Lotus Bank, in strategic partnership with Heckerbella, has unveiled the Smart ID Project at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The Managing Director of Lotus Bank, Dr Isiaka Ajani-Lawal said ”the initiative brings in a new identification system that combines campus ID and secure debit card features in one.

Ajani-Lawal emphasized that the initiative reflected the Bank’s broader commitment to advancing financial inclusion and delivering integrated, secure digital banking solutions tailored to institutional ecosystems.

“The Smart ID Project represents a forward-thinking collaboration that merges identity management, access control, and financial services into a single secure platform.

”In partnership with UNILAG and Heckerbella, we are delivering a solution that enhances convenience, strengthens security, and accelerates the transition toward a modern, cashless campus.”

According to him, the Smart ID Card is designed as a dual-function solution — serving as the university’s official identification credential while also operating as a secure debit card powered by Lotus Bank.

”The innovation enables seamless identity verification, efficient access control, and safe financial transactions both within and beyond the campus environment.

”The Smart ID Project is expected to streamline administrative processes, improve operational efficiency across faculties and departments, and deepen financial literacy and inclusion among students.

”With embedded debit functionality, the card supports secure, cashless transactions while reinforcing the University’s transition to a technology-driven academic ecosystem.”

According to him, as technology and implementation partner, Heckerbella is responsible for comprehensive data capture for students and staff, as well as the secure production and issuance of the Smart ID Cards.

”The process is built to ensure data accuracy, robust security standards, and operational efficiency throughout deployment.”

The ceremony featured the University’s leadership, faculty members, students, senior executives from Lotus Bank and Heckerbella, and key stakeholders

During the event, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Folasade  Ogunsola, formally presented the Smart ID Cards to students and staff, marking a defining milestone in UNILAG’s digital transformation journey.

In her remarks, the vice chancellor reaffirmed the university’s commitment to innovation and strategic partnerships that enhance service delivery and elevate the overall campus experience.

Speaking during the card unveiling, the Managing Director of Heckerbella, Yemi Keri, highlighted the importance of secure identity infrastructure in modern institutions.

She noted that her firm’s collaboration with Lotus Bank on the project demonstrates how technology, banking, and education can converge to deliver practical, future-focused solutions.

Lotus Bank is a full-fledged non-interest commercial bank committed to ethical banking, financial inclusion, and innovative digital solutions for individuals, businesses, and institutions across Nigeria.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),  has renewed its strategic capacity development partnership with the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmö, Sweden, through the signing of a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s maritime human capital and institutional capacity.

 Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr.

“This collaboration has significantly strengthened our technical and regulatory capabilities over the years.

 Under the renewed MoU, which was first signed in 2022, NIMASA will sponsor at least ten officers annually for the 14-month Master of Science programme at WMU in Malmö for the 2026–2029 intakes, as well as at least one officer for the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme jointly delivered by WMU and the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), Malta.

The MoU also provides for distance learning, executive professional development courses, research collaboration and technical assistance to strengthen NIMASA’s capacity in maritime safety, environmental management, seafarer certification and implementation of international maritime instruments. WMU will further seek additional fellowships from international donors for qualified NIMASA candidates.

 Dr. Mobereola endorsed the MoU on behalf of NIMASA with the President of WMU, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr signing on behalf of the University while Executive Director Finance and Administration NIMASA Chudi Offodile and the Registrar of WMU, Mr. Peter Marriott both signed as witnesses.

Established in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization, WMU was mandated to strengthen global maritime capacity, particularly in developing countries. The University has since become a leading centre of excellence, and Nigeria has benefited significantly through the training of NIMASA officers who continue to enhance national maritime governance and international engagement.

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

A legal practitioner and security expert, Blessing Agbomhere, has urged the Federal Government to sustain the petroleum pipeline surveillance contract coordinated by High Chief Government, describing it as “a strategic national instrument” critical to Nigeria’s economic stability and security architecture.

In a public communication addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the leadership of the National Assembly, and other officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Agbomhere argued that the surveillance framework operated through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and other indigenous firms has played a decisive role in curbing crude oil theft and restoring production levels in the Niger Delta.

According to the statement, Nigeria’s petroleum sector had, in recent years, faced what he described as an “unprecedented crisis,” with organized crude oil theft and large-scale pipeline vandalism significantly undermining national revenue.
He noted that daily oil production had fallen below the country’s OPEC quota, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue, weakened investor confidence, and mounting fiscal pressures.

“The consequences were catastrophic,” Agbomhere said, adding that conventional security deployments had struggled to contain criminal networks operating across the creeks and offshore installations of the Niger Delta.

Agbomhere credited the introduction of a community-based surveillance model, anchored by local knowledge and grassroots intelligence, as a turning point in addressing the crisis.

Under the coordination of Ekpemupolo through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the framework reportedly led to the identification and dismantling of illegal tapping points, destruction of clandestine refining camps, interception of illicit crude transport routes, and improved stability across major trunk lines.

He maintained that since the activation of the surveillance regime, oil production has recorded a measurable increase, contributing to improved inflows into the Federation Account and enhancing macroeconomic stability.

“This is not conjecture; it is an empirical reality,” he stated, pointing to what he described as renewed investor engagement and greater fiscal predictability.
Beyond revenue recovery, Agbomhere emphasized the broader security implications of the contract, noting that the Niger Delta’s history of militancy and agitation has often been linked to economic exclusion and tensions over oil resources.

He argued that incorporating local actors into a structured and lawful security framework has reduced incentives for sabotage, fostered youth engagement in legitimate economic activities, and strengthened intelligence collaboration between communities and federal authorities. “The surveillance contract has functioned not merely as a protective shield for pipelines but as a stabilizing mechanism for regional peace,” he said.

Agbomhere also addressed recent calls for the cancellation of the contract, suggesting that such advocacy should be carefully scrutinized. He posited that some of the opposition may stem from interests adversely affected by intensified anti-theft operations.
He cautioned against dismantling what he described as a “functioning security architecture” without evidence of non-performance or legal impropriety, warning that abrupt termination could create an intelligence vacuum, encourage the resurgence of bunkering syndicates, and threaten national revenue at a delicate economic moment.

However, he acknowledged the importance of transparency and accountability, noting that legislative oversight and performance audits remain essential in a democratic system.
“No public contract is beyond scrutiny,” he said, “but reform must not degenerate into regression.”
Agbomhere called on President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, and members of the National Assembly to prioritize empirical evidence, safeguard national revenue, and preserve peace in the South-South region.
He described the surveillance arrangement as “not a mere procurement contract, but a strategic safeguard for Nigeria’s economic lifeline,” urging policymakers to consolidate existing gains rather than risk a return to instability.

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