Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson In partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is offering technical support to governments, to enable people to travel in a healthy manner and help enact public health measures with minimum impact on society and the economy as concerns mount about the number of reported infections from coronavirus and its spread to at least 20 countries. According to WHO, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus…

The United States government, Sunday, attributed inadequate sharing of public-safety and terrorism-related information necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the US as the reason for the visa restrictions on Nigeria and five other West African countries. Other countries affected by the new visa regime are Eritrea, Myanmar, Tanzania, Sudan, and Kyrgyzstan. In the new arrangement announced on January 31, the US suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to Nigerian passport holders with effect from February 21. In a full report of the visa restrictions entitled: “Proclamation on improving enhanced vetting capabilities and process” posted…

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye led members of the church to protest against the spate of insecurity in Nigeria. Straightnews learned that the protest was triggered days after Boko Haram executed the Chairman of CAN in Michika local government area, Adamawa State, Pastor Lawan Andimi, who was abducted by the insurgents on January 3 and gruesomely murdered despite being offered a N50 million ransom. This is as a seminarian Michael Nnadi abducted on January 8 in Kaduna by unknown gunmen was killed a few days ago. In a video shared on Twitter,…

At least, 20 people were trampled to death in a stampede at a church service during a rush for pastor’s miracle oil in Tanzania, Reuters reported. Reports said hundreds of people attended the prayer service in an open ground stadium on Saturday evening led by a popular preacher in the town of Moshi, near Mount Kilimanjaro. The stampede occurred when Pastor Boniface Mwamposa, who heads the Arise and Shine Ministry and calls himself “The Apostle,” reportedly poured “holy oil” on the ground, prompting the crowd to surge forward in the hopes of touching it. The rush to be anointed by…

By Akanimo Sampson Nigeria and other African countries are featuring prominently in two new work programmes that include innovative ventures to expand marine protected areas and engage indigenous peoples for biodiversity protection and for climate change resilience-building efforts in the least Developed Countries (LDCs). The two programmes is to gulp more than $600 million. Representatives of the Global Environment Facility’s 183 country members that met in Washington DC, approved the set of five programmes and 48 projects, including four multi-trust fund projects, to be implemented in 87 developing and LDCs. The $588.5 million in GEF Trust Fund financing approved by…

By Akanimo Sampson International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for a whole-of-supply-chain approach to address child labour in global supply chains during his opening statement to the conference. Director-General of the ILO, Guy Ryder, said that efforts against child labour in global supply chains will be inadequate if they do not extend beyond immediate suppliers and include those involved in the extraction and production of raw materials. Ryder also urged governments to address the root causes of child labour in global supply chains, such as poverty, informality and insufficient access to education. “Today, 152 million children are still in child labour.…

Novak Djokovic battled through intense pressure from Dominic Thiem to re-assert his dominance at the Australian Open Sunday, claiming a record eighth title and in doing so retaking the world No. 1 ranking. The indomitable Serb stretched his unbeaten streak this season to 13 by rallying from two sets to one down and beating the courageous fifth-seeded Austrian 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a nearly four-hour ordeal. It was his 17th Grand Slam title, moving him within two of Rafael Nadal and three of Roger Federer on the all-time list.

By: Israel Umoh During the military rule in the country, a police officer dared the military despots in the 80s. Alozie Ogubuaja, the then image-maker of Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Command described the Nigerian Army as a bunch of lazy men eating pepper-soup and drinking beer – with only one thought how to plan coup d’états. This irked and embarrassed the military top brass. His ‘sin’ fetched him a sack from the system. Probably, Ogubuaja fell as a victim in the public service for challenging the system and for his audacity and frankness in being himself. Maybe, he was not…

Antonio Rudiger rescued Chelsea as the German defender’s second goal of the game earned a 2-2 draw against top-four rivals Leicester on Saturday. Rudiger put Chelsea ahead early in the second half at the King Power Stadium before Harvey Barnes and Ben Chilwell scored in quick succession to give Leicester the lead. A thrilling second half climaxed when Rudiger became the first defender to score a brace for Chelsea in the Premier League since John Terry against Fulham in 2013. Third-placed Leicester could be more sanguine about the result as they sit eight points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea, who have…

History was made as Britain becomes the first country to quit the European Union after 47 years in the club, leaving 27 member states that will now regard it as a third country. Britain officially left the European Union on Friday – the last three dominated by wrangling over when and how the kingdom would eventually leave. Emotions were running high as the EU’s often reluctant member becomes the first to leave an organisation set up to forge unity among nations after the horrors of World War II. Thousands of people waving Union Jack flags packed London’s Parliament Square to…