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Governor Sani To Open 3m Bank Accounts For Unbanked Kaduna Residents

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Kaduna Governor Sani Inaugurates Construction Of Karatudu-Romi Road

Governor Sani To Open 3m Bank Accounts For Unbanked Kaduna Residents

Governor Sani to open 3m bank accounts for unbanked Kaduna residents. Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, says he will open 3 million bank accounts for unbanked residents in 2025, to lift millions out of poverty through aggressive financial inclusion policies.

Sani spoke at the Kaduna Economic and Financial Inclusion Summit (KEFIS 2025), themed ‘Expanding financial success for sustainable development,’ on Wednesday.

The governor said over 2.5 million accounts have been opened, and nearly seven million citizens have registered for national identification numbers (NIN) to facilitate financial access.

“True financial inclusion is about granting individuals and communities the means to participate meaningfully in the economy, break the cycle of poverty, and elevate their quality of life,” he said.

Sani explained that Kaduna’s rural population, which makes up 70 to 75 percent of the unbanked, is at the centre of the state’s financial inclusion drive.

“About 3.5 million people in Kaduna were outside the financial system as of 2023,” he noted.

‘“This exclusion hindered economic growth and left many vulnerable groups disenfranchised from the benefits of modern financial systems.”

As former chairman of the senate committee on banking and financial institutions, Sani recounted sponsoring the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, which brought fintechs under Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulation, enabling digital financial services to reach underserved areas.

“A lot has happened since fintechs came under the CBN’s regulatory oversight. They are now reaching people formerly outside the financial system,” he said.
Sani also highlighted how fintechs have enabled access to mobile banking, credit, and donor programmes.

‘OVER N18BN SENT TO RESIDENTS’ ACCOUNTS’

Sani said his administration has institutionalised financial inclusion through the Kaduna state financial inclusion executive order, forming a state committee, and implementing targeted interventions.

He said over N18 billion was channelled into accounts via direct cash transfers and input distributions through agencies like KADEDA, KADSIPA, and the planning and budget commission.

“The signing of the Financial Inclusion Order in 2023 marked a significant moment in our journey toward economic empowerment and social equity,” the governor said.
He further explained that the policy saw a 19 percent increase in financially served adults, rising from 45 percent in 2022 to 64 percent in 2024, with about 9 percent new banked population and 10 percent accessing other formal financial services.

Sani noted that Kaduna’s inclusion strategy actively supports micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), critical to job creation.

“We are fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem where MSMEs can grow, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the economy of Kaduna State,” he said.

The governor said his policies have yielded a visible economic impact, reducing poverty rates and income inequality.

Kaduna State Government

Kaduna State Government

“In Kaduna State, we believe in a comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity. Financial inclusion is addressing the root causes of insecurity, unemployment and inequality,” he added.
The governor credited partnerships with banks like United Bank for Africa (UBA), Jaiz Bank, Zenith Bank, and Fidelity Bank, fintechs like Moniepoint and Momo, and global development partners like the Gates Foundation for pivotal progress, which he said is streamlining NIN enrollment and supporting digital payment systems.

He said Kaduna has been selected by the office of the vice-president as a pilot state for a national financial inclusion initiative, under which the state will allocate 5,000 hectares for an in-grower scheme, offering input support and product-based repayments to rural farmers.

“This approach is tailored to empower rural communities and integrate them into the formal financial system,” he explained.

Sani added that he recently received an appointment to the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI) Governing Board, representing northern Nigeria, which acknowledges Kaduna’s leadership in financial empowerment.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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