Author: Chronicle Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the families of three University of Port Harcourt students reportedly murdered by their kidnappers and their bodies buried in a shallow grave in April. The President also extended condolences to the university authorities and the Rivers State Government over the unfortunate incident. In a statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity on Sunday, the President charged the police authorities to do more. Describing the tragic occurrence as “sad and heinous,” President Buhari regrets that the “evil perpetrators have cut short the prospectively bright journey of these youths,” the…

By Osa Williams Shortly before Chief of Staff to President, Mallam Abba Kyari travelled to Germany and thereafter returned and tested positive for coronavirus, some drug manufacturers in Nigeria had mounted pressures on Kyari and other power brokers at Aso Villa to prevail on the Buhari government to ban the importation of certain essential drugs into Nigeria. These essential drugs are: Antibiotics (for fighting bacteria infections)-levofloxacin tablet, Ofloxacin tablet, Tetracycline HCL Capsule, Doxycycline HCI capsule, Penicillins, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin + cloxacillin capsule; Erythromycin tablet, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin infusion; Anti-fungals (For mycotic infections e.g. athlete foot etc.)-clotrimazole tablet, Flonazole capsure;Anti-hypertensives/Anti-Angina-Amiloride HCL 5mg +50mg,…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced restrictions as the lockdown on the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic on Lagos eases from Monday, 4 May 2020. Sanwo-Olu who also is the Incident Commander has also detailed the phased restriction on lockdown especially for markets, religious outfits and financial institutions. Read full speech below: Dear Lagosians, 1. Tomorrow we will commence a modified phase of the four-week Lockdown directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. This new phase is a gradual and controlled easing of the Lockdown, and will last for six weeks, in three phases of two weeks each. 2. The goal is to…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers’ Committee have agreed to suspend the laying off of bank staff, a statement by the apex bank on Sunday said. The CBN said a special meeting of the Bankers’ Committee was convened on May 2, 2020, to further review the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian banking industry. A statement signed by Isaac Okorafor, Director, Corporate Communications, on 3 May said, “The Committee particularly deliberated on the issue of the operating costs of banks in view of the disruptions emanating from the global economic difficulties and decided as follows:…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to “urgently instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abukabar Malami, SAN to work with appropriate ministries and agencies to identify, publish and use confiscated stolen assets as isolation centres.” SERAP said: “Using confiscated assets as isolation centres would provide safe and enabling environments for the treatment and care of people, improve the authorities’ ability to respond to COVID-19, reduce the risks to Nigerians and to public health.” The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire had last week…

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state who announced his recovery from COVID-19 last Wednesday has said that he infected four people with the virus during his own period of infection. El-Rufai spoke on the pandemic at the 24th edition of The Platform, hosted by Poju Oyemade’s Covenant Nation. But he did not name those he infected. Like the governor, all four have recovered. He said: “I was the first case, fortunately, I’d say, because it served to scare everyone about the reality that COVID-19 is real, it’s not a joke. “I was the first case, I got it in Abuja…

The abducted twins of an Ibadan-based Muslim cleric Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, have been released, according to the popular Oyo Imam. Akewugbagold disclosed their release in a post on his Facebook page in the early hours of Sunday. The post reads: “Alhamdulillah! At 5:30 am of Sunday 3rd May, my abducted twin kids were released to me beside a bush after eight days in an unknown land. Thanks to you all for your prayers and support, Jazakumullahu Khairan. Abere mi bo sinu okun, oloun yo pada fun mi.” Fayemi orders security agencies to ensure release of commissioner The twins were kidnapped…

Game of Thrones actor Hafthor Bjornsson has set a world deadlifting record by lifting 501kg (1,104lb). Bjornsson, a powerlifter who portrayed Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane in the HBO series, broke the record at his gym in his native Iceland. He lifted the barbell for two seconds, before dropping the weights and roaring in delight. The event was streamed by sports broadcaster ESPN and filmed for Bjornsson’s YouTube channel. Bjornsson, who is 2.05m tall (6ft 9in), previously won the World’s Strongest Man competition in 2018. Speaking in a “behind-the-scenes” video posted on YouTube, Bjornsson said: “I’m extremely proud, you know. I’m…

North and South Korea have exchanged gunfire in the Demilitarised Zone which divides the two countries. Gunshots fired by North Korea at 07:41 (23:41 BST) hit a South Korean guard post in the central border town of Cheorwon, Seoul’s military said. No casualties were reported on the South Korean side. In response, South Korea fired “two rounds of gunfire and a warning announcement according to our manual”, the military statement said. It is not clear what provoked the initial gunshots. The joint chiefs of staff (JCS) said that they were trying to contact North Korea through their military hotline to…

Nigerian crude export has shrunk for the months of May and June following the dwindling oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic. The export programmes for West African crudes emerged weekend and showed lower volumes for this month and the next, in line with unprecedented output cuts by producers and a lack of demand. According to Reuters, the Royal Dutch Shell circulated its export schedule for June loadings of Nigerian Bonny Light and Bonga crude, with the former set to fall sharply in June to 190,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 245,000 planned for May. The report said loading plans have…