The global economy in 2013 remained suspended between the poles of hope and uncertainty. While recovery gained momentum, particularly in some advanced economies, the world economy is not yet flying on all engines – and is likely to remain underpowered next year as well.

Immediate past President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Mr. Wole Adetimehin has said that Nigerians should stop using poverty as an excuse for shunning insurance.

Not one for New Year resolutions, I however decided to get fitter this year.

No fewer than 320 persons, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, were allegedly arrested, yesterday, by the Rivers State Police Command.
Vanguard gathered that they were in 20 buses when they were arrested at the boundary between Rivers and Imo states. They were allegedly coming from Jigawa State when they were apprehended.

ROTIMI AMAECHI, the governor of Rivers state is intelligent and brave. He is also charismatic, an attribute, he has used to manifest his net working skills across the country. He was, at a time, the Chairman of all Speakers of states assembly, in the country and presently, Chairman of the governors forum. These are no mean feats.

AHEAD the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo South senatorial district of the state, weekend, called on the Binis to speak with one voice in order to produce a consensus governorship candidate that will take over from Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

FOLLOWING the uproar generated by the statement credited to the Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr Ovuozourie Macaulay, to the effect that he was not aware of any agreement between the Anioma and other parts of the state for a power shift, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has ordered all his commissioners, including other political appointees, to refrain from making further comments on the matter or any other political issue relating to 2015 general elections until the appropriate time.

THE Eghare-Aja and Chairman, Ugborodo Community Council of Elders, Eghare Wellington Ojogor, Warri South-West Local Governmrnt Area of Delta State, has charged the Chairman of the reconstituted multi-billion dollar Escravos Processing Zone, EPZ, Project Committee, Mr. Austin Oboroegbeyi, to be fair and transparent, following his appointment.

The Cross River State Government has signed a pact with a United Kingdom firm, Lilleker Brothers, for the execution of a N3.726 billion World Bank Assisted Second National Urban Water Sector Reform Project for Ikom water supply scheme.

Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi and other members loyal to governor Ibikunle Amosun may likely be consumed in the feud between Amosun and national leader of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Chief Segun Osoba.

The Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Aviation, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has said that the committee will be more proactive in its oversight function in the aviation sector in 2014.

Mainstreet Bank is set to increase its lending to agriculture sector to N20 billion in 2014. Group Managing Director Mainstreet Bank, Faith Tuedor-Matthews disclosed this at the formal flag-off of the 2013/2014 Dry Season Farming Support Programme which held at the banquet Hall of the International Conference Centre Abuja.

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria has acquired a 360 degree Visual Tower Simulator for Air Traffic Controllers training. This was disclosed by the Spokesman of Aviation Parastatals, Mr Yakubu Dati, as one of the milestones recorded by the college in the outgoing year.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), at its meeting last week, retained Central Bank’s benchmark interest rate at the industrially destabilising level of 12%, to avert the threat of inflation.

Great Nigeria Insurance Plc has declared a profit after tax of N903 million in its 2012 financial year, according to the approval that was recently received from the industry regulatory authority; National Insurance Commission, NAICOM.