The ECOWAS Commission on Tuesday in Abuja presented 12 sets of computers to Nigeria, to further strengthen its relations with the country. Mr. Jean de Dieu Somda, Vice President of the Commission, while making the presentation, said the gesture was to foster relations and strengthen the integration process. “The presentation is meant to strengthen the cooperation between ECOWAS and Nigeria,” he said.

A new Japanese technology Ecological Diversity Synergy (EDS), has been introduced into the country to convert old palm trees to fine timber.Chief Charles Ugwuh, the Managing Director of Ebony Agro Industries, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday after a stakeholders’ meeting.

Dr Ahmadu Ali, Chairman, Board of PPPRA, said on Wednesday that the “wheel of deregulation is turning and there is no going back on the deregulation of the petroleum downstream’’

Standard Char-tered Bank PLC has recorded 13 per cent increase in profitability which rose to $5.15bn for the operating year ended December 31st 2009.

Renaissance Capitalhas said the plunge in Nigeria’s interbank rate to 2.2 per cent from 26 per cent a year ago shows lenders are recovering from the crisis in which 10 of the biggest 24 lenders failed.