Author: straightnewsng.com

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, is seeking the intervention of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over non-compliance by some government agencies with the Presidential Order on the Ease of Doing Business at Ports. The Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, stated this in Lagos weekend. Recall that the office of the vice president oversees the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, which issued the Presidential Order. The Order streamlined the activities of all agencies in the nation’s ports to achieve a 24-hour cargo clearance target. The NPA managing director was told by a delegation of the Association of Nigerian Licensed…

President Muhammadu Buhari weekend approved an amendment to the excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages and tobacco with effect from today, Monday, June 4, 2018. The President also granted a grace period of 90 days (three months) to all manufacturers before the commencement of the new excise duty regime. There is, however, no increase in excise duty of other locally excisable products. Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, who stated this in Abuja, remarked that the new excise duty rates were spread over a three-year period from 2018 to 2020 in order to moderate the impact on prices of…

The Federal Government said President Muhammadu Buhari administration has spent $9 billion on the building of infrastructure across the country. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, stated this during a press briefing in Abuja Sunday to herald the 61st Meeting of the UNWTO-CAF, which is due to start today and run through Wednesday, June 6, 2018. The minister contended that whatever pockets of criminal acts that existed were being addressed squarely, insisting that ‘four years ago, hosting this event in Abuja would have been a pipe dream, considering the level of insecurity. He said, ‘‘Nigeria is safe…

Ibeto Cement Company Limited has announced a historic reverse merger through its acquisition of Century Petroleum Corporation, a United States of America publicly traded petroleum exploration and production company. In a statement issued Sunday, Ibeto Cement stated that it has acquired 70 per cent control of Century Petroleum Corp, resulting in the reverse merging of Ibeto Cement’s assets into Century Petroleum. It stated that Dr. Cletus M. Ibeto has already taken over as Chairman of the Board of Directors. By this reverse merger which is expected to be sealed and publicly presented in 90 days, Ibeto Cement will achieve the…

Hopes of a rapprochement between the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, tendency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, were dimming Sunday night, following revelations of the withdrawal of some of the security details of Bukola Saraki, Senate President and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The reported withdrawal of the security details followed mutterings on the part of the nPDP on the invitation of Saraki by the police over the Offa robbery incident. The withdrawn security details, Vanguard learnt Sunday, had been asked to report to the office of the Department of State Services, DSS headquarters in Abuja.…

Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-Minister of Aviation has celebrated his wife for the safe delivery of a set of triplets- three sons. Former Precious Chikwendu, the ex-beauty queen of Fani-kayode delivered their first child two years ago. Fani-kayode who took to his Twitter Account said “the best moment of my life was when I sat next to you in the operating theatre and, whilst holding your hand, watched you deliver our three beautiful sons. Tears of joy streamed down my eyes as, one after the other, they popped out and entered into our world.” According to him, “I looked into your smiling…

Hope of controlling the persistent flooding along the popular IBB Avenue, Uyo, the state capital frequently plied by motorists, keke operators and pedestrians is dimming as the project requires N56 billion. Governor Udom Emmanuel while interacting with journalists at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo on Saturday said the amount was proposed by World Bank as a solution to the perennial problem. Whenever it rains heavily, the avenue passing through Department of Social Welfare under Ministry of Women Affairs and abutting parts of the state government-owned Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, is usually flooded, thus becoming impassable except on the risk of…

Governor Udom Emmanuel has stated that the cult war occasioned by a spate of killings, kidnappings and arsons by the people he styled ‘miscreants’ in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas of Akwa Ibom State is being sponsored. The governor, who did not name the sponsors for security reasons bared his mind Saturday during an interaction with journalists at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, assured that the culprits would be fished out and punished accordingly. Last week, Udom Ekpoudom, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police had also raised alarm on the clashes by secret cultists being sponsored, pointing accusing fingers…

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has designated Nigeria alongside 15 others as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) following the recent spate of killings. The recommendation is contained in the latest report of the USCIRF entitled, “2018 Annual Report–Key Findings and Recommendations,” obtained Friday by THISDAY on the website of the US Department of State, . In its 2018 report on religious freedom, the commission asked the US department of state to declare Nigeria a CPC, along with 15 other countries including Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam, and China. In 2018 alone, hundreds have been killed in…

Three female students of Obong University, Obong Ntak in Etim Ekpo local government area of state abducted by some unknown gunmen are yet to be rescued by the Akwa Ibom state Police Command. An eye witness in the area confided in our reporter that the police who arrived at the scene late only rescued another female who was wounded by the gunshots she sustained and the hoodlums had to abandon the victim in the `university’s premises due to her frailty. Police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, confirmed the rescued student has gunshot wound on her shoulder and has been…