Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson To address global food loss and waste which totals more than 1.3 billion tonnes a year, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Qu Dongyu, says international co-operation and innovative, climate friendly technologies are critical. During a discussion on Enhancing access to innovation in agriculture to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at FAO headquarters in Rome earlier, he said it was fundamental to support smallholder and family farmers by enhancing their access to innovation for sustainable food systems and to foster sustainable development. “Innovation in agriculture is a way to enhance effectiveness, competitiveness and…

By Akanimo Sampson The world is looking to more enterprises to report their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it races to meet the goals against all odds. In the face of mounting challenges to the global economy, hopes are pinned on companies to do more for the SDGs, experts said at the 36th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR). Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mukhisa Kituyi, said while opening the meeting on October 30 in Geneva, Switzerland, “the demand for climate-related…

The world’s richest people became a little ‘poorer’ last year, according to a report by UBS and PwC, as geopolitical turmoil and volatile equity markets reduced the wealth of billionaires for the first time in a decade. Billionaires’ wealth fell by 388 billion dollars globally to 8.539 trillion dollars, the UBS and PwC Billionaires Report found, with a particularly sharp decline in Greater China – the second-biggest home for billionaires after the United States – and the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. Private banks including the world’s largest wealth manager UBS have felt the effects of U.S.-China trade tensions and global…

By Akanimo Sampson Defaulters of Nigeria’s Gas flaring laws are now going to pay for their environmental sins in the vastly polluted oil and gas region of the country. The Red Chamber of the country’s bicameral Legislature has mandated its Committee on Gas to immediately review and recommend upwards penalty for the polluters. This is coming as the Senate also urged the newly established Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking-in-Persons (NAPTIP) and other relevant government agencies to intensify surveillance towards curbing modern slavery. The senate mandated its Committee on…

A marriage ceremony attended by Governor Udom Emmanuel later turned mournful as a suspected police officer killed their victim in Ndiya Ikot Ukab, Nsit Ubium local government area of Akwa Ibom State. It was the traditional marriage ceremony of former Miss Jane Moses Wilson and his Personal Assistant on Special Duties, Mr. Bassey Edet Bassey. Godwin Thomas was shot dead by a police personnel at the marriage, thus turning the wedding venue into a sprinting arena and sending the jubilating crowd scampering for safety. Confirming the incident, SP Odiko MacDon, the state Police Public Relations Officer said “The Akwa Ibom…

The completed multi-millions Naira Nigeria Immigration Service ultra modern Office complex in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital has been put to use. In addition, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior equally inaugurated the Migrant e-Registration in Uyo on Thursday. Aregbesola advised Officers and personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service to shun indolence and corruption in the performance of their duties. He said that Federal Government would work hard to providing adequate and conducive working environment for its workforce across the country. The minister assured the immigration service that his ministry would continue to support NIS and all other agencies…

The Federal Government has reimbursed N157.35 billion Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax arrears to state governments in the country. The amount represented liabilities owed by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs to states, Executive and Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). This was contained in a statement by Mr Wahab Gbadamosi, the FIRS spokesman for  Mr Tunde Fowler, the Chairman of the Joint Tax Board, (JTB), in Awka. (The Vanguard)

The Federal Government has declared Monday, November 11, as public holiday to mark the 2019 Eid-ul-Mawlud. Eid-ul-Mawlud marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. The announcement was made via the official Twitter page of the Federal Ministry of Interior, headed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. A statement signed by Mohammed Manga, Director, Press & Public Relations of the ministry said “the Federal Government has declared Monday, November 11, 2019 as Public Holiday to mark the 2019 Eidul-Mawlid Celebration in commemoration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). “MoI, Ogbeni @raufaregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of…

Clamour by some people for the probe of Chief Godswill Akpabio administration in Akwa Ibom State has been seen as personal and selfish rants. This is coming against the background on the call by Christopher Ekpenyong, a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West in the National Assembly for the probe of Senator Akpabio for trillions of Naira accrued to his administration. Ubokobong Umoh, the national secretary of Niger Delta Activists Forum, said the call by Ekpenyong is borne out of selfishness and witch-hunting spirit. Umoh, speaking Thursday in an interview on Inspiration 105.9 FM Radio by Team Nigeria Classic sponsored…

Not long from now, whistling or winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique or stalking a student will constitute sexual harassment in Nigeria. This was contained in the Sexual Harassment Bill which scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. The bill defines sexual offences as including sexual intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a prospective student. It also explained it to mean intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive environment for the…