….Insists Itsekiri Did Not Embrace Amnesty

The Ijaw Youths Network has faulted the claims of an Itsekiri group over alleged unfair treatment of Itsekiri ex-agitators by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro.

The National President and Secretary of IYN, Frank Ebikabo and Federal Ebiaridor, recalled in a statement on Tuesday that the Itsekiri distanced themselves from the proclamation of Presidential Amnesty by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for ex-agitators in the Niger Delta.

The IYN also wondered why the Itsekiri monarch, the Olu of Warri who itself is aware of the commendable actions of the Amnesty boss in absorbing more Itsekiri into the scholarship scheme, has not given direction to his people behind the amorphous body.

The IYN said it is inclined to believe that the traditional institution might be behind this ugly narrative being spearheaded by Itsekiri against the PAP Administrator, using the fictitious Warri Youth Council as a megaphone.

They noted that the so-called Warri Youth Council is a faceless body with no digital presence whatsoever.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor advised the Itsekiri Monarch, the Olu of Warri against embarking on a journey of futility to re-write history.

The IYN stressed that the Itsekiri did not have ex-agitators in the first instance during the Niger Delta struggle, which was spearheaded by the Ijaws.

The group recalled that Itsekiri insisted that they were peace-loving, educated and civilised people who would have nothing to do with the offer of presidential amnesty.

They noted that the Itsekiri were brought into the amnesty programme following interventions by stakeholders in the Niger Delta.

The group said that the facts were clear that no disarmament and demobilisation of the presidential amnesty programme were held in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, or anywhere in Itsekiri land, contrary to the claim made by the Warri Youth Council.

They noted that the exercise for the first, second and third phases of the programme were held in Agbarho and 3 Battalion, Effurun, in Delta State and not in Koko.

They stated that the Itsekiris only submitted ‘a political list’ of 500 slots given to them by the former Administrator of the programme, Dr Kingsley KuKu, and that should not in any way be seen as disarmament.

IYN condemned, in strong terms, the persistent attacks on Otuaro because of the issue of inclusion of delegates into the programme. They explained that Otuaro is not responsible for the inclusion of delegates, but the management of existing enrollees and should be commended for the efforts he has made to increase the scholarship slots given to the Itsekiri and other groups.

The group dismissed the claim of nepotism and ethnic bias against the PAP Administrator, stating that such claims were mere mischief and should be discountenanced by all men of good conscience.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor further noted that the threat by the so-called Warri Youth Council to coordinate Itsekiri-wide protest against Otuaro should be condemned by all peace lovers who mean well for the region.

The IYN said that even the detractors of Otuaro, acknowledge his openness and transparent manner with which the issue of the scholarship has been managed.

They added that even those attempting to misinform the public could not leave out the fact that Otuaro has given many scholarship slots to Itsekiri people, and urged the WYC to speak for itself and not Itsekiri, who are beneficiaries of Otuaro’s effective management of the PAP.

They IYN urged the PAP boss to continue with the mandate given to him by the President and not allow himself to be distracted.

Two recent aviation incidents have sparked widespread debate over what many Nigerians see as a glaring case of double standards in the enforcement of safety regulations.

Last week, reports emerged that popular Fuji musician, K1 De Ultimate (Kwam 1), allegedly attempted to halt a taxiing Value Jet aircraft, a move that could have endangered hundreds of passengers. Despite the seriousness of the alleged offence – which violates established aviation safety protocols – there has been no indication of punitive action from relevant authorities. Aviation stakeholders were instead accused of defending the musician, who is a close associate of President Bola Tinubu.

In contrast, events this week involving Ms. Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight, unfolded very differently. According to reports, Ms. Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone during take-off, though she claimed it was on flight mode. She allegedly assaulted a crew member, leading to swift disciplinary measures: she was detained, stripped naked by aviation security personnel, arraigned, imprisoned at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, banned for life from flying with Ibom Air, and placed on the Airlines Operators of Nigeria’s “No-Fly” list – all within 24 hours.

Critics say while Ms. Emmanson’s actions breached passenger safety rules, the alleged humiliation she suffered was a gross violation of her constitutional right to dignity. The speed and severity of the punishment stand in stark contrast to the muted response in the Kwam 1 case.

Political and civil society commentators argue that the two cases send a troubling message: individuals with political connections may evade accountability, while ordinary citizens face swift and severe repercussions.

Quoting the second and third stanzas of Nigeria’s reinstated national anthem, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Ken Eluma Asogwa, called on President Tinubu to ensure equal treatment under the law, saying, “If these words were reinstated out of conviction rather than nostalgia, then the President must ensure that his friend, Kwam 1, faces the same accountability meted out to Ms. Emmanson. What is good for the goose must also be good for the gander.”

….. Records Over N46 Billion Pre-Launch Transactions

Fidelity Bank Plc has officially launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in Nigeria, following an impressive N46 billion in transactions recorded during its early adoption phase. The launch, which follows the bank’s onboarding of the PAPSS platform in September 2024, marks a major step in facilitating faster, cheaper, and more secure cross-border payments across Africa, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Kevin Ugwuoke, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank, described the PAPSS partnership as a strategic milestone in removing one of Africa’s biggest trade barriers – cross-border payments.

“As Nigeria’s leading supporter of SMEs, this partnership positions us to serve this critical market segment with even greater efficiency and impact. The role of PAPSS is not just a win for Fidelity Bank, but for the businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals who trade, transfer funds, and make payments across Africa’s borders,” Ugwuoke said.

PAPSS is designed to enable instant, local currency transactions between African countries, eliminating the need for payments to pass through foreign banks. This innovation aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) vision by enabling SMEs to trade directly in their own currencies, fostering growth and expanding market opportunities.

Ugwuoke revealed that Fidelity Bank has commenced a customer awareness campaign to highlight PAPSS benefits and will soon extend the service to its mobile and online banking platforms.

“With PAPSS, we are delivering faster cross-border transactions, reducing reliance on foreign currency, enabling more predictable cash flows, and, above all, empowering our customers to grow their businesses across the continent with greater confidence,” he added.
Katherine Oba, Head of International Operations at Fidelity Bank, disclosed that the bank had processed over N46 billion in PAPSS transactions since adoption. The system completes settlements within 120 seconds, allowing senders to pay in local currency while recipients receive funds in theirs.

“For example, a customer sending money from Nigeria to Ghana will have their account debited in Naira, while the recipient receives Cedis. This also means exporters can now receive payment in Naira for goods sold across Africa, with such settlements recognized under the CBN’s export procedures. Transaction fees are also competitive,” Oba noted.
According to PAPSS, Africa loses more than $5 billion annually in payment processing costs due to reliance on external systems, with intra-African trade accounting for only 13–16% of total trade – far below Asia’s 60% and Europe’s 70%.

Speaking on the launch with Fidelity Bank, Mike Ogbalu, Chief Executive Officer at PAPSS, highlighted that the platform is built to global standards but owned and governed by Africans.
“PAPSS is the realisation of a vision over 60 years in the making – to give Africa its own payment infrastructure, thus curbing the excess processing costs. Today, PAPSS is integrated into the core systems of several central banks and over 150 commercial banks across Africa, with Fidelity Bank as one of the first in Nigeria to meet all requirements,” Ogbalu said.

“We see Fidelity Bank as a key partner in achieving this goal and look forward to extending this collaboration to SMEs, individuals, large corporates, and governments across Africa,” Ogbalu added.
With this launch, Fidelity Bank strengthens its position as a leading driver of innovation in the African financial services landscape, offering its customers a powerful tool to trade, invest, and grow beyond borders.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.