In an apparent move to hit the ground running, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu says his main thrust in the new administration is to secure the dwindling economy through import substitution and fight crime using science, technology and innovation. He said the country had suffered setbacks in terms of economic and security development due to the continued display of ignorance by the previous administrations and their sheer neglect of science and technology as the critical factor in achieving true development.

LAGOS State Government said one of the two remaining Lassa fever patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, was set for full recovery.

ABUJA — No fewer than 500 mining licences of the 1,400 issued in 2015 are to be revoked, Director General, Mining Cadestre Office, NMCO, Mohammed Amate, has said. According to him, the revocation of the licences is based on non-compliance with the provision of the 2007 mining laws of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. […]

Two persons were, yesterday killed, goods and property destroyed when the popular Kaduna Railway Station Fruits Market located in Kaduna South Local Government Area was gutted by fire.

Mali will be eyeing a place in the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) knockout stages when they clash with Zambia at the Stade Régional Nyamirambo in Kigali, Rwanda this afternoon.

THE Federal Government yesterday said that it would soon embark on the recovery of additional $750 million said to be “Abacha loot” yet pending.

GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said that the Court of Appeal judgment against him would not in any way distract him from his business of governance, saying that it has rather pushed him to do more for the people of Abia State.

GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State yesterday declared that his administration was ready to probe the financial records of the immediate past administration led Governor Martin Elechi.

It is no longer news that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has summarily sacked all the workers in 19 parastatals, agencies and departments. It is equally a fact that Governor Okorocha also stopped the salaries of those affected by the action, with effect from Monday, January 4. South-East Voice gathered that the current action of the Governor is closely linked with the recent vexatious form which the administration forced Imo workers to sign before collecting their unpaid salaries.

ABA—THE Ngwa High School, Aba, Old Boys Association, NHSOBA, has earmarked N10 million for the rehabilitation of the institution. Speaking at the combined event of the homecoming of the old boys and the golden jubilee celebration of the 1965 class in Aba, Abia State, President of NHSOBA, Chief Mike Ahamba, lamented over the dilapidated infrastructure in the school founded in 1954 and promised that the old boys would partner with the new owners— the Anglican Church— to address the challenges and re-establish a high standard of learning which the school was known for.

NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has set up a 6-man action committee on planned industrial action against Imo State government over the sack of 3000 workers, unpaid salaries and other benefits of the state workforce.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State, Mr. Matthew Edema, yesterday, presented a budget of N3.125 billion for 2016 to Warri South Legislative Arm for consideration and approval.

MOBILE phone manufacturing company, Gionee, has said that its recently released Gionee M5 is targeted at Millennials who are keen for innovation, efficiency and stylish devices. Speaking at the product launch, Marketing Director, Gionee Nigeria, Mr. Somoye Habeeb, Gionee Nigeria, said that the company is focused on delivering high quality phones that fit the lifestyle of the Nigerian middle and upper class without hurting their pockets.

LG Electronics was crowned the ‘Brand of the year 2015’ at the prestigious Red Dot Awards held in Berlin recently. The honour was bestowed on the electronics giant following its thirteen wins in Red Dot’s communication design category over the course of last year.

Running on Android 5.0 and powered by a 2000mAh non removable battery and other innovative features that excite customers, the introduction of Alcatel OneTouch Pop Star in the smart phone ecosystem has actually raised the bar.