Author: straightnewsng.com

A cousin to Senator Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past Akwa Ibom governor and APC state leader, is one of the five Commissioners and Special Adviser-designates in Akwa Ibom State. He is Prince Ukpong Akpabio, a member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim local government area. Nicknamed Mega by many political associates and friends, he was a Senior Special Assistant to the ex-governor. Governor Udom Emmanuel had forwarded names of the nominees to Akwa Ibom House of Assembly for confirmation as Commissioners and Special Adviser. Other nominees include: Udo Ekpenyong, the immediate past Commissioner for…

A 26-year-old Nigerian based in United Kingdom credited for building the world’s first gaming robot is the highest paid robotics engineer in the world. Silas Adekunle achieved the feat after signing a new deal with Apple Inc. the world’s reputable software manufacturers. The Black Hedge Fund listed Adekunle as “Someone to Watch in 2018.” Born in Lagos, Adekunle who has four years background in robotics studied in Nigeria before relocating to the UK as a teenager. After his secondary school education, he proceeded to the University of the West of England where he graduated with a first class degree in…

Federal Government has suspended the national carrier (Nigeria Air) project, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation has confirmed. Sirika unveiled the name and logo of the airline named “Nigeria Air” at the Farnborough Air Show in London on July 18. Speaking to newsmen in his office, on Wednesday, he said the decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for strategic reasons. He, however did not give details of the “strategic reasons” for the cancellation of the project. The minister said: “Today, the government at the FEC took decision to suspend the national carrier project…

The Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA has declared three days of intensive prayers for the release of Leah Sharibu. ECWA in a letter by the General Secretary, Rev. Yunusa S. Nmadu Jnr, dated September 19, 2018, and forwarded to all ECWA churches worldwide, said: “Following the recent threat to the life of Leak Sharibu and her continued incarceration in the hands of her abdutors, the church has declared Monday, to Wednesday a time of prayer and fasting for her release and other abductees of Boko Haram.” This is even as the Director of Social Communications at Lagos Catholic…

The Presidency, Wednesday, confirmed  that Zainab Ahmed who relinquished her former portfolio as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning has been appointed to supervising Minister of Finance. Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ahmed as the supervising Minister of Finance, following the resignation of Mrs Kemi Adeosun from the cabinet over allegation of parading forged National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, exemption certificate. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed to State House correspondents after the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chamber…

Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited has denied its involvement in the $1.3 billion Malabu oil deal as an Italian court plans to rule on the case. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Shell stated: “Based on our review of the Prosecutor of Milan’s file and all of the information and facts available to us, we do not believe that there is a basis to convict Shell or any of its former employees. “If the evidence ultimately proves that improper payments were made by Malabu or others to then current government officials in exchange for improper conduct relating to…

The bickering over the mode of selecting candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC for the forthcoming General Election is taking a new twist following the absence of a comprehensive voters’ register to be used for the exercise. As a result of the brewing crisis, the party Wednesday announced a shift in the dates for its primaries for the selection of candidates across all levels. Worried about the postponement, majority of party chapters across the country were still in dilemma over the method to be used in selecting the candidates. The party had through Governor Simon Lalong of…

OPINION On Sunday, September 16, 2018, stakeholders of All Progressives Congress from Itu local government area paid Senator Godswill Akpabio a solidarity visit in his countryhome, Ukana. Akpabio enjoins Akwa Ibom people to stand up against those propagate politics of tribe and hatred. Excerpts: In Itu, you have a peculiar problem. It happened in PDP. There was a state in this country where they would do election and after election, a single individual in Abuja would stay there and shared things according to the way he liked. Others would do the voting, he would do the sharing. I think that…

A Nigerian priest has predicted the emergence of excellent minded persons to take over the reins of governance of the country in the next 30 years. Rev. Fr. Patrick Edet who spoke this on Wednesday in Grace Family programme broadcast by a privately owned, Planet 101.1 FM, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State explained that men of impeccable records, excellent character, sincere and passionate people with the intent to develop their society and the entire country would take over the leadership. Edet also foresaw “A time is coming when mediocrity will be taken away and godfatherism will not be in vogue. There…

A Senator representing Kaduna Central in Nigeria has doubted the ability of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to enforce the ban of telephones at the polling booths during the elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced the ban on the use of Smartphone at the polling booths. In his Twitter handle, Senator Shehu Sani wrote “Ban on the use of phones at worshipping places, Gas stations, Banking Halls has proven difficult to enforce; that of polling booths will be unenforceable.” This might have been triggered by a statement by Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic…