Author: straightnewsng.com

The economic impact of the violence against children in Nigeria is estimated at USD$6.1 billion. This was contained in a report launched jointly by UNICEF and the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. According to the report, the financial loss is equivalent to about 1.07 percent of the country’s GDP and is from the cumulative loss of earnings due to loss of productivity, stemming from suffering associated with different degrees of violence, over time. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs…

Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has knocked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the outcome of February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections. Okogie said elections were supposed to be veritable link to strengthen democracy, lamenting that was a far cry from such ideals. Despite his disapproval of the last election results, Okogie urged Nigerians to troop out Saturday to elect candidates of their choice. He noted that majority of the people were afraid that people might not turn out because of militarization of the entire electoral process. “Do not forget that each and every…

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria cannot afford to go back to the era of violence and mayhem, pleading with Nigerians to avoid anything that could disrupt Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections. Buhari said the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, still owed Nigerians explanation on how it expended the humongous resources that accrued to the country from oil sales between 1999 and 2014. The President, who stated this when he received the leadership of organized labour that visited him to rejoice with him on his electoral victory at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Thursday, said the country…

The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared Friday, March 8, 2019, work-free day ahead of Saturday’s Governorship/State House of Assembly elections. This is to enable public servants to travel to their respective local government areas to participate in the elections. This is even as Enugu State government has also declared Friday work-free day ahead of the March 9 elections. Akwa Ibom and Enugu States are Peoples Democratic Party, PDP strongholds which swept February 23 Presidential/National Assembly elections for their candidates. A press release dated March 7, and signed by Charles Udoh, the state Commissioner for Information and  Strategy, said “The…

As a build up to the March 9 Governorship/House of Assembly elections, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has frowned at the military personnel for alleged meddling in the country’s general elections. Addressing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP supporters during the party’s Mop-Up Campaign Rally for the upcoming elections at Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo, Emmanuel said the Armed Forces should allow the will of the people to prevail during the elections. “Please, the gun you are carrying is not for innocent citizens. The gun you are carrying is not for election’s day. Election is a critical part of democracy.…

Following the dismal performance of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State during the Presidential/National Assembly elections, some of the party’s bigwigs in the state have jumped ship, thereby depleting the numerical strenght of APC. Mr Dan Akpan, a former member of the House of Representatives, contested on February 23 election under APC, with his teeming supporters, has defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the PDP governorship mop-up rally in Uyo Township stadium. Akpan, who was defeated by Onofiok Luke, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly in the just-concluded House of Representatives, wanted to represent Etinan/Nsit…

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Wednesday night, decried what it described as the the on-going mass arrest and detention of its leaders and members in South South states of Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states by the Nigerian military ahead of the March 9, 2019 governorship and state assembly elections. The party also accused the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, of turning the South South into a war zone, in their “desperation to suppress voters, manipulate the electoral process and forcefully take over control of the states.” In a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party…

Ahead of the March 9 Governorship/House of Assembly elections, a Nigerian clergyman has expressed sadness over what he called ‘insensitivity’ of most occupants of the elective offices in the country towards the plights of the masses. In particular, the clergyman lamented that after elections, the elected are fond of closing their ears and eyes to the yearnings and sufferings of those who voted them into power. Rev. Fr. Thomas Ebong, who is the Director of Communication Department, Ikot Ekpene Diocese of Catholic Church, said “I want the incoming Akwa Ibom governor and the state law makers to listen to the…

For only the second year in a decade, both the number of billionaires and their total wealth shrank, proving that even the wealthiest are not immune to economic forces and weak stock markets. By our latest count there are 2,153 billionaires, 55 fewer than a year ago. Of those, a record 994, or 46%, are poorer (relatively speaking) than they were last year. In total, the ultra-rich are worth $8.7 trillion, down $400 billion from 2018. Altogether 11% of last year’s list members, or 247 people, dropped out of the ranks, the most since 2009 at the height of the…

Ajax’s stunning win over Real Madrid boosted their share price by almost 8.0 per cent on the Amsterdam stock exchange Wednesday, as investors too savoured the Dutch club’s Champions League success. The Amsterdam club’s shares jumped by 7.8 per cent at close after news of their 4-1 drubbing of Real, which saw the Spanish defending champions crash out of the competition on Tuesday night. Ajax’s stocks opened at 16.25 euros ($18.37) a share, up 5.8 per cent from its close on Tuesday. Shortly after opening it jumped as high as 17 euros, attributed by financial analysts to the club’s win.…