Govt Rescues 150 Stranded Passengers in US
ABOUT 150 Lagos-bound passengers stranded in New York for several days last week have finally been airlifted through a special flight by the Federal Government.

The passengers who initially were booked to travel on World Airways flight arrived Nigeria last Thursday aboard a Ghana Airways plane.

Similarly, the chartered aircraft was used to airlift passengers due to travel to the United States from Lagos but became stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, following a sudden suspension of World Airways flight on Lagos-New York route by the U.S. Federal Airport Administration (FAA).

A Visitor Looks At Nigeria And Says...
President Olusegun Obasanjo says he is looking for tourists to come visiting. To attract them, he has made the promotion of tourism a major plank in this year's budget. The expectation is that it will create millions of new jobs and bring into the country lots of foreign exchange to the bargain.

FG Pledges Support to Kuku Foundation

Solid Minerals: FG Seeks $75m From World Bank
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance has sought a credit of $75 million from the International Development Association (IDA), an arm of the World Bank, for the development of solid minerals.

IFDC, Netherlands Launch N1.3b Agric Project in W/a
The West African sub-region has been given a total amount of N1.3 billion (7 million Euro) by the International Center For Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC) in collaboration with the Netherlands to promote agricultural development.

Senate Debates 2004 Appropriation Bill
THE Senate yesterday commenced formal debate on the 2004 appropriation bill just as it gave its determination to consider the appropriateness of the N1.50k surcharge on petroleum products.

NEPZA to Build Another Export Processing Zone in Kano
DETERMINED to boost the nation's foreign exchange base in spite of inadequate funding from the federal government, the Nigeria Exports Promotion Zones Authority (NEPZA) is to develop Nigeria's second Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Kano, with private sector funds in a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement.

Succour On the Way for the Down Trodden
P.M.News' ISIAKA MUSTAPHA in Abuja reviews the contents of a Bill which seeks to provide succour for the underprivileged in the society very soon, the plight of the underprivileged in the society will be subjected to the control and administration of a body to be unknown as "National Social Security Board," with a view to lessening the pains and nightmares confronting downtrodden Nigerians.

FG Okays S-African Airlines As Investor in New National Carrier
THE Federal Government has finally approved South African Airlines as technical investor for the proposed new national carrier to be known as the Nigeria Eagle Airlines.

Unido Unfolds a Five-Year Revival Plan for Textile Sector
UNITED Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has unfolded a five-year revival proposal that could transform the nation's textile industry into a vabrant sector of the economy.

...Explains Products Imports Prohibition
President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said the federal executive council banned the importation of some products because of the "attendant negative consequences on production and employment in the country."

FG Now Tasks States With Road Maintenance
N10m - N20m allowances for the Works Controllers soon - Ogunlewe

WITH the nation's network becoming a stigma to the administration's efforts, the Works Minister, Senator Oluseye Ogunlewe, has squared himself up to get state controllers of works in the 36 states of the federation to embark on road maintenance in their states of jurisdiction within four months or get the marching order.

Investments in Calabar Free Trade Zone Hit $100m
Private investments in export-orientated factories in the Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ) being developed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) on behalf of the Federal Government hit the $100 million mark by the end of last year, Managing Director of NEPZA, Mrs. Ify Umenyi, has disclosed.

6-3-3-4 System Stays
NIGERIA's 6-3-3-4 education system is still in force, the government has explained. The Minister of Education dispelled rumours that government had re-imposed tuition fees, saying it was still free.

NMA Set to Acquire Vessels
The Minister of Transport has directed the managing director of the National Maritime Authority (NMA), Mr. Ferdinand Agu, to work together with all interested banks to put together a structure that can be used to empower Nigerians to acquire vessels.

Speaking at the launching of MT ASHABI, an oil and gas vessel which cost $7.5 million over the weekend in Lagos, the minister specially urged NAL Bank to begin to nurture more Nigerians in the maritime sector.

Senate Appoints New Committee Chairmen
Senate President Adolphus Wabara yesterday announced the compositions of the Senate's special and standing committees in an exercise that put all 109 Senators in leadership positions as either chairmen or vice-chairmen.

NUC Initiates Policies for Self-Employment for Graduates
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has begun policies for self-employment of fresh graduates to promote the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS).

FG Withdraws N1.50k Petrol Tax
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday withdrew the controversial N1.50k special petroleum tax, saying that the levy was included in the 2004 budget proposal in error.

Kwara Begins Recruitment of Health Workers
Kwara State has commenced the recruitment of medical and other allied personnel into the state's health sector while the government has promised to clear all genuine outstanding debts owed by local government councils in the state.

...N66m Relief for Market Traders
The Rivers State government has earmarked N66 million as relief package for the victims of the Mile One market fire disaster in Port Harcourt.

Mbakwe: Abia, Imo, Ebonyi to Raise Burial Committee
As part of plans to accord a befitting burial to the deceased first civillian Governor of old Imo State, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, a joint burial committee by the governments of Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi is to be set up soon.

Group Awards Scholarlaship to Delta Students
Oganihu Anioma, a pan socio-cultural organisation of Anioma people in Delta State, has awarded scholarship to three of its indigenes studying in different universities in the country.

