Author: straightnewsng.com

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Monday, said the closure of the borders has reduced smuggling and improved rice production in the country. Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, before the President departed to Saudi Arabia, Emefiele said the nation’s borders would remain closed until neighbouring countries agree to implement mutual anti-smuggling policies. Republic of Niger Republic in the northern border and Benin Republic to the west, are two countries noted for having several smuggling routes into Nigeria. According to Emefiele, apart…

Nigerian Army has flagged off exercise Crocodile Smile 4 in Delta State with a warning to oil thieves to desist from the criminal act or be ready to face the full weight of the law when arrested. Flagging off the exercise Monday, with a free medical outreach programme at the disputed boundary between Aladja in Udu local government area and Ogbe-Ijoh community, Warri South West local government area of the state, Commander 63 Brigade, Asaba, Delta State , Brigadier General Usman Bello said during the exercise, effort will be on to redress security challenges in the state, adding that oil…

The 14 members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his promise of resolving the legislative impasse in the state, saying the time to act is now as the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has crossed the red line and now a threat to democracy. The Assembly members who are opposed to the governor’s inauguration of 10 out of the 24-member legislature said Obaseki cannot continue to carry on against the party and the symbol of democracy, the legislature, without being sanctioned. Spokesman of the group, Washington Osifo, representing Uhunmwode State Constituency said…

Rivers State Government and Real Madrid Football Club have signed a ratification agreement for the development of Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt into an international football academy. The agreement signing ceremony took place, Monday, at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of Real Madrid Football Club. The signature event held at the Presidency Reception Centre of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The signature of the ratification Protocol was executed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the Executive Vice President of Real Madrid Football Club Foundation, Enrique Sanchez. In an address, Wike said: “We are preparing the Real Madrid Academy as a…

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has sworn in members of the State Judicial Service Commission in Calabar. Inaugurating the Commission, Monday at the State executive Chambers, Governor’s Office, Calabar, Ayade represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, urged members of the commission to be forthright in their conduct. His words: “We trust that the same way you have always been forthright in your duties, some of you as retired Judges of the state High Court, some of you as members of the Bar that you will continue to serve the state especially on this particular way so that…

The Chief of Army, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has expressed fear that inability to manage Federal Government’s public sector financial reforms well may affect the optimal performance of the army’s core competencies. It is believed that the army being a regimented organization should not undergo bureaucratic principles of the Nigerian public service for the purpose of carrying out its constitutional roles with precision. The financial reforms include cashless policy, Treasury Single Accounts, TSA, Foreign Exchange Restrictions, and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). On the contrary, Major General A. R. Bakare, the Chief of Accounts and Budget Corps has…

The Federal Government has pledged to lift 90 million Nigerians currently living in poverty across the country. Ms Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said this while presenting the 2020 budget estimates N44.21 billion for the approval of the House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees on Monday. Farouq said that the ministry was tasked with the responsibility to address some of the underlying causes, drivers and consequences of humanitarian crises and underdevelopment including. She said this included the relatively high level of poverty of nearly half (90 million) of the country’s 198 million…

By Akanimo Sampson For almost three decades, Somalia has been in the throes of unending conflict. Now, the most recent drought is adding to her many troubles. Currently, the result is displacement and food shortages. There are reports of urgent need for assistance among the most affected regions, such as Baidoa. In the first half of the year, forced displacement in Somalia was primarily due to insecurity, drought and floods, and at the moment, a total of 2.6 million people remain displaced within the country. Following the declaration of a severe drought in the Horn of Africa region, aid agencies, in collaboration with…

By Akanimo Sampson The people of Ubahu village, a Nanka community in Orumba North local governnent area of Anambra State in Eastern Nigeria, the hotbed of Biafra agitation, are no longer at ease as a major landslide has ruptured the social and economic peace of the area. This disaster of nature is seriously threatening their homes and farmlands. As a result, scores of families are already fleeing their homes in search of relatively save shelters. The area has always been vulnerable to erosion menace, leading to seasonal displacement of endangered families. Nanka comprises seven villages: Agbiligba, Enugwu, Ifite, Amako, Umudala,…

Pensioners in the country are asking the federal government to pay them minimum pension in line with the N30,000 new minimum wage approved for civil servants. The senior citizens said their demand was in the interest of equity and fairness and in line with Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended Recall that the Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had last Wednesday directed that the arrears on the minimum wage which took effect from April 18 when President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill into law be paid on or before December 31. Speaking…