FG Approves N900m More for S/East Roads
The Minister for Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has said in Owerri that the Federal government has approved the release of an additional N900 million to facilitate ongoing rehabilitation of roads in the South-east.

Stakeholders Ask Govt to Convert Banks' N18b SMEs to Fund NCGS
STAKEHOLDERS have asked the Federal Government to instruct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to convert the accumulated over N18 billion held by banks in respect to the Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Scheme as capital base required for the proposed National Credit Guarantee Scheme (NCGS)

Nigeria Gets N43.84bn World Bank Credit for Pilot Projects
Responding to government's request for assistance to achieve a bottom-up economic growth, the World Bank has approved a N43.84 billion (32 million dollars) credit to Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the credit was for micro, small, and medium enterprises development.

FG Constitutes Team to Draft Fiscal Responsibility Law - Minister
FINANCE Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says the federal government has constituted a team to prepare a draft fiscal responsibility law.

Clinton Foundation Brokers HIV Deal
UNITED States (U.S.A.) based William J. Clinton Foundation, owned by former President Bill Clinton, is to collaborate with five leading medical technology companies to drastically reduce the price of HIV/AIDS laboratory tests for millions of people in Africa and the Caribbeans.

Banks Set Aside N20bn for SMEs
A total of N20.12 billion was set aside by 82 banks under the Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Scheme (SMIEIS) as at December 31, 2003. Out Of this amount, only N7.07 billion was invested by 47 banks.

Industrialists Express High Hopes for FDI in 2004
Nigeria industrialists are hopeful for increase in the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country in 2004. According to them, with the effort of government and that of members of the business communities in promoting trade and investment in 2003, there is hope for growth in investment inflow for this year.

Calabar Customs Generates N920m
 The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Calabar Area Command, generated a total sum of N925,315,376.67 as customs duties and other charges last year.

Kicking Out Poverty
 Honourable Hakeem Arole Fancy, representing Surulere Federal Constituency II, Lagos, kicks-off a micro-credit scheme tagged "Kick Out Poverty (KOP), ISIAKA MUSTAPHA reports uite a few people believed Honourable Hakeem Arole Fancy, when he pledged during his electioneering campaign last year that if elected into the House of Representatives to represent Surulere Federal Constituency II, Lagos State, he would work aggressively towards bringing down the high rate of poverty that seemed to be tormenting the lives of members of his constituency.

Okocha Gives Bolton Parting Goals Arrives Tunisia
 Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, gave Bolton fans a memorable farewell treat as he led the premiership side to a 5-2 defeat of Aston Villa last night in the first leg, semifinal tie of the Carling Cup.

Kogi Assembly Assures Speedy Passage of Budget 2004
The Kogi State House of Assembly has promised to ensure a speedy passage of the 2004 fiscal policy presented to it by Governor Ibrahim Idris.

Taraba Pays N152m to Contractors
The Taraba State Govern-ment has settled liabilities of N152 million owed contractors in the state since assumption of office in the present dispensation.

NIPOST to Computerize Post Offices Nationwide
The Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), said it has concluded plans for the computerization of the services of all the post offices across the country, just as it claimed that it has achieved 80 per cent success of 72-hour delivery of inter-state letters.

Nafdac Destroys Expired Drugs
THE National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed expired drugs at an Ibadan hospital. The drugs were donated to the hospital by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) but expired in the year 2000. During the destruction of the expired drugs, the zonal coordinator for the National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Mr. Felix Asemota said that the check up would be done throughout the country.

Cornelius Adebayo Inaugurates New Nitel Board
THE Minister of Communication, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, yesterday in Abuja, inaugurated the newly constituted Board of Directors of Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL), charging them to raise the present subscriber base capacity of the company from 700,000 to 2.5 million by 20007 among other things.

Obasanjo Describes Anyaoku As Perfect Gentleman
FORMER Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has been described as perfect diplomat who served the Commonwealth diligently. President Olusegun Obasanjo made the statement at the launch of a book, The Inside Story of the Modern Commonwealth, by the former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. He said his presence at the Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja where the book launch took place was in celebration of a "great Nigerian, Emeka Anyaoku", who he added was a "diplomat, orator, conciliator, mediator, negotiator, peacemaker , a parliator and a special gift of God to Nigeria, Africa, the Commonwealth and the world." Former Head of State and Guest of Honour at the occasion, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, described Emeka Anyaoku as "an international diplomat of the first order, a teacher and an adviser to many leaders".

Oil Price Now $36 Per Barrel
Crude oil prices continued on the upward swing yesterday, hitting a fresh 10-month high of $36.20 per barrel in the international market.

65 Policemen Arrested At Checkpoints
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun's anti-corruption crusade which is one of the salient points of his eight-point agenda has continued to sweep off undesirable elements within the ranks of the force nationwide.

Partnership, Key to Prosperity, Says Obasanjo
President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday night told world leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland that partnership was the key to security which ultimately opens the door to prosperity.

US Govs, Senators for Argungu Festival
Some state governors and senators from the United States of America have signified their interest to attend the forthcoming Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival scheduledhold for March this year.

Stakeholders Oppose SAA Partnership in Eagle Air
Aviation stakeholders are watching with keen interest, the unfolding events as they affect the national carrier, Nigeria Airways which is currently under liquidation.

World Bank Okays N43.84bn Credit for Nigeria
IN response to government's request for assistance to achieve a bottom-up economic growth, the World Bank has approved a N43.84 billion (32 million dollars) credit to Nigeria.

N2bn 'Wire Nigeria' Fund Intact - Ndukwe
THE N2 billion appropriated last year for the 'Wire Nigeria' project, for extension of telecommunications to the rural areas of the country, would now be put to use this year.

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