UK based Jide Iyaniwura, NIDO, NUJ Europe, others force NIBSS to suspend BVN registration for Nigerians in Diaspora

THE Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) may have suspended the ongoing pilot registration of Nigerians in Diaspora for the Biometric Verification Number (BVN), which deadline was shifted to October by the Central Bank of Nigeria last month.

BVN

Although no reason was given for the suspension, sources said it could not be unconnected with the outcry that followed the 30 Pounds Sterling charge imposed by NIBSS, as many considered it as an attempt to extort money from affected persons.
It would be recalled that a campaign against extortion of £30 from customers of Nigerian banks in the United Kingdom was started online on 15th July, 2015 via Change.org by one Mr Jide Iyaniwura

" It proves we can effect the change we want in our country if we work together. The process has been suspended for now, we need to keep the pressure on. thanks to all" Iyaniwura stated on Sunday.

Lashley Oladigbolu, Acting President of NUJ Europe joined hands with Jide Iyaniwura the campaigner, Godson Azu of Nigerian in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) and the Chief Executive Officer of BEN Television, Mr Alistair Soyode as well as Mr Temitope Olodo a Counter-Terrorism and Security expert, all based in London and many others around the UK counties have been vigorously urging Nigerians in Diaspora  to sign the online petition against extortion of money from Nigerians in the Diaspora over Bank Verification Number registration exercise. Efforts by Mr Dare Lasisi a UK based blogger and a host of others who took to social media in support for the spread of petition were notable.

CBN Governor of Nigeria, Senate President Nigeria, Speaker of the House of Representative Nigeria, president of NIGERIA: Stop Nigerian Banks charging Diaspora community for Bank Verification Process - Sign the Petition!

https://www.change.org/p/cbn-governor-of-nigeria-senate-president-nigeria-speaker-of-the-house-of-representative-nigeria-president-of-nigeria-stop-nigerian-banks-charging-diaspora-community-for-bank-verification-process?recruiter=57060770&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=whatsapp&sharecordion_display=control

Godson Azu of NIDO in one of his messages sent across the facets of social media stated, " #Change4change. Nigerians in the UK stand against financial exploration by some swindlers trying too corn out  £30 Pounds from innocent diasporas for the Bank Verification Number BVN Registration for Nigerian bank account holders which is free in Nigeria. Most diasporans opened their accounts with banks here for free, why then are they too pay a third party money to get their BVN in the UK. It is the responsibility of this concerned banks to provide suitable means through which their diasporans customers get free access to complete their registration process through a certified and secured agent with direct information too their concerned customers via email. At the moment this is not the case and as such we must do everything possible to stop this cheeky exporters from enriching themselves through this loophole.
LETS SAY NO TOO BVN CHARGES IN THE UK.
Call your Bank for more information on your BVN
#change4change"

THE Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) had hired a London based firm to register and produce BVN for account holders among Nigerians in Diaspora in the bid to maximize the period of extension granted last month by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

he NIBSS intended to use the London registration exercise as a pilot scheme, the success of which would determine its extension to other parts of the world with high concentration of Nigerians.

Authoritative sources said the NIBSS was using OIS facility in London and Leicester for the exercise and intended also to use the facility in other countries, after the pilot exercise.

The Central Bank extended the registration exercise till October, last month, following outcry that many Nigerians would be denied access to their account because of their failure to meet the June 1 deadline.

With the extension, many Nigerians have gone to sleep again thinking there is still time for them to register.
But the banks have started a subtle enforcement of the BVN registration exercise to avoid congestion and work load during the last days to the deadline as they experienced in May.

They now compel customers to go to BVN section to complete their registration before any other banking transaction.

At one of the branches of First Bank in Ikorodu, officials were seen directing customers to the BVN corner for registration before any other banking transaction, last week. In other banks, questions were subtly put to customers to know if they had already registered for BVN.

Some fraudulent Nigerians have taken the advantage of the extension to demonstrate their tendencies to defraud unsuspecting account holders, by sending messages directing them to click on a link to update and register for BVN.

