Author: straightnewsng.com

Australia’s leaders agreed on Monday, December 15, to introduce stricter gun laws after the country’s worst mass shooting almost 30 years, in which a father and son opened fire on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a child. The older gunman, aged 50, was killed at the scene, taking the tally of dead to 16, while his 24-year-old son was in a critical condition in hospital, police told a press conference. The attackers fired into crowds gathered at the Sydney beach for the start of Hanukkah on Sunday, December 14, triggering panic as people fled across…

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced a Christmas bonus of ₦150,000 to every civil servant in the state for the 2025 festive season. Nwifuru made the pronouncement on Sunday during a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki. According to him, the gesture aligns with his administration’s commitment to improve the welfare of civil servants despite dwindling revenue accruing to the state in the past year. Recall that the Governor equally announced a Christmas bonus of N150,000 to every civil servant in the state for the 2024 Yuletide celebrations. For October 2025, Ebonyi State collected a total…

The Federal Government has approved three major transformative Public–Private Partnership (PPP) projects, unlocking over ₦6.43 trillion (approximately $4.29 billion) in private capital investment. Among the flagship approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is the Bakassi Deep Seaport valued at $2.27 billion, a strategic maritime infrastructure project in private investment for the Nigerian economy. The approval was part of a set of strategic PPP projects recently signed off by the ICRC, including new deep seaports and hydropower plant, together attracting about $4.29 billion in private investment commitments. Speaking on the approval, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC),…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registered 76,534 voters in Akwa Ibom during its phase one of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state which ended Wednesday. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Mr Obo Effanga, stated this in a statement in Uyo on Saturday. “During the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise between Aug. 25 and Dec. 10, we in INEC Akwa Ibom registered 76, 534 in the state,” he said. Effanga said that December 15 to December 21 had been fixed for display of preliminary voters register across the 31 Local Government Area…

A top lawyer has faulted the submission of a resignation letter to Cross River Governor Chief Bassey Otu by Bekwarra Local Government Chairman , raising fresh legal and political concerns. Mr Obono-Obla, a lawyer, stated in the Facebook post that Cross River Governor Otu is not the “appropriate authority” to receive Mrs Theresa Akwaji Ushie’s resignation. Ushie, the chairperson of the Bekwarra Local Government Council, had resigned and the letter surfaced online after her removal from office by the Cross River House of Assembly. The Assembly had announced the removal of the council Chairperson, Theresa Ushie, from her office on Wednesday, 10…

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the death sentence handed to Maryam Sanda, the daughter-in-law of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for committing culpable homicide. In a split judgment of four to one, a five-member panel of justices of the apex court restated the judicial pronouncement that ordered her death by hanging. The court resolved all the issues she raised to set aside her conviction and the sentence against her and dismissed her appeal for want of merit. In the lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, the apex court held that the prosecution established…

Two months after the suspension on democratic governance was lifted, the 16 members in Rivers House of Assembly and Governor Siminialayi Fubara appear to be reigniting old rivalry over some irreconcilable issues. But speaking on the allegation, Mr Fubara dismissed the rumoured rift and explained that contrary to the claims, he had made arrangements to have a meeting with the lawmakers “soon.” Mr Fubara spoke on Wednesday at the commissioning of the extended and dualised 28.4-kilometre Ahoada-Omoku Road, which was broadcast on TVC, a Lagos-based television station. There were rumours that the governor had been avoiding the lawmakers because of…

The South-South Governors’ Forum and the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday mourned the passing of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. The 60-year-old Ewhrudjakpo reportedly slumped around 1:30 p.m. in his office at the Government House, Yenagoa, and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was later pronounced dead. Though Bayelsa State Government is yet to issue a statement on the death, his media aide, Doubara Atasi, had earlier confirmed that the deputy governor collapsed and had been taken to a hospital outside the state, adding that “he is…

Akwa Ibom High Court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for kidnapping and maiming a retired ExxonMobil Manager from Idung Nneke in Ukanafun Local Government Area, Elder Idongesit Demas Udom, and the brutal amputation of his hand after collecting a ₦5 million ransom. The convicts are Chinatu Iwe Abraham, 38 years old from Isiala Ngwa, Abia State; William ThankGod Sunday, 30; Ubon Monday Ebebe, 30; and Saturday Jonah Udo, 43, all from Idung Nneke in Ukanafun Local Government Area. They were found guilty on all the three counts bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and wounding with intent to maim,…

A Nigerian Gospel singer, Mr. Progress Effiong has found his bag containing personal belongings he lost in a Keke motor cycle he boarded in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.  Effiong who stood with the operator on his Facebook page Thursday evening was smiling after the operator called him on his telephone number he gave after losing his bag in the unknown Keke. The operator is not richer than N150,000 after he returned the bag with more donations as the popular Gospel musician posted the operator’s account for kind-hearted people to reward him for the gesture. Inim Jnr, a Director of Dreams…