ABAKALIKI—A prominent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stalwart in Ebonyi State, Chief Abia Onyike, weekend, described the recent appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari, as alleged northernization policy against the South East and South West geopolitical zones of the country.

At last, the Nigerian Army has started making good its plans to screen and bring back into the service, some categories of its personnel sent home or otherwise sanctioned as a result of serious misconduct, such as desertions, acts of cowardice, insubordination and even mutiny committed at the height of the war on the Boko Haram jihadist insurgents.

Fitch Ratings has declared that Nigerian banks are operating in increasingly difficult conditions as this may result in a sharp deterioration of their profitability, asset quality, liquidity and capital ratios. Fitch in its report released weekend said “The sector outlook is negative in December. Gross Domestic Product, GDP figures for second quarter show weaker year-on-year growth of 2.4 per cent , down from 4 per cent in the previous quarter, the slowest quarterly growth rate for over 10 years.”

ASABA—POLICE in Delta State have burst a syndicate of politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who broke into the commission’s strong room in Asaba and stole original copies of 137 result sheets used for the last governorship and House of Assembly election in the state.

OWERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has set up a committee to administer the bailout fund allocated to the state with the mandate to clear all unpaid salaries and allowances of workers.