Author: straightnewsng.com

Against the background of avalanche of signatures, United Kingdom is under pressure  to return the world’s largest clear cut diamond, set in the royal sceptre for coronation of King Charles 111, to South  Africa. The 530-carat diamond, known as the Star of Africa, was discovered in a mine near Pretoria in 1905 and given to King Edward VII by South Africa’s colonial authorities. A campaign to demand its return is being run by Mothusi Kamanga, a lawyer and activist in Johannesburg who has promoted an online petition, which has gathered about 8,000 signatures. “The diamond needs to come to South Africa.…

Participants at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OPC) have been tasked to consider the freedom of countries to attaining the right energy mix in multiple and sustainable pathways to avoid leaving any country behind in achieving net-zero by 2050. Speaking at the Offshore Technology Conference holding in Houston, Texas, USA on Tuesday, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), said energy transition discussions should revolve around the implementation of a fair, equitable and sustainable energy mix that entrenches the principles of inclusiveness and guarantees energy security,. Engr. Komolafe who presented a paper…

Lack of access of about 85 million Nigerians to grid-supplied electricity or clean cooking fuel is responsible to two per cent loss of Gross Domestic Product annually, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, claimed. Engr. Komolafe who told participants at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OPC) holding in Houston, Texas, USA said the figure was equivalent to 43 per cent of Nigerian population, thus making the country the world’s largest energy deficit. Presenting a paper entitled: Energy Transition and Nigerian upstream oil and gas landscape: The Journey, Challenges and Way forward, he…

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wants to leave Al-Nassr only months after joining the Saudi club from Manchester United. The Portuguese superstar mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Manchester United following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. The 38-year-old then agreed a £175 million-a-year contract until 2025 with the Saudi Arabian giants. However, it now seems Real Madrid are willing to offer Ronaldo a non-playing role as an ambassador, according to El Nacional. The Spanish outlet said: ‘Florentino Perez has guaranteed that [Ronaldo] will not lack work at the Santiago Bernabeu. ‘But, obviously, he wouldn’t do it to be a player,…

More than 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in fighting in Ukraine since December, the US estimates. A further 80,000 have been wounded, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, citing newly declassified intelligence, reports the BBC. Half of the dead are from the Wagner Mercenary Company, who have been attacking the eastern Bakhmut city. Russia has been trying to take the small city since last year in a grinding war of attrition. Moscow currently holds most of Bakhmut, but Ukrainian troops are still control a small portion of the city in the west. The fierce battle has taken on…

The House of Representatives has mandated the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete its abandoned projects in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The projects are 24-bed standard comprehensive health centres at Ikot Udo Ossiom and Ikot Udombang villages, as well as construction of a 2-km Idung Nneke-Ikot Akpa Idem Road. This followed a motion by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Hon. Unyime Idem, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Recall that a week ago, Idem paid an unscheduled visit to the projects initiated and abandoned by the NDDC from 2004…

As a mark of honour, Senator Godswill Akpabio, immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has consulted President Muhammadu Buhari on his aspiration to become Senate President. Akpabio who paid an official visit to Buhari at the State House, Abuja. on Sunday night by 10 p.m used the opportunity to inform the President of his plan to vie for Senate Presidency when the 10th National Assembly is inaugurated in June, this year. Straightnews learnt that the Senator-elect representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District presented his Certificate of Return to the number one citizen. Speaking after meeting with Buhari, the…

As a fragile truce collapsed in Sudan, air strikes and heavy fighting are being reported again in Khartoum. This was as Irish government evacuated its citizens and withdrew forces from the area. Tanáiste Michael Martin confirmed that 209 Irish citizens have been evacuated. Most Irish citizens and their dependents were flown out of Sudan to Cyprus or Djibouti on flights operated by the UK.  One mother in Mayo Catherine McLoughlin celebrated the bank holiday weekend by welcoming back her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren who were evacuated from the civil conflict.   “It was quite traumatising to hear the details of…

Indifference and coldness enveloped Akwa Ibom workers as Governor Udom Emmanuel responded to their demands during the celebration of 2023 Workers Day on Monday. While cheerleaders who crowded the VIP Platform ceaselessly hailed the Governor over his speech, the workers both from public and private sectors were indifferent as their expectations were not properly met. Straightnews online that covered the event discovered that the workers were docile when the Governor was responding to the issues on workers’ welfare raised by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Akwa Ibom State councils. Earlier, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom…

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Saturday, paraded about four suspects who kidnapped a retired permanent secretary in the state, Mr. Ignatius Brown close to his residence in Abak Local Government Area. Brown, a  retired Permanent Secretary, Special Services Department, Governor’s Office, Uyo worships at St John’s Pro-Cathedral, Abak was returning from church service when the gunmen swooped on him as he was about entering his compound, located behind Abak Township Stadium in October 2022. Parading some of the suspects during a press conference at the Command headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia Uyo, the Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi said…