With states like Ekiti (E), Lagos (L), Ogun (O), Ondo (O), Osun (O) and Oyo (O), the six South-West states can also be described as ELOOOO states. The word elo in Yoruba, the indigenous language of South-westerners, means how much.

LAGOS—Lagos State Government yesterday said N101 billion (20.6 per cent) of the N489 billion budget approved by the State House of Assembly would be spent on wages and pension benefits of civil servants in the state.

Mary Adufe is a fast rising actress in the Yoruba movie industry. She studied communication and language at the Obafemi Awolowo university, Ife and later worked as a journalist for a while. She resigned to become secretary to popular Yoruba actor Yinka Quadri . She has featured in so many soap operas and Nollywood movies like Ona Abayo, Effisy po, Ifokantan, Nitori Aye and many more. In this interview with Aderonke Adeyeri, she talks about her passion for acting and other interesting things. Excerpts.

Hate them or like them. They are among the very few popular faces that adorn our TV screens you cannot help but admire unconditionally. From Pete Edochie to Olu Jacobs and Mike Ezuruonye, we bring to you some of the rare actors have become household names in the country and beyond.

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State is on the verge of becoming an empty house following the rift arising from its recent primaries on account of the emergence of some candidates believed to be loyal to Prince Buruji Kashamu.

THE International Monetary Fund, IMF, has faulted a report that blamed its policies for the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, flagged off his campaign for re-election with a declaration that his generation has failed Nigeria.

While addressing youths at the campaign ground, the President told them to work for the future of Nigeria, through hard work and dedication, adding that the youths are the ones to take the country to the moon.

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: “ALLAH has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another.” Abu-Dawood.

ABUJA — The preferred bidder for Nigeria Telecommunications Plc, NITEL and its arm, the Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication, Mtel, NATCOM Consortium, has paid $75,756,300 (about N12, 727,058,400), being 30 per cent of the $252.521 million bid price for the acquisition of the assets and business units of the two enterprises.

“We need to take firmer actions against countries that are selling death to Nigerians. We must take stricter actions. It is a self-intervention activity.”—SON

Sapele—No fewer than 300 motor mechanics, operating under the banner of Nigeria Auto Technical Association, Sapele Branch, Delta State, yesterday held a peaceful protest on major streets in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of the state.

THE usual fine boy mien was dropped last Wednesday as President Goodluck Jonathan hosted a delegation of northern elders led by the elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi. The trouble with the president flowed from the innuendoes poured on him earlier in the week by President Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

The yearly event saw the widows each return home with six yards of beautiful African prints (ankara), monetary gifts and food items.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that it will increase the compliance level of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code by as much as 90 percent before the end of the year.

According to recent studies, the average user gets a new phone about every 18 months and then ends up retiring the old one. While the emphasis is mostly on the new device, little attention is paid to what happens to the old one.