Business

Access Bank Unfolds Paris subsidiary’s Operations Focus

Published

3 years ago

May 19, 2023

565 Views

Access Bank Plc has expressed confidence that the new subsidiary in Paris, will play a key role in driving trade and investment flows between Africa and France.

Herbert Wigwe, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc., the parent company of Access Bank, confidently stated this during the launch of the Paris subsidiary.

Wigwe stressed that the subsidiary’s location in Paris is strategic, as it is the commercial and financial centre of France with a vibrant ecosystem of businesses and institutions.

“With a population of over 67 million people and a GDP of €2.4 trillion, France is a key player in the global economy,” he said.

” Access Bank’s new subsidiary will enable the bank to tap into the country’s vast business opportunities, particularly in the area of cross-border trade finance,” said Wigwe.

He said that Access Bank has a great presence in the Francophone world that relies significantly in terms of trade on France, so Access Bank in Paris will work to support trade possibilities and trade finance solutions to businesses in those regions, ranging from large conglomerates to SMEs and more.

“Our range of banking products and services will be a valuable asset for businesses looking to trade internationally, while our corporate and investment banking services will help businesses access capital, manage their cash flow, and mitigate risk.

Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said “Access Bank’s presence in France represents an important step towards achieving its goal of bridging worlds and connecting opportunities for African businesses.

“Today, we are proud to have a presence in 18 countries across four continents, serving millions of customers and businesses.

” Indeed, our expansion drive has been guided by our vision to become the world’s most respected African bank, and by building on our strong track record of innovation, customer service, and social responsibility, we have come one step closer to achieving this goal,” said Ogbonna.

Business

Cybercriminals cloning DStv, other brands to steal bank accounts across Africa

According to cybersecurity company NordVPN, the campaign distributes Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and banking trojans, forms of malware that can give criminals control over infected devices and access to sensitive information.

Published

2 days ago

August 21, 2026

OCHEFA

26 Views

Cybercriminals are impersonating popular companies and government agencies across Africa in a campaign designed to take over smartphones and bank accounts.

More than 100 fake websites linked to the malware campaign have been identified since August 2025.

Brands including DStv, Takealot and South African Airways, as well as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), are being used to make fraudulent messages and websites appear legitimate.

The attacks are particularly concerning in South Africa, where Android dominates the mobile operating system market.

NordVPN said the attacks typically begin with social engineering, where criminals send convincing messages through SMS, WhatsApp or social media.

The messages may contain urgent offers or requests involving job opportunities, tax refunds, identity renewals or pension verification.

Victims are then directed to fake websites designed to closely resemble the official websites of trusted organisations.

The sites encourage users to download an Android application. Once installed, the malicious software can operate quietly in the background, including after the smartphone is restarted.

Business

Cement price hits N16,000 per bag

The current cement prices mark a steep rise from late 2024, when a bag sold for around N7,500.

Published

2 days ago

August 21, 2026

OCHEFA

32 Views

• Chairman of BUA cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR)

Cement dealers across Nigeria have announced fresh price increases, with a 50kg bag now selling for as much as N16,000 in some markets, up from N13,000 recorded by buyers just days earlier.

The current cement prices mark a steep rise from late 2024, when a bag sold for around N7,500.

By the third quarter of 2025, that had risen to about N9,000 before reaching the N12,000 to N16,000 range now seen across different locations.

Other building materials have followed a similar upward path. Blocks have climbed from around N600 to N1,100 each.

Sand has gone from N165,000 to N250,000 per 30 tonnes. Granite has risen from N530,000 to N780,000 per 30 tonnes.

Reinforcing steel now costs N1.15 million per tonne, up from N850,000.