Author: straightnewsng.com

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed American Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2 to win the Miami Open on Saturday, relying on her usual play-book and powerful forehand to win an eighth WTA 1000 title. Sabalenka, who was runner-up in Indian Wells earlier this month and at January’s Australian Open, refused to accept the consolation trophy this time as she closed it out with a superb backhand shot down the line and thrust her hands in the air. Fourth seed Pegula has been hungry for revenge since losing to Sabalenka in her maiden Grand Slam final in New York last year but the 31-year-old…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council has formally inaugurated its Advisory Council, consisting of all past chairmen and secretaries since the inauguration of the union in the state. At the moment, the state council inaugurated in December 1987 comprises nine past Chairmen and five past secretaries. The NUJ Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, who inaugurated the council during the State Congress on Thursday, March 27 said the initiative, as outlined in the NUJ Constitution, recognises the significant contributions of past leaders and aims to improve the governance principles of the State Council. Etuk…

Actress Annie Idibia, the estranged wife of music star 2Baba, has made a comeback on social media after about a two-month hibernation. In her first post, Annie thanked family, friends, and fans for their unwavering support during the challenging time. Importantly, Annie retained 2Baba’s name in her Instagram bio but signed off with her full name, Annie Unwana Macaulay, yanking off Idibia. She wrote: “To my family, to my friends who came through for me, the support system I have now, all my amazing family here and all over the world. God bless you for the outpouring of love. I…

Akwa United beat Niger Tornadoes 2-0 to quit relegation zone during the 2024/2025 Nigeria Professional Football League played on Wednesday at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. The Promise Keepers who played at home scored the two goals through Ifeanyi Okoye in the 44th minute and Mare Abson in the 69th minute. With the win, Akwa United occupy 16th position and garnered 37 points in the matchday 31 to join the ‘landlords’ in the elite league. On Sunday, Akwa United recorded a 0-2 win and claimed the scalp of Kwara United in a matchday 30 fixture of the NPFL in front…

President Bola Tinubu has turned the South-South and South-West Development Commission Bills into Act to ensure equitable development of all regions in the country. The Act ensures funding through federal allocations, international grants, and partnerships, bypassing the NDDC’s oil-dependent model. This structure shields the commission from fluctuations in oil prices and ensures sustained development. This significant achievement for the region results from the efforts of Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South), the Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC. Ekpenyong, with some co-sponsors from the South-South geopolitical zone, introduced the bill (SB. 358) in 2024 to address systemic disparities in resource…

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the major opposition party in the country, is facing revocation of its land title over non-payment of Ground Rents, aide to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, revealed. The party had ruled for 22 years, before the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) launched major attacks and seized power from it. The FCT administration had revoked the land title allocated to the PDP for its national secretariat due to unpaid ground rents spanning 20 years. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Bode George, a PDP stalwart, had accused Wike of crossing the red line by revoking the party’s…

Nigerian Government has declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government. Began in Medina in 622 by Prophet Muhammad, Eid al-Fitr is “festival of the breaking of the fast,” marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Related news Eid-el-Fitr: FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday public holidays  Eid el-Fitr: FG declares Friday, Monday as…

For the first time, the remote Inen Ikot Etim in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State got surprise succour during the 2025 International Day of Happiness celebration. This was last Thursday, March 20, International Day of Happiness marked with the theme: Caring and Sharing, following the Citizens Outreach Nigeria (CitOut) succour ranging from health screenings, donations of essentials, stress-management sessions and cultural storytelling to the villagers. For the villagers who experienced such philanthropic gestures, it was like a dream. The beneficiaries were forced to go berserk with different dancing steps to express their joyous mood. The experience, according…

Israel Umoh The essence of the one-day Akwa Ibom State Media Roundtable on Family Planning for selected media professionals in the Nigeria’s 21st Akwa Ibom was not a misplaced one. Organised by The Challenge Initiative/Devcoms Group on Family Planning, the roundtable brought to the fore critical issues that promote and inhibit the spread of family planning messages and practices among the women from the urban to the rural setting of the state. At the forum, critical key stakeholders and speakers took time off to dominate family planning discourse with data, the need for sustainable investment, myths and misconceptions, challenges and proffered…

By A team of Reporters – Natasha’s constituents submit petition to recall her – Court vacates order, seeks accelerated recall process – Why previous attempts to recall lawmakers failed Despite distributing tricycles and bags of rice to her constituents, some registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District on Monday submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the recall of their Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The voters, under the aegis of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, submitted the petition at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Related news Nigerian Senate Flattens Natasha’s 3exual harassment saga at IPU  Akpabio/Natasha’s feud:…