Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson A strategic and political risk consultancy, Menas Associates, has taken a critical look at President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees, and returned an uninspiring verdict. The political risk consultants also chided President Buhari for wasting the opportunity to pass sound economic policy through the National Assembly because of the perceived overriding need to maintain peace among the All Progressives Congress (APC) big wigs. According to Menas Associates, “around 84 per cent of the nominees are men and most will be anti-reformist with the notable exception of Pantami among several others. While only seven nominees are female they include…

The inauguration of the 9th National Assembly on June 11, 2019 did not take anybody by surprise. But, the composition of the various committees by the two leaders of the National Assembly caught many Senators and members of House of Representatives aghast. Though the reconstitution has doused tensions and calmed frayed nerves in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP depending on the role the members played in the emergence of the leaderships, some ranking members in the house particularly in the opposition party are still in shock as their names are conspicuously missing…

By Akanimo Sampson The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has recorded 840 deaths on the three main Mediterranean Sea routes through seven months of this year. This represents about 45 per cent of the 1,517 deaths confirmed during the same period in 2018. However, the 840 deaths at sea do not include, 20 persons reportedly drowned early this August. IOM Italy’s Flavio Di Giacomo reported late Monday that 49 migrants arrived in Lampedusa earlier in the day without escort – that is, apparently without any rescue effort by official units or NGO operations – stating that the arriving migrants saw…

Saudi Arabia will stage the world heavyweight title rematch between Britain’s Anthony Joshua and champion Andy Ruiz Jr, promoters announced on Friday. The December 7 fight, dubbed ‘Clash on the Dunes’, will see Joshua trying to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO titles he sensationally lost to Ruiz Jr in New York in June. The bout will take place in Diriyah, which incorporates the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al-Turaif, on the outskirts of the capital Riyadh.

By Akanimo Sampson Though the global merchandise trade grew by three percent last year, just above the 2.9 percent rise in world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the same time-frame, this was however, substantially less than the 4.6 percent growth observed in 2017. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) puts this loss of momentum in part down to growing trade tensions and historically-high trade restriction levels. These facts are taken from the WTO’s World Trade Statistical Review 2019, a 176-page document exploring the latest trends concerning world trade, with analysis of both trade in goods and services and performance of front…

By Akanimo Sampson In West African cuisine, there is a common ingredient that imparts both pungency and a spicy aroma to soups and stews. It is alligator pepper, also known as mbongo spice or hepper pepper. In Yoruba culture, when babies are born, according to Wikipedia, they are given a small taste of alligator pepper, atare, shortly after birth as part of the routine baby-welcoming process, and it is also used as an ingredient at traditional meet-and-greets. In Igboland, alligator pepper, ósè ọ́jị́ with kola nuts are used in naming ceremonies, as presentation to visiting guests, and for other social…

Incensed by the brutal killing of one of his pastors, Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church, has furiously declared “Cursed be these Fulani herdsmen, cursed be their generations, cursed be their sponsors in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, we have cursed.” Oyedepo said except his is not sent, the end has come for this evil system saying: “I am speaking as a Prophet, not as a pastor, like somebody walking on the street. This evil system that has no value for life, this wicked system – Fulani demons, In the name of…

By Akanimo Sampson With the first half of this 2019 plagued by increased net tanker fleet growth, and a higher than expected refinery maintenance, it appears things are not going to be all that rosy for tanker owners. It seems, the tanker fleet is set for a period of much lower fleet growth over the next two years due to a relatively small orderbook. Currently, the tanker orderbook totals 53 mdwt, or 8.7 percent of the existing fleet size, which is the lowest tanker fleet-to-orderbook ratio since early-1997. Some analysts are of the view that fleet growth could be further…

Romelu Lukaku completed his long-awaited move to Inter Milan from Manchester United on Thursday after the Serie A club announced his arrival in Italy on a five-year deal. Lukaku “The Belgian footballer, arriving from Manchester United on a permanent basis, has signed a contract with the Nerazzurri until 30 June 2024,” Inter said in a statement. The club did not reveal Lukaku’s wages nor the fee paid to Premier League side United reported to be in the region of 80 million euros ($90 million). Inter announced the deal with a video of the 26-year-old in an Inter shirt saying: “Inter:…

By Akanimo Sampson To mitigate her own carbon footprint, the Panama Canal Authority, the agency of the Government of Panama that is responsible for the operation and management of the Panama Canal is implementing a series of innovative measures for conserving water and fostering sustainable energy. One example includes the introduction of 18 innovative water-saving basins that recycle 60 percent of the water used per lockage at the Expanded Canal, thus saving seven percent more water than in the Panamax locks. Another involves the installation of 88 state-of-the art floating solar panels with photovoltaic cells as part of a pioneering…