Author: straightnewsng.com

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it has uncovered plans by some politicians to deploy food vendors in and around polling units for purposes of vote buying. Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the revelation Monday in Abuja when he received in audience the European Union Chief Observer, Mrs Maria Arena. In what, however, appeared a subtle response to attacks by some partisans on the commitment of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible election, Yakubu said he was too focused on preparing for the polls to engage in a fatuous debate. “With 25 days to…

The court urger warmed the crowd and announced the players to centre court at Rod Laver Arena. “Ladies and gentlemen welcome world number one …. (wait for it) … Simona Halep”. As the words were uttered Serena Williams strode purposefully from the tunnel onto court, white headphones on, large red racquet bag on her shoulder. Three steps out of the tunnel came the realisation. Oops, that’s not me. Williams, wheeled on her heels and retreated to the tunnel. Awkward. Halep walked out literally in Williams’ wake, as figuratively and literally where her career has been. World number one? Pfft. What…

The current N1.1 trillion demand by the Nigerian university lecturers has sparked a row as the Federal Government may probe past expenditure of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who stated this at the weekend during an interactive session with editors in Lagos, noted that the move was necessary against the backdrop that earlier releases were for development of infrastructure in the university system. Already, N20 billion was said to have been disbursed last year for same purpose, just as same sum had been approved by the president for the striking university…

The Presidency has described the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari administration as a desperate plot using subterfuge to arm-twist the President politically. Reacting to latest attacks on the administration of Obasanjo, the Presidency said, “You are sick, get well soon”. It further added that Mr Obasanjo needs a good doctor for good treatment. A statement by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, noted that the former president’s allegation that President Buhari had plotted with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the presidential poll existed only in his…

The Federal Government has indicated that its budgets require extensive deficit funding through borrowings to spend its way out of recession. The government also indicated that the streak of borrowings would continue in the short-to-medium term. Nigeria’s total debt stood at about N22.4 trillion as at last year and the federal government’s 2019 budget plans to borrow additional N2.1 trillion to finance its budget deficit during the fiscal year. Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who gave these indications in Lagos last weekend acknowledged that debt profile of the country and the continued borrowings are of concern to many Nigerians, explained…

The Federal Government will soon start sourcing foreign exchange (forex) from Dangote Group, as soon as the latter’s refinery, petrochemicals and fertilizer projects come on stream. This potential reversal of roles was stated by Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, after he spent over four hours touring the ongoing Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertilizer projects and Dangote deep-water jetty in Lagos weekend. Emefiele toured the project sites in the company of Aliko Dangote, the President/CE of the Dangote Group; Aishah Ahmad, Deputy Governor of the CBN; Mr. Olakunle Alake, Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited; Mr. Devakumar…

Since the beginning of 2019, the price of oil has risen from $60.00 to $62.70 per barrel as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, intensifies efforts to withdraw excess oil from the volatile market. Specifically, the prices of Brent, West Texas Intermediate, WTI and OPEC basket stood at $62.70, $53.80 and $59.63 respectively. At the current price, Nigeria generates $2.70 in excess of its $60.00 per barrel 2019 budget reference price. In its latest report, OPEC stated that stability was gradually returning to the market, which witnessed price drop from $85.00 in October to $50.00 in December 2018, especially…

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said he was ready to waive his immunity to face prosecution if need be, following allegations of fraud levelled against him by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state. According to the governor, the current smear campaign against him by the party indicates that the party has lost steam and has nothing to tell the people, ahead of the general elections next month. Ortom, who stated this at a thanksgiving mass organised for him by Isherev and Utyondu communities in Guma and Makurdi local government areas, described as baseless, allegations that he…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Sunday, called for increased collaboration between it and members of African Union of Transportation and Logistics Organization to address the rising incidents of cross-border leakages of petroleum products. Receiving the delegation of the group in Abuja, led by the president, Mustapha Chaeun, in his office in Abuja weekend, Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mr. Maikanti Baru, said smuggling of petroleum products remained a blight in the nation’s fuel supply and distribution matrix. Baru noted that the collaboration would not only help to stop the menace but also help rid the West African corridor…

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has accused Nigeria Air Force of cover up, and called on National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to compensate victims of the accidental bombing in Rann, Borno State. At least, 120 people were wounded and 52 killed in January 2017 when a Nigerian Air Force    jet accidentally bombed an Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in the town. In a letter dated January 17, 2019, addressed to the executive secretary of the commission, Falana called for further investigation, accusing the air force of trying to cover up the humanitarian disaster. The letter read: “Instead of reporting the tragic…