The Minister of Finance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga has taken steps towards boosting the manufacturing sector of the economy by approving the second set of industrial projects worth N998.2 million to be funded under the National Economic Reconstruction Fund, NERFUND, scheme.

No fewer than 301 passengers escaped death in Tamarasset, Algeria, weekend, following a technical problem suffered by one of the engines of British Airways flight 74 which was conveying them to London from Lagos.

AS Lagos State commences preparation for 2011 Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca, it announced that in line with the directive from the Saudi-Arabian authorities through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, no pregnant woman will be allowed to travel with the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrim Board for the annual Holy Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year.

Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, has recovered N68 billion from contracts that were over-inflated by some Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, in the 2010 budget.

EDO State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole said, weekend, that the April 2011 elections in the state was very crucial to him as he wanted a state House of Assembly that could give him legislative backing in his bid to sustain the tempo of development in the state.

THE management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, weekend, described as “political,” the protest embarked upon by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, over payment of hazard allowances.

The leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Kwara State and Governor Bukola Saraki, weekend, struck a deal over the candidature of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the governorship flag bearer of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in April polls.

DELTA State police command says it has recovered samples of dynamites and 90 rounds of live ammunition used by bandits, who raided a new generation bank at Umunede last Friday while the President Goodluck Jonathan was visiting the state, just a robbery suspect was gunned down at a hotel in Asaba, Delta State during a gun duel between members of his gang and police.

SENATE President, David Mark, weekend said he endorsed the re-election of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State for a second term in office and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for another term in the National Assembly because of the need to enthrone development, peace and stability in the state.