Author: straightnewsng.com

Etokowo Owoh There is a genuine concern that Akwa Ibom State has been unable to outgrow its dependence on the civil service as the primary source of livelihood for its ever-growing population. Over the last 25 years, the refrain on the lips of successive leaders in the state has been the need “to grow an alternative economy” as a means of leapfrogging out of the civil service–dominated system. How much of this has been achieved is evident for all to see. Recently, I spoke with a former ranking government official with responsibility for economic planning of the state. He said…

Abasifreke Effiong Another indigenous highlife music talent is rising in Akwa Ibom State. He is Prince PapaMighty, an emerging highlife musician and artist. From nowhere, his tribute song in honour of the late Sir Wilker Jackson has become a hit.  Last night, I stumbled on a few short videos on Facebook on the night of tributes for the late music icon, Sir Wilker Jackson and I was thrilled by the dirge rendered by PapaMighty, entitled:  Etua Nangedo. His lyric is insightful and consoling. The song is a traditional highlife masterpiece, even as a dirge. I am a lover of traditional…

Edi Umoh United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, on Saturday,  pushed the global duty on imports of his country to 15 per cent, doubling down on his promise to maintain his aggressive tariff policy a day after the Supreme Court ruled much of it illegal. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that after a thorough review of Friday’s “extraordinarily anti-American decision” by the court to rein in his tariff program, the administration was hiking the import levies “to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.” Shortly after the court’s 6-3 ruling that rejected the President’s authority to impose…

Press Release The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately withdraw the Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019, as the Regulations are unconstitutional, unlawful, and entirely inconsistent with Nigeria’s international obligations.” SERAP further urged him “to direct Mr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to withdraw the law and to urgently initiate a transparent and inclusive legislative process to ensure that any lawful interception framework fully complies with constitutional safeguards, judicial oversight requirements, and Nigeria’s international obligations.” The request followed allegations by the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai that the…

Aniefiok Christopher Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and immediate past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel ‘‘reunited’’ publicly at the funeral service of Rev (Dr) Emmanuel Ossom, months after their political disagreement and re-alignment. Eno officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Government House, Uyo on Friday, 6 June 2025. Eno described his defection as a response to the evolving political climate, stating: “We must be able to interpret the times, flow with them, and not swim against the tide. Having completed my consultations, I have now decided to align myself with the…

Sir Nwoba Chika Nwoba  The story tells the various forms of ritual and their implications that some people undertake to make money. Though the native doctors may know the repercussions, they hide their clients for fear of losing patronage. The consequence is the death of young men who patronise the rituals particularly in Igboland as anchored by Sir Nwoba Chika Nwoba.  Excerpts:  This is what is killing our young men today in Igboland. Okeite! If you see any yahoo boy spending money lavishly, this is what he’s into. Ordinary yahoo no longer pays. To get big pay, they now go…

Aniefiok Christopher The feud between two Facebook digital creators – Mrs Jennifer Inyang popularly known as Mmatangsio and Ms. Bright Effiong known in the Facebook as Brightnation- from Akwa Ibom may end in a court of law in event both parties fail to reach a truce over what analysts see as ‘‘irreconcilable issues.’’ BRIGHTNATION with over 4,500 viewers produced and aired a viral video criticising Messrs Mmatangsio Relaxation Bush Meat Bar Services of Plot 10 Ediene Ikot Obio Imoh off Pepsi Junction, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, an act seen as ‘‘demarketing’’ and ‘‘damaging.’’ According to Brightnatioin, “I think I don…

Aniefiok Christopher Enugu State High Court in Nigeria has awarded £420 million in favour of 21 miners unlawfully killed in 1949 by colonial police and transmitted same to the authorities of the United Kingdom. The judgment which came 77 years after the Nigerian coal miners were massacred during a demand for better working conditions, was served on the British government for execution, especially payment of £20 million compensation to each of the 21 deceaseds’ families. A Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, who led the legal battle that brought justice to the families…

Akakan Umoh Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has released N12.9 billion scholarship scheme for 54 indigenes of the state to study aeronautics and engineering with various professional certifications, at the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Lagos. The training programme covers basic pilot training, with 10 beneficiaries specialising in Aerospace Engineering, 11 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 11 in Mechatronics Engineering, 12 in Software Engineering, and 10 in Systems Engineering. Speaking at a brief ceremony held at the Government House in Maiduguri on Thursday, Governor Zulum presented a cheque of N2.5 billion to the institution, covering the annual…

Aniefiok Christopher The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ghana has dithered on reports linking a supposed Russian citizen to sexual activities with some Ghanaian women. This comes after several media outlets reported that the man allegedly lured the women to his hotel room, secretly filmed them during sexual encounters, and shared the videos online, sparking public outrage across social media. Russian man known as Yaytselav, who allegedly engaged in sexual acts with Ghanaian and Kenyan women and posted videos of the encounters on his social media. African and Russian media identified the suspect as a self-styled “pick-up artist” and…