Author: Chronicle Editor

Commercial airlines around the world canceled more than 4,500 flights over the Christmas weekend, as a mounting wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant created greater uncertainty and misery for holiday travelers. Airline carriers globally scrapped at least 2,401 flights on Friday, which fell on Christmas Eve and is typically a heavy day for air travel, according to a running tally on the flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Nearly 10,000 more flights were delayed. The website showed that 1,779 Christmas Day flights were called off worldwide, along with 402 more that had been scheduled for Sunday. Commercial air traffic within…

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in the newly appointed Minister, representing Taraba, Malam Muazu Sambo. The swearing-in ceremony held shortly before the opening of an emergency National Security Council meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday. NAN reports that Sambo, who replaced former Minister of Power, Mamman Sale, from Taraba, was posted to Ministry of Works and Housing as Minister of State, Works and Housing. Those in attendance of the security meeting include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Ministers of Police Affairs, Justice, Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs. Buhari nominates Mu’azu Sambo…

Rabi Shinkafi, Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs in Zamfara state, has resigned her appointment and taken up a job in Imo state. Shinkafi disclosed the development in an interview with NAN in Gusau, capital of the Northwest state. There had been speculations on social media about the reason for her resignation, as she was appointed as commissioner in Zamfara in November 2021. She, however, said the speculations about her resignation on social media are “completely false”, adding that it is the work of mischief makers. Shinkafi said Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, and his Zamfara counterpart, Bello Matawalle, who…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will save the money from the sale of 21-year-old Spain forward Ferran Torres, who is set to join Barcelona in a deal worth up to £55m, to help finance a summer move for Borussia Dortmund and Norway striker Erling Braut Haaland, 21. (Manchester Evening News) Newcastle United will not pursue a move for 26-year-old Manchester United and France striker Anthony Martial because it would cost them £6m to take him on loan for the second half of the season. (Football Insider) Arsenal have identified Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri as a possible transfer target. With Dominic…

Dr Ibrahim Liman, Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), says fire related deaths in the country have dropped by 100 per cent in one year. Dr Liman, who said this at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, attributed the decrease to the repositioning of the FFS. He said from January till date, the service had recorded a total of 70 deaths to fire outbreaks compared to a total of 147 recorded in 2020. He also said there had been an increase in the estimated property saved from N1.4 trillion in 2020 to N19.4 trillion in 2021. The…

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will keep giving its best for the development of the country until May, 2023, reiterating that he will handover as stipulated by the constitution. The President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement said the president gave the assurance at the inauguration of Oriental Energies Resource Ltd hanger, Muhammadu Indimi Distance Learning Centre and an International Conference Centre. The Centre was donated to the University of Maiduguri by business mogul, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, in Maiduguri, Borno, on Thursday. President Buhari also inaugurated the Tijjani Bolori Memorial Secondary School and the first fly-over in Borno…

The Cross River Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Friday said a total of 1,181 personnel had been deployed across the state to ensure safety on the roads during the Christmas and New year celebrations. The Sector Commander, Mrs Elizabeth Akinlade, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar. According to her, these include, 341 regular Marshals and 840 Special Marshals. “In addition to this, the command had earlier embarked on aggressive Public Enlightenment Campaigns at various motor parks and garages to ensure that drivers adhere to road safety rules and regulations,” she said.…

The Federal Government on Friday declared free train rides for citizens from December 24 to January 4, 2022. Mr Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja. “The decision which was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, is to ease movement of citizens during the yuletide. “This is to help ease the cost of transportation and enable citizens move easily enjoy the festive period. “Passengers are however advised to ensure they obtain their tickets from appropriate quarters at no cost, to enable…

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved a request by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a loan of N18,225,336,103.89 from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning. The loan is meant to ensure speedy completion of projects like the Lekki-Epe Expressway. The approval was granted at a sitting presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, after a report on the loan request was laid and presented by the chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Rotimi Olowo. Giving further information on the report, Hon. Olowo told his colleagues that the…

The hugely anticipated World Boxing Federation (WBF) International welterweight title defence between reigning champion, Nigeria’s Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, and Ghana’s Justice “Qwick Action” Addy will be held today at GOtv Boxing Night 24. The event, which is scheduled for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, will feature live musical performance by popular singer, Jamopyper, and seven boxing bouts. Aside from the WBF title clash, there will be two other title duels in the cruiserweight and light heavyweight categories. Abiodun “Infiniti” Afinni will face Michael “Emirate” Godwin in a rematch. In the former, David “Awosika” Cosmos will take on Segun “Success”…