Author: straightnewsng.com

As Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria’s states, marks its 32nd statehood on Monday, many public and private institutions have forcefully observed ‘public holiday,’ a situation blamed on poor information dissemination from government quarters. Before the Monday, September 23, many civil servants in public service and teachers and non-teaching staffers in both public and private schools had rumoured that there would be public holiday. Many of them believed though erroneously that anytime the state marks its creation anniversary, the state government always observed public holiday. Usually, September 23 is usually set aside by the state government to swear in the chairman…

By: Israel Umoh The inter-denominational Thanksgiving service held at Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital on Sunday, with Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a preacher was expected to be solemn. The service was part of the activities that commemorated Akwa Ibom’s 32nd statehood. Yet, the arrival of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and his wife, Unoma popularly known as eka esit mbom by her admirers, turned the supposed solemn assembly to a carnival of sort as the joyous crowd fell on themselves to catch a glimpse of the man who many popularly daub as an…

As Senate resumes from its long annual vacation Monday., the Senate will immediately move into action to consider the proposals made by the executive arm of government in the recently released 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work, MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper. On resumption tomorrow, the Senate, after consideration of the MTEF/ FSP and subsequent passage, would be ready to receive the 2020 Appropriation Bill from President Muhammadu Buhari. President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, had stated on Friday that the Upper Chamber had already received the MTEF/ FSP documents from the Executive for subsequent consideration. Some of the highlights of the 2020-2022…

Nationwide blackout is looming as electricity Generation Companies, GENCOs, have threatened to declare force majure over moves by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET, to unilaterally take over responsibility for payment of gas and transportation from them. The GENCOs said NBET had arbitrarily approved to apply 0.75% as administrative charges or cost on payment to gas suppliers to the thermal power stations. The generation companies also revealed that NBET stood to rake in N2. 7 billion from the 0.75 percent administrative charges for just service of collating and submitting gas payments invoices to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. However, efforts…

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen allegedly killed two persons on Sunday, while six others were injured as attacked two villages, Shaforon and Kodumti, in Numan local government area of Adamawa State. This came as the Nigerian Army said Sunday that some Boko Haram terrorists were currently seeking refuge in the homes of some individuals in parts of Borno and Yobe states. An eyewitness, Lawrence Shinkoko, told newsmen that the suspected herdsmen in their large numbers, laid siege on the two villages around 1:00 a.m Sunday, shooting at any person in sight. It was learned that two died in the shootout,…

Some Nigerians have reacted to a statement credited to Femi Fani-Kayode calling on the South to prepare for either restructuring or separation because the North wants to retain power for 20 years in the country. Fan-Kayode, Sunday, tweeted “Hear this and hear it well. Anyone that believes that a southerner will be President in 2023 is a fool. The north has ALREADY decided to keep power for the next 20 years and sadly there is NOTHING we can do about it. The only hope for the south is RESTRUCTURING or SEPARATION.” According to him, “BREAKDOWN: NW 4 years + NE…

Of the 26 members in Akwa Ibom House State of Assembly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has now got one member. This follows the declaration of Mr Nse Ntuen of Essien Udim state constituency the winner by the House of Assembly Elections Tribunal in Uyo, on Sunday. As it stands, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has garnered an overwhelming 25 members in the house leaving one to APC as minority. Delivering judgment in the petition filed against the election victory of Ntuen by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Esse Umoh, Justice Akanbi ordered the INEC to issue the APC candidate Certificate of Return,…

West Ham inflicted more away-day pain on a poor Manchester United side on Sunday, lifting themselves to fourth in the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 win at the London Stadium. Andriy Yarmolenko’s goal shortly before half-time and a wonderful late Aaron Cresswell free-kick extended United’s barren run on the road. United, who started the season by thumping Chelsea 4-0, have lost twice already in their opening six league games and lie seventh, without an away win in any competition since March. Injury-hit United were without midfielder Paul Pogba and forward Anthony Martial and huffed and puffed but failed to…

An American man has drowned while proposing to his girlfriend underwater on holiday in Tanzania. Steven Weber and his girlfriend, Kenesha Antoine, were staying in a submerged cabin at the Manta Resort, off Pemba Island. In the video according to the BBC report, Mr Weber presses a hand-written proposal note against the cabin window as Ms Antoine films from inside. Ms Antoine, confirming Mr Weber’s death in a Facebook post, said he “never emerged from those depths.” The Manta Resort told the BBC Mr Weber “tragically drowned while free diving alone outside the underwater room” on Thursday afternoon. “It is…

A multi-million naira Housing Estate proposed for Uyo, the state capital may soon be ready for use by Akwa Ibom people. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Akwa Ibom State Government and an Abuja-based Nkachi Lauranti Limited for the development of the estate. The proposed estate sits on 167 hectares consisting of 555 service plots ranging from 1,700 square metres to 2,400 square metres. The state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Ime Ekpo signed for the state government while Arthur Abara signed for Nkachi Lauranti Limited. Ekp, an architect explained that scope of work…