The microfinance banking system took off with sharp division among members which led to the emergence of two associations namely National Association of Microfinance Banks of Nigeria (NAMFBIN) and Association of Microfinance Bank in Nigeria (AMBN). The former represents former community banks that converted to microfinance banks while the later represents newly licensed microfinance banks.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the suspension of two stockbroking firms -Sikon Securities Limited and Gossord Securities Limited for various forms of market infractions.

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), umbrella body for estate developers in the country, has called for the divestment of primary mortgage institutions (PMIs) from property development to enable them focus on their primary responsibility of mortgage financing.

The national housing deficit has been marginally reduced with the commissioning, last week, of a 240-unit FHA housing estate extension in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A non_governmental organization, Gloryland Trust International, on Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Lagos announced plans to launch a housing scheme with a view to cater for the aged_considerate citizens after retirement.

An expert in the building industry has identified the need for adequate training for artisans in the industry as a means of curtailing the incidence of building collapse in the country.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has taken the fight against unethical insurance practice to the media appealing to insurance correspondents to help in exposing any act inimical to the ethics of insurance.

Cross Rivers state governor, Sen. Liyel Imokhe has promised to strengthen the relationship between his administration and Oceanic bank so as to derive

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Benin, weekend, discharged and acquitted the Managing Director of an Asaba-based pharmaceutical company, Mr. Demechi Chukwuweike, and his company, Dean Pharma-ceutical Limited, of a two count charge of producing fake drugs.

The people of Otuasega community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State have raised alarm over the continued use of soldiers as instrument of intimidation by three multinational companies in the course of carrying out mining and exploration activities in the area.

A legal practitioner, Mr Jesu-tega Onokpasa, has applau-ded Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s masterstroke in refraining from sacking majority of the staff of the state’s Oil Producing Areas Develop-ment Commission (DESOPADEC) staff as was feared in the government’s move to reposition the Board.

Super Eagles´Head Coach, Shuaibu Amodu, just back from the 2010 African Nations Cup Draw in Angola, will on Tuesday lead his technical crew to a meeting with the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja .

ERSTWHILE Chairman of Nigeria Football Association, NFA, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, has appealed to Nigerians angling for a foreign Technical Adviser to sheathe their sword as such hasty decision would scupper Nigeria’s chances at both the Nations Cup in Angola and the World Cup in South Africa. Galadima said instead of hiring a foreign coach, the technical committee of the NFF, should bring a consortium of coaches to tinker the team with Amodu Shuaibu.

By Mike Ebonugwo THE recurring decimal of fuel scarcity in Nigeria was the issue that occupied the attention of parliamentarians at a bus-stop gathering in Ikotun, Lagos on Tuesday.

THE purported disqualification of Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, has definitely hit the sour note with Director General of the NSC, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, describing the action as “executive rascality”.