N100 charge on ATM transactions cancelled

The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers Committee on Tuesday finally agreed to put a stop to all charges associated with the use of Automated Teller Machines.

The agreement was the high point of a meeting between the committee made up of Chief Executive Officers of Deposit Money Banks, and directors and top officials of the CBN.

The committee also agreed to boost liquidity in the mortgage sector as well as come up with a relief package that would help ameliorate the sufferings of flood victims.

At the end of the meeting, the Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, Mrs. Agnes Martins, addressed journalists in company with the Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa; Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; and acting Managing Director, Keystone Bank Limited, Dr. Shehu Muhammed.

Before now, account holders had been made to pay a flat rate of N100 per withdrawal any time they used ATMs other than the ones that belonged to their banks.

But Onasanya said the decision to stop the charge would help to increase the patronage of ATMs, thus deepening the financial inclusion strategy of the central bank. He said the modalities for the stoppage were being worked out, adding that within the shortest time possible, the adjustments would be reflected on all the ATMs.

Via Punch

Student wins MTN Aeroplane, opts for N64m

Ebube Essien-Garricks, a 27-year-old student of College of Health Science and Technology, Rivers State, has emerged the winner of a Cessna 182T aircraft in the MTN Ultimate Wonder promo. She won after a draw held at the head office of MTN in Lagos on Tuesday.

Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Mr. Larry Annetts, said the draw leading to the winner was interesting, credible and transparent.

He said, “When we came out with the promo, many doubted us but today we have an Ultimate winner who will go home with the promised Cessna 182T aeroplane. The take-home for us here is that MTN is committed towards enriching the lives of its consumers.

“When we say we will do something, you can be sure that we don’t renege on our promises. The can-do- spirit is forever guiding our paths in offering utmost satisfaction to our consumers and we are glad that today a Nigerian has been enriched and empowered with an aeroplane.”

Ebube who was notified of her winning, via a phone call immediately opted for the cash value of the plane, which is N64m.

She said,  “I am short of words, there is no word to describe what I feel right now, it is almost as if it is a dream but I know that nothing can be more real than what I am feeling right now. This must be the best Christmas gift ever. It is truly wonderful.”

Via Punch

President Obama wins 2012 Election!

United States President Barack Obama has been re-elected, after picking 275 electoral college votes to his opponent, Mitt Romney’s 203. In one of America’s most keenly contested presidential elections, the Democratic president picked key states and completed the victory run with Ohio.

Watch the video of his Complete Victory Speech below:

Instagram Finally Lets Users Have Functional Web Profiles

A little over two years after its iOS-only launch, eight months after its acquisition, five months after designer Cole Reinke leaked an image of Instagram’s efforts to bridge mobile and web, and one week after the company hit its most photographed event ever, Instagram has finally bulked up its web presence.

Citing overwhelming user demand as the motivation, the fourteen-person team behind Instagram has built a simplified web interface for User Profiles, viewable at http://www.instagram.com/tolulope (or whatever your username is). While it’s currently launched to a whitelist, the web functionality should roll out to all 100 million registered users by the end of this week.

“This allows you to have a single destination to point people at to see all your photos,” Instagram founder Kevin Systrom said earlier today. “It’s hard to have a service like this without being able to view images online, and we didn't want to limit Instagram behind a log-in.”

The web profile functionality is still extremely stripped down and simple. You can Like and Comment on other users’ photos as in the past, in addition to being able to browse your own and other users’ photos, which is what the Instagram team wanted to focus on with this launch. You can also change your name, bio and profile photo via the web, but not the random assortment of photos in your Facebook Timeline-esque header. Photos beneath the header are sorted chronologically.

While Systrom wouldn't reveal other future web functionality, or whether or not users will eventually be able to view a stream of photos from Instagram users they follow online, he did hint at more stuff in the works. “It’s not the last thing you’re seeing from us on the web.”

Via Techcrunch

Airtel hosts ‘Night of Influence’ with Fareed Zakaria

Airtel Nigeria has announced plans to host select influential personalities at a high profile event that will feature Fareed Zakaria, renowned journalist, internationally acclaimed author and host of popular Fareed Zakaria’s GPS on CNN.

The event tagged, Airtel’s Night of Influence, is a distinct platform that will provide a networking opportunity to prominent international personalities, successful Nigerians and the Airtel brand. It will hold on Sunday, November 18, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

Fareed Zakaria, who has confirmed to speak on the theme: Africa’s Political Economy: The Challenge of Leadership, will bring on hand rich insights into the continent’s economy and its interactions with the global socio-economic and political landscape.

