THE insurance industry in the first half, H’1, of 2018 witnessed marginal decline in profit occasioned by declining purchasing power of Nigerians coupled with increasing cost of living and cost of doing business. Analysts who spoke to Financial Vanguard said that as cost of doing business continues to mount, topline tends not to be growing at the same rate, putting pressure on the bottom-line.

Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk has assured investors in the Capital Market that there is nothing to fear on the performance of the stock market as the 2019 election approaches. 

ASABA—The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE,  has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow votes to count in 2019, noting that vote-buying is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Ilorin—The Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kwara State Council, has threatened to withdraw coverage of political parties in the state if attacks and assaults on its members by supporters of political parties and suspected thugs continue unabated.

YENAGOA—No fewer than 10 communities ravaged by flood in Gbarain Clan and Okutukutu in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have said they were neglected by all tiers of government.

BENIN-CITY—KINSMEN of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbenedion with the name Okada Youths Vanguard yesterday said they would vote against the current member representing them in the House of Representatives, Omosede Igbinedion and for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dennis Idahosa in next year’s general elections.

THE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has expressed concern for corporate governance and tax reforms that affects quoted entities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE.

Former President, Dr.  Goodluck Jonathan, has appealed to the leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  in the South East zone to support the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his choice of  Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate, to ensure victory for PDP in next year’s general elections.

Stakeholders in the educational and business sectors in Lagos have called on government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, so as to alleviate the plight of commuters.

Minna—A 23-year-old man, Adamu Mohammed, arrested by policemen in Niger State for sodomising teenagers he lured with biscuits, said he got involved in the act after his girlfriend left him.

One of China’s biggest smartphone makers has never sold a handset in the country. Yet thousands of miles away, it dominates markets across Africa. Unknown in the West, Transsion has left global players like  Samsung and Apple  trailing in its wake  in a continent that’s home to more than a billion people.

The Super Eagles will fly out today to Tunisia, for the reverse fixture of the 2019 AFCON double header against The Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

Benin Unity Coalition, BUC, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently approve the inclusion of Benin youths in the ongoing scholarships and skills acquisitions programmes initiated by a foremost Benin group,  Benin National Congress ,BNC.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has partially lifted the suspension on some certificates of the International Aviation College, Ilorin, Approved Training Organisation,  ATO.

FIDELITY Bank Plc has  unveiled a novel account opening initiative, as well as launched a new savings promotion campaign aimed at rewarding new and existing customers of the bank. The new account opening initiative, the first of its kind in the Nigerian banking industry, enables members of the public to open online savings accounts through a Quick Response (QR) code which can be scanned from any of the promotional materials such as roll up banners, fliers, posters and newspaper adverts.