The Nigerian economy lost over $100bn in its 50 years of commercial oil production by allowing its crude to be carried exclusively by foreign owned tankers, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Ernest Nwapa has said.

The process of digitising all records has commenced in the Federal Civil Service with the implementation of an Electronic Document Management System, EMDS, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday, picked the ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC, to contest the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

Sapele— The 19 Battalion, Nigeria Army, Koko Barracks, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, has denied allegation by the family of a 32- year-old boat driver in Sapele, Babatie Gbaminidop, whose corpse was found afloat River Ethiope, Sapele, a week ago, that the deceased was shot by soldiers of the battalion during a raid on Obotie water side front to rid the area of illegal petroleum dealers.

*Asks Suntai to seek further medical attention
*Suntai warns Tukur to stay out of Taraba politics
JALINGO—Convinced that the ailing governor of the state, Danbaba Suntai, cannot give his best given his current medical state, members of the Taraba House of Assembly Monday mandated the Deputy Governor, Garba Umar, who has been acting in the past ten months, to continue.

* It will scare away potential investors —Experts
* Govt gets plaudits from road users…
“Good afternoon; thanks for your enquiry. LCC has no comment at this time. Should we consider it necessary, we will issue a public statement in due course. Regards”. That was how Mr. Charles Imevbore, who heads the Communications and Commercial department of Lekki Concession Company, LCC, responded through a text message, to our enquiry on why the 30-year concession the company had with the Lagos State Government to upgrade, expand and maintain the 49.63 kilometer Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway, was terminated.

DELTA State Government has said that it was satisfied with the transparent manner various local government areas in the state managed the N1.6 billion released to them for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, at the grassroots.

GOVERNORS Olusegun Mimiko and Ibikunle Amosun, of Ondo and Ogun States, respectively, have described the death of ace photographer, Peter Obe, as a big blow to photo journalism.

ABAKALIKI—The police has arraigned a councillorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the September 28 local government election in Ebonyi State, Mr Odeh Mmaduabuchi, before an Abakaliki magistrate court for certificate forgery and impersonation.

BENIN—Victims of the recent eviction in Evbovbioba, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, have instituted a N300 million suit against one Lucky Enbabor, for forcing them out of their homes.

Mr. Atedo Peterside has been a banker all his life; although now a retired banker of repute, but still the Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. However, in this interview, the focus is not on the financial services sector, but his headship of the Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP. The Council just concluded the largest privatisation transaction in Nigeria’s history with the sale of 15 power companies unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to private investors. Despite this success, there are still some issues leading to when Nigerians will begin to experience uninterrupted power, which Peterside clarifies. Excerpts:

The Federal Government has promised to work with stakeholders in the oil palm value chain to grow the sub-sector in line with its Industrial Revolution Plan. Mr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, made the promise at a meeting with the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria in Abuja.

To boost outcomes of health research in Nigeria and other African countries, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, has trained 20 researchers from Nigeria and six African countries.

Up till the last minute of the APC convention Monday, Senator Chris Ngige was still arms in battle with the only remaining contender for the party’s ticket, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen has called for the amendment of the Company and Allied Matters Act to allow companies to contribute 3–5 per cent of their pre-tax income into an Infrastructure Development Fund, IDF.