Author: straightnewsng.com

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Sunday, said it has phased out unclaimed dividends in the Nigerian capital market, stating that henceforth, there would be no future unclaimed dividends on those currently being declared by companies. In a statement in Abuja, Ms. Mary Uduk, acting Director-General of SEC, said the commission had gone far in addressing the unclaimed dividends problem, stating that the decision to eliminate it completely, going forward, was a major milestone. Uduk who was represented in a television interview by Mr. Okey Umeano, the Head, Office of the Chief Economist of SEC, said the commission had engaged…

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, has said that Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, lacks powers to order the release of any detainee out of mercy. Falana was responding to Malami’s claim that he ordered the release of Omoyele Sowore, convener of RevolutionNow movement, and Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, on compassionate grounds. Malami had said the Department of State Services, DSS, which had detained Sowore and Dasuki against court orders, was asked to release the duo not because of international pressure but on the grounds of respect for rule of law…

Beginning from the 2020 Fiscal Year, it will no longer be business as usual with taking public funds as the Federal Government has planned that only verified Constituency Projects would attract payments from the treasury. The sum of N275.678 million had been provided for the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to verify all Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects, nation-wide, for payment authorisation. In addition, N240. 671 million was budgeted for the purchase of Project Motor Vehicles for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities. President Muhammadu Buhari had stated that the nation lost about N1 trillion to Constituency Projects in 10 years,…

An environmental expert and lecturer in the University of Calabar, Cross River State has raised the alarm that water channels in the Niger Delta region are under serious threat. Speaking with Vanguard in Abuja, Dr. Ralph Offiong, who is also an Associate professor in the university said that aquatic life was under serious threat in the region except something was done to salvage the situation. According to him, “If you look at the Niger Delta, one of the most troubling scenarios is the issue that has to do with the blocking and taking over the waterways, water surfaces, water bodies,…

Ahead of the 2023 general polls, plots by some state governors to remove the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole from office are thickening. Some governors and stakeholders had expressed fears that the APC might fail given the way Oshiomhole, in their estimation, was running the party more so as President Muhammadu Buhari will not be on the ballot. Those opposed to Oshiomhole cited APC’s fate in Rivers and Zamfara states where avoidable squabbles made the party not to have valid governorship and other candidates in the 2019 polls, a development that gave the opposition…

Frank Lampard revealed a feisty half-time exchange inspired Chelsea to ruin Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s home debut with a thrilling fightback in their 2-1 win on Sunday. Lampard was furious with Chelsea’s lethargic first half at the Emirates Stadium after they fell behind to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early goal. The Chelsea boss was so frustrated he changed his side’s formation in the 33rd minute, hauling off Emerson and sending on Jorginho. That switch proved an inspired move as Chelsea gradually took control and equalised in the 83rd minute after Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno’s mistake allowed Jorginho to tap in. Tammy Abraham…

By Akanimo Sampson Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is poised to capture a small but growing portion of the international bunker fuel market in the United States and across the globe, according to S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information, benchmark prices and analytics for the energy and commodities markets. This is expected to be so as shipping companies prepare to bring their fleets into compliance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2020 on low sulfur content. The IMO new regulations will come into effect from January 1, 2020, when the ocean-going vessels have to cut the sulfur content…

A 19-year-old man has been arrested for killing a suspected paedophile priest by ramming a crucifix down his throat and suffocating him. Alexandre V., who is alleged to have been abused by the priest, attacked the 91-year-old Catholic Roger Matassoli at the holy figure’s home in Agnetz, Oise, northern France. Matassoli had been accused of sexually abusing at least four boys, including Alexandre and Alexandre’s father, between 1960 and 2000. The priest had to be shifted from the diocese of Clermont in 1967 to the diocese of Saint-Andre-Farivillers, and was then moved to Agnetz, following allegations of paedophilia, reports Franceinfo. And…

By Akanimo Sampson S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, has started to publish a first-to-market suite of hydrogen price assessments. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the known universe and readily is used in industrial processes across the world, largely for oil refining and ammonia production. However, hydrogen is increasingly attracting interest from investors, policymakers and energy market participants as a potential new clean fuel for transportation and a lower-carbon substitute for natural gas in industrial processes, materials production, power generation, as well as for commercial and…

By Akanimo Sampson The toll on civilians and health systems has continued to mount as clashes rage on in north-eastern Syria. Consequently, mass displacements have complicated the delivery of basic health services, including reproductive health and maternal health care. Already, in response to the crisis, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has expanded its coverage in hard-to-reach villages, including Mabada and Al Jawadia in Al-Hassakeh, Al-Qamishly, Tabqa, Jurnia and Twehina, as well as the Newroz and Mahmoudi camps. Despite the challenging environment, UNFPA, with funding from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, has been able to reach tens of…