BoI grants N1.1bn facility to local manufacturers of SIM, National ID cards

The Bank of Industry (BoI) has granted N1.1 billion credit facility to local manufacturers of electronic payment cards, SIM cards, National ID card and Voters card.

Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, BoI Managing Director, disclosed this during a loan monitoring exercise carried out by the management of the bank to one of the manufacturers, Secure ID and its subsidiary, Secure Card Manufacturing Limited in Lagos.

Suicide Bomber Hits Church In Nigeria's Gombe, Wounding Eight

A suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of a church in Nigeria's northeastern city of Gombe during a New Year service, wounding eight people, an official for Nigeria's Red Cross told Reuters on Thursday.

“This morning while people were in church for the New Year worship, a suicide attacker rode on a motorcycle trying to gain entrance to the premises of the church. When he was stopped at the gates by the church guards…he blew himself up and injured eight people,” the official said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Lt.Col. suffers stroke over 14 years' unpaid entitlements

A Lieutenant Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Kingsley Iberi, is currently down with stroke and paralysis after 14 years of waiting for his entitlements which have not come.

It was learnt that 63-year-old Iberi, who hails from Igbanke, Edo State, joined the army in January 1972 as a Cadet Officer, having finished from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna State. His first place of posting was 24 Infantry Battalion in Gboko, Benue State.

China sacks assistant foreign minister over graft probe

A Chinese assistant foreign minister has been dismissed from his post and placed under investigation, Beijing said Friday, amid a much-publicised anti-corruption campaign.

Zhang Kunsheng, one of four officials with the title, was “suspected of violating discipline”, the foreign ministry said in a brief post on its website, using a phrase often employed as a euphemism for corruption.

Vote for dependable candidates, Maku tells Nigerians

Former Minister of Information Labaran Maku on Friday called on Nigerians to vote for dependable candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

He made the call on Friday in his home town, Wakama, Nasarawa, while addressing some of his supporters who paid him a visit.

Eight-month-old baby dies in Benin inferno

Residents of Ewemade Street, off Benin-Sapele road, began the new year on a tragic note following the death of an eight-month-old baby who was said to have died in a fire outbreak in a building.

The incident was said to have occurred in the upper part of the building at about 11pm on New Year’s eve, when most of the residents had gone to church to attend the crossover service.

Ebola outbreak will end in 2015 - UN's Anthony Banbury

The deadly Ebola outbreak will be ended in 2015, the outgoing head of the UN team fighting the disease has said.

Anthony Banbury said the number of Ebola cases would be brought down to zero by the close of this year, but admitted that the end was "not close".

"We are engaged in an epic battle," he said.