Author: straightnewsng.com

By Udeme Nana They are not non-indigenes- they are neither tall nor lanky like some Hausa-Fulanis from the Northern parts of the country.They are neither Muslims nor animists.Their dentition does not betray them as people who engage in an intercourse with kolanut every minute. No, they do not carry small plastic plates around and do not turn out in dirty danshiki.They do not look unkempt and are not illiterates. They are able-bodied, some tall, fair and handsome while others are dark-complexioned, stocky and look hard. Some are graduates from tertiary institutions and are not products of polygamous harems.They are not…

By Akanimo Sampson Founder of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Atedo Peterside, has faulted some of the policy measures of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the wake of crashing oil prices. He will also be shunning the apex bank’s forum in protest of Muhammadu Sanusi’s ordeal in the hands of the Kano State Government. Peterside says the stability of Nigeria’s macro-economy is threatened by an unsustainable policy mix like CBN’s resolve to “pursue a low domestic interest rate regime which clearly cannot coexist with high inflation and naira exchange rate stability in the face of collapsed or collapsing oil…

By Akanimo Sampson As the world celebrated the International Women’s Day on Sunday, a lawyer in Cross River State was busy drafting court processes against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River and the state House of Assembly for allegedly rejecting Justice Akon Ikpeme as Chief Judge of the state. The lawyer, First Baba Isa, says this is best I can do for women on a day like that. “So, today, I have filed a suit at the Federal High Court against the governor and the House, joining the National Judicial Council, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Speaker of the…

Nigeria Professional Football League champions Enyimba will receive N12,827,500 ($350,000) after crashing out in the quarter-final stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. Guinean side Horoya defeated the Nigerians 3-1 on aggregate – winning 2-0 in Conakry on Sunday – a 1-1 stalemate in Aba a week earlier. CAF had released a new prize schedule for competitions run by the federation in November 2016, which was expected to run from 2017 to 2020. In the new schedule, winners of the Africa Cup of Nations would receive $4 million, while those of the Champions League would go home with $2.5 million. In…

By Akanimo Sampson In 22 countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, Myanmar, Syria and Yemen, 43 million people are currently vulnerable. For the past three years, the number of people facing acute food insecurity has been persistently above 100 million. The latest addition, are at risk of increased acute food insecurity. Yet, they are agriculture-dependent people. Conflict and insecurity are the main drivers of hunger, exacerbated by climate shocks and economic instability. Many countries are facing a combination of two or all of these drivers at the same time, resulting in major food crises. Conflict and climate shocks have had…

By Akanimo Sampson The number of youths seeking employment in Africa currently surpasses the number of job opportunities available on the continent. At the moment, 10 to 12 million youths are entering the workforce each year in Africa. Consequently, policymakers in the continent are being called upon to adopt sustainable ways to address the rate of employment among youth across the continent. In a study carried out by Esther Lombe Kwaambwa, under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-sponsored CARE project being implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), youth unemployment, currently estimated at 23%, is projected to…

The deposed Kano Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has indicated interest to sue Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the Kano State Governor over his detention and banishment in the court. Lawyers to the dethroned Emir have asked the Governor Ganduje to reverse the erstwhile monarch’s banishment from Kano or be prepared to meet them in court. Sanusi’s lawyers also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Kano State Government to release him from unlawful custody. The former emir’s counsels, led by Abubakar Mahmoud, made the request at a press conference on Tuesday. His lawyers while addressing the press in Kano Tuesday said he has…

The trial of President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro, over alleged N1.4 billion fraud preferred by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against him will continue on March 23. Usoro who is standing trial on a 10-count charge of the fraud was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan in December 2018, but the case was re-assigned to Justice Rilwan Aikawa following an application for transfer of the case. He pleaded not guilty to the charge before Hassan and Aikawa, and was granted bail. Trial has since begun before Aikawa. Also in the charge against Usoro is Akwa Ibom…

Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has been appointed the new Emir of Kano by the State Government. Until now, Bayero was the Emir of Bichi, one of the new four emirates carved out of Kano Emirate. He replaces dethroned Muhammadu Sanusi II. Bayero is a graduate of Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano. He was also a former Danmajen Kano, Dan Buran, Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida and Wamban Kano. He was later appointed emir of Bichi after the creation of Karaye, Gaya, Rano and Bichi Emirates by the present administration. Among the reasons stated were alleged insubordination, refusal to attend official…

By Akanimo Sampson The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s (IITA) Business Incubation Platform (BIP) has set a new production record for maize in Nigeria. BIP exceeded the previous record through its Youth Out-growers team in an out-growers programme with Nestlé, Nigeria. Maize is one of Africa’s dominant food crops, rich in vitamins A, C, and E, carbohydrates, and essential minerals as well as 9% protein. Africa harvests 29 million hectares, and as the largest producer, Nigeria produced 1.69 tons per hectare in 2019, its highest production rate. However, the Out-growers team has achieved an average of 6 tons/ha, a massive development compared…