Author: straightnewsng.com

The Federal Government has ordered the release of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and convener of online #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami made this public in a statement on Tuesday. Malami said the decision to release them was in compliance with the bail granted the two by the court. “The two defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial which will run its…

By Akanimo Sampson The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an agency of the United Nations, and the Cambodian National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control (CENAT) have launched a new collaboration to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) among Cambodian migrants returning from Thailand. The project which is funded by the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, will provide TB screening, diagnosis, health education, and referral support to over 100,000 migrants over the next three years. The Poipet border between Thailand and Cambodia, in Cambodia’s Banteay Meachey province, is the main crossing point for Cambodian irregular migrants returned by the Thai immigration…

By Akanimo Sampson President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says the church is planning to build eight new temples throughout the world. Nelson’s announcement brings the total number of operating temples (166) and temples announced or under construction (51) to 217 worldwide. The new temples will be in the following locations: Freetown, Sierra Leone There are more than 21,000 Latter-day Saints and approximately 70 congregations in Sierra Leone. This will be the first temple in Sierra Leone. There are presently nine temples in Africa in operation, under construction or announced including Accra, Ghana; the Democratic Republic…

A soldier attached to the country home of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state, has been killed by unidentified gunmen. The gunmen who stormed the ex-president’s premises at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, December 24 came through the river on five speedboats and opened fire on the soldiers manning the ex-president’s residence. During the exchange of gunfire with the soldiers, two gunmen were killed and their colleagues escaped with the corpses to conceal their identity. “The gunmen assumed that Jonathan was in the Otueke residence having seen him visiting thrice on Monday till late. His…

By: Israel Umoh How time like rainwater rolls on a dizzying hillside into a river and is easily flushed away. Down the lane, November every year was a harvest season for most of us in the villages in some parts of the Niger Delta region. By then, freezing harmattan that scorched evergreen leaves and peeled off the human bodies had skulked in. Once luscious lips and rotund faces looked like parched papers. Well-sculptured legs and hands were dehydrated beyond human description. Only pomade, Vaseline and palm oil restored wrinkled portions. On the harvest day, our father drafted everybody to the…

Humanitarian agencies continue to lose more staffers in North Eastern part of Nigeria. Allianace for International Medical Action (ALIMA) has joined the rank of casualties as Boko Haram/ISWAP ambushed its convoy along Monguno in Borno State killing three men and abducting two female aid workers. Monguno is about 140 kilometres away from Maiduguri, capital for Borno state. Recall that Islamist extremists in Nigeria, a faction of Boko Haram killed Hauwa Mohammed Liman, 24, a medical aid worker held hostage since March after expiration of a deadline. Liman, a Nigerian who worked in a hospital supported by the International Committee of…

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 623 senior police officers to their next ranks. A statement by Ikechukwu Ani, the Head, Press and Public Relations, indicated that 40 Deputy Commissioners of Police were elevated to Commissioners of Police; 98 Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioners while 150 Chief Superintendents were promoted Assistant Commissioners. Also, 335 Superintendents had their promotions approved to the next rank of Chief Superintendents. According to the statement, the promotions were strictly based on seniority, merit, availability of vacancies and clean record of service. ”The promotions were one of the highpoints of…

By Akanimo Sampson In Djibouti, young people marked International Migrants Day with the launch of a UN Migration-supported youth-led fabrication lab or Fab Lab which will provide training and access to computer-assisted equipment like 3D printers and laser cutters for returnee migrants, refugees and the local community. Djibouti is situated in the Horn of Africa. The country’s one-million people face unique migration challenges. It is a source and transit country for hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen and, while the economy has seen some growth over recent years, youth unemployment remains very high. Migrants forced to abandon dangerous journeys and turn back…

By Akanimo Sampson The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has started the process of relocating Venezuelans currently living in the city of Manaus, Brazil, to other cities in the country.  In the first flights the previous week, a total of 58 people were airlifted. The goal of IOM is to support each month at least 100 refugees and migrants from Venezuela to seek new opportunities in all regions of the country. They are Venezuelans who are in shelters, on the street or even living in rented houses in neighbourhoods of Manaus. Those who have already found a job or have family or…

Nigeria has lost its bid to host the U-20 Women’s World cup in 2020, following FIFA’s decision to go with Costa Rica and Panama as joint hosts. The decision may have come owing to the dearth of facilities in the stadia visited by the FIFA inspection team this year. The global women’s tournament would have been hosted in Lagos, Benin City, Asaba and Uyo. A statement released by FIFA’s Chief Tournaments and Events Officer Colin Smith which conveyed the decision reads in part: “We would like to thank the Costa Rican and Panamanian football associations for their commitment towards women’s football and…