Author: straightnewsng.com

…Nigeria’s Flying Eagles win Bronze after thrashing Egypt South Africa won their maiden TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in Sunday night’s final at Cairo International Stadium. Gomolemo Kekana’s stunning second-half strike proved decisive, as the Southern Africans claimed the trophy and rewrote history by overcoming a North African opponent in the tournament for the first time. The only goal of the final came in the 70th minute when Kekana unleashed a powerful right-footed effort from outside the box, bending the ball into the top corner. Related post TotalEnergies CAF U-20…

Editorial  Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno has drawn a clear line: any commissioner who leaves him unattended at state functions risks immediate termination of appointment. The directive, while looking timely is seemingly austere, speaking to a broader agenda of restoring discipline, cohesion, and public accountability in government. The warning follows a series of public functions where Commissioners and Special Advisers reportedly slipped out early, leaving the governor isolated—a development he described as embarrassing and indicative of poor commitment. ‘‘It is mandatory for my commissioners to ensure that they take me either back to the office or to the lodge, because…

Properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed and many rendered homeless following the recent violent windstorm and heavy downpour with attendant flooding in Akwa Ibom State.  The windstorm blew off several rooftops of residential houses, damaged personal effects  and uprooted economic trees in Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom capital and in some local government areas in the state, while major roads and streets became impassable, thus plunging several families of the less privileged into untold hardships and sufferings. Straightnews online learnt that the Governor may direct the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) headed by the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi…

Twenty-eight years after their first TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON continental showdown in the final, Morocco and South Africa will meet once again in a repeat of the 1997 final when they clash on Sunday in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title decider in Egypt. That 1997 encounter ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Morocco, sealing their first and only TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON crown. Now, nearly three decades later, the Young Atlas Lions will be aiming to recapture that historic success, while South Africa are determined to turn the tables and claim their maiden continental title…

Israel Umoh The irony drips thicker than the early morning dew of Dutse. Sule Lamido, former Jigawa governor, ex-minister, and permanent politician of Nigeria’s old brigade, now wraps himself in the sanctimonious toga of June 12 martyrdom – asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to splash billions of naira on the family of MKO Abiola. What a convenient compassion! What a premium hypocrisy! This same Lamido, who once gallivanted around the military thrones of power like a careful courtier, now wants to play the town crier of justice. This same Lamido whom Economic and Financial Crimes Commission approached Supreme Court to…

Two persons were killed while others declared missing in the renewed boundary hostility between the riverine community of Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom and Ikot Offiong, a neighbour in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. The two warring communities have been entangled in protracted internecine boundary hostilities for more than 100 years that resulted in loss of many lives, properties and displacement of many from their ancestral home. Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly who represents Itu state Constituency, Rt. Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem said the fresh clash by some assailants allegedly…

Editorial At independence in 1960, Nigeria was a promising bait. A land with the arable richness of the Nile valley, oil reserves to rival Saudi Arabia, and minds as brilliant as any in Cambridge or Ibadan. The founding fathers—Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello—dreamed of a federation that could rival the Commonwealth itself. But sixty-five years later, Nigeria remains an arrested giant: rich in potential, poor in reality. And still trapped in the past heroes’ dreams. The tragedy is not that Nigeria failed by accident. It failed by design. And by policy. Also read Editorial: Remedying That Expensive…

Without much ado, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno daily is perfecting his plans to defect to another political party. Eno who was elected under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is allegedly plotting to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking at a Thanksgiving Service held in his honour at The Apostolic Church, Maboju Assembly in Lagos State, Mr. Eno made a bold statement about his political future, despite not having a clear idea of his next platform. Related news PDP Meeting: Gov Eno shuns as six Governors and Udom show up  “I don’t know where I’ll…

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have advanced to semi-final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), beating defending champions Senegal 3-1 on penalties. Monday’s match ended barren in normal and extra-time, pushing the match to the spotkicks, where Nigeria emerged 3-1 winners.   That victory earned Nigeria a spot in the U-20 World Cup, billed for Chile later in the year. Coach Aliyu Zubair’s boys could not break the Young Lions of Teranga’s defence in a feisty game at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt. The Flying Eagles were undefeated in the group stages, earning five points. But many were unconvinced by the side’s showing,…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is growing lean with the high number of the party’s heavyweights boycotting the converge held at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. The meeting, convened by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum, following recent resolutions reached at a similar gathering in Ibadan, is aimed at addressing the party’s lingering internal crisis. Among the absentees were Nigeria’s former Vice President, Alhaji Abaubakar Atiku; the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike; a South West chieftain, Bode George; Benjamin Anyanwu, National Secretary, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno who is…