The Labour Party has dismissed as untrue allegations that the conduct of the primary election that led to the emergence of Mr. Cyril Odiboh as the party’s governorship candidate was marked by irregularities.

UDU—THE Udu Traditional Council, the apex traditional authority of the Udu people of Delta State, has called on the Federal Government to jettison the planned concession of Iron Ore Mines Company at Itakpe to Global Steel Holdings Limited, alleging that it would have adverse effect on the prospect of the Aladja Steel Complex, Ovwian-Aladja.

Long term loans (bonds) contracted by companies from Nigerians through the capital market on fixed interest rate has risen to N536.07 billion. The rise in corporate bond issuance in recent time has been attributed to the apathy of investors toward shares which prices have shrunken considerably. However there is growing concern that corporate bond yields will soon burst as the Federal Government plans to raise funds from the bond market to finance the 2016 budget.

Former President, Institute of Directors, IOD, and Vice chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, ICON Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Chike Nwanze, has called for restructuring of the 36 states of the federation into six regional governments.

Investors in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, last week lost N17 billion as bears continue to tighten grip in the market. At the close of trading session on Friday, the market capitalisation of all listed equities, which opened at N9.910 trillion fell to N9.893 trillion, represnting 0.17 per cent decline. Also, the second performance measurement indicator, the All Share Index, ASI, fell to 28,805.45 points from the opening figure of 28,854.98 points, indicating 0.17 per cent decline.

IF the news recently making the round and stories on the pages of our dailies focusing on students attired in religious apparel is something to go by, the educational system in Osun State, even other states in the South-West are heading to a precipice. Parents and guardians, indeed, Nigerians should have cause to worry now for these children who are the future leaders of tomorrow.

UYO—Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom State has lamented that due to paucity of funds occasioned by the prevailing economic regime, his administration would no longer intervene in the erosion challenges across the state even when many streets in Uyo, the state’s capital get flooded and empty into residential buildings when there is heavy rainfall.

WARRI—THE Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli I, has appealed to members of the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG to be united for the progress of the Itsekiri nation.

DOCKWORKERS at Five Star Logistics Terminal, Tincan Island Port, weekend discovered one pistol and four rounds of ammunition hidden in a Toyota saloon car being discharged from the ship, M. V. XEBRING Express with voyage no. 16SE05.

The Umuchinemere Pro-Credit Microfinance Bank (UPMFB) has said that there would be economic improvement by the end of the year with a view to achieving its targeted disbursement for 2016. Also, the bank in its financial statement for the half year ended June 2016, made a total funds disbursement of N600,860,143 to about 1,890 active poor people. In a statement, Acting Head of Credit, Mr. Charles Udeani, said that the amount disbursed in the period under review met the bank’s target, with the facilities performing above average. He disclosed that of the total amount disbursed, a total of 357 rural clients benefitted the sum of N77,639,069.

NASD OTC Plc, the over-the-counter securities exchange that facilitates secondary market transaction in unlisted securities in Nigeria, has entered into agreement with the League Management Company, LMC, to repackage Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, clubs and make them commercially viable for listing on the NASD platform. Following the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed in Lagos by both parties, football clubs that meet the listing requirements and corporate governance structure of the NASD will have their shares listed on the platform and traded by interested investors.

The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has reiterated the need for proper investment of pension funds, noting that careless deployments could wipe the gains already achieved in an instant. Chairman of PenoP, Mr. Eguarekhide Longe, who said this at the association’s 4th annual general meeting in Lagos, noted that the call to invest a greater portion of the pension funds in infrastructure require clear, calm, incisive and strategic thinking to achieve any notable success.

To boost Nigeria’s housing sector which currently suffers a deficit of about 18 million housing units, a renowned Lagos-based real estate development firm, Deluxe Residences Limited, has introduced “The Empire Estate” in Victoria Island, Lagos. The project comprises of a choice of two super luxury apartments known as The Empire Royale Apartments and The Empire Vogue Apartments. The apartments consist of 280 unit housing types. Located specifically on Water Corporation Drive, Off Ligali Ayorinde, both apartment complexes, are iconic structures that offer panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby Eko Atlantic mega project currently under development.

Providing real skills for unemployed graduates in the country will halt unemployment crisis and create more jobs, Founder/CEO, Centre for Values and Leadership (CVL) Prof. Pat Utomi has said. Utomi pointed out that it is important for the country to take advantage of its demographic dividend taking cue from China and India. Utomi said this at a Graduation Ceremony for about 100 CVL Young Entrepreneurs in Lagos, saying, “If we can take our unemployed graduates, put them together and provide them with real skills, it will be much easier for them to create more jobs because their mind has been broaden by education. This will help other people and add value to the economy and improve the quality of life of the people.

The Presidency Sunday night attributed the slow implementation of the 2016 to the crisis in the Niger Delta region, saying that the economy has been largely affected.