Author: straightnewsng.com

By Agency Report Ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) September 1, African leaders crowd Beijing, China’s capital, seeking funds for big-ticket infrastructure projects in power competition over resources and influence on the continent. Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema, Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, Comoros President Azali Assoumani and Mali’s interim president Assimi Goita were among the early arrivees at Beijing. China has expanded ties with African nations in the past decade, furnishing them with billions in loans that have helped build infrastructure but also sometimes stoked controversy by saddling countries with huge debts. China…

The leadership of the National Assembly members is enmeshed in legal tangle for fixing what the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) described as the running cost of lawmakers. Joined in the suit were the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. The group claimed the duo failed to end “the unlawful practice by the National Assembly of fixing its allowances and running costs, and the failure to account for the monthly running costs paid to members.” Disclosing this in a statement on Friday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the suit was filed…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to cause sleepless night for any state governor who interferes in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. Wike who stated this at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday during the party’s state congress vowed to put fire in any state for a governor who meddles in the political crisis of Rivers. “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say…

The Lagos State government has set up a medical team to review the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise of Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Waheed Ayilara within seven days.  The Police boss died on August 29, 2024, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after a surgical operation. Following allegations of impropriety levelled by family and colleagues of the deceased against medical personnel at LASUTH, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi in a statement issued on Saturday, August 31, announced the constitution of a medical panel to review the clinical circumstances that led to the…

Victor Osimhen’s much-anticipated transfer to Chelsea and Ahli has fallen apart, just hours before the summer transfer window slammed shut.  The Nigerian forward and the Premier League club were unable to reach an agreement, leaving the highly sought-after striker’s future in serious doubt. The breakdown of the Chelsea deal came with just two hours left on the clock, dashing hopes of seeing Osimhen don the blue jersey this season. In another blow, Osimhen’s potential move to Saudi Arabia also fell apart, as Al Ahli, a key contender for his signature, opted to sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney on deadline day instead.…

A Nigerian journalist, Dele Momodu, has weighed his thoughts on the Federal Government’s 18 year-age limit for West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. On August 26, President Bola Tinubu’s administration mandated that only individuals aged 18 and above could take the National Examination Council Nigeria (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman stated this when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program on Sunday night. Mamman explained that the federal government has directed WAEC, which conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and NECO, which…

Tears welled as the remains of Nigerian music legend, Onyeka Onwenu, were laid to rest in Lagos State. The funeral service of the ace musician, who was also known as the “Elegant Stallion”, was held at the Fountain of Life Church in Ilupeju area of Lagos on Friday. The funeral service was followed by a private burial at a vault in Ikoyi. Onwenu had slumped after an impressive performance at Stella Okoli’s birthday party in Lagos on July 30. The legendary singer was then rushed to the Reddington Hospital in Lagos, where she passed on. Governor Alex Otti of Abia…

The Police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested six suspects over an alleged abduction and murder of marine hunters from the Ministry of Internal Security and Inland Waterways in the state. Timfon John, the police spokesperson in the state, who stated this in a statement on Friday, said the police have exhumed the bodies of the two hunters from shallow graves in Unyenghe community, Mbo Local Government Area of the state. Ms John identified the suspects as Anthony Archibong, 46, Emmanuel Otoyo, 18, Daniel Okon, 26, Eniete Tom, 34 and Joseph Okon, 44. They were arrested along with Okon Eteokpo,…

The corpse of a dreaded kidnap kingpin-sea pirate, Ubong Effiong Archibong, has been deposited in the morgue by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.   This was as the command neutralised the criminal gang led by Ubong that allegedly abducted several individuals including the state High Court Judge, Justice Joy Unwana and killed her orderly, The suspect was shot dead during a gun battle at his hideout in Cross River State on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. The spokesperson of the command, ASP Timfon John, who stated this in a statement on Thursday, August 29, 2024, said the suspect’s stock in trade…

By Agency Report A Magistrates’ Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Thursday jailed a 40-year-old man, Cletus Gandu,  nine months for stealing two tubers of yam. The convict admitted that he stole the tubers of yam because he was hungry and pleaded for leniency. In his ruling, Magistrate Michael Bawa sentenced the defendant to three months for criminal trespass and nine months for theft. The sentences are to run concurrently. Mr Bawa, however, gave the defendant a fine option of N50,000. The convict was charged by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with criminal trespass and theft, contrary…