PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said that if the country must achieve its set goal of becoming one of the top twenty largest economies of the world, Nigeria must embrace manufacturing and the non-oil sector, just as he said that the country must develop the non-oil sector with resources from oil.

No rational person will decry communal debt accumulation if the proceeds were directly applied to the alleviation of critical areas of deprivation, such that the repayment terms and cost of servicing the loan pale into insignificance when compared with the social and welfare benefits which will be enjoyed by the community over time.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has restrained the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, from retaining the services of Sidmach Technologies Limited and Electronic Test Company Limited for the registration of candidates for the 2011 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

THERE seems to be a major crack in the Governors’ Forum, as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and his Kano State counterpart, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, weekend, described as unacceptable, the purported election of Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State as the new chairman of the forum by few Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP

The essence of regulation is not to parade government institutions as lords at whose mercies businesses exist or not, but to create a fair environment for businesses to thrive and contribute to national economic growth. This is the legitimate platform on which democratic governments are established.

The day is Friday, November 29. Time now is 4pm. I am sitting in my room in Dundee’s Hotel in Lubumbashi, Congo DR. As member of the CAF delegation to the final of the CAF Orange Champion’s League, Africa’s premier club competition.

‘’Our politricians oh, sorry, politicians are at it again!” exclaimed Austin. “The 2011 elections are round the corner and our do-or-die politicians are working round the clock to make sure they win by all means, legal and illegal,” he said, reacting to the news about the 13 containers bearing arms seized at the ports.

MUCH criticism has attended the performance of the electoral tribunals throughout the country. The anger of those who lose is well noted, especially when they have to contend with wasted resources and their lost expectations pinned on cases, which sometimes look good enough for judges to grant them favourable verdicts.

RECENT developments have once again reaffirmed the imperative by government to provide adequate security for the Nigerian citizenry. Curiously, whereas the Nigeria Police Force which primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of the teeming populace has continuously complained of inadequate logistics and wherewithal to effectively fight crimes, the largest and most sophisticated weapons are in the hands of the enemies of the state.

RETIRED policewoman and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Hajiya Farida Waziri, seems very confused but desperate for applause. How else would you view the recent publication of about 40 names of politicians currently being investigated and tried by the Commission, which were forwarded to the political parties to ensure they do not stand for election in 2011?

Lagos State Government has issued over N1 billion retirement bond certificates to over 100 statutorily retired employees, making it the first state in Nigeria to implement the new Pension Reform Act.

The Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Sokoto State has debunked the claims by the former Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa that he left it for the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, with all his supporters, stating that the DPP in the state was intact and remained resolute.

The Federal Government is fully committed to the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians, in partnership with private investors.

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, weekend, challenged the present administration in the state to probe the immediate past administration of Dr Olusegun Agagu.

Mass exodus out of the stock market due to fear is an absolute disregard for a long term investment plan that is driven by fundamentals. The shock caused by irrational exuberance and fear are volatilities inherent in markets.