Author: straightnewsng.com

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles delivered a stellar performance on Saturday evening, defeating their Ghanaian counterparts 3-1 to secure qualification for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Uyo on Saturday night. The Super Eagles B overcame Ghana’s Black Galaxies on a 3-1 aggregate after a goalless first-leg encounter in Accra last Sunday. Playing at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, the Nigerian side sealed their victory in style, scoring all three goals in the first half. The Home Eagles dominated the opening exchanges, scoring three goals within six minutes in the first half. Also read: Golden Eaglets Crush Ghana 3-1 On…

A social media commentator, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan is facing backlash over alleged disappearance of ₦180 million from the account of a Non-Governmental Organisation owned by him. Launched in October 2024, the NGO focuses on addressing Nigeria’s educational challenges, particularly in underfunded rural areas. It garnered significant support, including a notable N100 million donation from renowned music producer Don Jazzy, bringing total contributions to over N200 million. Also read: Pay Falana, son N500m fine, Delete defamatory posts, Court orders VeryDarkMan News of the missing funds sparked skepticism, with some members of the public questioning VDM’s claims and hinting…

The ‘missing’ $80 million lifeline said to be paid to Ibom Power Company Limited by the Federal Government is troubling Open Forum, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO). The president and founder of the forum, Citizen Matthew Koffi Okono, raised the concern while addressing a press briefing/end-of-the-year review activities in Uyo on Thursday, December 19. The $80 million is equivalent to N124,022,008.80. Recall that the dismissed Managing Director of the company, Engr. Meyen Etukudoh had, on September 9, 2024, during a public hearing on the Power Policy bill at the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly revealed that the Federal Government’s $80 million lifeline…

Global Gas and Refining Limited has risen against the recent completion of the $2.4 billion Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between Shell and Renaissance Consortium, despite pending cases against the oil multinational. A few days ago, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited had announced that the Minister of Petroleum Resources had granted his consent to the sale of SPDC to the group. In a press briefing in Abuja, the company stated that despite pledging to hold action during the pendency of the case, the oil giant was granted ministerial approval for the divestment of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), describing the…

By Press Release Immediate past Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Wednesday, declared that some people behave like political ‘jackals’ lurking for spoils.  Emmanuel who worshipped at United Evangelical Church (founded as Qua Iboe Church), Awa Iman in Onna Local Government Area of the state during a Christmas Service said “Some people behave like political jackals. Jackals wait until when the Leopard or other predators hunt a prey, they will then launch and chase away the Leopard to take the spoils. He made referenced the ‘political jackals’ to Genesis 15:11, which states “when the vultures came to eat the carcass…

From Agency Report Pope Francis, Wednesday, called for talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war that has claimed tens of thousands. Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago and the war has unsettled both countries infrastructurally and financially and otherwise. On 24 February, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which started in 2014. In his Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and world) address, Francis mentioned the Ukraine conflict directly and called for “the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation.’ Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica…

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, wants the federal government to develop a comprehensive work plan with clear deadlines to secure the country. In his 2024 Christmas message on Wednesday, Bishop Kukah said while some progress has been made in addressing the security challenges facing the country, more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens. “A comprehensive work plan to secure our nation, with clear deadlines, must be put in place. Insecurity is the first child of corruption. We cannot win the war against insecurity without addressing the issues of unemployment and violent…

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Akwa Ibom has called on the government to establish a 30-50 Year Long-Term Development Master Plan for the state. Citizen Matthew Koffi Okono, the Founder of Open Forum, said as inputs for the state 2026 Budget, ‘‘We want to, once again, re-emphasise our advocacy for the establishment for a 30-50 Year Long-Term Development Master Plan for the state.’’ ‘‘Advanced countries were not built on annual budgets and low-level inputs by ordinary citizens, but long term plans put together by teams of experts, coordinated centrally by a high-powered committee. The type of development Akwa Ibom State…

More than 200 staffers illegally disengaged from service companies under ExxonMobil Nigeria Unlimited, Ibeno are said to have died without collecting their due retirement benefits.  Relations of the deceased in a petition to Open Forum to intervene for them have filed more than 80 death certificates with the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) from different hospitals while others are unable to obtain such due to financial challenge. Already, SEPLAT has fully acquired ExxonMobil assets worth $800 million berth off-shore. Related post:  Seplat Energy, ExxonMobil Conclude $800m Asset Acquisition  Testifying this at the 2024 end-of-the-year press briefing organised by at Open Forum on…

By Akakan Umoh The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has called on Akwa Ibom Government to fully implement the Anti-Open Grazing Act to regulate grazing of cattle on farmlands across the state.  Making the call during the thank-you media parley organised by CHRAN in Uyo on Monday, the Director of the centre, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, said this would stem clashes between farmers and herders in the state. Isong, however, lauded the enactment of the Akwa Ibom State Anti-Open Grazing Law by Mr. Udom Emmanuel administration, detesting the partial enforcement of the law in some parts of the…