Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital has been given a facelift with security reinforced in and around the city, ahead of the weekend visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state.

Respite came the way of 200,000 Nigerians living in rural communities as the European Union, yesterday, signed a N1.9 billion agreement with United Nation Education Fund, UNICEF, aimed at bringing sustainable and integrated water supply and sanitation as well as hygiene promotion in selected states and local governments in Nigeria.

FORMER Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig General Idada Ikponmwen, has faulted the call by some Nigerians for the use of the military to curb the excesses of kidnappers, saying that such a move would not only be unconstitutional but capable of rubbishing the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Bauchi—No fewer than 474 people, particularly women and children under five years of age have lost their lives as a result of Malaria attack in Bauchi State, last year

Enugu State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has given the state government a two-week ultimatum to commence negotiations with doctors in the state over the Consolidated Medical Salaries Scale, CONMESS, or risk an industrial action.

Immediate past Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo was yesterday pulled out of the Police Force with a declaration that the challenges in the health, education, power and financial sector among others, was responsible for the socio-economic and geo-political consciousness which most times result into the violence we experience nationwide today.

The usually serene atmosphere in Ideato federal constituency in Imo State was badly jolted yesterday as Nze Sunny Orji Ogbu, who was aspiring to represent the area in the National Assembly, was murdered by suspected assassins.

GIVING reasons for the deplorable state of Lagos roads, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Public Works Corporation blamed it on a number of factors which includes the heavy downpour in different parts of the city. Said he: “Let me start with the unusually heavy downpour witnessed so far this year. This has been particularly challenging as we had longer period of wet season in which repair and maintenance work are ordinarily difficult.

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State has absorbed Governor Martin Elechi of bias or support for any particular aspirant, amongst all the aspirants who have collected nomination forms for different political positions in the coming 2011 general elections.

For some weeks, many commuters and motorists have had bitter tales to tell of their experiences in coping with the challenges arising from the recent flooding of their communities which cut off the sole access road there.

NINETEEN days after the October 1 twin bomb blasts in Abuja that nearly marred the nation’s Golden Independence Anniversary, the Federal Government said, yesterday, it was now set to prosecute Charles Okah, the younger brother of South Africa based alleged militant leader, Henry Okah and four others

THE future will have no pity for those men who possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of truth to their oppressors, have taken refuge in an attitude of passivity, of mute indifference, and sometimes of cold complicity,” so said Frantz Fanon.

NIGERIANS are no longer surprised when Profes-sor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, speaks about the possibility of the 2011 elections holding at a later date. What may still surprise some is that Jega, who arrived at the job highly recommended, is building strong alibis, in case things go awry.

EDO State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has directed the Edo State Police Command to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the killing of one person at Ora Ward in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state, during the membership registration exercise of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, recently.

MRS. Joy Emodi, who until recently represented Anambra North senatorial district in the Senate, has said that her decision to dump her former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, was not necessarily to pick the ticket of the party for next year’s election, but to be part of the success story of Governor Peter Obi.