Author: straightnewsng.com

Akwa Ibom State Government in collaboration with World Bank has presented a cheque of N135 million for the development of 15 rural communities in the state. The benefiting communities include Ikot Esen Oku and Mbioto Ekpene Ituen community in Etinan LGA; Ibam Edet, Mbiafun Ikot Abasi and Nkwot Etok community in Ini LGA; Nto Uso community in Ika LGA; Offot Ikot Abasi Esu and Ibesit Okpokoro community in Oruk Anam LGA. Others are Ikot Obom community in Nsit Atai LGA; Ikot Ukana and Okpo Eto Edem Idim community in Obot Akara LGA; Ikot Udo Obobo community in Ukanafun LGA and…

The Federal High Court in Abuja, Tuesday, ordered the immediate release of the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore. The court made the order after saying that there was no extant order allowing Mr Sowore’s further detention before the court. This is as Senator Shehu Sani has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently drop all the charges against pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, by the government. The court said Mr Sowore must deposit his international passport within 48 hours after his release and ordered that his lawyer, Femi Falana, should be responsible for producing him in court once he has…

The World Bank Group has committed about $12 billion to programmes and projects in Nigeria, the Vice President, Dr. Hafez Ghanem has confirmed. Dr. Ghanem who led the bank’s delegation said its portfolio across all sectors stands at $11billion, while International Finance Corporation, IFC’s portfolio stands at over $1 billion in sector, including manufacturing, financial services and infrastructure. The World Bank Group delegation was in Nigeria to discuss how it could help the country leverage private and public investments and expertise for inclusive growth. The bank said in a statement, Monday, that the new approach to mobilize development financing was…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, Monday, warned governments at various levels to allow the judiciary enjoy its independence without undue interference, saying it would never be subservient to anybody, no matter his position in the society. This is as Muhammad lamented that the nation’s judiciary was not free to discharge its responsibility, saying it goes about begging for funds to survive. The CJN, who spoke at a special session marking the commencement of the 2019/2020 legal year of the Supreme Court and swearing-in of 38 newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria, maintained that the judiciary under…

Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award on Monday with Megan Rapinoe bagging the women’s prize to cap a historic year for the United States’ World Cup icon. A sixth-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or, Messi is yet to win The Best FIFA Men’s Player award since its inception in 2016, but could finally bag the trophy after a season in which he netted 51 goals in all competitions to help Barcelona to a 26th Spanish league championship. Barcelona striker Messi’s victory in Milan was a surprise as he edged out Virgil Van Dijk, who won…

The Atha Oro VII and the Paramount Ruler of Mbo local government area has embarked on the homeward journey. He is His Royal Majesty Ovong (Hon.) Edet Okon Isemin. Announcing this in Uyo on Monday, Edidem Udo Joe Ntuk Obom X11, the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi said his obsequies have commenced and appealed to all to cooperate with the bereaved family. He was born on October 1, 1935 to the royal family of the late Ovong Okon Isemin and Mma Arit Udo, both of Udung Isemin in Ibaka. Isemin was born into the Roman Catholic Faith and had his…

Aliko Dangote Foundation, ADF, has again floated a scheme to empower 106,000 women across four states in the Northern region with N1.1 billion. To achieve the scheme, the ADF has already commenced the identification of eligible beneficiaries of the programme across four states. The foundation will empower 23,000 women in Sokoto, 34,000 women in Katsina, 21,000 women in Kebbi and 28,000 women in Zamfara. The programme is a N10 billion programme that targets one million indigent and vulnerable women. It was launched in Kano State in 2011 and is being systematically rolled out nationwide to cover the 774 Local Government…

The Federal Government said last night it would pursue all options available to it in its bid to set aside a monumental cash award to a shadowy Irish/Nigerian firm, Process and Industrial Development Limited, which had won the compensation on the orders of a United Kingdom Commercial and Arbitration court over a botched gas supply and processing agreement. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, stated this Sunday as the country’s legal team led by him, departed Abuja for London for consultation with their foreign counterparts over the appeal being lodged by Nigeria, which is to…

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, has asked the federal government to avoid being selective in the fight against corruption. That was one of the recommendations contained in the communique issued at the end of its 49th Accountants Conference in, Abuja. The communique, signed by the President and Chairman of Council of ICAN, Mazi Nnamdi A. Okwuadigbo and Chairman of ICAN Conference Planning Committee, Queensley Seghosime, also noted that the anti-graft agencies were overwhelmed and often seemed to infringe on rights of citizens. “Some of the agencies created to fight corruption appear to be overwhelmed by the enormity of…

By Akanimo Sampson Members of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) will be meeting senior government representatives from Clean Energy Ministerial Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Initiative countries (CEM CCUS Initiative) this Monday, to reaffirm their intent to catalyse and facilitate the launch of an economically viable, environmentally responsible and safe CCUS industry worldwide. OGCI is a CEO-led initiative which aims to drive the industry response to climate change. Launched in 2014, its members engage together on action to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Initiative supports the Paris Agreement and its aims, and act with integrity…