undiandeye redeployment from Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre to Defence Intelligence Agency as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.

Also affected Corps Commanders are Maj- Gen. O.O. Oluyede as the Commander Infantry Corps; Maj-Gen. M.G. Kangye from the Department of Civil Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander; Maj-Gen. A.A. Adeyinka from Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport and appointed Commander; also affected in the redeployment are Maj-Gen. K.O. Aligbe who is appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Maj Gen JO Ochai, from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy( NDA) and appointed  Commandant, Maj.Gen. I.B. Maina posted from  Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Nigeria and appointed Commandant.

Equally redeployed are Brig-Gen. T.B. Ugiagbe, who is appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Brig-Gen O.G. Onubogu from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre as Commandant, while Brig-Gen. N. Ashinze moves from Department of Civil Military Cooperation to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.

The Nigerian Army has also formalised the redeployment of Col A.O. Onasanya from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters Guards Brigade as Acting  Commander.

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adopted 140 as minimum cut-off point for admission into Nigerian universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education in the 2023/2024 academic session.

The minimum cut-off mark was adopted after the recommendation made by the head of institutions at the ongoing Policy Meeting on Admissions presided by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has stated that JAMB was contemplating a new policy whereby candidates wishing to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would be required to use their personal phone devices to take the examination.

Oloyede explained the policy was being considered due to the rising cost of logistics in taking the UTME nationwide, adding that it would cost the Board over N1.2billion to equip a CBT centre in Kaduna State, particularly in procuring computers that candidates use to take the examination.

He said the policy, which falls under the ‘Bring Your Own Device,’ might require candidates wishing to take UTME in the future to bring their own devices to the examination hall.

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has left Paris, France, for London, United Kingdom (UK) at the end of the two-day New Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris, organised by President Emmanuel Macron, which ended on Friday, June 23, 2023.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, the President would be in London on a private visit.

The President had, aside participating in the Summit, also held high-profile sideline meetings with fellow heads of state and government, global business leaders and chief executives of leading multilateral and development finance institutions.

Alake stated that the Summit afforded Tinubu the opportunity of projecting his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa, as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change.

“Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to be back in Abuja on Saturday, will now proceed to London for a short private visit.

“The President will be back in the country in time for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival,” he said.

THE new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa,  has restated the determination of the military to go after terrorists, bandits and other criminals in full force to restore peace in all parts of the country.

Musa, who stated this when he took over the Command of the Armed Forces from his predecessor, Gen. Lucky Irabor, in Abuja, said the military under his command would go all out to ensure that Nigeria was secured.

According to him: “As the CDS, my promise to Nigeria is that we’ll continue to improve on our mandate of sustaining peace and tranquility in our country. I will assure every Nigerian to feel safe that the armed forces are up and doing and are highly professional and will be there for them.

“Nobody should doubt our determination to bring peace to Nigeria and anybody, especially the criminals, bandits and terrorists, who think otherwise should be ready to face the music.

“The armed forces will come out in full force, while safeguarding the safety and security of the citizenry.”

The defence chief also promised to proiritise the welfare of personnel to enable the military get the best from them, acknowledging that a soldier that is well fed, well taken care of would give his best.

The former CDS, Irabor, urged Musa to ensure the value and professional standards of the military were upheld, saying he had handed over to a tested and trusted officer, who, by all standard, is a model for the armed forces.

“I appreciate the President for finding you very suitable to take over the reins of the armed forces. I ask that you redouble your efforts so that the cherished values and professional standard be maintained,” he counselled, adding that quite a lot has been achieved.

He was confident that the armed forces were in the right mood to achieve set targets, noting: “Looking at the mood of the armed forces, they will help you and your team of service chiefs to ensure that the professional standard of the armed forces is retained.”