Author: straightnewsng.com

No fewer than 53 journalists were killed on the job while 34 were targeted for murder in reprisal for their work globally from January to December 14, this year. The number makes 2018 the deadliest year for journalists in the past three years, the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, said in its annual analysis. Journalists from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan to the United States of America were targeted for murder in 2018 in reprisal for their work, bringing the total of journalists killed on duty to its highest in three years. The number of journalists killed in conflict fell to…

Trafigura Beheer BV and Trafigura PTE Ltd, an international oil company, is alleged to have owed the Federal Government $1.6 billion in unpaid taxes. Mr Emefun Etudo, a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday, made the allegation during cross-examination by Mr Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, during the trial of foreign oil company and five Nigerian associates over alleged $8.4 million theft at an Ikeja Special Offences Court. Etudo alleged that Trafigura falsely claimed that they did not have a Nigerian office in a bid to evade taxes due to the Federal Government. He said: “Trafigura has…

President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the Federal Roads Authority (Establishment) Bill and the National Transport Commissions Bill 2018. The Senate had in March 2018 passed the National Transport Commission Bill ten years after it was first sponsored. The commission was expected to create a multi-modal transport system that will drive the nation’s transport policy and engender speedy economic development. The Senate at its plenary on Thursday, June 5, 2017, passed the Federal Roads Authority Bill into law. It seeks to repeal the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act 2007 and establish the Federal Roads Authority (FRA). In a…

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has explained why it supported President Muhammadu Buhari on his decision to withhold assent, for the fourth time, to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018. National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams Oshiomhole stated this, Wednesday, in Abuja when the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, received a joint pre-election assessment delegation of the International Republican Institute IRI and the National Democratic Institute, NDI. He said, “You raised the issue which the President spoke to.about the hurried attempt to (amending) the Electoral Act. The issue is, what are the key issues in the Electoral Act?…

The Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign has dismissed the All Progressives Congress, APC’s allegation of procuring Russian hackers to penetrate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, servers saying the claim was a reflection of the desperation of the ruling party. Reacting to the allegation Wednesday, the Atiku Campaign said that only President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC who were determined to sustain what it claimed as the present incompetent system would do anything to win an election. Speaking through campaign spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the campaign said: “The Buhari Media Organisation has grown to become a hackers den and propagandist conclave…

Some great Nigerians have expressed outrage over the gruesome killing of Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd), former Chief of Defence Staff by unknown gunmen along Abuja-Keffi Road Tuesday night. President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killing as “very sad and unfortunate.” Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on his part, blamed the rising insecurity in the country for the death of Badeh. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum and the Southwest Zone of the PDP also condemned the killing of Badah. Former President Goodluck Jonathan on his part extended his condolences…

Isoko nation host communities in the Oil Mining Lease, OML 30, have issued a 14-day ultimatum to an oil company operating in the area to pay all funds accruing to the communities to officials of their board failure which they would not guarantee “peaceful and uninterrupted operations.” Isoko has four cluster communities which produces 65 percent of the total crude oil production while Urhobo with six clusters produce 35 percent. The host communities, in a communique issued at the end of a meeting of their traditional rulers, presidents-general and cluster nominees, urging the management of Heritage Energy Operational Services to…

Former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adamu Muazu, Wednesday, met behind closed doors with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The meeting was held at the Vice President’s office, Presidential Villa, Abuja lasted about one hour. Though he refused to talk to State House correspondents who had wanted to know the reason for the meeting, it was however, gathered that the visit was to thank the Vice President who attended the former PDP’s daughter wedding recently.

The Nigerian government has proposed a budget of N8.83 trillion for the 2019 financial year. A report from Premium Times says that President Muhammadu Buhari presented the budget at a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday. The proposed budget shows that about a quarter of the sum (N2.14 trillion) will be used for debt servicing while capital expenditure is expected to gulp N2.031 trillion. A breakdown shows that proposed recurrent expenditure is N4.04 trillion, statutory transfer is N492.36 billion, there is a sinking fund of N120 billion, while capital expenditure is N2.031 trillion. In a presentation intermittently cut…

12 February & 6 March Manchester United (ENG) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) Roma (ITA) v Porto (POR) 13 February & 5 March Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) v Borussia Dortmund (GER) Ajax (NED) v Real Madrid (ESP) 19 February & 13 March Lyon (FRA) v Barcelona (ESP) Liverpool (ENG) v Bayern München (GER) 20 February & 12 March Schalke (GER) v Manchester City (ENG) Atlético Madrid (ESP) v Juventus (ITA) All kick-offs 21:00CET (UEFA.com)