UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Nigerian leaders to find a permanent solution to recurring violent clashes in the country.

Reacting to the Sunday's killings in Jos, Mr. Ki-moon said Nigeria's political and religious leaders should work together to address the underlying causes and to achieve a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos.

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However, Senate has condemned the recent crisis in Jos which again erupted last Sunday. Rising from a closed door session today the senate resolved that the crisis is not religious and will resist any attempt to give it any religious connotations.

The senate also urged the Federal Government to publish and implement all previous recommendations of the Jos crisis.

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In a related development, House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to reconcile the recent violent attack in Jos. Rising from an executive session, the House while commiserating with victims, also condemned the attack.

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Still on Jos crisis, Zamfara Police Command has taken necessary measures to forestall any breach of peace and order in the state in the wake of a fresh outbreak of violence in Plateau. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Longinus Ibe, said the command had drafted its mobile units and regular policemen to carry out regular patrol of every part of Zamfara state.

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Lagos Lawyer, Tokunbo Odutola, has categorized the INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu’s tenure, as non-performer. Reacting to the National Labour Congress plan to rally for the removal of INEC Chairman, Barrister Odutola said, Prof. Iwu has failed to conduct elections effectively.

He called on other civil society organizations to join the NLC in the rally.

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African Democratic Congress Presidential Candidate in the 2007 general elections, Pat Utomi has called on Nigerians to go out in support of the Save Nigeria protest billed for tomorrow.

Reacting to current political impasse of the country, Prof Utomi told correspondent, Georges Adebajo that if Nigeria must be saved, Nigerians must be on streets everyday protesting for what is right.

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Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan today sought the approval of the senate to appoint a special advisers that will assist him in carrying out his constitutional duties. In a letter to the senate which was read at plenary, the acting president said his request became necessary following the additional responsibilities which his new office has bestowed on him.

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Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan has been commended for sacking the National Security Adviser, Sarki Mukhtar over the renewed violence in Jos. Speaking in an interview with Correspondent, Ijeoma Okoye, a Socio-Critic, Monday Ubani said the recurrence crisis shows there were serious lapses on security issues in the country.

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Meanwhile, Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan re-instating of Major General Aliyu Gusau, as the new National Security Adviser, have drawn reactions from Nigerians.

A cross-section of Nigerians who spoke with correspondent, Arinola Isioye, however, said the removal of ex-NSA was a move in the right direction. They said Government should place priority on security of lives and prevent future massacre of Nigerians.

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A South African sound engineer kidnapped by gunmen in the Niger Delta region has been released. His employer, M-Net, a Television Company said Nick Greyling, who was kidnapped with two colleagues, all working for the Super-Sport satellite channel, was released late yesterday.

Talk Radio 702 reported that South African authorities in Nigeria and the Nigeria police negotiated the release of Greyling.

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China's foreign ministry has denied that the country has been spying on political refugees living in Sweden. The reaction comes after a Stockholm court jailed a Uighur refugee for 16 months for passing on information about other Uighurs to a Chinese agent.

The court said the man had infiltrated the World Uighur Congress, a political body, for exiled Uighurs.

 : : : BUSINESS : : :

Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources says it is the leading ministry in capital budget performance since the beginning of the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Minister in charge of the ministry, Sayyadi Ruma, who made the claim, said presentations by the minister of finance and BPE attested to that.

Dr. Ruma said the ministry also fashioned out various incentives to attract private sector investment to the agricultural sector.

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On the floor of the Nigerian stock market today, investors bought a total of 534.4 million shares, valued at 2.685 billion Naira, in 7, 067 deals.

Market capitalization rose to N5.586 trillion, with all share index of 23, 196.20 points.

Mobil led the gainers with N4.65k, to close at N97.65k, AP and UACN followed, picking up N2.02k and N1.50k in that order.

On the other hand, WAPCO led the losers, shedding N1.75k, NBC followed with N1.35k while Glaxo-Smith lost 80k.      

 : : : EXCHANGE RATE : : :

1 US Dollar = 153 Naira

1 British Pound = 231 Naira

1 Euro = 209 Naira

 : : : ENTERTAINMENT : : :

Rapper Lil Wayne has been sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to gun possession. The charges were linked to his arrest in 2007 when a gun was found on his tour bus.

His lawyer said the rapper expected to be held in protective custody, separated from other prisoners, at New York City's Rikers Island jail complex.

  : : : SPORTS : : :

Lars Lagerback says he is confident he can handle the media and fan pressure that accompanies the job of being Nigeria coach. Nigerian media is acknowledged as among the most unforgiving and the fans among the most demanding, but the Swede says they can bring it on

Lagerback, who was the target of similar invective in Sweden, says he comes prepared.

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English FA is looking into a security breach after a tape emerged purporting to carry discussions between England coaches and players. The recording, allegedly made at the England hotel as the squad prepared for last week's friendly with Egypt, has been offered to media outlets.

And it is unclear whether it was obtained through a bugging device or by the intercepting of phone calls.