Author: straightnewsng.com

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, are currently in talks on how to aggregate and calculate the maritime and shipping sectors’ contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Stating this in Lagos weekend, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, NIMASA’s Director-General, said that the contribution of the sector is presently scattered across different segments of the transport, trade and other sectors’ contribution to the GDP. He said the ongoing discussion aims to capture the comprehensive segments of the maritime industry including Customs’ collections at the ports into a single contribution to the GDP…

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, are becoming a threat to the unity of the nation through their “exclusionist policies, divisive comments, disregard for rules, political witch-hunt and failure to bring perpetrators of violence to book.” The party lamented that all efforts by well-meaning Nigerians and groups to ensure unity and harmonious co-existence “are being destroyed by the APC and the Buhari administration through their brazing acts of nepotism, total disdain for merit and complete disregard for the federal character principle in appointments, projects and programmes, to the vexation of the…

Dangote Group is said to be targeting a turnover of $30 billion for its businesses in the next two years. Speaking with the media, weekend, Aliko Dangote, President of the Group, noted that though the company’s annual turnover was about $4 billion before now, but with the completion and running of the refinery, fertilizer, petrochemicals and other businesses, the company’s turnover would be in the region of $30 billion in the next two years. Dangote lauded the Federal Government’s efforts in the agricultural sector, saying “We have massive arable land; we have water; we have the right climate, so the…

Some Nigerians have risen against President Muhammadu Buhari allowing members of his family the use aircraft in the presidential fleet. Activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN and President of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Sunday, said the use of aircraft in the presidential fleet by members of the first family for private events is not backed by law. It will be recalled that Hanan Buhari, the president’s daughter and the first-class graduate in Photography said to have been invited to the Durbar by Rilwanu Adamu, Emir of Bauchi flew in a presidential jet…

A jihadist attack on a military camp in western Niger three days ago left 89 soldiers dead, according to a new toll announced by the government on public radio Sunday. “After a thorough search, the toll has been established as 89 dead among friendly forces, and 77 dead for the enemy,” said spokesman Zakaria Abdourahame. Three days of national mourning have been declared to honour the dead. The previous toll given for Thursday’s attack on the Chinegodar camp was 25 soldiers killed. Heavily armed assailants had stormed the military base in an area where dozens also died in a previous…

Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 in a penalty shootout to win the first edition of the revamped Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia following a goalless draw after extra time in a tense final on Sunday. Captain Sergio Ramos converted the decisive fourth penalty for Real Madrid after Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo Goes and Luka Modric had scored for his side while Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey failed to convert for Atletico, with Kieran Trippier scoring for them. Atletico keeper Jan Oblak and Real counterpart Thibaut Courtois were the top performers in a cagey 90 minutes which forced…

Dakkada FC Sunday clipped the wings of high-flying Rivers United after slotting in 2-1 during the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL match. At the match played at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Rivers United a penalty goal against Dakkada FC during the injury time in the second half, yet it could not change the tide against them. From Jos, the rejuvenated Akwa United after four unbeaten wins played a goaless draw with Plateau United, the group’s leaders, at Jos Stadium on Sunday. After 14 matches, Dakkada FC with 23 points but superior goal margin occupy the fourth position while…

Anger is growing in the land. Vigils turned to mass protests as the mourners started calling for resignation of Iranian leaders are swelling by day. Some could not behold their sight just as the rest could not hold their tears when some Iranians “best and brightest” became charred after the downed plane’s inferno. US President Donald Trump Iranian leaders placed $80 million for his head is having his giggle over admission by Tehran that its forces mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing 176 people on board. Trump warned “To the leaders of Iran – DO NOT KILL YOUR…

By Akanimo Sampson The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Haiti, its Goodwill Ambassador Phyllisia Ross and a group of Haitian women artists have released the song ‘Goudou Goudou’ on the video to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Haiti earthquake and remember its victims. Named for the popular way Haitians describe the earthquake which devastated their country, the video will help raise funds for the many displaced Haitians still living in camps and still need support. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010, and IOM in coordination with the government of Haiti, United Nations and other…

By Akanimo Sampson Hundreds of former bonded labourers in western Nepal are currently benefiting from vocational training under an innovative International Labour Organisation (ILO) scheme. Birendra Chaudhary, now a fully trained and well-paid plumber, is one of them. The 28 year-old Birendra Chaudhary from far-western Nepal was born into a community that has, for centuries, been trapped in bonded labour. Under the Kamaya and Haliya system of bonded labour, landlords gave families loans that would give them just enough to get by, forcing them to work to pay off the loan. Both systems were abolished in the 2000s, however many…