The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, has expressed optimism that the new nine federal universities would take off in September.

THE Federal Government yesterday, inaugurated the 2011 Abuja carnival committee. Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, while inaugurating the committee, challenged the members to draw up a plan that would ensure influx of both international and local tourists into Abuja during this year’s carnival.

DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, restated the commitment of the state government to the well-being of corps members of the state origin serving outside the state.

Residents of Kano have resorted to fervent prayers for frequent rainfall owing to the intense heat that has enveloped the metropolis, due to lack of constant rainfall in the state.

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has expressed the board’s determination to reduce cases of incomplete results in its examinations.

THE Ogun State Governor-elect, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has raised a 13-member transition committee to work towards a smooth transfer of power from Governor Gbenga Daniel’s led People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on May 29.

A Lagos lawyer, Benjamin Owiadolor, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to order the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission, NCC, to revoke the licence of Airtel Nigeria Limited for allegedly operating an illegal lottery.

African Central Banks may be too slow in raising interest rates, threatening their control over inflation as economic growth on the continent recovers and fuel and food prices surge, the International Monetary Fund said.

PRESIDIENT Goodluck Jonathan is to sign the much awaited Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, into law before the expiration of the present administration in May 29, 20011.

FORMER Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Plc, Dr Erastuas Akingbola, and three other former bank executives have been arrested and detained in Lagos by the Economc and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over fresh allegations bordering on money laundering charges.

WHEN most people thought the United States had given up the chase on Osama bin Laden, reputed leader of al-Qaeda, President Barack Obama announced that US forces shot him dead on Sunday in the Bilal area of Abbottabad, about 97km north of Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.

AN octogenarian, Pa. Gilbert Everett of Koko town, Headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen, who demanded a ransom of N130 milion to set him free.

The Supreme Egbesu Assembly, SEA, in collaborations with five ethnic nationality groups yesterday warned those behind the killings in the Northern part of the country to put a stop to it or face the music forthwith.

SENATOR David Mark was, yesterday, confident of enjoying a second term as president of the Senate.
Mark’s quest was being buoyed by suggestions in Abuja that the present zoning arrangement and the Senate’s standing rules on ranking would be upheld in the forthcoming leadership contest.

Sports Minister Taoheed Adedoja says the National Stadium in Lagos, along with other dilapidated sporting facilities in the country will be renovated and re_opened for use ‘in a few weeks time’.