LAST month, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the Budget and Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, announced that the Federal Government would soon launch an Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), designed to lift the nation out of recession. The VP had repeatedly stated that recession would be over “soon” without giving a definite time line.

Barcelona have “no plan B” to Luis Enrique, whose future as manager will be decided in April, the Spanish champions’ president says.

ODUKPANI—THIRTY border communities in Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, affected by the recent crisis between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have appealed to both the Federal and Cross River State governments to provide them adequate security and ensure resettlement of dislocated communities for long-term peace in the area.

THE Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Petroleum Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru, has called on Nigerians to embrace the sales of non performing national assets that are gulping resources which are needed for more useful investments in the country.

VICE Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke, Prof. Seth Jaja, has warned that any student who cannot cope with the academic standards of the institution in terms of character and academic performance would be shown the way out.

INDEP-ENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, has closed its defence in the petition by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal challenging the declaration of Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the September 28, 2016 election without calling any witness.

THE House of Representatives, yesterday, alleged infractions in the spending of the N450 billion so far released to the Amnesty Office for the reintegration and rehabilitation of former militants in the Niger Delta.

NIGER Deltans, under the aegis of Niger Deliberators, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to seek the help of former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in finding permanent solution to the problems of the Niger Delta region.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has rolled out a new foreign exchange window to stem the tide of demand pressures which had battered the Naira in the unofficial foreign exchange market.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has advocated a permanent solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta region.

DONALD Trump ran a brilliant campaign in the last US elections. Apart from the issues around Hillary’s private email, he attacked the Clinton Foundation, accusing it of selling access to Mrs. Clinton, US Secretary of State for money. He hinted that Mrs. Clinton lacked stamina for the job of President.

National chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has applauded the developmental strides of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, especially in the area of massive road construction and other critical infrastructure, saying he is impressed with his achievements.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Father Matthew Kukah, has asked Christians to participate in politics and stop being afraid of public space and politics, just as he urged them not to see politics in its narrowest sense of political parties and candidates seeking election because they will always face political choices.

AS I landed in Abuja on February 9, from Lagos, a senior journalist on board with me wore a pensive mood as he said the following words to me: “I am pan-Nigerian but certain things shake your faith like the advertisement in today’s edition of the Daily Trust”. It was an Obituary on page 46 of the paper by 70 members of ASP COURSE 14 for the late Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya.

The British Deputy High Commission in Lagos has announced the arrival of a new Deputy High Commissioner, Laure Beaufils. Beaufils is the first female Deputy High Commissioner.