About 500 men and women drawn from both the private and public sectors within and outside the country as well as top politicians and government officials will be attending the event.

Fareed Rafiq Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist and author. From 2000 to 2010, he was a columnist for Newsweek and editor of Newsweek International. In 2010, he became Editor-at-large of Time Magazine. He is the host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS. He is also a frequent commentator and author on issues related to international relations, trade and American foreign policy.

Via YNaija

CAF unveils 10-Man Shortlist for African Footballer of the Year Award

CAF has published the shortlist for the 2012 African Footballer of the Year award composed of 10 players, including current holder, Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure. The five nominees for the domestic-based African on the continent were also released alongside other categories for which winners will be announced at the Awards Gala scheduled to take place in Ghana on December 20.

Three Ivorians including Yaya Toure, Gervinho of Arsenal and two-time winner Didier Drogba feature on the list after their contributions to their country's run to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The former Chelsea striker also starred in the Blues' Champions League triumph, having scored the equalsing goal and the winning penalty in the showpiece against Bayern Munich.

Ghana’s Andre Ayew, who was in the final trio last year, had a worthwhile 2011-12 season, scoring 16 goals for Marseille, also starred in Afcon as the Black Stars made the semi-final stage.

As widely expected, Zambia captain Christopher Katongo made the list, for leading his side to their first Continental title and for his role in the Chipolopolo's recent qualification for the 2013 tournament.

Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Newcastle’s Demba Ba of Senegal and Moroccan star Younes Belhanda were included for their efforts at club and national team levels, while Barcelona's Alex Song was picked for contributing to Arsenal’s impressive end to the Premier League last season.

Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel was vital to Chelsea’s success in winning the Champions League and FA Cup double last season.

Shortlist for the 2012 African Footballer of the Year award in alphabetical order

1. Alexandre Song, Cameroon
2. Andre Ayew, Ghana
3. Christopher Katongo, Zambia
4. Demba Ba, Senegal
5. Didier Drogba, Cote D’Ivoire
6. Gervinho, Cote D’Ivoire
7. John Obi Mikel, Nigeria
8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon
9. Yaya Toure, Cote D’Ivoire
10. Younes Belhanda, Morocco

Shortlist for African Player of the Year based in Africa

1. Mohamed Aboutreika, Egypt
2. Rainford Kalaba, Zambia
3. Stoppila Sunzu, Zambia
4. Yannick N’Djeng, Cameroon
5. Youssef Msakni, Tunisia

Other Awards categories

1. National Team of the Year

2. Women’s Footballer of the Year

3. Women’s National Team of the Year

4. Club of the Year

5. Most Promising Talent of the Year

6. Coach of the Year

7. Referee of the Year

8. Legend Award

9. Fair Play Award

10. Platinum Award

11. Africa Finest XI

The above shortlists, which were decided by Caf’s technical, football and media committees, will now be passed on to head coaches and technical directors from Caf member associations who will vote to decide the eventual winners. 

Via Goal

Police arrest 500 as Group declares Biafra Republic

Policemen in Enugu arrested over 500 persons yesterday for allegedly being part of the purported re-declaration of  Biafra as a sovereign state. The  group under the aegis  of Biafra Zionist Movement had  converged on an open field in Coal Camp area of Enugu where the leader, Mr. Ben Onwuka, addressed them.

However,  after   Onwuka’s address, policemen led by the  Enugu Central Police Station Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Ike Mba, arrested him and other  members of the group, who displayed Biafran, American and Israeli flags. The suspects were  arraigned before a court  and remanded in police custody afterwards.

Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the arrests. He said, “No fewer than 500 persons believed to be members of BZM, which is also believed to be a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of  Sovereign State of Biafra, have been arrested by the police.

The group was led by one Ben Onwuka and the members were arrested at Akwata, off Agbani Road, Enugu. They were arrested with 61 Biafran flags, 13 berets, three bands and eight BZM forms. While addressing the crowd, Onwuka  said, “It is clear that the security of lives  and property of Biafran people is  no longer  guaranteed in the entity called Nigeria. Therefore, we  have resolved to re-declare our independence today based on the mandate given to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu on May 30,  1967 to provide our people security according to international law."

“It is clear that our people’s right to worship, according to our Christian faith, is no longer guaranteed. Therefore, we Biafra people have resolved to opt out of Nigeria. Today, the re-birth of the Republic of Biafra is finally actualised. On the international arena, the Republic of Biafra would establish and maintain a very pro-Israel international relations. Biafra would consider an attack on Israel and the Jewish people as an attack on Biafra.”

Via Punch