Author: straightnewsng.com

Akwa United on Sunday deepened the woes of relegation-bound Gombe United which fell 2-0 to the host. The state darling team thrashed the visiting Gombe United at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. The first goal was converted through a penalty in the 79th minute of the explosive encounter. The last goal was scored in the dying minute of the second half. By this defeat, Akwa Ibom United have climbed to the top of Group B of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) log by garnering 25 points in the match 14. In the first encounter of this football season, Akwa…

President Muhammadu Buhari has absolved himself from the spate of killings rocking Zamfara State as a renowned broadcast journalist on Saturday vented anger on Governor Abdulaziz Yari describing him as the “most useless governor in the history of Nigeria.” Kadaria Ahmed, broadcast journalist and media entrepreneur, while addressing journalists in Abuja on April 6, during a protest over the killings in Zamfara passed a vote of no-confidence on Governor Yari and by inference All Progressives Congress (APC) his party for failure to stem the killings spree. The visibly angry Kadaria reacted to perceived docility of both the Zamfara government and…

Manchester City stayed on course for the quadruple as they reached the FA Cup final after edging out Brighton at Wembley. Pep Guardiola’s side were nowhere near their best but a largely undistinguished contest was settled by Gabriel Jesus’ stooping header after only four minutes, converted from Kevin de Bruyne’s perfect right-wing cross. Brighton battled manfully but could not turn possession into prolonged threat, although City were grateful to Aymeric Laporte’s clearance from right under his own crossbar after the break with Glenn Murray poised to score. Manchester City defender Kyle Walker was fortunate to escape a first-half red card…

Nigeria’s total debt profile stood at N24.387trillion as at December 31, 2018, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said. The figure moved from N21.725 trillion in December 31, 2017 to N24.39 trillion in December 31, 2018, showing an increase of N2.66 trillion or 12.25 per cent. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Patience Oniha, Director-General of DMO,  said the funds were borrowed to fund projects, to finance budget deficit and to re-finance maturing obligations. Oniha said some foreign debt was used to refinance treasury bills because of the short tenor of the bills, adding that borrowing from abroad…

German champions Bayern Munich thrashed title rivals Borussia Dortmund to move back to the top of the Bundesliga with six games remaining. Dortmund, who were two points clear heading into this match, were shell-shocked following a ruthless first-half display from the hosts. Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels, Serge Gnabry and Javi Martinez gave Bayern a 4-0 lead at half-time. Bayern are chasing a seventh consecutive Bundesliga title. In a showdown described as the “biggest in Europe this season”, Dortmund’s title hopes suffered a blow and extended their losing streak at the Allianz Arena to five games. At the start…

Men are more likely to die earlier than women, World Health Organisation (WHO) report has revealed. The “2019 World Health Statistics” published on the WHO website on Thursday, said that where men and women faced the same disease, women often seek health care less than men. “Women outlive men everywhere in the world particularly in wealthy countries and the World Health Statistics 2019 disaggregated by sex for the first time explains why. “In countries with generalised HIV epidemics, for example, men are less likely than women to take an HIV test, less likely to access anti-retroviral therapy and more likely…

Ecuador has denied WikiLeaks’ claims that it is set to expel Julian Assange from its embassy in London, rejecting what it called “an attempt to stain the dignity of the country.” Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has not left the embassy since 2012. He sought refuge there to avoid arrest and potential extradition to the United States for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables on the website. The organization has also repeatedly claimed that the US Justice Department is building a criminal case against Assange centered on the leaking of Democratic emails hacked by the Russians in the…

Nigeria’s indigenous oil company, Oando, has sold off its remaining 25 per cent residual interest in Axxela Limited (formerly known as Oando Gas and Power) for $41.5 million (N14 billion). Oando’s divestment of its 25 per cent residual interest from its midstream affiliate, Axxela, to Helios is in line with strategic initiatives, put in place to maintain the trajectory of aggressive debt reduction, portfolio optimization and ensuring that the business remain viable. In 2016, the company commenced the implementation of a three-pronged restructuring plan of growth via its upstream business; deleverage via disposal of USD$350 million in assets value and…

Boeing is temporarily cutting production of its best-selling 737 airliner in the continuing fall-out from crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Production will drop from 52 planes a month to 42 from mid-April, Boeing has said in a statement. The decision is a response to a halt in deliveries of the 737 Max – the model involved in the two accidents. The plane is currently grounded as preliminary findings suggest its anti-stall system was at fault. An Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max crashed only minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa in March, killing all 157 people on board. The same type flown…

The Super Falcons of Nigeria shredded UMF Selfoss Women 6-1 in a friendly game held at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia on Friday evening. Thomas Dennerby’s Ladies used the game against the Icelandic topflight side as one of their tune up games as they continue preparation for their FIFA Women’s World Cup adventure this year. Reimus Magda opened the scoring for the opponents in Murcia a minute past the half hour mark but Uchenna Kanu pulled Nigeria level three minutes before the break. Second half substitutes Courtney Dike and Ini Umotong soon turned the game on its head in style,…