ACCESS Bank UK the wholly owned subsidiary of Access Bank has just received approval to commence operations in Hong Kong in a major breakthrough that will allow the institution to realise its dream of expanding into the Asian continent.

REGIONAL body the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has set up another committee negotiate with the military junta in Niger Republic in a further attempt to find a way to resort civilian rule to the country.

SIGNS Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike will soon officially defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) grew stronger today after 27 members of the Rivers State House of assembly loyal to him switched to the party.

Ayo Akinfe

[1] 50,000MW of electricity

[2] A total elimination of Boko Haram, Iswap and all other terrorist groups in the northeast

[3] All Fulani herdsmen will be disarmed and sent to secure ranches

[4] Charges against all political prisoners like Nnamdi Kanu, Omoyele Sowore, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and Sunday Igboho have been dropped

[5] All public officials have committed to driving cars manufactured in Nigeria by Innoson Motors

BAGS of Nigerian staple foods are to be handed out at the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK's (Canuk) end-of-year gala dinner taking place next weekend as several sponsors have donated items that will be inserted into goody bags on the night.

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Mud huts

[2] Open pit latrines

[3] Barefoot children

[4] Street beggars

[5] People wearing rags

[6] Children not attending at least primary school

[7] People living in cardboard boxes

[8] Prostitution

[9] A local government not having a general hospital

[10] Villages being cut off from the rest of the world during the rainy season

NIGERIAN-born Republic of Ireland striker Chiedozie Ogbene has admitted that he considered playing international football for the Super Eagles before eventually deciding to opt for the Irish.

Ayo Akinfe

[1] How do we get Nigeria to produce 50m tonnes of steel a year?

[2] How do we produce inter-city trains that run at 200km per hour?

[3] How do we build five deep sea ports along our 853km Atlantic coastline

[4] How do we generate about 260,000MW of electricity like say Indonesia and South Africa?

[5] How do we increase our gross domestic product to $1trn?

FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike has pleaded with critics attacking him over the construction of a new vice president's lodge to be reasonable pointing out that the project was initiated in 2010 by the Yar'Adua administration and he is just completing it.

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Road infrastructure is essential in modern economies. Economic growth and development requires mobility and accessibility

[2] In Nigeria, we erroneously tend to think that this means fancy flyovers and dual carriageways. What are most important in the country are the tarring of rural roads which link farms and villages with the local government headquarters