Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of IMF, held strategic meetings last week with President Muhammad Buhari and some key members of Parliament and the federal executive. Godwin Emefiele the CBN Governor, also joined in the consultations with the IMF boss, who quickly dispelled the trending perception that her visit was programmed to initiate discussions on an imminent IMF Loan.

The most obstinate illusions are ultimately broken by facts.” Trevor Roper, in THE LAST DAYS OF HITLER. (VAGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p100). Roper, in one of the best books on the last days of the German leader wrote about how Hitler, deceived by his field commanders set about deploying imaginary troops in order to halt the advance of the Allied Forces into his country. It was comical and historical. It demonstrates how political leaders can turn to clowns when faced with realities which are too harsh to admit.

The integration of agriculture and the informal sectors into the financial system as well as development of insurance products and channels to the market that would cater to their needs are a necessity if reasonable insurance penetration is to be achieved. Group Managing Director of Royal Exchange Plc, Mr. Chike Mokwunye who stated this, said, “With the structure of the Nigerian economy where agriculture and the informal sector are growth drivers and contribute substantially to the GDP, and the participants in these sectors constitute a larger percentage of the working population, the integration of these sectors into the financial system and the development of insurance products and channels to the market that would cater to their needs are a necessity if reasonable insurance penetration is to be achieved.”

Prospects of 2016 economy on Nigeria is currently overshadowed by negative developments in 2015 and many economists and financial analysts are projecting that 2016 may not easily shake off the impacts. An articulated review of 2015 economy and the 2016 forecast is presented here covering most key sectors by WSTC Financial Services Limited, a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and a major operator in the Nigerian financial sector.

Ekiti-Eleven (E- 11), a socio-political non-aligned group in Ekiti State, yesterday asked all indigenes of the state to join forces with it to end misrule in the state.

Stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market have lamented the lull in market activities and the huge lose recorded in the Nigeria Stock Exchange last week, where investors lost over N455 billion in the first five tradings days of the year. The huge losss according to stakeholders was due to delayed policy pronunciations and direction by the Federal Government. They however expressed optimism that the recent visit by the International Monetary Fund, IMF boss, Christine Lagarde would spur the Federal Government to quickly take actions that would enhance the economy and boost the stock market in particular.

Lagos—The Organised Private Sector, under the umbrella of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, at the weekend, commended the Federal Government for the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Ado Ekiti—The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has declared that the peace and unity of Yoruba nation would be central in his reign.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has recertified the Okpekpe international 10km road race as a bronze label event.

This followed the successful organisation of the third edition of the hugely successful road race last year in Okpekpe,near Auchi in Edo state where all required standards/criteria were met for the re-award of the label.

It has become a tradition for columnists to take stock of the year just gone in relation to expectations in the new year.

In Nigeria, I find this quite boring because we end writing and saying the same things every year in a country where sport is measured by the success or otherwise of football.

Traders from the demolished Owonifari electronic Market, Oshodi were weekend divided on whether to re-accept the Lagos State Government’s planned relocation to Oshodi Resettlement Market (former Isopakodowo market) or not. While some maintained their previous stance, others have backtracked.

Kelechi Iheanacho is celebrating his FA Cup goal during Manchester City’s 3 – 0 triumph over Norwich City in the third round. Sergio Aguero was instrumental in the fifth goal Iheanacho scored in a City shirt in all competitions this season, setting him up just after the half – hour mark , as the visitors gave themselves a two – goal advantage.

LAST week was quite eventful for Nigeria and the challenged economy. The Manging Director of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Ms Christine Lagarde, held extensive meetings with the nation’s political and economy elite. Amongst them were the Governor and executives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Budget and Planning Minister, Mr. Udo Udoma, the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly as well as chief executives of commercial banks in the country.

The home-based Super Eagles have set their sights on winning their first African Nations Championship, kicking off this weekend in Rwanda. Nigeria will play in Group C with Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea. Their opening game will be on Monday, January 18, against Niger in Kigali.

In a move to bring to an end the struggle for who is the legitimate occupant of the seat of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, the Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung in a surprise move after denying backing the move of Chris Giwa to reclaim his alleged mandate as head of the NFF, has scheduled a peace meeting for January 20, 2016.