THE war against hard drugs in the country seemed to be assuming a fever-height crescendo with the destruction of a large expanse of farm land used for the cultivation of cannabis sativa, otherwise known as India hemp. The farm lands used for the cultivation of the prohibitive plants were destroyed across the country including Ekiti and Delta states respectively between January and September this year.

To X-ray Nigeria at 50 years while searching for an alternative paradigm, what then is it about Nigeria at 50 years that warrants a search for an alternative paradigm? You certainly do not change a winning formula if you are doing well. It is only when you are doing otherwise that you run from the hospital to the herbalist, the church, the mosque, the magician and elsewhere for a winning formula or a cure. So, the questions are: Is Nigeria doing well? Has Nigeria done well? Does Nigeria have a plan to do well?

Vice Chancellors of the six Nigerian Universities which are currently benefitting from the Universities Partnering Programme (UPP) being bankrolled by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and NNPC have declared that the intervention funding of their geology departments will go a long way in empowering them to produce quality graduates of geosciences.

Last week Lagos State pensioners converged at the state Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja to receive retirement bond certificates in accordance with the implementation of the state contributory pension scheme, a fallout of Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2004.

The 2010 edition of the October Rain, an exhibition of art and design objects to celebrate Nigeria at 50 organised by the Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos in collaboration with Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) ended recently in a grand style at the Nike Art Center Lekki, Lagos writes
Japhet Alakam.

On October 8, 2010, the former Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank International Nigeria PLC, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru was sentienced to eighteen months imprison by the Federal High Court Lagos, Nigeria for committing various economic and financial crimes.

The peace plan proposal for Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, derailed yesterday following the decision of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, not to serve as the chairman of the peace panel.

As the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan reserved judgement in Osun State governorship election petition, many are wondering whether the state will also go the way of Ekiti.

The House of Representatives and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, yesterday failed to agree on the need to enact a law that would force the president to allocate a portfolio to his Ministerial nominees before facing the Senate for screening.

Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, suffered a major set back in membership with the dumping of the party by the Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district, Prof. Adego Eferakeya, and governorship aspirant, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege.

Ahead of the 2011 general elections, Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, yesterday ordered the overhaul and downsizing of Police Mobile Force, PMF, noting that it was aimed at achieving optimal professionalism and efficiency of the force.

The Nigerian Security and Civl Defence Corps, NSCDC, has expressed its readiness for the 2011 general elections, saying the votes of the electorate would count during the poll.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has charged Nigerians to give total support to widows and the needy saying “they do not need handouts but opportunities to compete in a favourable environment.”

THE Senate, Wednesday, approved the report of its Conference Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (Second Alteration) Bill 2010.

If the joint recommendation of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, gets the endorsement of the INEC headquarters, Lagos will have 400 wards soon.