It was on the eve of his sixth anniversary of his successful coup d’état on August 26, 1991 that President Ibrahim Babangida announced the creation of nine new states. Thought it was a military regime that governed with military fiat, the proclamation of the nine new states was, however, heralded by high level underhand politicking.

“I have not lost anything, Allah has simply taken back what He gave in trust”. This was the philosophical declaration of Alhaji Sunusi Bello, 55, who lost six members of his family, his wife and five children in Kano. Tragedy occurred when a 50 years old mud house he inherited from his late father at Warure quarters in the old city of Kano caved in early Sunday morning.

THERE are strong indications that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ,NNPC, Depot in Osisioma, Aba, Abia State, closed over four years ago may soon reopen and resume loading of petroleum products.

THE Lagos State Government, yesterday, promised to re-open the United Nigeria Textiles Plc, Ikorodu after workers of the company stormed Alausa to protest the continued closure.

Protesters, under the aegis of National Frontiers, who attempted to stage a protest against the suspension of President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, were yesterday stopped by security men from doing so.