Dangote Cement Plc, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, has disclosed plan to commence mining its own coal at Ankpa, Kogi State by fourth quarter of the year. The company also said that due to acute gas shortages in the country following disruptions occasioned by militancy in the Niger Delta region, it has switched its plant lines to coal to minimize cost and increase margin.

To complement Lagos state government in its efforts at infrastructure provision, the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, Solid Rock Parish, Ojodu, Lagos has built and equipped a 12-classroom block as donation to Ojodu Primary School.

I must put on record that many government functionaries, including governors, ministers and heads of Agencies and Parastatals do visit the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE . Recently, the NSE hosted the Speaker of House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara who addressed the stockbrokers and closed the market by ringing the closing gong like other important visitors. Also, recall that the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo had also appeared on the trading floor.

Minister of Communi- cations Technology, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, says the Nigerian Postal Service has the capacity to generate N1 trillion annually into federal government purse.

These are challenging and stormy times for the Nigerian economy. For the first time in a decade, an economy that used to record growth rate of 7.0 per cent is now in recession. It recorded negative growth rates in the first and second quarters of this year, courtesy decline in crude oil price as well as fiscal and monetary policy that aggravated the severe impact of the decline from oil revenue on businesses and individuals.