Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson In 2018, about two billion people experienced food insecurity, and more than 820 million others, which is equivalent to more than 10% of the world’s population, were hungry. This challenge exists in the context of a global population that is projected to grow from the current 7.7 billion to 8.5 billion in 2030, just a decade away, and rise to 9.7 billion in 2050. The majority of those facing hunger and food insecurity live in developing countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, and Turkey. These countries including many Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Angola, Benin, Burkina…

The Senate, Thursday, swore in Senator Christopher Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Akwa-Ibom North-West Senatorial District in the National Assembly. Ekpenyong of the PDP polled 134, 717 votes, while Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 83, 820 votes in the January 25, 2020 re-run election for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District in Essien Udim local government area. He took the oath administered by the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Musa Abdullahi administered the oath of office and the oath of allegiance on Ekpenyong at about 10:40 a.m. on the floor of the Senate.…

By Akanimo Sampson A fresh worrisome threat to food security and livelihoods is currently emerging in the Horn of Africa. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has already warned that rising numbers of Desert Locusts present an “extremely alarming and unprecedented threat’’ to food security and livelihoods in the region. The Horn of Africa is, however, a peninsula in Africa that extends hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. The area is the easternmost projection of the African continent. Referred to in ancient and medieval times as…

By: Israel Umoh Many people outside the academic community would not have heard or known about him. But as soon as Ben Ayade, the microbiologist sauntered into the political turf, his popularity soared. In 2011, he became a Senator under the platform of PDP. In 2015, he ascended as the Cross River governor. Incidentally, his political profile has risen above his professorial title. Being in the bedroom of power, Ayade could exercise the political power at will. As a governor, he could demand the head of his enemy and it is taken to him in a saucer. Yes, King Herod…

For the first time, the House of Representatives, Wednesday, suspended its plenary to allow Muslim members went for their prayers. The house presided over by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives proceeded on the prayer after swearing in new members who won Saturday’s re-run elections in some states. Our reporter learned that the House stood down its proceedings in the Order paper to enable the members to go for prayers only to return after some time to continue with the day’s business. “This is in breach of the standing rules and procedure guiding conduct of the House,”…

By Akanimo Sampson More than three months after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a forensic audit of the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2001 to 2019, the management of the interventionist agency does not appear to be on the same page with the president on the issue. A concerned civic group in the oil and gas region is currently alleging that the management of the commission does not allow the forensic audit ordered by President Buhari to be carried out. Instead of honouring the presidential order, NDDC is rather embarking on project verification, and not a forensic…

By Akanimo Sampson A seeming protracted Oil War has left no fewer than 33 people dead, an uncertain number of children missing, and 4,000 citizens displaced in a South Sudan community that is near Abyei town. Aid workers in the troubled area say the 33 people killed include women and children, and an unknown number wounded during an attack in Kolom, that is nine kilometres from Abyei town the previous Wednesday. Humanitarian agencies are also claiming that an unknown number of children were abducted during the bloody incident. Abyei town is, however, a north-south border town currently in the Abyei Area that…

Senate, Tuesday, acknowledged receipt of a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking recognition of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) until the forensic audit on its accounts is completed. The letter was read by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and centres on the committee constituted by the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio. This came two months after the Senate approved the President’s request to confirm a 16-man board to oversee operations of the commission

Coronavirus has sent jitters to Asia and the rest of the world killing at least132 people and almost 6,000 cases have been confirmed in mainland China, as the Wuhan Coronavirus spreads across like wildfire. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, the viruses cause respiratory infections which are typically mild including the common cold but rarer forms like SARS and MERS can be lethal. The first suspected cases of the virus were reported at the end of last year on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan, but it has since been confirmed in…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Akwa Ibom Command arrested 385 suspects, comprising 343 males and 42 females in 2019. The State Commander of NDLEA, Mr Mohammed Sokoto, who stated this Tuesday in a press statement signed by him and made available to newsmen in Uyo, said the command secured 24 convictions and seized 525.274kg of drugs during the period. On drug demand deduction, the command rehabilitated and counselled 225 clients and people who use drugs, adding that 16 drug dependent persons were successfully rehabilitated including two medical students. “Analysis of threat indicates that cannabis sativa is the most…