The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said high level corruption, inadequate infrastructure and rising unemployment, among others, in the country have been the bane of development.

THE 90-year-old mother of Rotimi Ibidapo, a former House of Representatives aspirant in OndoState, Madam Ayiwobu, has been kidnapped from her residence in Owo area of the state.

WORRIED by what it termed “unacceptable and preventable bad attitudes” on highways by Nigerian drivers, which it said endangers lives and property, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, weekend, inaugurated the South-South Zone II chapter of Federal Roads Committee on Surveillance and Action Against Roads Abuse, FERCSARA, in Benin, Edo State.

In February 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo suddenly convened what he called the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC), comprising a motley of persons handpicked by himself and the State Governors as well some members of certain ethnic groups and other associations -a completely undemocratic body with no mandate from the people or from the ethnic nationalities and civil society organisations.

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio has called for measures to protect electronic payment platform from activities of fraudsters.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA yesterday claimed victory in last Saturday’s Anambra gubernatorial election just as the major opposition political parties in the contest kicked, alleging wide scale irregularities.

The Director Gener-al of the National Sports Commission Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye has commended the Super Eagles team for qualifying for next year’s World Cup slated for Brazil.

The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, in Ogun State has warned that the free education policy of the Ibikunle Amosun‑led administration may not be realised if the state government fails to address some serious issues concerning their welfare.

Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has ordered the immediate disbursement of N500 million as compensation to owners of buildings earmarked for demolition to make way for the second flyover bridge to be constructed in the state capital at the Tombia/Etegwe axis of Yenagoa.

A former chairman of Committee of Pro-Chancellors and chairman of BiCourtney Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, has expressed shock at the tragic manner in which the former President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Festus Iyayi, who died on Tuesday in Lokoja, Kogi State, while on his way to Kano for a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the union.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and some other prominent traditional rulers in the state, week‑end, visited Governor Abiola Ajimobi to thank him for appointing their children as commissioners.

THE Customs Area Controller, West-ern Marine Command; Zakka Audu, weekend, said it had identified Kese, a coastal community in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, as the newest route for smugglers into Ogun State.

Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, has asked Nigerians to rise up and insist on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation operating transparently and in the overall interest of the nation and its people.

The three governorship candidates of PDP, APC and LP, Tony Nwoye, Chris Ngige and Ifeanyi Ubah vowed last night to reject whatever result that would be announced by INEC from Saturday and Sunday gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.

At a joint news conference addressed at 8pm at Finotel Hotel, Awka, Senator Ngige presented the official position of the three contestants on the election.

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the people of Anambra state for the peaceful and orderly conduct of last Saturday’s governorship election.