The Federal Government announced that it has approved a development plan for the execution of a bitumen project as part of efforts to create an avenue for the diversification of the nation’s economy in line with the transformation agenda of the present administration.

A global leader in the manufacture and supply of asphaltic and bituminous waterproofing products, Messrs IKO in collaboration with its Nigerian partner, Messrs Seven Stars Manufacturing Limited, has introduced a new shingle into the Nigerian market.

Anambra Police Command has smashed a seven-man kidnap gang at Nkpor, near Onitsha.

NIGERIA Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, has called on Small and Medium Enterprises, SMES, in Nigeria to tap into the business opportunities in the Oil and Gas sector, saying from the N888 billion provision made by the Federal Government to subsidize importation of fuel, a new set of billionaires will emerge in the country.

LAGOS-NIGERIA Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, has advised member-companies and other employers in the country, to follow due process and respect labour laws, wherever there was need to downsize or declare some workers redundant.

LAGOS — chairper son, Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Monday, condemned the lack of proper funding of the commission, insisting that NHRC remains one of the poorly funded agencies of the Federal Government.

European Union has commenced the construction of a joint border post between Nigeria and Republic of Benin at Seme, describing it as its biggest commitment towards facilitating trade in the region.

Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, members in the House of Representatives have lauded the call by Northern leaders for the restructuring of the country, saying it was a vindication of their position for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC.

The Federal Government has insisted that power generation in the country increase by about 40 per cent in the recent times, according to the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji. Nnaji disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos when he commissioned the Egbin Power Plant Gymnasium Centre, saying, “Since the Jonathan led administration can into power, power supply has increased by 40 per cent and this is a tremendous achievement on the part on the part of the president and the government to have increased power supply.”

Demand for government securities exceeded supply by 218 per cent with investors demanding for higher interest rate. Last week, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offered N149.650 billion worth of three variant of fresh securities (primary market bills).