Jos — The Federal Government has approved N400 million for the rehabilitation of some barracks across the country in the 2009 budget. Chairman, Presidential Committee on Barracks Rehabilitation (PCBR), Alhaji Sani Gidado, disclosed this while on an inspection of Maxwell Khobe Barracks, 3 Armoured Division, Jos yesterday. Gidado said the committee had some money from […]

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor LAGOS — THE Central Bank (CBN) on Friday instructed banks in the country to limit loans to the public sector to 10 per cent of their overall credit portfolios, an apparent effort to divert more funds to the private sector. In a circular to banks, the  CBN said where the […]

By Emma Arubi WARRI—Ijaw militants in the creeks weekend hijacked a speedboat conveying about twenty Itsekiri passengers from Escravos to Warri. The incident which took place around the Burutu river is said to be causing ripples between both ethnic groups that have been enjoying cordial relationship since the end of the seven years Warri crisis […]

By Henry Umoru …tasks N-Delta indigenes on vigilance ABUJA—THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor yesterday urged other militant groups that were yet to announce a ceasefire to lay down their arms and reciprocate the gesture of the Federal government.

By Peter Duru MAKURDI — Youths in Benue State have protested the intended ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed gin popularly called ogogoro in the state, describing the action as unnecessary and unpopular. The youths who initially registered their protested during the public hearing of the Benue State House of Assembly Committee […]

By Patience Ogbodo BAUCHI — THE  Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Muhammad Garba Gadi, who is currently facing impeachment threat for his refusal to decamp with Governor Isa Yuguda to PDP, has said it will be dishonourable for him to resign at this point of his travails. Gadi stated this while addressing a press conference in […]

By Samuel Oyadongha Asaba—A Police Constable attached to the Delta State police command has been arrested alongside one other person for allegedly breaking into a pastor’s private residence at Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state. Vanguard gathered that incident took place at about 11am last Saturday while the pastor was away […]

By Samuel Oyadongha & By Emma Amaize Yenagoa—The rank of militant commanders who have agreed to drop their arms in agreement to President Umaru Yar’Adua’s amnesty has continued to swell in Bayelsa State with Gen Ogunboss, a commander from the Niger Delta Vigilante Force in the upper senate of MEND joining the fray of militants […]

By Festus Ahon UGHELLI—A frontline member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Chief Peter Eboh, has frowned at the hostilities between the military and armed youths of the Niger Delta and appealed to the military and the youths to sheathe their swords. Eboh, who was fielding questions from newsmen in Ughelli, […]

By George Onah Port Harcourt—No fewer than 86 drug barons and traffickers of cocaine, heroin and Indian hemp in Rivers State have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms while many other suspects of drug-related offences are currently standing trial at the Federal High Court in the state. On the whole, 266 suspects were arrested […]