lagos—Despite the current economic recession, Nigeria’s future is bright, as the country diversifies its economy away from oil, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, yesterday, in Lagos.

MTN Nigeria, yesterday, denied allegations that it had illegally repatriated $13.92 billion from Nigeria saying the claim was without merit.

lagos—CATHOLIC Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has kicked against the proposal to sell some national assets in a bid to revive the economy saying such steps would be counter-product.

MAKURDI—TWO retired permanent secretaries, six accountants and cashier in Benue State have been arrested by security operatives for their alleged involvement in looting N107 billion from the state treasury during the last administration.

CHAIRMAN, Abbeycome Nursery/Primary School, a co-educational institution for primary and early learners, Mr. Olumide Osifoluke has implored education stakeholders to establish a system that would discover more talents for the benefit of the nation’s educational system the society at large.

LAGOS—Police in Lagos have arrested a woman for allegedly bathing her maid with hot water over a missing cell phone.

CALABAR—CASH meant for the Automatic Teller Machine, ATM, of an old generation bank was on Tuesday evening, snatched by robbers at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, and the staff, Moses, who went to deposit the money, shot dead.

LAGOS—The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, has arrested two suspected members of the gang that abducted four residents of Oshorun Heritage Estate, in Isheri North area of Lagos, a fortnight ago.

IN its quest to boost vocational skills among Nigerian youth, the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB, and Transtouch International Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to train students, with Lagos technical college as pioneer.

THE celebration to mark the 56th anniversary of Nigeria’s political independence from our colonial masters is imminent. Put another way, it is due in a couple of days. As is the tradition, the annual celebration is usually preceded by an inter denominational Christian service.

ABA—A man in his early 30s, identified as Michael Alozie, has been arrested by soldiers of the 144 Battalion stationed at Ngwa High School, Aba, Abia State, for allegedly conniving with a Senior Secondary 1 student to fake her kidnap and demanding ransom from her parents.

UMUAHIA—TRAGEDY struck when two persons, a man and woman, died in a brothel located on 44, Uyo Street, Umuahia metropolis, Abia State, yesterday. Six others were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, unconscious, from the hotel.

CALABAR—A 70-year-old Moses Okon of Ikot Eyo Street, Calabar, Cross River State, is now cooling his feet at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, Police Headquarters, Calabar, over the rape of his best friend’s daughter, aged nine.

The Federal Government has emphasized its determination to partner with the government of China and some Chinese investors to bridge Nigeria’s huge financing gap, especially in the area of infrastructure development.

lagos—THREE persons were feared dead after a school building located in the densely populated Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, collapsed, yesterday.