The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has reiterated its standing as an effective regional bloc in the world, following the successful ousting of former Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh, without firing a shot or destroying a single structure.

January 17, 2017 has gone down as a dark day, not just in the history of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) but also in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, following the tragic, mistaken bombing of an Internally-Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp in Rann, headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

IT is with total disappointment that we received the news that authorities of the Umaru Yar’ Adua University (UMYU), Katsina, have outlawed “any other religious or tribal association” on its campus except the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

In the last one year, the Federal Government, through its ministries and agencies, designed and implemented several programmes aimed at rescuing the economy and the citizenry from recession. Key amongst the programmes are the Bail-Out Funding to states and the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP).

IN what appeared like a tragic iro- ny, a Nigerian Air Force Fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram insurgents, accidentally dropped its payload on an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Rann, Borno State, killing scores of civilians.

This week, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed nine deaths and 20 cases arising from fresh outbreaks of Lassa fever in seven states of the Federation. A breakdown shows that there were three deaths out of six confirmed cases in Plateau State while Nasarawa also recorded three deaths. Two persons died in Ogun State, one death was recorded in Taraba out of the six confirmed cases even as Edo, Ondo and Rivers States recorded one confirmed case each.

The recently inaugurated Senator Ken Nnamani led Committee on Electoral Reforms is about to kick start a round of public hearings in the six geo-political zones of the country where members hope to receive inputs from the general public towards reinforcing the bedrocks that define Nigeria’s Constitution and Electoral Laws in particular. These, of course, would ordinarily have been very laudable strides, but for the fact that the exercise is a journey that Nigeria had undergone several times in the past.

January 15 of every year is a date set aside to mark Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Yesterday, Nigeria observed the day as another memorial of her fallen members of the Armed Forces and War Veterans.

WITH the possible exception of Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states where the issue of pension is receiving some measure of attention, pensioners across the country have continued to lament non-payment of their entitlements by their respective state governments.

INFANT mortality remains one of Nigeria’s major health challenges. The country ranks the highest in Africa in terms of the number of neo-natal deaths and is second globally after India. Newborn deaths contribute to 32 per cent of mortality under five years.

A novelty was introduced to the nation’s drive towards self sufficiency in food production on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 when Lagos and Kebbi States launched the much-awaited LAKE Rice.The initiative is a partnership between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and his Kebbi State counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, not only to ensure food security but to showcase Nigeria’s potentials in rice production.

THE Federal Government on Friday, December 30, 2016, began the first phase disbursement of its promised N5,000 monthly stipends to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. The pilot scheme which took off in nine States across the country is being paid to one million Nigerians out of the 25 million expected beneficiaries.

In a bid to recover looted funds from alleged corrupt individuals and organisations, the Federal Government recently announced through the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun the approval of the payment of not more than five per cent to any person who exposes corruption by providing relevant information leading to the recovery of public funds.

HOW the Presidency treats the corruption scandals involving the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) David Babachir Lawal, is perhaps, the greatest test of the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader and the anti-corruption stance he has projected since he came to power in May 2015.

One of the attractions in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign was the promise to constitute the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP) if voted into power.