Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) says Fusarium wilt is one of the most devastating diseases of banana. Fusarium wilt, popularly known as Panama disease, is a soilborne fungal disease. It is responsible for the crop’s declining yield in the Great Lakes region of Africa, where banana is a major source of food and income for millions of smallholder farmers. The disease is spread by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), which enters the root systems of banana plants and blocks the uptake of nutrients and water. It causes yellowing of leaves, splitting of the pseudostem, and eventual death…

English Premier League leaders Liverpool ended their unbeaten run after they fell to 19th-placed rivals Watford on Saturday. The match, which was Liverpool’s 28th league game, ended 3-0 in favour of The Hornets. Coach Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded their first defeat of the season after winning 26 of their last 27 league matches with one draw. The match had ended in a goalless draw in half time before Ismaila Sarr’s double and Troy Deeney’s strike, all in less than 20 minutes, dashed Liverpool’s hopes of winning the title unbeaten unlike ‘The Invisibles’ of 2003-04 season. It was the first time…

Development experts came together and castigated Nigerians for being apathetic in demanding transparency in the extractive industry from the Federal Government. After a documentary was rolled out that Nigeria generated N83 trillion from the petroleum resources which accounted for 70 per cent revenue in the last four decades, the experts agreed that given transparency, extractive industry would have accrued more revenue to the government. Baring their minds during the concluded Social Media Week 2020 in Lagos held at Landmark Event Centre on the topic Technology for Transparency in extractives, they observed that Nigerians are the losers for keeping mute over…

By Akanimo Sampson Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says his administration has developed a strong security architecture that is attracting foreign and local investors to the state. Speaking on Friday when he granted audience to the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens-Peter Kjemprud at the Government House Port Harcourt,  Governor Wike informed that more investments are being made to further improve security in the State. He said: “We have improved security in the state and that has given confidence to investors.  We are further developing the security architecture for better security of lives and property.” Governor Wike said that with improved…

Lagos State, in the southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria with the epithet: Centre of Excellence, can be in the news for good or bad things. Like any megacity in the country, Lagos can be known for eccentricities that will keep many tongues wagging. On Friday morning, Lagos State government confirmed recording the first case of coronavirus in an Italian businessman who flew into the country on February 25. In the morning, some people, taxi drivers and security guards at events centres started wearing face masks and airport and hoteliers rolled out hand washers. Friday night, rain fell and rendered most…

By Akanimo Sampson The Federal Government has warned that insurgents in the North-East are plotting to spark a religious war in Nigeria. Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, says the insurgents’ latest strategy is meant to trigger a religious war and throw the country into chaos. Speaking in a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, he pointed out that Islamic terrorists are targeting Christians and Christian communities in Nigeria. His position tends to contradict President Muhammadu Buhari’s assertion in an op-ed article published three weeks ago in a United States-based magazine, Christianity Today. He tributes the Michika Local Government Area Chairman…

By Akanimo Sampson Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are now to fund foreign training for repentant Boko Haram fighters. This is contained in a bill proposing the establishment of  National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalisation and Integration of Repentant Insurgents in Nigeria. Funding will also come from donations, grants, annual subventions from the government and counterpart funding from the six North-East states of Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe. The bill,  known officially known as A Bill for the Establishment of the National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalisation and Integration of…

As Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is about to roll out 5G into the market, Nigerians are told in clear terms to be ready to pay more for mobile data. 5G is the fifth-generation wireless technology for digital cellular networks that began wide deployment in 2019 and it uses higher energy millimeter-wave radiation. This is as NCC is planning to revolutionise the communication industry with the planned launch of 6G in the year 2030. The Director, Technical Standards & Networks Integrity, Nigerian Communications Commission, Engr. Wakil Baku stated this at the ongoing Social Media Week 2020 in Lagos on Thursday. Speaking…

By: Gab Efo The recent obsequies of Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang, a teacher and church elder, turned out to be a high-powered national significance. Nkanang whose son, Udom is the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had left for an eternal home in a blaze of glory. As his remains were lowered into the grave in his native land- Awa Iman, Onna local government area of the state, he must have sung like the Biblical Simeon Lord, let their servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen their salvation. The high and mighty across political and religious lines sank their differences…

Youssef El-Arabi scored in the last minute of extra-time to give Olympiakos a 2-1 victory at Arsenal on Thursday and knock the Londoners out of the Europa League. Arsenal, last year’s losing finalists, had won the first leg of the round of 32 tie 1-0 in Greece. Defender Pape Abou Cisse cancelled out that advantage after 53 minutes. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Arsenal back in front with a spectacular goal 23 minutes into extra-time, but El Arabi dramatically put Olympiakos through on away goals.