Benue Votes N1.244b for Education
The Benue State Governor, George Akume, said his administration committed "nearly a billion naira" to the educational sub-sector in 2003 fiscal year and hopes to spend N1.244 billion this year.

Taraba to Create More Districts, Chiefdoms
Taraba State Government will soon create additional districts and chiefdoms in the state to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots and ensure proper security for its citizens.

Ekiti Sets Up Committee to Tackle Disasters
Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has set up a special body known as Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee to tackle cases of disaster with the view of bringing immediate relief to victims

Saraki Set to Stimulate Industrial Growth
Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday in Ilorin, promised to stimulate industrial growth and survival in the state stressing: "it is our desire to encourage and support everybody who is interested in providing jobs for our people."

Kure Proposes N22.7bn Budget
Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure, has proposed a budget of N22.7 billion to the state House of Assembly for this fiscal year, a short fall of about N28 million from the preceding year.

Abia Records Drop in Road Accidents
Abia State Sector Command of the Road Safety Commission recorded a drop in road accidents in 2003 as against the previous year.

Delta Task Force Seals Station Over N80 Per Litre Petrol Price
A filling station at Abavo in Delta State has been sealed up by members of the Petroleum Monitoring Task Force in Ika South local government area of the state for allegedly selling fuel at N80 per litre despite the state government's directive that petroleum dealers should revert to the pump price of N45 with effect from Monday this week.

Chukwu Names 22 Players for Tunisia
THE long wait is over. The Nigeria Football Association yesterday released the list of 22 players that would feature at the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia. Among those chosen are: Vincent Enyeama, Celestine Babayaro, George Abbey, Isaac Okoronkwo, Joseph Yobo, Austine Jay-Jay Okocha, Garba Lawal, Ikpe Ekong, Victor Agali, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nwankwo Kanu and Pius Ikedia

Hi-Tech: Interconnectivity May Improve As MTN Opens 64 E1s to Other Operators
There are strong indications that the rumbles over interconnections between the GSM networks and their wireless counterparts may soon be over and interconnectivity improves as MTN Nigeria says it has connected additional sixty four interconnection circuits to other operators to enable a handshake of the networks.

NTI to Broadcast Programmes On Radio
The National Teachers Institute (NTI) is to commence broadcast its distance learning programmes on radio NTI the Executive Secretary, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed has disclosed.

MOBILE WEEK WITH GSM: Nigerian GSM Industry Needs $11 - $12 Billion to Become World Class, Adrian Wood - The Chief Executive Officer of MTN

Investors Eye Insurance Stocks ...urge Firms to Improve Dividend Payment
SHAREHOLDERS have advised the insurance companies to increase the dividends being declared as investors have begun to gear up to buy insurance stocks quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange which hitherto have been unattractive in the past

CBN Ranks Zenith 4th Largest, Okays STB to Clear Cheques
THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its 2002 banking supervision annual report has confirmed Zenith International Bank as the fourth largest bank in the country while equally appointing Standard Trust Bank PLC to clear cheques, thus bringing the number of settlement banks to six. According to the report, First Bank of Nigeria Plc has the largest net assets base while Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has the largest market share of capital and deposit. The report rated United Bank for Africa third and Zenith fourth in terms of market share.

Nigerian Girl Bags N80m UK Book Deal
A LIFETIME windfall has come for 18-year-old Nigerian school girl, Helen Oyeyemi, as she signed a princely N80 million (£400,000) publishing deal in London for her two novels. One of the books has a Nigerian setting. Oyeyemi, a first-year student at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, signed the deal with Bloomsbury, publishers of Harry Potter.

Association Releases Report On Mathematical Theorems
The Mathematical Association of Nigeria has released its official report on the new mathematical theorems discovered by a 300 level mathematics student of Benue State University, describing it as novel and a major breakthrough.

Gani Donates to SOS Orphanage Home
Lagos Lawyer and human tight activist Chief Gani Fewehinmi (SAN) on the New year eve, paid an unscheduled visit to the SOS village, Isolo Lagos, where he presented a cow and some of his publication to the children of the home for the New Year celebration. Beside, he also promised N20,000 monthly from the beginning of this year as part of his contribution to the welfare of the orphanage home.

Stranded Passengers: World Airways Absolves Self
The management of World Airways, an American carrier, yesterday absolved itself of complicity in the current face-off between it and Ritetime Aviation, owned by Nigerian-born Peter Obafemi.

Stranded World Airways Passengers Protest At Lagos Airport
……………hundreds of stranded U.S-bound passengers of Ritetime/World Airways went wild yesterday, threatening to burn down the airport if nothing was done to ameliorate their plight. They specifically requested the federal government to come to their rescue, as Ritetime Aviation and Travel Services, Inc. had left them in the limbo.

Education: RAD Initiative Offers New Deal for Retired Varsity Staff
New jobs in foreign universities await retired academic and administrative staff of universities from Nigeria and other developing countries, courtesy of an initiative from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

The reports were from , Daily Champion (Lagos), Vanguard (Lagos), P.M. News (Lagos), This Day (Lagos) and Daily Trust (Abuja)