THE birth of a new born baby into a family always bring joy and celebration, but one of the uncommon news to hear from doctors after the delivery of a new child is, “there is something wrong with your baby.” Mrs. Margaret Ubong, Mrs. Faliat Hassan and Mr. Odusanya Olajide felt the same way when they were told few minutes after delivery that their babies had cleft lip and palate. “I will never forget the way my heart dropped out of my chest that moment,” said Mrs. Margaret Ubong.

Eyo is one festival that the original owners of Lagos State look forward to with eagerness. In the past, it was said to be associated with secret cults. But in recent times, it has assumed some form of syncretism by not only involving participants from diverse religious background, but more importantly, has turned out to become one of the most important socio cultural picnics and carnivals.

Leading telecommunications service provider with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa,Bharti Airtel Limited has attained a significant milestone as it acquire its 50 millionth mobile customer in Africa.

The Federal Government has entered into a partnership with banks in Nigeria to provide a N30 billion financial lifeline to boost agricultural development in the country.

The crisis rocking Lagos State University (LASU), over steep increase in tuition fees has deepened with students openly confronting government to seek reversal of the hike, while the school’s management has directed fresh students to commence payment of the new fees with immediate effect.

UYO – Kidnappings, armed robbery, murders and violent crimes in Akwa Ibom State are in the decline as the new Police Commissioner, Solomon Arase, has ordered 24-hour patrol of all vulnerable spots in the state.

Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mr. Suleiman Omar, has said Ibaka Deep Seaport would start receiving ocean liners in 2015, just as Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has issued NPA a Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, for the over 5580Sq metres of land area for the new port.

STATE Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Emerika Orji, Secretary of the party, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Onu, and publisher of a local tabloid in the state, Voice Newspapers, Chief Imo Eze, were yesterday arraigned before a magistrate’s court sitting in Abakaliki over an alleged misleading publication against the state government.

UGHELLI- FORMER Commissioner for Special Duties, Warri Water Project, in Delta State, Mr. Solomon Edojah, has blamed the failure of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the January 6 re-run and April 2011 general election in Urhobo land on the lack of unity amongst the party members.

THE Director-General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu has expressed the need for President, Goodluck Jonathan to visit Innoson Plastic Factory at Emene, Enugu State.

BENIN- ABOUT 6,000 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, will be graduating at the 19th convocation of the institution on Saturday, December 10.

COMRADE Davide Ofoeyeno is the President of Delta State Chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE. He has been in unionism for years, holding various positions, before his election to head the state chapter in October 2009.

Federal Government has gone into partnership with its British counterpart to provide community re-integration programme for ex-militants of the Niger Delta on completion of their offshore training.

The former leader of the secessionist ‘Republic of Biafra’, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, died in a London hospital over the weekend, at 78 years. As is the wont, there has been an outpouring of emotional tributes in the wake of the passing of one of the most controversial figures in Nigerian history.

ADO-EKITI- The suit instituted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose was stalled Wednesday due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile