Author: straightnewsng.com

Despite opposing views by Nigerians over the $1 billion Boko Haram fund,hehe Nigerian government has paid the United States government $496 millionfor the acquisition of 12 Super Tucano fighter jets to be used by the Nigerian Air Force in the ongoing military operations against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. It would be recalled that the National Economic Council had in December 2017 mandated the Federal Government to withdraw $1 billion from the $2.3 billion currently in the Excess Crude Account to fight the insurgency in the North-East. The directive had sparked outrage by Nigerians who thought that the…

Contrary to the opinion bandied by Akwa Ibom State government that the funding of International Worship Centre, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State capital would be done by Non-Governmental Organisations and individuals, the government Tuesday owned up the funding of the centre appropriated for in this year’s budget. During the foundation laying- ceremony of the project at Banking layout, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, governor Udom Emmanuel told the excited crowd that the centre would be funded by Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and other concerned individuals and friends of the state. However, in an interview with Inspiration FM, Uyo last week, Dr. Usoro…

The people of Ukanafun local government area in Akwa Ibom State are still living in constant fear following renewed killings and regular kidnappings by suspected hoodlums in the area. The latest victim is Namkere James Ben Umoh, 65, an indigene of Ikot Akpa Idem in Ukanafun who was mowed down by a three-member gang Friday night in the village. Before his death, Umoh was a staunch supporter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the area and a senior brother to Kufre Umoh, a one-time Transition Chairman of Ukanafun local government area. Straightnews gathered from the family that the slain Umoh…

A Parish Priest in-charge of St. Sylvester Catholic Church, New Nyanya and Karu in Nasarawa State, has sponsored the marriage blessing ceremonies of 53 couples in the state. Rev. Fr. Lawrence Soja-Anyembugu announced this weekend in Karu after the marriage matrimony of the couples in his church. Soja-Anyembugu said the gesture was extended to the people to enable them to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony. According to him, the step would also enable those who did not marry in the church to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony to get more blessings and favour from God and in the…

The Federal Government has commenced Automatic Exchange of Tax Information, AETI, on overseas assets held by Nigerians. Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, stated this while receiving progress report on Tax Laws Reform by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the Vice Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, in Abuja, Friday, She thanked foreign countries for supplying data under AETI to Nigeria, saying “The data received in Nigeria with regard to overseas assets held by Nigerians has been impressive and will underpin a long-term improvement in the nation’s tax to Gross Domestic Product, GDP, ration, which in turn will improve…

Against the need for Nigeria to achieve industrial growth and development, the Senate Friday called for encouragment of local content rather than the government spending billions to import and subsidise diesel to power the nation’s plants. Speaking during a first-hand visit to Green Ville Plant, the pioneer company in Liquified Natural Gas, LNG in Rumuji, Rivers State, the Senate said since Nigeria is blessed with abundant gas, companies involved in LNG must be encouraged and not frustrated out of the country. Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, PDP, Akwa Ibom, North East leading the Senate Joint Committees on Gas and Power, Steel…

The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, lamented that Nigeria may not enjoy the full benefits of the proposed Single African Air Transport Market, SAATM, for Africa due to the absence of a national carrier and aircraft maintenance facilities in the country. Sirika stated this weekend while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the details of the just-concluded 30th African Union Heads of Government meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He noted that discussions on single market began since 1999 with Nigeria on the forefront of the negotiations, but stated that the country would not have full benefit of the project…

Indigenous Tiv communities in Nasarawa State have raised the alarm that their people in Kadarko, Keana local government area of the state were under siege as 25 villages of the area have been sacked by the herdsmen. Some members of the affected villages who are now squatting with some of their kits and kin in Abuja accused the security agencies of selective protection. Addressing journalists in Abuja, weekend, a group, under the umbrella of Concerned Indigenous Tiv People in Kadarko, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, claimed that since the Tiv people were displaced from their ancestral home as…

Plans have been concluded to float a mega Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Akwa Ibom State in September this year. The project expected to gulp N1.1 billion is to be sponsored by the management of Dangote group in league with BlackRhino, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other consultants. Representatives in the partnership met governor Udom Emmanuel at the weekend to formalise modalities for the commencement of the project to be located on the onshore platform of the Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) at Ibeno local government area of the state. ExxonMobil, operators of the QIT Oil terminal at Ibeno, is…

A former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida has joined in asking President Muhammadu Buhari not bother returning to power in 2019 general elections. Three weeks ago, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a 13-page letter, telling the president not to seek re-election in 2019. In a statement issued Sunday, Babangida decried the rate of killing and blood letting in the country by the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents in different parts of the country. “In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions.…