Author: straightnewsng.com

A popular Nigerian social media critic and commentator has hailed Tyson Fury for employing deft boxing tactics to floor Deontay Wider in reclaiming a seventh-round stoppage. The self-styled “Gypsy King” produced a boxing masterclass to reign again as a world heavyweight champion as he pummeled Wilder in their tension-soaked rematch in Las Vegas Saturday. Femi Fani-Kayode, who is also a one-time Minister of Aviation in his Twitter handle, wrote “Congrats to@Tyson_Fury. He fought a great fight & took@BronzeBomber apart! According to him, “I was touched when he gave glory to our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ for his victory &proclaimed…

Straightnews has begun what is called Akwa Ibom Political Series. The essence is to look at the roles of key players in the political developments of the state since the return of the country and the state as a whole to democracy in 1999. The online newspaper looks at Paul Ekpo, otherwise known as “Paul Politics,” the state PDP chairman, his role and his future in the emerging Akwa Ibom politics. Paul Ekpo, the incumbent Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State, and the National Chairman of Committee of State Chairmen in PDP has come a long…

By Akanimo Sampson Nigeria is currently considering Finnish high-tech to address its worrisome economic and security challenges. Mobile technology and advanced software in areas such as process and network automation have been an integral part of the Finnish high-tech landscape for many years. HighTech Finland says there is a growing number of small Finnish companies that are making inroads into other fields, such as data and software security. HighTech Finland profiles a broad cross-section of the exciting work being done by Finnish companies and researchers – in areas ranging from mobile communications and sustainable energy to environmental technologies, new types…

By Akanimo Sampson There are serious concerns in some quarters that the 2030 development agenda is mainly a priority for global seed companies. But, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 development agenda, with the private sector playing an essential role in this. For those who know better, regional companies generally do not align their business activities with the SDGs. An exception, however, is South and Southeast Asia, where two-thirds of the regional companies report SDG commitments, but only two companies make these publicly available. One of them…

By Akanimo Sampson About seven million people in South Sudan, more than half of the population, are currently at the risk of being wiped off the earth as a result of acute food insecurity. Three United Nations agencies gave the warning in a joint statement on Thursday, saying that it will be happening at the height of this hunger season (May-July). According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released by the government of South Sudan, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the situation is particularly worrying…

By Akanimo Sampson More than 30,000 inhabitants of Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s second-largest city, with a population of 120,000 are migrants. The city used to be a sleepy fishing port, receiving few of the small numbers of tourists this Saharan African country sees. Recent data generated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reveal that 32,000 migrants currently live in Nouadhibou, about three-quarters of them arriving from Mauritania’s neighbours, Senegal and Mali. According to the IOM survey, 70 per cent of these migrants say their primary need is to find a stable job and to have access to health care and housing.…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Thursday, announced that it has recovered over N60 billion from banks as excessive charges imposed on customers. The CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor who attended a two-day customer sensitization forum in Owerri said the recovery of the excess bank charges was made possible through the bank’s Consumer Protection Department. According to him, the amount was recovered following complaints by 13,000 customers over excess and illegal charges on their accounts by banks. Okoroafor stated that the Apex Bank was determined to ensure that no bank customer was cheated with excessive charges from…

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have retained the 31st position in the latest FIFA rankings for February released on Thursday. In the latest ranking, the Eagles maintained their third position in Africa, while Tunisia are 27th in the world and second on the continent behind Senegal, who are Africa’s number one team and are 20th in the world. The Eagles’ 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group L opponents Sierra Leone, Lesotho and Benin Republic also maintained their spots. Benin remained at 88th, Lesotho are still 139th while Sierra Leone occupy 118th position. Meanwhile, Belgium retained number one spot in the world. While…

Following a riot in Government Technical College, Ewet Offot in Uyo local government area, 34 students suspended by Akwa Ibom State government would not be allowed to return to the school on its resumption. Already, the government has closed the school indefinitely following the unrest on Wednesday, February 19 in which the students were said to have engaged in unruly behavior, destroying school property and causing injuries to police officers and members of staff. A statement issued by the state’s Commissioner of Education, Professor Nse Essien on Thursday, February 20, said the students whose names were compiled through intelligence sources…

By Akanimo Sampson Sales of Fairtrade certified cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire in the last quarter of 2019 boosted farmers’ earnings by some $15.1 million (€13.8 million) compared to non-Fairtrade cocoa, according to preliminary figures released by Fairtrade International. The higher earnings are due to the difference between the guaranteed Fairtrade Minimum Price and the current Ivorian government-set cocoa price. Fairtrade increased its Minimum Price for cocoa by 20 percent to $2,400 per tonne at FOB (point of export), effective October 1, 2019. This means that Fairtrade certified cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire are currently receiving almost $236 more per tonne on…