Author: straightnewsng.com

Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel says the unity of the state is non-negotiable and that whoever tries to destroy the state would not succeed. Mr. Emmanuel, who made the remark Tuesday at Government House Banquet hall, Uyo during the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), stated “We have only one project – project Akwa Ibom State. And let me also say it here, let no man try to put asunder in this one big family that we call Akwa Ibom family. “Nobody ever predicted where he was to be born.…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that it stored over N3 billion loot recovered from the ex-Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, in iron boxes. The anti-graft agency, which made the revelation at the resumed trial of the former NNPC boss on charges bordering on money laundering, said the boxes were also sealed with iron rods. Testifying as the third prosecution witness, PW-3, a lead investigative officer from Kano zonal office of the commission, Mr. Ahmed Yahaya, said the iron boxes were kept at…

The Federal Government, Monday, said it has commenced engagement with stakeholders in the maritime industry to explore the most viable and cost-effective options in the export of Nigeria’s crude oil. Speaking at a maritime forum in Abuja, , Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said various attempts in the past to transit from the Free-on-Board, FOB, to Cost, Insurance and Freight, CIF, system of exporting the nation’s crude oil had failed. He argued that there was no better time than now to revisit the issue holistically to determine which of the systems best served the interest of…

Wole Soyinka It is happening all over again. History is repeating itself and, alas, within such an agonizingly short span of time. How often must we warn against the enervating lure of appeasement in face of aggression and will to dominate! I do not hesitate to draw attention to Volume III of my INTERVENTION series and to the chapter on The Unappeasable Price of Appeasement. There is little to add, but it does appear that even the tragically fulfilled warnings of the past leave no impression on leadership, not even when identical signs of impending cardiac arrest loom over the…

A new Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government has been appointed. He is Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem replacing Sir Etekemba Umoren, who has held the position for two years and six months. A press release signed by Mr. Charles Udoh on Monday, state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, says Governor Udom Emmanuel has approved the appointment, noting that the change “is part of a continuous effort to re-jig the governance structure of state.” The release reads “the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has announced the immediate appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as Secretary to State Government. The government…

A suspected kidnap kingpin from Ukanafun Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State was Monday killed in the area by a detachment of soldiers, policemen and State Security operatives. He is Akaninyene Jumbo Uko also known as Isoakpafid from Ikot Ibekwe village in the area. Uko was declared wanted by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in October 2017 for his ignoble involvement in a series of kidnappings and killings in the area. The notorious kidnapper was killed in his hideout in Onicha Ngwa local government area, Abia State by security operatives and the corpse was displayed at Ukanafun local…

At least, 10 persons were feared dead Monday as a result in a fire outbreak from Second Coming gas plant situated along the CMD road of Lagos state. News reports monitored from Channels Television in Uyo said the fire was allegedly as a result of gas leakage from one of the trucks in the compound. It was said that a vehicle with a faulty exhaust drove past at that period, thereby resulting in the sudden explosion. Many people were injured following the fire purportedly spreading to other properties in the neighbourhood. As the flame could be seen from as far…

More than100 girls from Comprehensive Secondary Schools, Chibok in Borno State abducted by Boko Haram members have vowed not to return home. The Islamist militants Boko Haram on Monday released a new video purporting to show at least 14 of the schoolgirls from the northeast Nigerian town of Chibok. At least, three in the group were seen carrying babies. One of the students said: “We are the Chibok girls… By the grace of Allah, we will not return to you.” The girls numbering more than 200 were abducted in April 2014 by Boko Haram, the dreaded Islamic militant group from…

John Feeley, the US ambassador to Panama, has decided to “retire for personal reasons from March 9 of this year,” the US State Department confirmed. Feeley said he could no longer serve under President Donald Trump in an “apolitical fashion” and could not stand by his policies as he quit his post. In a resignation letter, Feeley said: “As a junior foreign US ambassador to Panama US ambassador to Panama service officer, I signed an oath to serve faithfully the president and his administration in an apolitical fashion, even when I might not agree with certain policies. “My instructors made…

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State seems to be unsettled by the prophecy that he may not pick governorship ticket under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the forthcoming primaries in the state, StraighNews has gathered. Emmanuel had last year visited a man of God (names withheld) in Delta State to consult on his political future particularly the second term ambition. StraightNews learnt that the prophet was blunt in telling the governor that if he is aspiring to go for a second term in the office, he should not bank hope on PDP but another political party in the country.…