But GT Bank has been sending advisory notes to its numerous customers, asking them not to honour such requests. The bank advised its customers to go physically to the bank where details of their account would be taken together with their fingerprints in order to register for BVN.

‘‘BVN registration can only be carried out physically. So don’t honour any call or text messages that directs you to click on a link to update your BVN. And if you have already registered for your BVN in another Nigerian bank, you can link your BVN details to your GTB account via our Internet banking platform and our corporate website,” the bank said.

The CBN, which soft -pedaled on its June 30 deadline for banks account holders to be BVN compliant, said the exercise will be repeated every 10 years.

By David Ogah, Nigerian Guardian News
Additional story by Lashley Oladigbolu

NUJ Europe congratulate newly elected NUJ President and Executives.

In a statement issued on Sunday in London, the Acting President of Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe Chapter (NUJE), Prince Lashley Oladigbolu has congratulated the newly elected President, Mr AbdulWaheed Odusile and the executive officers of Nigeria Union of Journalists elected on Friday night.

The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) has elected Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile of the Nation Newspapers as its new president. He succeeds Malam Garba Mohammed.

Odusile was declared winner of the keenly contested election by the returning officer and Director, African Affairs, International Federation of Journalists, Mr Gabriel Baglow.

The national election at the National Delegates Conference of NUJ held in Abuja on Saturday saw Odusile pulled 354 votes to defeat his closest opponent Mr Rotimi Obamuwagun who got 333 votes.

The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) elected Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile of the Nation Newspapers as its new president in Abuja.

In the statement, Prince Oladigbolu described as mutual and progressive the level of cooperation  between NUJ Europe and the national body NUJ in Nigeria and thanked the former executive members, especially the former President and the National Secretary, Mallam Mohammed Garba and Mr Shuaibu Usman Leman, respectively for their commitment towards protecting the interests of the Union.

The statement added that NUJ Europe would continue in the same vein as NUJ in Nigeria, to uphold the tenets of professional journalism through rejuvenated dedication and the promotion of ethics of media profession among practicing Nigerian journalists all over Europe. It was emphasized that "the Constitution of NUJ in Nigeria is being held with sacrosanct view and shall be entrenched into the NUJ Europe modalities for her members, as the constitution is undergoing content perusal and deliberation by the Corporate and Resource Committee set up by NUJ Europe."

Lashley Oladigbolu, Ag. President NUJ Europe

"On behalf of members and the officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe I wish to congratulate the newly elected National executives of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ in Nigeria on their successful election. We are confident that your mettle proved in respect of your positions demonstrate that flags of Nigerian journalism are in capable hands and we wish you all successful tenure", Acting President stated.

 NUJ Europe is an unmbrella body for associations of Nigerian journalists residing and practicing across the countries of Europe.

Other contestants for the position of the President included Mr Dele Atunibi, who got 51 votes, USA Uzaka who received 46 votes and Alhaji Mustafa Lamidi who got 12 votes.

Mr Mohammad Shu clinched the position of the financial secretary of the union after he secured 454 votes to defeat his contender Mr. Ajayi Olugbenga.

National Treasurer’s post went to Mrs Monica Okechukwu who got 310 votes to defeat two other contestants, namely, Mr. Garba Iliya and Mr Ambrose Nwachukwu.

NAN reports that the positions of Deputy National President, National Internal Auditor and the Vice-President, North Central were filled unopposed.

Mr Chris Isiguzo was declared winner of the South East Vice-President after he defeated Mr Goddy Okafor who while Aisha Ibrahim clinched the position of Vice-President North East.

Other officials elected were Opaka Dokubo, Zonal Secretary South South, Mr Kenneth Ofoma Zonal Secretary, South East while Suleiman Ibrahim emerged Secretary, North East.

Similarly, Mr Hakeem Olatidoye emerged Secretary, North Central and Mr Lawal Afolabi won the post of the Secretary, South West Zone.

Delegates to the conference were drawn from NUJ Councils from the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.

SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY AND BOKO HARAM: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, By Olufemi Kayode

OPINION

Culled from facebook: SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, By Femi Fani-Kayode

The United States government helped Boko Haram immensely by refusing to classify them as a terrorist organisation until 2014 and by refusing to sell us arms to fight them.

