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         · As Minister chairs the 20th Monthly Meeting of Power Sector Operators in Owerri · Says initiatives, including outsourcing of meter supply, licensing of eligible customers, and others are aimed at improving service to Nigerians. · Reports recovery of 100MW from the damaged Afam IV Power Plant, energizing of Jebba-Kainji 2nd 330KV line and the 2nd Ajaokuta-Abuja 330KV line by TCN, others. · Gives kudos to Judiciary for various interventions and support toward development of Sector.             The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has allayed the fears of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) over the promotion of the deployment of more solar power through mini-grids and other Federal Government initiatives aimed at improving service in the Power Sector. Fashola, who spoke while presiding at the 20th Monthly Meeting of Power Sector Operators in Owerri, Imo State, said that the Sector had made noteworthy progress since the 19th Mee

      Yesterday  is World Mental Health Day. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry hosted two events to celebrate the fantastic contributions of professionals and individuals from across the country who have helped change the way mental health is treated and talked about. The first, at St James’s Palace, was a reception for everyone who has supported the Heads Together campaign since it launched in 2016. The campaign set out to give people the confidence to start a conversa tion on mental health, and get help when they need it. Tonight, Their Royal Highnesses were at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the contribution of those working in the mental health sector across the UK. The event recognised the progress, hard work and dedication of those determined to raise awareness of mental health issues over many years. It also provided an opportunity for The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry to thank those from the sector for the support they provide to so many going through diffi

      The Lagos State Government has been urged to intensify its effort in rehabilitating rural roads in Apapa Constituency 2 and increase the slots for women in both elective and appointive positions in the state. These demands were made by participants at a Stakeholders meeting organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly and which held at the secretariat of the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area on Friday 6,  October, 2017.The stakeholders meeting is the third in the series being simultaneously organised annually in all the 40 constituencies in the state by the state assembly, and this year's theme is; "True Representation and Participation."A participant, Mrs Fausat Ojora, from Ward G, said that there is need for the state government to increase the number of women in both elective and appointive positions, saying that the women constitute over 65% of voters during elections in state.Ojora argued that increasing the number of women in elective and appoint

       Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, ordered the final forfeiture of a total of 56 houses belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government. The properties valued at about $21,982,224 are located in Lagos and Port Harcourt, River State. The order followed an exparte application filed by the EFCC. The EFCC, in an affidavit in support of the application, stated that Alison-Madueke, who is currently in the United Kingdom where she is also being investigated for money laundering, had acquired the houses between 2011 and 2013 with proceeds of crime.

        As part of activities marking his third year in office, Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has given jobs to 51 physically challenged persons in the state. He also directed that additional 100 persons from among them be enlisted in the state's social security scheme. Among those given jobs is a university graduate. He gave the directives in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday evening while meeting with the group. This is just a graduate, Mr Gboyega Afolabi, has been offered automatic employment at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. A statement by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted the governor as directing the Vice Chancellor of EKSU to give Afolabi the job. Afolabi is about concluding his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps Scheme in the institution. While reacting to the development, Afolabi described the governor as God sent to Ekiti. "He is a peculiar person and kind hearted. He loves the people a

        The Lagos State Government has announced plans to construct multilayer car parks in strategic locations across the State as part of the traffic management and transport sector reforms aimed at ensuring seamless connectivity within the State. Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Ade Akinsanya, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the multilayer car parks would be constructed across the State within the next 12 months. While stating that the State Government was open to partnership with interested investors willing to collaborate with government on the project, Akinsanya said the move to construct the multilayer car parks was a prelude to the enactment of revised Parking Authority Law, all in a bid to rid the State of indiscriminate parking on the roads which in turn contribute in no small measure to traffic gridlock. He said: “The Lagos State Government is desirous to have multilayer car parks across the State in the next 12 mo

        (Reuters) - The United States will be absent from the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986 next year after a humiliating 2-1 defeat at the hands of Trinidad & Tobago in Couva on Tuesday. Despite an inconsistent qualifying campaign, the Americans entered the Ato Boldon Stadium needing only a win of any sort over the bottom team in the CONCACAF final qualifying group to punch their ticket to Russia. But two first-half goals - an Omar Gonzalez own goal in the 17th minute and an Alvin Jones effort 20 minutes later - proved too much for the Americans to overcome despite Christian Pulisic’s strike after the break. Instead, Panama qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time with their 2-1 victory over Costa Rica, while Honduras beat Mexico 3-2 to pip the United States to a playoff place against Australia. “Clearly very disappointing,” U.S. coach Bruce Arena told reporters. ”We had everything there for us today. There are no excuses for us not getting the secon

     Nollywood Actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde post this photo above on her social media 2 hours ago with the caption '' On today's girl child day I'll do an unusual post true to me. As a child I lost my father age 12. Sponsored by a great community of Ondo men, the  # Ekimogun  club, so i continue my education. At age 15, started struggling to help my widowed mother. I started working in the Entertainment Industry. While going to school, and working, faced many challenges as a female child... talks of being loose, perhaps being a prostitute,lack of freedom to mingle like male counterparts, rum ours and fear of slander, sexual harassments... but one of my early dreams was to be great at whatever I chose and be side by side the best in the World. I'm Not totally there yet, ... but.. That 12 years old iyanaipaja little girl did take care of her widowed mum till she died, took care of her younger brothers... they are in marriage stages now, taking care of herself and h

     1. The Nigerian Army is set to flag off Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II on Friday, 13th October 2017. The Exercise, set to span across 3 Divisions of the Nigerian Army (2, 6 and 81 Divisions), is in line with the 2017 Training Directives which aims at training troops in the conduct of Internal Security Operations in aid of Civil Authorities across the various formations’ areas of responsibilities, based on Constitutional provisions. 2. It will be recalled that last year, between November and December 2016, Exercise CROCODILE SMILE I was conducted within the Niger Delta States to curtail prevailing security challenges then. These challenges include illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and militancy amongst others. Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II is specifically designed to further the gains and consolidate on the successes of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE I. Additionally, with the operationalization of 6 Division Nigerian Army, earlier in the year, the need to exercise troops

     The Kwara State government has said it will commit 70% of its 2018 budget to capital expenditure. The Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Media and Communication, Dr Muideen Akorede made this known on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the stakeholders’ workshop on the state's budgetary process. He said Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed explained that the decision of the government to spend more on capital project was to ensure that all ongoing projects across the State are brought to completion for the benefit of the people. According to him, Governor Ahmed noted that in order to spend more on capital projects, government has to sustain reduced recurrent expenditure and ensure cost cutting in governance. He further noted that Governor Ahmed assured Kwarans that all the ongoing capital projects would be completed before expiration of his administration. The meeting, which had in attendance members of the State House of