Author: straightnewsng.com

The five BRICS developing nations have ignored Nigeria but announced that they would admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates. This move is aimed at growing the strength of the bloc as it pushes to rebalance the world order dominated by the US and western countries. The expansion announced on Thursday, August 24, could also pave the way for other countries to seek admission. BRICS – whose acronym was originally coined by an economist at Goldman Sachs, currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. BRICS has pledged to address the grievances of member…

Wagner Group mercenaries have vowed to revenge in event of confirmation their leaders Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin were ‘assassinated’ in a plane crash near Moscow. Consequently, they said they are gearing up for ‘full mobilisation’ amid news their leaders, though their deaths have not officially been confirmed. Prigozhin died in a plane crash on Wednesday that also killed 9 other people. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Prigozhin was a controversial figure who had close ties to Putin. He was known for his work in the catering industry and his support for Russian military operations abroad.…

Defending champion Tobi Amusan lost her world women’s 100m hurdles crown to Jamaica’s Danielle Williams on on Thursday in a shock win in Budapest. Williams, the 30-year-old, who previously won in Beijing in 2015, timed 12.43 seconds to edge out Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico (12.44sec) with Kendra Harrison of the United States taking bronze (12.46). Also read: Amusan, Uko make World Athletics list in Budapest Amusan and 2019 winner Nia Ali were never in the hunt, finishing sixth and last respectively. The Nigerian hurdler won the 100m hurdles event at the Stockholm Diamond League in July this year.…

The total sum of N966.110 billion has been disbursed by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) as July 2023 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils. This was announced at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for August 2023, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. Director of Press and Public Relations under the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, said the N966.110 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N397.419 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of…

An Akwa Ibom man has allegedly killed and burnt his son’s corpse over allegation of harvesting cassava from his farm without permission. Straightnews gathered that Mr Innocent Uko, an indigene of Ebe Ikpe village in Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state angry that his son, Boniface harvested cassava from his farm killed him with a machete. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon, told our correspondent on Tuesday in Uyo that after killing his son, Innocent burnt the corpse and dumped the carcass in an abandoned pit toilet in his compound to conceal the act. When arrested…

British police said on Tuesday they had charged the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, with bribery offences, saying they suspected she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pounds oil and gas contracts, Reuters reported. Alison-Madueke, 63, was a key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as petroleum resources minister from 2010 to 2015. She also served as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts. “These charges are a milestone in what has been…

Five persons died while trying to mount a billboard in the Obiri-Ikwerre area of Rumuosi in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday. Also, four others who received life-threatening burns are currently battling for their lives at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where they were rushed for treatment. It was learnt that as the people wanted to mount the billboard, a major outdoor advertisement with a metal frame, it reportedly touched a high-tension cable, thereby causing a spark. Also read; Clergyman at Abia police net over suspected death of evangelist The nine men were said…

By Our reporter Reason has been given why Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno is flying Ibom Air aircraft, instead of the state government-owned aircraft handed over to him by his predecessor, Straightnews online has gathered. The Ibom Air launched on June 7, 2019 currently with seven aircraft in its fleet is used for commercial purposes, though its ownership was controverted by Obong Akan Udofia, the Akwa Ibom APC Governorship candidate during the last election. Before now, rumour mill was rife that the state government-owned Bombardier Global 5000 with registration number N224BH might have been ‘‘commandeered’’ by ex-governor Udom Emmanuel…

Eight members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were abducted by gunmen along a highway in Zamfara State, Nigeria’s North-west region. Straightnews learnt that the corps members were travelling in AKTC bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, to participate in the mandatory national service when their vehicle was intercepted along a highway in Zamfara. A source in the transport company confirmed the incident to Premium Times reporter, Monday morning. The source, who did not want his name mentioned in the report because he was not authorised to speak on the incident, said the corps members were 11 in…

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in 45 ministers, the largest so far in the country struggling to tackle poverty, insecurity, a weak currency and high inflation in Africa’s largest economy. The ceremony took place nearly three months after Tinubu took office on May 29 after winning a disputed presidential election in February which is being challenged by his main opponents in court. President Tinubu has urged the recently appointed ministers to collaborate with him and each other to fulfill the aspirations of the Nigerian people through their work in government. Also read: Tinubu names Momoh Niger Delta Minister,…