Worst still, they imposed an international arms embargo on us so that we could not buy arms from anyone else in the international community.

When asked why they are doing this to us they tell us that it is because of the Leahy Act which prohibits them from selling arms to governments that violate the human rights of their own citizens.

They forget that we are in the middle of a bitter war and that our enemies are being sponsored and supported by both ISIL and Al Qaeda.

They forget that over 50,000 innocent Nigerians have been slaughtered in cold blood and thousands more raped and abducted during the course of that war over the last 5 years.

They disregard the fact that every day Nigerians are bleeding more and more and that our gallant Armed Forces, through no fault of their own, have not been able to get the necessary weapons to fight back effectively.

Some things are above partisan politics and this is one of them. Regardless of whichever political party we belong to we must all join forces and support the fight against Boko Haram.

We must do this regardless of party affiliation because if we don't Boko Haram will consume us all, whether we are PDP, APC or anything else.

We love and admire the Americans and we regard their country as a bastion of good governance, justice, equity and decency. We also recognise the fact that they have brought an immense amount of good into the world over the last 100 years and that they continue to do so.
However in this matter of arms supply to our country it appears to me that a double standard is being applied. It is almost as if they want Nigeria to be brought to her knees and that they want us to be humiliated and destroyed.

All the territory that was recovered from Boko Haram by the Jonathan administration is now being threatened again or has been retaken by Boko Haram in the last few weeks.

This comes as a direct consequence of the fact that the Americans have refused to sell us arms and the new allies and friends that the Jonathan administration reached out to in their stead just a few months before leaving power together with the military assistance contracts that they entered into at the time for help in the war against Boko Haram have been terminated.

This is very sad because the immediate consequence of it is the fact that over 1000 Nigerians have been killed by Boko Haram in the last two months alone. That means over 100 people per week have been murdered by the terrorists since May 29th.

This must stop and something has to give. We must support the new government in their efforts to stem the tide and to fight terror.

This is all the more important when one considers the fact that there seems to be some hidden agenda on the part of the western powers, led by America, to ensure that we do not acquire the necessary weapons to take on Boko Haram effectively.

When one considers the position of the American government one is forced to ask the following question: w hy did they not invoke the Leahy Act against Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Ukraine, Pakistan, Yemen, Kenya and Iraq for human rights violations?

Why do they continue to supply arms to the governments of all those countries despite what they have done to many of their own citizens and those that they oppose just outside their borders?

Why is it only Nigeria that they have refused to sell arms to and that they have imposed an international arms embargo on even though we are fighting a civil war against a barbaric, relentless and evil enemy that is being sponsored by ISIL and Al Qaeda?

Given all this, I believe that it is time for us as a country to begin to reconsider who our friends really are? They say that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
You cannot say that you are our friends whilst you sit by idly and watch the blood of our people being shed on a daily basis yet you refuse to do anything about it.
We are not asking you to send troops to fight for us or to give us free arms. We are not cowards or beggars. We are simply asking to buy sophisticated arms and modern weapons from you so that we can defend our people yet you keep saying no and you are urging others not to sell to us either. This is not the act of a friend.

It is unacceptable, it is unfair and, if sustained, it will prove to be counter-productive to the interests of the Americans in our country and in the west African sub-region.

The truth is that given the attitude of the United States government I believe that it is time for us to rely far more on our Chinese and Russian friends in our collective war against terror.

I say this because it appears that the western powers and our traditional allies like the United Kingdom, France and America have left us in the lurch.

Whichever way we can be rest assured of one thing: Nigeria will never be brought to her knees and ultimately we will win this war because God is with us.

On a final note permit me to take this opportunity to respond to the words of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, the convener and author of the Leahy Act, who has said that our Armed Forces are nothing but ''rapists and murderers''. He also said that we should ''clean up our military'' if we want the arms embargo lifted.

