The Paralympic Committee of Nigeria in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Sports, has named 23 athletes and 6 coaches that would be representing Nigeria at the forthcoming Rio 2016 Paralympic Games holding from September 7-18, 2016 in Brazil.

Newly appointed coach of the Super Eagles Genort Rohr may begin his stint with the Super Eagles with argument as he is yet to be given the accommodation he was promised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as contained in his contract.

Investors in the nation’s stock market, last week lost N68 billion of their investment in stocks as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE market capitalisation dropped from N9.496 trillion the previous week to close last Friday at N9.428 trillion.

Confidence towards the Nigerian economy took a hit following recent reports that the nation lost its title as the largest economy in Africa to South Africa. With the current GDP at $296 billion according to Bloomberg, Nigeria has become the second largest economy in Africa after gripping the first position for two years.

The Naira entered a slippery decline against the Dollar during trading last week with prices hitting the 360 level on the parallel markets following the persistent supply shortages of the Dollar in the interbank market. This depreciation was complimented with the incessant declines in oil prices and declining production from the renewed militancy which has weighed heavily on the Nigerian economy.

It is the responsibility of government to provide employment and security for the people, among other things. However, since government cannot provide full employment for the people, what it does is to provide the enabling environment for non-state actors to bridge the gap. These non-state actors include small and medium scale enterprises, among others.

Organised Private Sector Operators, government agencies and officials of ECOWAS and development partners are pushing for full implementation of the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS’ trade liberalisation scheme to expand trade and investment in order to widen the scope of business activities in the region. This has become imperative following the economic downturn of member states and Nigeria’s bid to diversify its economy.

BENIN—A minor, who was sexually abused and admitted at the Edo State-owned Central hospital, Benin City, is allegedly missing from the hospital.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the National Caretaker Committee of the party to hold the next national convention of the party in Abuja.

YENAGOA—Ijaw youths have condemned the alleged exclusion of indigenes of Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states from recent appointments by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government.

UYO—Akwa Ibom State Government has sought the reimbursement of over N140 billion from the Federal Government expended on the construction of federal roads and other federal infrastructure in the state.

NIGER Delta Avengers, NDA, have denied reports that they had nominated Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, to head their dialogue team with the Federal Government, describing same as the lie of the century.

The latest directive, dated 23/08/2016, however seems to be a reversal of an earlier approval dated 14/09/2015, from the office of the Account General of the Federation, for CBN to exempt some Agencies from compliance with a Central Treasury Single Account with the CBN. The AGOF’s circular confirmed that the thirteen exempted agencies are “profit oriented government business entities that pay dividends to the federal government of Nigeria”; according to the Accountant General, in another circular, such companies included NNPC, PHCN, Nigeria Railway Corporation and others.

ABA—five officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Aba Unit, deployed to the Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, in Aba, Abia State for the issuance of the new Drivers License, have been whisked to Abuja over alleged fraudulent practices and their offices sealed.

ABUJA—ABIA State governorship aspirant in the December 18,2014 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election, Friday Nwosu, has alleged that the courts were giving preferential treatment to Dr Uche Ogah, his counterpart’s case, which he claimed is detrimental to his own case that was first filed before that of Ogah.