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.