This type of condescending, colonial-overlord, slave-master and gung-ho language and contribution from this foreigner is most unhelpful and it is totally unacceptable. This is all the more so because his words are simply not true.
Whether the Leahy's of this world wish to accept it or not the truth is that the Nigerian Armed Forces, despite their limitations and constraints, remain one of the most outstanding, successful, courageous, battle-ready and disciplined fighting forces on the African continent.

History can attest to that and the sacrifice that those gallant young men and women in uniform make on a daily basis on the battle field in the fight against Boko Haram and in the war against terror over the last five years is a reflection of their deep patriotism and noble calling.

Referring to them as nothing but ''rapists and murderers'' is not only a sweeping statement and an absurd generalisation but it is also a deep insult to the Nigerian people and a denigration of the memory of all those courageous young men and women that fought and died on the war-front defending our country.

The truth is that Senator Leahy is nothing but a low-life redneck and so are all those that think like him and that have his mindset. He is the scum of the earth: a typically confused, ignorant, petty-minded, blinkered and racist yankee who has little understanding of world affairs, no understanding of our situation in Nigeria and Africa and no sense of history.
He owes the Nigerian people and our Armed Forces an unreserved apology and until he purges himself and renders it, I urge every self-respecting Nigerian to treat him with the contempt and disdain that he deserves.

Nigerian National Arunma Oteh Appointed World Bank Vice President and Treasurer

Mrs Arunma Oteh, a Nigerian who was significantly praised for sanitising her country's Securities and Exchange Commission under the administration of the Nigerian former President Jonathan has been appointed Vice President and Treasurer for the apex global bank, the World Bank on Thursday. 

The World Bank Press Release dated 23rd July, 2015  on appointment of Arunma Oteh made available to NUJ Europe Chapter reads inter-alia :

"Sponsor: Office of the President

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Arunma Oteh as VP and Treasurer of the World Bank.

"Arunma, a Nigerian national, was most recently the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria. Appointed to a five-year term by the President of Nigeria in 2010, she led the transformation of the country’s capital markets industry into a major global presence. She was a member of the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the Chairperson of the Africa Middle East Regional Committee of IOSCO.

"Prior to joining the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria, Arunma was Group Vice President, Corporate Services, at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). In this role she oversaw a number of departments, including human resources, information and communications technology, and institutional procurement. From 2001 to 2006 she held the role of AfDB Group Treasurer, where she led AfDB’s fundraising and capital market activities across the world. Earlier roles at the AfDB, which she joined in 1992, included trading room management, investment portfolio coverage, and public sector lending. She also held other positions in capital markets and lending during the course of her career at the AfDB. Arunma began her career in 1985 at Centre Point, where she executed debt and equity offerings in the Nigerian capital markets.

"She earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria and her Masters of Business Administration from Harvard University.

"As VP and Treasurer, Arunma will manage and lead a large and diverse team responsible for managing more than $150 billion in assets. Her top priorities will be to: (i) maintain the World Bank’s global reputation as a prudent and innovative borrower, investor and risk manager; (ii) manage an extensive client advisory, transaction and asset management business for the Bank; (iii) engage, in her capacity as one of the World Bank’s key representatives, with outside stakeholders including global private sector financial institutions, the financial media and the sovereign debt and reserve managers in client countries, as well as ratings agencies; and (iv) collaborate extensively with the Finance Partners throughout the WBG, including with IFC and MIGA, expanding shared approaches, in particular around innovative financing for development and for key new projects.

"Ms. Oteh was selected to this position through an international competitive search. Her appointment is effective on September 28, 2015.

SIGNED

Jim Yong Kim
President

For Information: Sean Thomas McGrath" The statement concluded.

           
Reportedly under the recommendation of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. She confirmed this in a tweet she put up minutes ago on her handle as follows

 www.twitter.com/aoteh @aoteh

Thanks for ur kind messages ff my appointment as VP and Treasurer World Bank. Such an honor, so grateful to President Kim + Board of WB.

Arunma Oteh is of Nigerian/British nationality. She is from Abia State. She studied at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Nigeria, earning a first class honors degree in Computer Science. She went on to the Harvard Business School where she obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration