Author: straightnewsng.com

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised African leaders to ensure that free trade was fair trade for all member countries. Buhari speaking on Sunday in Niamey, Niger, as he signed the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA agreement, at 10.47 a.m. local time at the opening of the 12th Extra Ordinary Summit of the African Union on launch of the Operational Phase of AfCFTA. The President signed the agreement for Nigeria at the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Launch of the Operational Phase of the AfCFTA, making Nigeria the 53rd country on the continent to append its signature to the…

The United States retained the women’s World Cup on Sunday as a Megan Rapinoe penalty and a superb Rose Lavelle strike gave the holders a 2-0 victory over a battling Netherlands side in the final in Lyon. Having been kept at bay by the brilliant Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal throughout the first half, the USA finally went ahead just after the hour as Rapinoe stroked home from 12 yards to end the tournament as joint top scorer on six goals. There was an air of inevitability about the pink-haired 34-year-old, the star of this World Cup on and off…

By Akanimo Sampson A seeming unguarded ultimatum by a coalition of Northern groups has triggered a backstage consultation in the vastly polluted Niger Delta, Nigeria’s main oil and gas region that could boil over with another armed rebellion. The coalition has given governors who are opposed to the RUGA Settlements for Fulani herdsmen’s 30 days to reconsider their decisions in the best interest of their states. Their Spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said the debate to accept or not to accept the programme was already causing disaffection for Fulani herders. According to him, “While we warn all state governments that stand against…

By Okon Nna-Etuk It does not take a deep study to notice that our farmlands and forest reserves are fast receding while human settlements expand at an uncomfortable rate. Look at it this way: There used to be what the Annang people call “abong adop,” meaning you “shout and stop” when nobody comes to your rescue in a stretch of road passing through a large expanse of unoccupied land in the country side. In the rural, rustic country side there used to be buffer zones, if you like, or interfaces between villages. Human settlements would take a small portion of…

By Akanimo Sampson The Arab Organisation for Human Rights (AOHR) has accused Egyptian security forces of extra-judicial killing of 3,185 civilians since July 3, 2013 when the US-client General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi overthrew the government of President Mohammad Morsi who was the first democratically elected President of the North African country. El-Sisi has assumed the title of Field Marshall and permanent president of the troubled country since Egypt’s rubber-stamp parliament overwhelmingly voted to approve constitutional changes to extend his term of office by another 12 years. The rights organisation’s report was issued on the 6th anniversary on the July 3,…

Against indifference shown by Federal Government in taking action on an inciting statement issued by a coalition of northern groups against the Nigerian State, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Legal Adviser has mocked the country’s unity, saying “I’m among those that do not believe in one Nigeria!” Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem who is concerned about prevailing insecurity, incitements and impunity by government and individuals rocking the foundation of the country stated “No country can prosper with this level of injustice and madness.” A coalition of northern groups last Wednesday issued a 30-day ultimatum to governors who are opposed to the RUGA…

Thembinkosi Lorch was the hero as South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, Saturday, ditched hosts Pharaohs of  Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cairo. The men from Mzansi produced an incredible performance at the International Stadium on Saturday night, defying their dodgy group performance and then some to reach the quarter-finals. Recalled forward Lorch was making his first start of the competition and sealed a scarcely believable victory late in the second half with an ice-cool finish. But it was the epitome of a team effort with Bongani Zungu and Dean Furman bossing the midfield for large parts at…

Teenage tennis sensation, Cori Gauff’s life-changing experience at Wimbledon moved to a new level on Saturday with former United States First Lady Michelle Obama tweeting about her. The 15-year-old — who has been the star of the first week of the championships in both her on and off court performances — said she was ecstatic about that as Barack Obama’s wife was her role model. “I just saw the tweet,” said Gauff after she had lost her mixed doubles first round match on Saturday. Obama had tweeted: “Coco is terrific.” “We don’t talk personally. I don’t have her number or…

England will look back with regret on a dreadful opening 20 minutes as they finished the World Cup with a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Sweden in the third-place play-off in Nice. The Lionesses were hoping to match their bronze-medal finish in Canada four years ago but, just as in Tuesday’s semi-final defeat to the USA, Phil Neville’s side conceded two sloppy first-half goals and had an Ellen White equaliser controversially ruled out by the VAR. Sweden ended their women’s World Cup campaign on a high note in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Nice, as Sofia Jakobsson’s first-half strike proved to be…

Holders Cameroon were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations by Nigeria in a five-goal last-16 thriller. Goals from Stephane Bahoken and Clinton Njie saw Indomitable Lions of Cameroon lead 2-1 at half-time after Odion Ighalo had put Super Eagles of Nigeria ahead in Alexandria, Egypt. But two goals in three minutes swung the game back in Nigeria’s favour and set up a quarter-final with either hosts Egypt or South Africa. Ighalo equalised before the forward set up Alex Iwobi to hit the winner. More later…