Author: straightnewsng.com

The cisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to abate as three former ministers are leading an exodus of top members of the party after efforts to heal the wounds of the last national convention of the party hit the rocks. They accused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state of hijacking the party. The Nation reports that Jerry Gana, the ex-information minister; Tunde Adeniran, former education minister, and Godsday Orubebe, ex-Niger Delta minister are moving to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which is merging with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP) to form a…

Total, a French transnational oil corporation that is also very active in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s gold pot, has acquired Marathon Oil Libya Limited which holds a 16,33per cent stake in the Waha Concessions in the North African country. This acquisition will give Total access to reserves and resources in excess of 500 million barrels of oil equivalent, with immediate production of around 50.000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) and a significant exploration potential across the area of 53.000 square kilometers covered by the Concessions in the prolific Sirte Basin. The consideration payment for the transaction is 450 million…

Obio ekpo (land of death) is his nickname. In official circle, he is known as Peter. But his late father’s name remains Itim. An indigene of Anua in Uyo local government area of Akwa Ibom State, he is publicity shy. He hates seeing his picture in the mass media. We assured that his picture would not be used before he granted the interview. Peter served Akwa Ibom government for 35 years and retired as a senior mortuary attendant from the civil service in 2016. He bares his mind on a dreaded job- embalment of corpses. Odyssey in Work:  I started…

Isine Ibanga Two senior staff, Nana Mustapha and Akingbade Olufemi, whose names appeared in two separate training vouchers in the sum of N35 million and N21 million respectively, said they had no idea of the vouchers being raised in their names. The head of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, who was recently reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari after being suspended for alleged corruption, misused nearly N1billion of public funds within 90 days of taking office, and committed serial violations of federal procurement laws, NEXT EDITION can authoritatively report today. The staggering amount could have helped save sick…

The exacerbating security situations in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas of Akwa Ibom State have led to mass exodus of some people from the areas to Abak, Ikot Ekpene, Uyo and some adjoining villages, Straightnews has discovered. Mostly affected are some civil servants, teachers and petty traders who have fled the troubled areas to safer zones for fear of being kidnapped or being killed by the blood-thirsty secret cultists-turned robbery suspects. Also, the aged, school children and subsistent farmers are not left out in the exodus, thus resulting in dwindling schools’ population and church attendance in the areas.…

A one-time Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah has rejected the report of the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, on restructuring that recommends the re-introduction of obnoxious onshore/offshore oil dichotomy in the country. A section of report of the APC’s Restructuring Committee headed by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai states ” if this amendment that we are proposing is passed, it means that all minerals including oil and gas that are onshore will be vested in the states of the federation. However, all offshore oil shall remain absolutely vested in the government of the federation.” Attah bared his mind…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Thursday released the results of the just-conducted Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board’s Head, Media and Information, stated this in an interview with the newsmen on Thursday in Lagos. Benjamin described the conduct of the examination nationwide as hitch-free. He advised candidates are to check their results on line by visiting www.jamb .org.ng with their registration numbers. NAN reports that a total of 245,753 candidates registered for the mock examination which took place on Monday. Mock UTME is optional for UTME candidates. The main UTME is expected to…

By Chloe Angyal The influenza pandemic of 1918 struck the United States suddenly and ruthlessly. It spread with an efficiency that brought entire cities to their knees, claiming not just the very young and very old, but also otherwise healthy people in the middle of their lives ― the kind of people flu season usually spared. In Philadelphia alone, 12,000 people died in less than five weeks. In New York City, it was 30,000 people in less than 18 months. One of those 30,000 was the youngest child of the Wisner family of Brooklyn. She was three years old. Her…

As part of its effort to open the rural areas and boost economic activities of Akwa Ibom State, the state government has approved the construction of more than 26.18 kilometres of roads. The roads are a12.69 kilometre-Ikot Akpan Abia-Enen Nsit Road that spans across Nsit Atai and Ibesikpo Asutan local government areas, the 4.99 kilometre-Ibesit Okpokoro-Ikot Ibritam in Oruk Anam local government area and re-awarding the 8.5 kilometre-Ndueotong Oku -Ibiaku Uruan-Ekritam road due to the failure of the previous contractor to deliver on time. Briefing Government House press shortly after the state Executive Council meeting Wednesday, Mr. Charles Udoh, the Commissioner…

Suspected cultists Wednesday killed a commercial bus driver at Edem Akai axis of Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak highway in Akwa Ibom State. Straightnews reported Wednesday that the hoodlums said to be angered by the escape of one Udoma, a provision store dealer whom they had gone to kidnap started to rob randomly. The hoodlums, said to be members of Iceland cult, set ablaze Udoma’s store. An eye witness, one Moses in the area confided in Straightnews that the cultists later blocked the road. “Not long, the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) vehicle approached, the frustrated hoodlums having missed their target stopped it.…