Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson The backstage pressure on some governors by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to cede vast expands of their land for the settlement of the invading herdsmen in their states does not seem to be having a smooth sail. Some concerned citizens are seeing in the herdsmen’s settlement initiative, a veiled programme to islamise the country. Religious antagonism and suspicion of government’s plans for the Fulani herdsmen is deep-rooted in Nigeria. Governors of Eastern Nigeria, the hotbed of Biafra agitation as well as Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and the Ondo State Government…

The Presidency is said to be putting finishing touches to list of ministerial nominees with three shortlisted per state for broader perspective. A report by The Nation says preliminary background checks on some of the nominees are ongoing, though it was unclear last night whether the President will have a 36-man cabinet or a 42-man team. This is as the presidency has ordered tighter security around President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Alh. Mamman Daura. The enhanced security is also for Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff, and some other members of the President’s Kitchen Cabinet, following protests over the cabinet, which…

A popular Nigerian social media commentator and critic has sought downplay to what he sees as ‘tribal chauvinism’ and ‘provocative remarks’ to avert any outbreak of war in the country. In his Twitter handle, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister for Aviation, wrote “Fulani radio station approved. Fulani can continue carrying their AK 47’s. Fulani are NOT terrorists even though they are committing genocide. Fulani settlements are to be set up all over the country. Non-Fulani are to be disarmed. I weep for Nigeria.” Fani-Kayode Tuesday night tweeted  “I read with disgust the response of Miyetti Allah to the rejection of…

The winner of the 2018 Big Brother Naija (BBN) ‘Double Wahala’ show, has obtained his certification as an “Instrument Rated” pilot. The 25-year-old Miracle Ikechukwu won N45 million grand prize in the 2018 edition of the Big Brother Naija reality television show. Trained as pilot who graduated in 2017 at the International Aviation College (IAC) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, he once told Big Brother he would use part of the money to advance his aeronautic training and use the rest to support his family. Miracle took to his Instagram page @miracleikechukwu to share the news, as…

Stephanie Grisham, the communications director for first lady Melania Trump and a longtime aide to President Donald Trump, will succeed Sarah Sanders as White House press secretary, Mrs Trump announced on Tuesday. Melania Trump announced the development in a tweet to close out the president’s search for a press secretary after Sanders decided to resign and go back home to Arkansas earlier this month. Anthony Scarambucci was the first White House Communications Director appointed by Trump. When he was fired, Hope Hicks succeeded him. When Trump fired Sean Spicer as White House Secretary, Sarah Huchabee Sanders was appointed. Stephanie Grisham…

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), says a Nigerian Senator receives N15 million monthly and not N750,000 as claimed by Ahmed Lawan, Senate President. Lawan had said on Tuesday that there was no such thing as ‘jumbo pay’, adding that he earns N750,000 as salary. Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, Sagay asked Lawan to styop mislseading the public, saying Nigerians were more interested in how much Senators take home monthly in salary and allowances. Last year, Shehu Sani, Kaduna Senator in the 8th National Assembly had said that the take home package of a…

A former Nigerian Minister of Defence, Lt.Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), is worth an estimated $1.2 billion (N432 billion), Bloomberg, United States-based financial data media house, said. Though this is the first time Danjuma’s net worth is made public, the ex-minister was awarded oil block in 1998 by the regime of former dictator and fellow army officer Sani Abacha, making him one of a handful of Nigerians made extraordinarily wealthy from the country’s energy reserves. Danjuma paid $25 million in 1998 for the oil field exploration licence that made him a billionaire. A year later, he became Nigeria’s defence minister as…

Nigeria became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations as they beat Guinea 1-0. Three-time winners Nigeria scored the only goal in the 73rd minute when Moses Simon’s right-wing corner was headed in at the near post by Kenneth Omeruo. They now have six points from their two games after a 1-0 win over Burundi in their first match on Saturday. The top two nations in each of the six groups advance, along with the four best third-placed countries. Nigeria dropped captain John Mikel Obi, who played for Middlesbrough in 2018-19, but…

Bryan Marshall, best known for his role in James Bond, has died at the age of 81. The British actor was famous for playing Commander Talbot in the 007 movie, The Spy Who Loved Me, as well as Australian daytime soap Neighbours. Confirming the sad news, Marshall’s agent Esta Charkham from ECA tweeted on Wednesday: ‘So sad that my dear old chum Bryan Marshall has gone on ahead. A wonderful actor – he was so good you never noticed how good he was. ‘He was a valued chum. His credits are a catalogue of classic British and Australian TV. ‘Fare…

The Emir of Kano has warned that Nigeria is on the verge of bankruptcy, calling for the removal of petroleum and electricity subsidy. Muhammad Sanusi II, who made the comment on Tuesday, June 25 at a workshop organised by the office of the accountant-general of the federation at Government House, Kano decried what he called following “unfavourable economic policies.” The traditional ruler advised President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to take a different stance, saying for 30 years, successive governments “have had this project called petroleum subsidy.” According to The Cable, he said the time had come to stop subsidy so as…