ASABA—DELTA State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, went on a two-week leave break recently, but not many Deltans knew that he actually went on leave because they did not sense the void due largely to the bond between him and his deputy, Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, a legal practitioner, who functioned as the Acting Governor, while he was away.

ABUJA — State chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have pledged unflinching loyalty to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee and renounced one of their own, who pledged loyalty to the former national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Youth and Sports Development Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has vowed to discipline the U-23 national football team coach, Samson Siasia and every other team official who took to the media to vent his or her frustration with regards to perceived poor preparation for the Rio Olympic Games which begins on Friday.

As part of its unwavering commitment towards the advancement of the economy, Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has formally inaugurated the Zero2Export project.

Embattled former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, yesterday, submitted a petition to the chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and allied matters Commission, ICPC, calling for the investigation of the speaker and three other principal officers for alleged illegal padding of the 2016 budget.

The Federal Government, yesterday, spoke of plans to sponsor death penalty bill against vandals and others who attack critical national assets.

THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG described as one the fastest growing churches in the world with presence in 190 countries of the world, on Sunday, announced the promotion of some of its senior ministers to cope with the challenges of growth.

lagos—Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the Nigerian economy was lagging behind because it failed to pay sufficient attention to science and technology.

lagos—as gridlock resulting from the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway becomes unbearable, the Federal Government has appealed to motorists to bear with her and the contractors, even as it stressed the need for patience, orderliness and the cooperation throughout the duration of the project.

UYO—A 30-year-old chief priest, Mr. Eno Akpan, who slashed his two-year-old daughter in two, weekend, said he had no intention of killing the baby, but that the mother threw the child in the direction of his machete.

ABUJA— The Federal Government has appointed 17 new chief executive officers to oversee various parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education. A statement by Deputy Director (Press) of the ministry, Mr. Benjamin Bem Goong, in Abuja, yesterday, indicated that the appointments took effect from, yesterday.

lagos—The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Mainland, Most Rev. Adebayo Akinde, yesterday, advised the Federal Government to invest proceeds from black gold (petroleum products) as a means of economic survival.

THE Acting Coordinator of the Lagos State zone, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Mrs Awala Ebijuwa, has enjoined newly accredited health care providers in the state to rise up to the challenges of increased health care needs of Lagosians.

The Lagos State Team Leader of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI, Dr. Omasanjuwa Edun has said that family planning is designed to help the family have quality life contrary to speculations that it was instituted to discourage procreation.

lagos—The Federal Government yesterday said that over 22.6 million Nigerians were currently living with Hepatitis, with about 30 percent unaware of their status and not taking appropriate measures.