Author: straightnewsng.com

Ahead of the 2023 Calabar Carnival, the Cross River State Government has released N100 million grant to the first 10 selected hotels in Calabar to give their facilities a facelift. The grant was handed over on Tuesday at Marina Resort Calabar by the managing director of the state tourism board, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, on the directive of the state governor, Prince Bassey Otu. Ekpenyong told the crowds of hoteliers and stakeholders in the hospitality sector that tourism was very critical to the state. Related posts Calabar Carnival: Ayade gives Two separate reasons for cancellation  Why 2021 Calabar Carnival Edition is…

Henry Kissinger, the German-born American diplomat, academic and presidential adviser who served as secretary of state for two presidents died Wednesday, November 29. A statement released by Kissinger Associates said Kissinger died Wednesday at his home in Connecticut. Aged 100, Kissinger was both revered and controversial, praised by supporters as a brilliant strategist and condemned by critics as a master manipulator. Also read John McCain Funeral: Obama, Meghan Denounce Trump’s Politics All European Life Died in Auschwitn He pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union, began a rapprochement with China and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973…

Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has urged the Federal Government to open the door of education to reduce the number of persons sent to prisons in the country. ‘‘We also believe that education should be prioritized and something done to stop frequent closures.  If we do not checkmate the brain drain, the drain will numb our brains,’’ Akpabio emphasised. Speaking during the presentation of the 2024 budget estimate by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a joint session of National Assembly on Wednesday, Akpabio said ‘‘This is why we must open the door of education, because when you open…

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has ruled that both the old and new Naira notes will continue to coexist until further notice. The redesigning of the Naira notes was done by the then Central Bank of Nigeria Governor under the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that in March 2023, the Supreme Court extended the phase out of the old notes till December 31, 2023. Related posts At last, CBN Restores N500, 1000 notes as legal tender  CBN, Finance Ministry at cross roads over currencies’ redesign  Also, on November 21, the federal government had filed an application before the Supreme…

The 44th Regular Council, the highest decision making body of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, LCN rose from its three-day sitting with a call on Christians not to lose faith in God, but to believe in his power to deal with issues confronting the nation with an assurance of Him bringing about joy and a new Nigeria in His own time. The council also re-emphasised the need for Christians to embark on viable sustainable development projects aimed at assisting them to effectively handle financial challenges in the present economic downturn in the country. These were part of the resolutions reached…

Our reporters Akwa Ibom, an oil-rich Nigerian state, is seen as a cesspool by some administrations to undertake surrogate projects that guzzle public funds running into billions for their private use, Straightnews has gathered.       From 1999 till date, some administrations have ‘dumped’ the state patrimony in an endless pit on the excuse that they are embarking on people-oriented projects, which underway are left to rot away or money frittered away. So far, some projects, directly or indirectly, executed or about to be executed, are abandoned, thus diverting the public funds to leaking pockets of cronies at the dire…

Eunice Thomas from Akwa Ibom State has joined Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) board as Non-Executive Director. Thomas served as a Commissioner for Education later Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom State during the administration of ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio. Her appointment among others was contained in a press statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) of November 27, 2023. ‘‘In compliance with Section 59 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new Board and Management team for the Nigerian National…

…how Senior Advocates become mere casual visitors to courtrooms- CJN laments Emmanuel Enoidem and 57 joined the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) class inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, at Supreme Court, Abuja Monday. Enoidem, an Akwa Ibom son, is one-time Law Lecturer, Department of Law, University of Uyo. Called to bar in 1989 as a lawyer, he is a former Etim Ekpo Local Government Chairman, former treasurer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Akwa Ibom State, and a one-time Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal. Also read:  Enoidem, Offia among 58 Lawyers for bestowal of SANs…

The Federal Government has urged International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other producers to fulfil their domestic obligations before export of cooking gas. The intervention is coming as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest report, said that in October LPG prices rose by as much as 14 per cent in October for a 12.5 kg tube. This shows the readiness of the government to resolve challenges bordering on the supply and pricing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the country’s domestic market better known as cooking gas. Also read Cooking gas consumers in pains as marketers may jack up…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested the World Bank to suspend issuance of loans to Nigeria’s 36 states over allegations of mismanaging public funds. Specifically, SERAP told World bank’s President, Ajay Banga, “to promptly, transparently and effectively conduct an investigation into the spending of loans and other facilities by the country’s 36 state governors and to suspend any loans and funding if there is relevant admissible evidence of mismanagement or diversion of public funds by any of the states.” In the letter dated 25 November 2023, the organization also asked the global bank to “suspend further applications…