The Federal Government has declared that gas alone cannot solve the country’s electricity challenges.

The business community, yesterday, threw its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposal to assume emergency powers to revamp the nation’s ailing economy.

LATEST survey report by the NOI-Polls revealed that power supply had been on consistent decline, month-on-month, in the first half of this year with highest delivery at 10.5 hours per day in January, and a six-month average of 7.4 hours per day.

KANO—It was wailing and tears, yesterday, at the Kano University of Technology, Wudil, when a two-storey building under construction collapsed, claiming no fewer than 20 lives.

Barely two weeks after releasing the report which indicted no fewer than 60 top Nigerian politicians for electoral offences, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, says it is set to take further action to penalise those found guilty.

ABEOKUTA — Joachim Iroko, who named his pet dog Buhari was, yesterday, arraigned and granted bail by an Ota Chief Magistrate (2), B. J. Ojikutu, in Ogun State, at about 10am.

IKEJA Electric Plc has debunked claims that two individuals were electrocuted after a spark from one of its electric pole, resulting from a fire incident on Shogbamu Street in the Bariga area of Lagos State.

AKURE — A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, yesterday, emerged governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The National President, Early Childhood Association of Nigeria, ECAN, Professor Ajike Osanyin has condemned the increasing spate of violence against children, describing it as most unfortunate in today’s world.

There are indications that Nigerian consumers are beginning to enjoy greater access to and convenience in multiple payment channels as financial transactions through electronic platforms rose to N30.5 trillion in the first half of 2016 (H1’16), about 75 per cent higher than N19.3 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015 (H1’15).

ABUJA—Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has emphasized the need for African nations to work together in the interest of the continent.

ABUJA—Despite the raging issue of Budget padding in the House of Representatives, indications emerged yesterday as to why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has started probe of the National Assembly accounts from 2003 till 2015.

Lagos—The speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, yesterday said the parliament has witnessed negative publicity in the cause of the rift between the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin over allegation of 2016 budget padding.

Abuja—The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Mr. Toby Lanzer, has said the organisation would probe the alleged cases of diversion of funds meant to provide humanitarian assistance to victims of terrorism and Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North East.The region is currently being ravaged by hunger and malnutrition, occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Adamawa State Government, yesterday, promised to distribute 50 tractors to farmers in the state.