By  Charles Kumolu AWKA—GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo has decried the absence of much federal presence in the state, pledging that he would correct the long years of marginalisation when elected Governor. He also regretted that most communities in Anambra State were neglected by past administrations. […]

AHEAD of the 2011 general elections in Ebonyi State, former Governor of the state and Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu together with his former aides and loyalists have convened a political rally in Egwu’s palatial home at Ezzangbo, in Ebonyi.

The eight rescued banks have so far paid nothing less than N17 billion as interest on the N620 billion bailout money received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Meanwhile one of the banks, Equitorial Trust Bank last week fully repaid the bailout money with N700 million interest.

The direction of the banking industry in 2010 will be largely determined by resolution of the eight rescued banks, the establishment of the proposed Asset Management Company, Banking reforms, electronic banking issues, sustained recovery of the global economy and the amnesty program of the federal government.

Banks’ customers have demanded improved electronic banking services and better customer relations from their banks in 2010.A cross section of banks’ customers interviewed by Financial Vanguard on what they expect from their banks in the new year conducted listed poor ATM and internet banking services as the greatest shortcomings of their banks in 2009.

Capital market operators have squarely placed their hope for the recovery of the capital market on Mrs Arumah Oteh, the newly appointed Director_General, Securities and Exchange Commission.

Insurance operators have expressed optimism for increased growth in insurance premium saying motor insurance, oil and gas insurance and the six compulsory insurance products are the factors that would drive sectoral growth in 2010

African Reinsurance companies are tightening their terms for local insurance companies beginning from this new year due to preference for volume instead of profit by underwriters .

The mortgage industry in Nigeria bore the full weight of the effect of the unprecedented economic crisis that rocked the world in from late 2007 to 2008 spilling into 2009. It also suffered severely from the reform of the banking sector during the year.

Yobe State government is set to meet its target of building 2000 houses before the end of the first quarter of 2010.
State Commissioner for Housing, Alhaji Sidi Karasuwa who disclosed this said that over 1300 houses including two and three bedroom apartments are nearing completion in all the 17 local government areas of the state and assured that the remaining 700 would be delivered early in the year, adding that the completion of the housing units will solve accommodation problem in the state capital and other major cities.