THE House of Representatives, yesterday commenced investigation into the activities of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, over burning and destruction of equipment seized from operators of illegal refineries.

BARELY a month to the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, fear of possible violent clash between supporters of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who is seeking re-election, and Chief Timipre Sylva, his All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, counterpart, now pervades the state.

Following the dwindling revenue allocation from the federation account to Osun State Government, the State House of Assembly yesterday held a public hearing on the Land Use Charge bill with an assurance to maintain a level playing field for professionals involved in the bill that would soon be passed to law.

The age-long conflict between the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze and their host community was yesterday resolved at a crucial meeting between both parties.

The Odua Investment Company Limited has paid a dividend of N150 million to the five owner states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

And it’s prize winning season on blogosphere as daughter of late NAFDAC hero Dora Akunyili is the 2015 winner of the tenth annual Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize.

The cordial relationship that exists between Ebonyi state House of Assembly and the Executive arm led by Governor David Umahi may have soured following the insistence of the House members that 3 commissioners of Umahi’s cabinet should appear before it over what it termed obnoxious taxation imposed on the people of the state without the approval of the House.

THE World Health Organisation, WHO, has validated Cuba as the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

Rural telephony: Meanwhile, in a unique fashion, the operator revealed exclusively to Hi-Tech, that it has made an unprecedented investment towards rural inclusion, acquiring no fewer than five satellite companies which it intended to strategically deploy to complement other infrastructure that will carry services to the rural areas.the local satellites companies according to the operators would be deployed across the country to strengthen backbone network infrastructure.

A 26-year old manager of a transport firm, Godday Haulage limited, located at Apapa area of Lagos, Tochukwu Onwuatudo, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, Fatai Owoseni, to come to his aid as his life is being threatened by the commander of a vigilante group in Maza-Maza area of the state.

“Many people have fallen victim to this ‘one chance’ taxi drivers along this expressway. We have always warned them to board cabs or buses at the motor parks, but they seem to always be in a hurry. Many of the victims have been heartbroken after they were swindled by the gang. People should be careful of the type of vehicles they board because we are now in ‘ember’ months when the swindlers and other criminals thrive.”

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has ordered the indefinite extension of the one month ban on the collection of fines for traffic offences by officials of government in the state.

Mopamuro Local Government chapter of Accord Party has adopted the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Capt Idris Wada, ahead of the November 21 guber polls in Kogi State.

Lagos—A 45-year-old businesswoman, Rabi Shado, and two others, were, yesterday, arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate’s court for alleged kidnap.

Anxiety among the 36 ministers-designate heightened, yesterday, after President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated that the nation’s economy can not support 36 ministers with portfolios.