As democratic governance in Nigeria approaches its second anniversary, the activities of the media, believed worldwide to have a significant bearing on the successful prosecution of the form of government, is once again coming under scrutiny. Media Rights Agenda, working with ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, based in London, this month begins a Media Monitoring Project in Nigeria.

Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria, in cooperation with the Summit Secretariat, has begun a build-up to the African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other Infectious Diseases organised by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

A continent-wide plan for fighting AIDS in Africa will be endorsed by next week's Summit meeting on infectious diseases in Abuja, Nigeria, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) announced today.

Seventy-five women in northern Benin have vowed to give up female genital mutilation (FGM) following an awareness campaign initiated by a group of NGOs.

The Nigerian federal government is bringing an action in the Supreme Court on Monday, asking it to rule on the contentious issue of how to share oil revenues.

The president has pledged to end corruption as a way of life. The results so far have been mixed.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has accused the Federal Government of encouraging corruption in the public sector, in view of its refusal to pay workers in its employ for upwards of four months.

African American nonprofit will team up with global US teleconferencing firm to bring the 6th African African American Summit to the world via Internet Rev. Leon H. Sullivan will convene the 6th African African American Summit in Abuja, Nigeria on May 21 - 25, 2001. The 'Summit of Hope' hosted by the President Olusegun Obasanjo: Federal Republic of Nigeria will bring together ten thousand delegates from across the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean in the spirit of purpose to help forge a new Africa. In partnership with executive Conference, Inc., (ECI) a leader in providing global teleconferencing services and International Black Student Alliance, Inc. (IBSA) an international nonprofit organization, the 'Summit of Hope' will finally be bought to the world stage using the advanced technology of 'Web Streaming' donated by ECI as friends of Africa.

DATELINE HEALTH NIGERIA is a health communication initiative of the Centre for Health Policy and Strategic Studies (CHPSS), Lagos, Nigeria. Critical comments on format, quality and content are welcome.

In a statement by its Primate Peter Akinola and Secretary, Samuel Akinola, the church regarded as the second largest in Nigeria noted that public office holders brazenly display "conspicuous affluence" in contrast to the level of poverty in the country. It said: "Political office holders at federal, state and local government over-provide for themselves, a mass wealth and live in affluence out of public funds".

When Nigeria threw off military rule and restored democracy in 1999, the country's newly elected leaders immediately set their sights on eliminating the worst aspects of the old regime. They ended long lines at gasoline stations. They set about shoring up the country's crumbling infrastructure. They went to war on corruption and tried to balance the books.

The following is our petition to the National Assembly, the Attorney General and the Presidency. Please read and join us as signatories to the letter. Please forward your response to [email]ekennyk2001@yahoo.com.

At last, there is succour for the women of Enugu State against harmful traditional practices. It will now be an offense for widows and women to be compelled to observe traditional rites that are physically, psychologically and emotionally hazardous to them.