Author: Chronicle Editor

The Federal Government has accused governors of breaching the guidelines in place to help Nigeria curb the spread of coronavirus virus after some state governments announced reopening of worship centres. Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 chaired by Boss Mustapha warned on Thursday of the danger in allowing large gatherings. He reiterated that the ban on gatherings of more than 20 people remained banned and feared reopening worship centres could flaunt the law. Mustapha, who spoke at the daily briefing by the PTF in Abuja, emphasised the “need for states to diligently implement and enforce compliance. Particularly, I underscore the…

The Lagos State government has revised downwards by 21 per cent its year 2020 Budget, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, has said. Egube, who stated this yesterday at press briefing with his Information and Strategy counterpart, Gbenga Omotoso, said under the revised estimates, the new year 2020 Appropriation is N920.5 billion, as against the N1.169 trillion hitherto approved by the State House of Assembly. He said the Lagos Executive Council approved the revised budget so as to help mitigate the economic and social headwinds precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic on the state. He listed other factors…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 339 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Wednesday. The 339 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed cases to 7016. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 67 patients from isolation centers across the country and 11 deaths were also reported. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria topped the number of confirmed cases with a whooping 139 new cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 3093. Nigeria announces 284 new coronavirus cases Twenty eight…

The Federal Government has appealed to traders not to hike prices of food items and transportation as the country battles to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, made the appeal at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily news briefing on Thursday in Abuja. He said it was necessary that market women and men understood the enormity of the time regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that there is need to show compassion to all Nigerians by not hiking prices of foodstuff and services. The minister said that this period was a time…

Salman Hassan, 18, has been arrested by the Bauchi Police Command for allegedly stabbing her husband, Mohammed Mustapha to death while trying to have sex with her. She hails from Itas Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Hassan, while being paraded at the Police Command headquarters, Bauchi, the state capital on Thursday said she stabbed her husband on the chest because he insisted on sleeping with her on the fateful night. In her confessional statement at the Police Headquarters, she said “I did not really mean to kill my husband, it was an accident. I stabbed him on the…

*NEC, in first virtual meeting, sets up Committee to liaise with PTF on reopening economy across the country The federal government and state government will work together on the forthcoming Economic Sustainability Plan, a statement by the Office of the Vice President said on Thursday. The statement by Mr Laolu Akande, spokesman to the Vice President said members of the National Economic Council rose from their first virtual meeting today with a resolution to ensure a more effective synergy between the Federal Government and the sub-nationals especially in matters related to the fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 May, 2020 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eidul-Fitri celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Muslim faithful for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast. Aregbesola who called on them to replicate the life of kindness, love, tolerance, peace and good neighbourliness, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), also expressed his concern about the spate of ethnic conflicts that has resurfaced in some parts of Northern Nigeria in…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, secured the conviction of an internet fraudster, Lawal Sholaru, who bagged six months imprisonment or a N400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) option of fine for defrauding an American, Mr. David Geobel, of $1,200 in an online scam. Sholaru was convicted by Justice Mojisola Dada of Ikeja Special Offences Court in a judgment, delivered in a virtual proceeding. The convict was arraigned on March 18, 2020 by the EFCC on one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence, to which he pleaded guilty. Bureau de Change operator jailed 7…

Two children in Vendôme, north-western France, have benefited from the lockdown after they discovered hidden treasure in their grandparents’ house. In search of material to build a den, they asked their father what they could use. “He advised them to take their grandmother’s sheets, in an unused room. But instead of finding sprigs of lavender between the sheets, as people used to do, two fairly heavy objects fell out,” auctioneer Philippe Rouillac told French TV channel BFM. The kids put the objects back without another thought, but a few hours later told their father about the discovery. He asked them…

In the United Kingdom, 338 people with coronavirus died on Wednesday, according to the Department for Health. That takes the total UK COVID-19 deaths to 36,042. The true figure for total deaths is likely to be higher as not everyone is tested. Meanwhile, 128,340 tests were carried out on Wednesday, taking the total number of tests up to 3,090,566. Meanwhile, the UK government has reached a deal to acquire antibody tests, a spokesman says. UK sanctions Oyakhilome’s Loveworld over 5G comments The tests, which show if someone has previously had coronavirus, will first go to health and care workers. The…