WHEN on Tuesday, January 28, the fleeting peace in the Niger-Delta was shattered by some unknown gunmen, who stormed Ogbobagbene, the country home of the Minister of Niger-Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, and blew up parts of the sprawling mansion with explosives, many thought it was the handiwork of mischief makers.

Long before the advent of the Boko Haram insurgence, Yobe state, in north-east Nigeria was well known for its ethno-religious conflicts often leading to loss of lives and properties. But these have been largely been contained over the years and the activities of the religious extremists had limited consequences on the socio-economic life of the state.

FROM Brass on the Atlantic fringe to Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw to Sagbama, Ogbia to Nembe, Kaiama to Yenagoa, the campaign trains of all the major parties have traversed all the nooks and crannies of Bayelsa state.

ALTHOUGH, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has never hidden his feeling that removal of fuel subsidy was long overdue, when it eventually came, he did not hesitate to put palliatives measures in place in his State.

BRIEFING State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, who was joined by Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs said those who designed the initial project failed to take into account the difficult terrain of the region and that for the project to meet the required standard, government had to review the entire road structure.

VISA processing and issuance procedures have become a major source of capital flight as Nigeria loses N3.6 billion through a web of criminal conspiracy between officials of government, embassy staff and consular officers of some embassies on one hand; desperate intending travellers and agents, their agents and proxies, making the West African country the most lucrative consular operating centre in the world.

In continuation of the budget defence by ministries, parastatals and agencies of government, the Senate, again, on Tuesday, suspended plenary to enable the 56 standing committees concentrate and carry out a thorough scrutiny of budget estimates.

Call it a month of unusual events, one definitely would not be mistaken. Liken it to an interesting football match that is characterized with boot-kicking and back stabbing; one would not be out of place. Until a few days ago, the month of January 2012 passes for a month that parades an array of activities which again, shot the country onto local and foreign scenes.

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha like any ordinary man that has access to power would definitely have a time he will taste both the good and the sour aspect of what is attached to his political office.

BESIDES the fact that global economies are now private sector driven, the inefficiency in Nigeria’s power sector, occasioned by actions and inactions of the Federal Government and civil servants, necessitated for the ongoing reforms in the sector. But whether the reforms would bring about the needed efficiency in the generation and distribution of electricity depends on how well some contentious issues regarding the liquidation of Power Holding Company,PHCN, are resolved. CHARLES KUMOLU reports.