Nigeria’s inflation readings may close first half positive as research reports indicate a moderation to 15.4 per cent in the month of June 2016, down from 15.6 per cent recorded for the preceding month, May 2016.

Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 Northern states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has accused the Federal Government of marginalization of Northern Christians in its appointments.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo weekend commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State for his neutrality in the crisis in the state following recent court ruling permitting the use of female head scarf “hijab” in Osun State public schools.

LEGAL Adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Mr. Ben Odior, has described the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja that sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State from office on grounds of alleged tax receipt forgery as injustice and an invitation to anarchy.

ABUJA—The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says the point system copied from its website as criteria for admission into tertiary institutions in the country and currently circulating was a mere illustration.

Comments by the state chairman of the APC, Mr. Anslem Ojezua to the effect that the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun removed 115 names from the delegates list prior to the primiaries have sparked internal revolt.

A cross section of Deltans, have poured encomiums on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who marked his 57th birthday anniversary, weekend, describing him as a man with the interest of the ordinary man at heart.

As the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, continues with the process of hiring a new head coach for the senior national team, former Nigeria internationals, Austin Eguavoen and Mutiu Adepoju have said it is possible for the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but the team must raise their game.

TWO of Nigeria’s finest footballers of all-time, Nwankwo Kanu and Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha will team up with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Diego Maradona as they set to feature at the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Fundación Privada Samuel Eto’o on July 16.

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has expressed shock over the wicked manner some leaders looted the nation’s treasury, saying they now hide their loot in farms.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has said the role of the insurance sector in the growth and development of the economy represents the backbone of risk management systems but that performance indicators of the insurance sector in Nigeria are still below average and contributes less than 1 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“I was reading a story recently that there was SME intervention fund in CBN that was grossly underutilized. Why should that be when we have a lot of SMEs looking for funds to develop products? If we want to assist the SME, we must make sure that interest rate on their loans is not more than 5%. That is why Lagos State has used the benchmark of 3% interest rate for the SMEs …”

The skill acquisition programmes put in place by LAPO Microfinance Bank (MfB) has started yielding desired results following its impact on an SS2 student, Ms. Grace Nnana, who could not read or write prior to signing in for the programme. Specifically, Nnana, who could not even spell or identify the word ‘PUT’, is now able to do so. Other beneficiaries of the programme include about 29 other youths, who were trained in different vocations such as Tailoring, Bead Making, Textile and Design, ICT, among others.

The report by Collins Nweze which dominated the financial news on that Tuesday ended weeks or even months of rumours and speculations that one or two banks were in distress. Even the unsolicited comment by one of the rating outfits, last week, stating that Nigerian banks are sound only served to increase anxieties among stakeholders. With the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, announcement on Monday afternoon of July 4, 2016, clients of Skye Bank, at least have now had their worst fears confirmed. The ripple effects in the banking sector are immeasurable but will certainly be considerable.

Insurance operators in the country have agreed to foot N300million estimated cost of a nine months rebranding of the market that is underway. The Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari stated this while briefing the staff of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on the effort of the regulatory body as it concerns the insurance market low penetration and growth inefficiencies inhibiting the speedy progress of the market. Kari who told the Commission’s staff that the Publicity sub-committee of the insurance industry had briefed NAICOM about their plans to rebrand the insurance market expressed appreciation of the market operators to foot the cost.