In a landmark move set to redefine urban mobility and promote financial inclusion in Nigeria, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced a $100 million financing partnership scheme with CIG Motors, Lagride, and Lagos State Government.

By the partnership, tagged “Drive to Own”, UBA will be the key financier, offering loan subscriptions that will allow beneficiaries to own a CIG/Lagride vehicle by contributing an equity payment of just 10% of the total vehicle cost, with the remaining amount payable over a period of 48 months.

The scheme, which was unveiled during a ceremony in Alausa, Lagos, on Wednesday, is aimed at empowering 3,500 drivers in the state with transformative asset ownership opportunities, thus setting a new benchmark for structured credit in Africa’s mobility sector.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, who delivered the keynote remarks at the event, highlighted the bank’s visionary commitment to inclusive economic growth, fostering MSME development, and creating tangible opportunities for the younger generation. He said, “This partnership with Lagride is transformational. It will drive inclusivity for economic growth and ensure progress for everyone. We are committed to helping you, and please believe me, this is just the beginning.”

He took the opportunity to share a deeply personal testament about the power of opportunity: “My father started as a driver. I went to school thanks to that income… That will be the story of some of you, and even better,” he said.

Alawuba also emphasised UBA’s focus on solving immediate, on-the-ground challenges, adding, “I am personally looking at the immediate problems we have right here in Lagos as we will be connecting the initiative to broader urban development. Lagos will change because of us. And we will not stop in Lagos; we will move beyond.”

Echoing the GMD’s vision, UBA’s Head, SME Banking, Babatunde Ajayi, noted that this partnership is built on a fundamental rethinking of traditional banking models.

“Not every business has a shop. Some businesses have wheels. Every commercial driver is running a business, yet they have remained outside formal finance. We did not ask if they fit our old structures; we designed credit that fits their reality, and that is the way we work at UBA,” Ajayi added.

The Chairman, Lagride, Diana Chen, who noted that the company has built a data-driven and credit-ready mobility platform for drivers, stressed that transportation is the backbone of Africa’s economic future.

“Lagride now stands as the most structured, data-driven, and credit-ready mobility platform in Nigeria,” Chen said. “This data enables UBA to evaluate driver performance with accuracy and confidence, creating a new standard for bankable driver financing,” he said.

The partnership strategically aligns the strengths of the three organizations, with UBA providing the financial backbone, CIG acting as a trusted provider of viable business opportunities, and Lagride offering a technology-driven platform that guarantees a sustainable and dignified livelihood for its driver-partners.

The Bauchi state police command has confirmed that five officers were killed and two others injured during a gun battle with suspected bandits in Sabon Sara village, located in Darazo LGA of the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the command said the incident occurred while its tactical units were on an intelligence-led visibility patrol on Saturday. The personnel were deployed to forestall possible farmer-herder clashes in the area when they were ambushed by unidentified youths.

According to the police, the attack happened around 11:30 a.m. and involved operatives from the rapid response squad (RRS), 10 PMF Bauchi, the anti-kidnapping unit (AKU), and the state intelligence department (SID).

The officers who lost their lives were identified as Ahmad Muhammad, a DSP with the SID; Mustapha Muhammad, an ASP from 10 PMF; Amarhel Yunusa, an inspector with 10 PMF; Idris Ahmed, also an inspector with 10 PMF; and Isah Muazu, a corporal attached to the AKU.

Two other officers — Isah Musa and Yusuf Gambo, both inspectors with the SID — sustained injuries during the ambush.

ASP Ahmed Wakil, spokesperson of the command, said reinforcements were dispatched to the location immediately after the unit came under attack.

“Upon receiving the report, the DPO in Darazo led a team to the scene and successfully evacuated both the injured and the deceased officers,” he said. He added that the injured were taken to the General Hospital in Darazo, while the remains of the fallen officers were deposited at the morgue.

Wakil stated that several of the attackers were neutralised during the exchange of fire and that efforts were underway to trace others who fled the scene. He said the command remained committed to apprehending those responsible for the killings.

Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commissioner of police in Bauchi, visited the location for an on-the-spot assessment and also met with the families of the slain officers.

“These brave men paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” he said. He noted that despite the growing security challenges, the command would continue to operate “fierce, tireless, and relentless” in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property in the state.

The command advised residents to stay calm and continue cooperating with security agencies as operations in the area intensify.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has granted property owners who violated land use regulations across parts of Abuja a final 14-day grace period to settle a ₦5 million violation fee.

Earlier in September, the FCT Administration sanctioned several property owners for converting their residential buildings to commercial use without due approval. The affected individuals were given 30 days to regularise their property titles in line with the law.

According to a statement released on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, the initial grace period expired, prompting Wike to approve an additional 14 days, starting Tuesday, November 11, to allow defaulters to make payments and comply with the required land use conversion process.

The statement read: “The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has magnanimously granted a final grace period of 14 calendar days from Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for all affected allottees/holders of properties along the said streets/locations to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change/conversion.”

It further warned that “failure to comply within the stated 14-calendar-day grace period will result in enforcement actions by the FCT Administration.”

The areas affected by the directive include Gana Street and Usuma Street in Maitama, Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro, Aminu Kano Crescent and Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II, as well as Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya Street, and Onitsha Street in Garki II. Other affected streets in Garki I include Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, Yola Street, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street.

Olayinka added that property owners who comply and regularise their land use would be issued new title documents to reflect the updated status of their properties.

He said: “The Honourable Minister has, in addition, graciously approved the issuance of new title documents (Statutory Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy) in favour of the affected property owners, reflecting the updated land use of the properties for a fresh term of 99 years, upon fulfilling all necessary conditions.”

The statement clarified that the current enforcement does not include properties whose titles were previously revoked for non-development, non-payment of ground rent, or other infractions.

Among the affected property owners are Abdullahi Ganduje, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-Governor of Osun State; Atanda Fatai-Williams and Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, both former Justices of the Supreme Court; as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

Wike’s latest directive reinforces the FCT Administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with Abuja’s urban development and land use policies.