Author: straightnewsng.com

By Osondu Ahirika Prelude: The year 1930, December 30th to be precise. Sixteen congregations seceded from the Qua Iboe Mission, the actual predecessor of Qua Iboe Church. Owing to geographical affinity, they adopted the name, Ibesikpo United Church. Rev. James William Westgarth who was the missionary in charge of affairs would have none of that and clamped down on the rebel congregations and their leaders.  He ordered a shutdown of the Churches and affiliate schools which precipitated a bitter legal battle. The matter was instigated by the refusal of the Qua Iboe Mission to grant the Ibesikpo…

A joint committee of Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, and the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights set up to investigate allegations of human rights abuse against the military by some foreign media organisations, has absolve the country’s troops of wrong doing. Rather, the committee in its report sighted by Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, said the military, especially the Nigerian Army, has demonstrated adequate will to recognise international standards on human rights in its war against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East. The committee, chaired by Dr Isaac Dikko, insisted that the “Nigerian military authorities have always acted in the best interest…

The House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for issuing his Executive Order 5, which restricts issuance of visas to foreigners whose skills were available within the country. According to the committee, the executive order will help improve local content in public procurement, with science, engineering and technology components. Chairman of the committee, Legor Idagbo (PDP-Bayelsa), who commended the President at the inaugural meeting of the committee yesterday, said the Executive Order was expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors…

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, (Northern Region), has expressed its displeasure over statements credited to an Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, alleging that the recent abduction of nine children in Kano State was done with intention of forcibly converting them to Christianity. MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, while reacting to the rescue of the abducted children from a couple in Anambra State, Paul and Mercy Onwe, alleged that kidnappers had taken over the house of God. “The phenomenon of kidnapping for Christ has now rented the air. It is such a big shame that some Christian fanatics…

President Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday, directed service chiefs to take urgent steps to settle the entitlements of soldiers who have paid the supreme price in the campaign against insurgency. Buhari, who gave the directive while launching the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration Emblem and Appeal Fund in Abuja, also told the service chiefs to settle the welfare packages of the soldiers for the benefit of their dependents. Speaking at the brief ceremony that took place at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, the President reiterated that the unity of Nigeria…

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of new aides for the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari. In a statement by the Director of Information, Office of First Lady, State House, Abuja the wife of former Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Mairo Almakura has been appointed Special Assistant on African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM). Muhammed Albishir is appointed Special Assistant on Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), while Wole Aboderin is appointed Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Organizations. Barr. Aiyu Abdullahi is the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Zainab Kazeem, Special Assistant on Domestic and…

Indications are rife that President Muhammadu Buhari may assent the Nigeria Peace Corps bill if passed again by the National Assembly into law. Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the president on National Assembly matters (Reps), Umar El-Yakub, dropped the hint Wednesday while addressing the media about the five new bills assented to by the President. Responding to a question as to whether the President would assent to the Nigeria Peace Corps Bill, if passed again and sent to him by the National Assembly, El-Yakub said: “So to answer you directly, of course, with the renewed relationship, I’m sure there will…

A new report by United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has said poor diets and a failing food system were responsible for at least 13.1 million cases of malnutrition among children in Nigeria. Already, Nigeria has the second highest proportion of children suffering malnutrition after the Democratic Republic of Congo in the West and Central Africa region, according to the report. The report released in commemoration of World Food Day entitled ”The State of the World’s Children 2019: Children, food and nutrition,” said: “At least 1 in 3 children under five is either undernourished or overweight. Almost 2 in 3 children between…

The Federal Government has announced the deportation of seven nationals of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, DPRK, for life. The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Public Relations Office of the Nigerian Immigration Service Wednesday in Abuja. The statement read: “The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has carried out the deportation of the following seven Democratic People’s Republic of Korea DPRK nationals from Nigeria for life. ”They are; Jo Sun Phil, Hang Sung Chol, Che Chun Hyok and Pak Yong Gon. Others are Ri Yong Il, Ri Hak Su and Ri Tong Nam.…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, said Wednesday it recovered over 200 property, including plazas, bungalows and mansions, from suspected corrupt individuals in the last eight months. The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, who stated this at a meeting with the management of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, in Abuja, boasted that the agency was on course to recover additional 100 houses from corrupt elements, adding that this would increase the number of seized assets to 300 before the end of the year. Owasanoye said the commission was working with the Federal…