LAGOS— EMINENT Nigerians, yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently provide the right response to the current hardship across the country, lamenting that his ministers had performed below expectation.

ABUJA—Stakeholders in the electoral process in the country have said that blackmail and intimidation of electoral officers by political actors were capable of derailing the gains made in Nigeria’s quest for a free, fair and credible election process.

South Africa’s economy has regained the position of Africa’s largest in dollar terms more than two years after losing it to Nigeria as the value of the nations’ currencies moved in opposite directions. Based on gross domestic product at the end of 2015 published by the International Monetary Fund, the size of South Africa’s economy is $301 billion at the rand’s current exchange rate, while Nigeria’s GDP is $296 billion. That’s after the rand gained more than 16 percent against the dollar since the start of 2016, and Nigeria’s naira lost more than a third of its value after the central bank removed a currency peg in June.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC yesterday disclosed that it has extended the recapitalisation deadline for Capital Market Operators (CMOs) and as well as the free registration of e- Dividend Mandate Management System (e-DMMS) exercise for investors to December 31st, 2016.

ABUJA—Even with the unprecedented hunger hitting Nigerians below the belt, the Federal Government, yesterday, insisted that the country must keep up with the rest of the world in digital broadcasting.

No fewer than 15 prison inmates serving different jail terms Tuesday night, allegedly escaped from Nsukka Prisons, in Enugu State scaling through the perimeter fence of the prison under the cover of darkness.

Ongoing combined military and police action against pipeline vandals in the creeks of Arepo, Ogun State and parts of Ikorodu in Lagos State is another demonstration of the Federal Government’s determination to crack down on criminals wherever they congregate.

ANGRY workers of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Enugu over the alleged anti-labour policies and insensitivity to staff welfare by management of the company.

MEMBERS of the Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday put the state Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, Market and Wealth Creation, Mrs. Uzoamaka Ilobi on what could best be described as a hot seat on the floor of the house for allegedly insulting the state legislature.

Angry reactions have started trailing what Imolites describe as “anti-people policies by the state government.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the reduction of tobacco use among citizens, particularly exposure of underage children to smoking.

FIVE lecturers of Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, have been recommended for sack by a disciplinary committee of the institution set up to investigate various offences, including sexual harassment of female students and financial extortion for marks.

Air Peace has alerted members of the public about the activities of fraudsters using its name to swindle unsuspecting air travellers and job-seekers.

BENIN—Acting Chairman of Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Emmanuel Usoh, yesterday, lamented that out of a taxable population of 2.4 million persons in the state, only 171,000 pay taxes.

THE first phase of the modified concession agreement between the Federal Government and Global Steel Holdings has commenced with the movement of geological experts and engineering staff of the National Iron Ore Mining Company, NIOMCO, Itapke, to site.