Author: straightnewsng.com

The initiative by Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in signing a bill into law proscribing 65 cult groups is principally intended to stalk the rising menace and inadvertently dishevel the penetrating influence of secret cultism in the state. Of recent and on a daily basis, some cult groups have posed a serious threat to the security and peaceful co-existence of the hardworking people of the state. Some investors and innocent passersby have been the butt of their menacing activities. Where the cult groups do not engage in an altercation with some members of the public over flimsy issues, they turn…

By Akanimo Sampson The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted, from March 1, a one-year moratorium on all of its intervention funds. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele pointed out that the policy measures are to tackle the impact of coronavirus on the businesses and the country’s economy. The apex bank through the Deposit Money Banks has provided a total of N3 trillion to the Small and Medium Enterprises sector of the economy. This is as Lagos State Ministry of Health has confirmed that a 30-year-old Nigerian female who returned from the United Kingdom on Friday, 13 March 2020, observed…

By Akanimo Sampson Chief Executive Officer of ClipperData, Abudi Zein, says it is too early to gauge the full economic and trade effects of the Coronavirus outbreak. ClipperData is concerned with proprietary data offering, bringing a new level of transparency and accuracy to the global cargo tracking industry. According to Zein, shipping data, based on real-time observations of vessel positions (AIS) and information about the cargoes aboard those ships, already shows a change in the operational behaviour of container vessels and in the amount of oil products on the water. His analysis is seeking to put these short-term changes in…

The Consumer Price Index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 12.20% (year-on-year) in February 2020, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. In its inflation report for February 2020 released on Tuesday, the agency explained that the figure was 0.07% higher than the rate of 12.13% recorded in January 2020. The food index rose from 14.85% recorded in January to 14.9% in February 2020 while core inflation increased by 0.08% to stand at 9.43% compared to 9.35% recorded in the preceding month.

The Red Devils are unbeaten since the signing of the Nigeria forward who provided three goals and an assist this month. Odion Ighalo has been nominated for Manchester United’s Player of the Month award for March. The 30-year-old faces competition from fellow January signing Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Fred as he eyes his maiden accolade at Old Trafford. Ighalo has boosted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team since his temporary arrival in January and they are unbeaten in all competitions since their 2-0 defeat to Burnley back in January 22. 3️⃣ #MUFC starts 4️⃣ #MUFC goals@IghaloJude ? pic.twitter.com/3wOpU7hmZ0 — Manchester United…

The anti-cult war got a boost Monday, March 16, when Akwa Ibom State government formally proscribed 65 secret cult groups. Signing the Cultism and Other Violent Behaviour (Prohibition) Order, 2020 into law, Governor Udom Emmanuel reiterated his administration’s commitment to maintaining the state’s record in safety, security and investor-friendliness, as well as ensuring a future for the Akwa Ibom youth. Emmanuel, who penned the law during an emergency Executive Council meeting at the Executive Chambers, Government Hous,e Uyo, revoked the Cultism and other violent Behavior (Prohibition) Order, 2018, saying the new law has been expanded to cover components not covered…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered a stay of execution on the suspension of Adams Oshiohmole as the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC. Justice Danlami Senchi of the FCT High Court, Jabu in Abuja had suspended Oshiomole as the APC National Chairman. In a ruling by a three-man panel of Justices led by Justice Yahaya Dattijohe, the appellate court also issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents from taking steps to give effect to the high court ruling, pending the determination of appeals Oshiomhole filed before it. The court of appeal warned political parties to resolve…

By Akanimo Sampson The United States of America is currently exploring a partnership with international organisations for the Ibadan campus of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Already, Ms Claire Pierangelo, the US Consul-General, and her team have visited the IITA Ibadan campus in Western Nigeria. The purpose of the visit on March 11 was for the Consul General to understand the activities of IITA and help in areas of advocacy and partnership with international organisations. After giving the team a warm welcome, the Acting Director-General, Kwame Akuffo-Akoto, gave a brief introduction of IITA and a video was shown…

By Akanimo Sampson If all goes well, Nigeria will be conducting her national population census every 10 years. The Red Chamber of the National Assembly is introducing an amendment bill to alter Section 213 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to give legal backing to 10-year compulsory conduct of a national census. In 2012, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics puts the total population of citizens in Nigeria at around 166.2 million people. In 2016, it was estimated to have over 178.5 million people although United Nations projections placed the population as high as 186 million. At independence in 1960, Nigeria recorded an estimated…

By Akanimo Sampson The COVID-19 shock will cause a recession in some countries and depress global annual growth this year to below 2.5%, a United Nations trade agency says. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the spread of the coronavirus is first and foremost a public health emergency, but it’s also a significant economic threat. Even if the worst is avoided, the hit to global income, compared with what forecasters had been projecting for 2020, will be capped at around the trillion-dollar mark. But could it be worse? UNCTAD published an analysis on March 9,…