In a landmark move that sets a new benchmark for customer-focused banking in Nigeria, Sterling Bank has championed the cancellation of bank transfer fees by major banks, announcing it will no longer take any money for itself for any local online transactions by its customers.The announcement, made on April 1st, initially sparked widespread arguments, with many assuming it was a marketing prank tied to April Fools Day. However, Sterling has confirmed that this is no stunt: the zero-transfer-fee policy is real, and effective immediately.With this move, Sterling becomes the first major Nigerian bank to take a definitive stand against the long-standing practice of charging customers for everyday digital transfers, an issue that has grown increasingly contentious as digital banking adoption deepens.We believe access to your own money shouldnt come with a penalty, said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive leading the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate. This is more than a financial decision, its a values-based one. It reflects our commitment to making banking fair, inclusive, and truly customer focused.Were not yet the biggest bank in Nigeria, but weve been the boldest, Ukachukwu added. Sterling fearlessly believes in the future of Nigeria, and this is us backing Nigerians with more than words.Under the new policy, Sterling customers will enjoy free transfers for all local transactions conducted via the banks mobile app. This translates into significant savings, particularly for individuals and new small business owners who make frequent daily transfers.This customer-first orientation is not new for Sterling. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank stood out by providing supplementary payments to healthcare workers in public hospitalsat a time when few others were willing or able to offer additional support. From that moment to now, Sterling has continued to redefine what it means to be a responsible and responsive institution.The banks latest move has been met with widespread public approval, sparking positive reactions across social media and placing pressure on industry peers to follow suit.Were proud to lead this change, Ukachukwu added. We hope it inspires others to think differently about what customers truly need from their banks, not just in services, but in values.Online communities were not excluded as WhatsApp Nigeria lit up with viral broadcasts as users forwarded the news across various groups, including one from a prayer circle that read: Please my good people this is not a joke!!! Sterling Bank has just shocked Nigeria today o!! My neighbour Justina just transferred N100k and no charges!!! God bless Sterling Bank!!. The message quickly gained traction, sparking massive public interest and mounting pressure on other banks to follow suit.Sterlings zero-fee policy is part of a broader strategy to transform the customer experience and deliver transparent, ethical banking solutions at scale.About Sterling BankSterling Bank is a full-service national commercial bank in Nigeria, focused on building a more equitable and sustainable future through its HEART strategy, targeting investments in Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. With a growing reputation for innovation and customer advocacy, Sterling continues to lead with impact, empathy, and execution.The post Sterling Bank leads protest for removal of bank transfer charges appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

Senator Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has apologised to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the disruption caused by the sudden closure of the Independence Bridge.

Umahi apologised when he visited the bridge site in Lagos on Thursday.

He said that the closure of the bridge was for urgent rehabilitation of the collapsed return wall, carried out without his knowledge or authorisation by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos.

He said: ”But unfortunately, when the bridge was to be closed, I was not informed. The controller did that on her own, and it’s very unfortunate, because for a bridge to be closed, especially in Lagos, as you know, has been the tradition. I should be informed as the minister.

“We should also have studied the implications, even though it’s an emergency situation. We would have deployed an emergency evaluation of the implications of closing the bridge.

” Was there any other thing we would have done? And then why do we take time to do the proper work?”.

Umahi warned that controllers and engineers would face disciplinary action should this type of incident happen again.

“I use the opportunity to warn all controllers and engineers all over the country, never you close a road or close any bridge without running through the permanent secretary, who will seek for the permission from the Honorable Minister of works,” he said.

The minister acknowledged the Lagos State Government’s efforts in managing traffic flow during the closure, which he said eased the gridlock.

He also took responsibility for the error, stating, “I take responsibility for it, even though I did not order it, but every action by any staff or ministry of works, I take responsibility for that.”

Umahi acknowledged that the closure, which caused significant traffic congestion, was avoidable.

He said, “If we’re to do this properly, a different kind of method would have been deployed and wouldn’t have necessitated the total closure.”

He further explained that even if closure were necessary, it would have been done in such a way that it would take three days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and necessary remedial work would have been put in place before the remedial work.

Umahi outlined a plan for immediate restoration, saying, “So what we are doing now is to restore the bridge temporarily within the next three days. By Sunday, this place will be totally open.”

He added that a permanent solution would be implemented after a two-week assessment period.

“And then, after two weeks, we will look at the settlements, and then we will take out three days to put the permanent structure. That is what we are going to do,” he said.

The Minister emphasised the competence of the contractor, Build Well, highlighting their experience in bridge restoration.

“Build Well is a reputable company. They have been restoring many failures on our bridges in Lagos, some of them 53 years old, and they are very reputable in handling these bridges.

“Some bridges spans have been lifted up, especially Eko Bridge, Marina Bridge, and even the Lagos-Ibadan Bridge, they are also intervening in all of them,” he added.

The minister also said that the design of the bridge would be varied to address the emergency.

He said, “And so we have discussed, we are going to vary the design. The design will be varied according to the emergency situation we’ve had on the ground. And the contractor is going to cooperate with us.”

He pledged to personally oversee the restoration efforts, saying, “I’m not going until the bridge is fully restored by Sunday. We will work day and night to restore it, and then we will evaluate it.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bridge was initially closed on April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works, with the government planning to complete the repairs by May.

A former Premier League defender has been jailed for fraud after scamming his friend out of more than 120,000.  Lucien Aubey, 40, was handed a two-year jail term, with 12 months suspended by a court in the French city of Toulouse.  He previously made three Premier League appearances for Portsmouth in the 2007-08 season, when the club won the FA Cup under Harry Redknapp.  As well as winning five caps for Congo, he also played for Toulouse, Rennes and Reims in addition to clubs in Turkey and Cyprus. Aubey and his co-accused Mohamed Dia, a clothes designer, allegedly told the man, named only as Sebastien, 42, that he would earn 1million in three years’ time.  But he has now been found guilty of fraud after getting a friend to invest in the creation of a record label. The individual had also previously landed a 170,000 payout following a road accident. Aubey had previously been declared bankrupt and disqualified from setting up a company, while shoe repairer Sebastien went to the police but never saw his investment again. He accused Aubey of threatening to harm his children after seeking repayment. Sebastien, 42, said: ‘I lost everything, and my wife wanted to commit suicide. I had to give up work. ‘We split up, and those two [Aubey and Dia] just had a good laugh about it all.’ Aubey told the court: ‘My money was tied up in Cyprus, held by my club Olympiakos Nicosia. This wasn’t a fraud – I never robbed anyone.’ But prosecutors were able to reveal phone conversations between the ex-footballer and Dia, which demonstrated an intent to defraud Sebastien. On Monday, the court ordered Aubey to repay 145,000, and to not contact his victim while Dia received a one-year suspended jail term for his actions.The post Ex-Premier League defender, Lucien Aubey jailed for fraud after scamming his friend out of more than 120,000. appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.