Author: straightnewsng.com

Israel Umoh The journey to one of the remarkable yet neglected villages in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was joyous and lamentable.   On a cloudy Monday morning, December 22, I zoomed off from my Uyo residence to Ikot Anta Eneng Ibom to share with kinsmen the joy of the festive season. Of course, there is no way you can get to the village coming from Uyo through Abak-Ikot Uboh-Ikot Akpa Nkuk Road without veering off through Ikot Ide or Ikot Obiokpoho, which is proximate to Ikot Anta. As I reached Ikot Akpa Ntuen, I became unsettled because…

The Nigerian Government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as well as Thursday, January 1, 2026, as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations. The declaration was made by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, on behalf of the Federal Government, according to a statement issued on Monday by Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. Tunji-Ojo extended warm Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians in Nigeria and across the world, as well as to all Nigerians, as the country prepares to round off the year and usher in…

President Bola Tinubu on Friday told the 36 state Governors that he might use Executive Order to enforce the financial autonomy granted the local government councils by the Supreme Court. Addressing the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress at the Conference Centre of the State House, Abuja , the President expressed concern that some state governors are not ready to allow the local government autonomy. Tinubu stated specifically that he was ready to issue Executive Order if that will guarantee the financial autonomy of the 774 local government councils across the country in line…

Sixteen Nigerian banks have met capital thresholds ahead of March 2026 recapitalisation deadline, while others race to comply, signaling a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing banking sector reform. So far, the banks include Access Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), GTBank, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC, Wema Bank, Jaiz Bank, Lotus Bank, Providus Bank, Greenwich Merchant Bank and PremiumTrust Bank. Others are Sterling Bank, Globus Bank, Citibank Nigeria and Nova Bank, bringing the number of financial institutions that have met their recapitalisation target to 16. Several other lenders, including Fidelity Bank, FCMB Group, are still at various stages of capital…

By Our Reporters Pastor Chris Okafor, the founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, has officially wedded his fiancée, despite Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala’s 21-day threat to pay her N1 billion or face legal action. Despite the threat, the clergyman went ahead to marry his wife, Pearl, on Tuesday. Pictures from both the traditional and white wedding ceremonies later surfaced on social media on Wednesday. The wedding came weeks after Doris Ogala went public with claims that she dated the clergyman for several years and was promised marriage — allegations she repeated during a live session with Daddy…

The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has comically called on the Federal government to ‘hang’ Farouk Ahmed, else he will hang Nigeria. Ahmed, the former chief executive officer and managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), appointed by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari four years ago, had resigned his appointment. Mr Oshiomhole, a former Edo governor, made this call during plenary on Thursday at the screening of Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, who was nominated as the new CEO of NMDPRA. Related News: Amaechi’s Associate Stokes APC Crisis, As Pro-Oshiomhole Governors Brace For War  NMDPRA, NUPRC CEOs Resign…

Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), in the early hours of Friday, 19 December, 2025, enforced a court ruling by sealing  Uyo Office of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nig. Ltd., over N1,255,419,711.70 tax liability. This marked a major crackdown on taxt default and enforcement of revenue laws in the state. The High Court of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, Onna Judicial Division, Awa, had issued the Enrolment Order on 13 November, 2025, but AKIRS sealed off the company operating in the State with headquarters at 5 Aka Community Road, Uyo. Related News: AKIRS gets N1.2b judgment against…

The winners of the 2026 World Cup will go home with $50 million in prize money as part of a record financial payout announced by FIFA on Wednesday, December 17. World football’s governing body said the total prize fund for the tournament will be $655 million, representing an increase of almost 50 percent from the $440 million distributed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The expanded prize structure comes as the 2026 tournament, scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, will feature 48 teams for the first time, up…

A Delta State High Court in Orerokpe has issued an interim order, restraining the Nigeria police from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy, which the police authorities had said would commence on 2 January. Justice Joe Egwu gave the order on Wednesday, 17 December, following an exparte motion filed by, Israel Joe, the applicant, against the Inspector- general (IGP) of police, the Nigeria police, and the commissioner of police in Delta State, who are the respondents in the suit marked HOR/FHR/M/31/2025. A Lagos-based rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, posted a copy of the court order on Facebook on Wednesday. Related news:…

Abak Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State has disbursed N32.2 million in business grants to 156 beneficiaries from two clans in the area under the second tranche of its economic empowerment programme. The initiative, aimed at boosting small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthening the local economy, is part of the council’s ongoing efforts to promote entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods across the area. In November 2025, the council had doled out the 27.6 million in business support grants under the first tranche to 138 indigenes drawn from 98 villages in Midim, Otoro, and Ediene Clans of the area. Related…