Author: Chronicle Editor

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), on Thursday, said 90 per cent of cars in the country were smuggled into the country by unscrupulous elements. Ali, who said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja, alleged that many vehicles on display for sale in auto shops across the country were also smuggled. He explained that the recent raids of the various car dealers’ spots in some parts of the country were to ascertain whether the vehicles were brought in genuinely or not. According to him, the country needs revenue for development, hence, it became necessary…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says there is an organized pressure to blackmail the Federal Government following the closure of the nation’s borders. Oshiomhole stated this on Thursday when he visited the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col Hameed Ali (retired) at the service headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital. “I see that there is also some organize pressure to blackmail the administration to review. We, therefore, felt that we should stand by the government, stand by you to sustain this policy,” he said. He, however, explained that the nation is…

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation is pushing for a review of all aviation agreements between the country and foreign airlines, and possible blockage of some from the country’s airspace. The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji,  at a meeting in Abuja, said the committee will also demand an Aviation Master plan from the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika. The demands of the Committee include: “Development of the Nigerian Aviation Sector as a major hub for the continent of Africa, creation of an enabling environment that will support local airlines to fly our flag globally, ensuring that…

Teenage striker Gabriel Martinelli scored two goals and set up another to give Arsenal victory over Standard Liege in the Europa League. There was less than three minutes between the 18-year-old Brazilian’s first and second goals while team-mate Joe Willock, 20, made it 3-0 before half-time. Martinelli, who joined for £6m this summer, later set up Dani Ceballos for his first Arsenal goal. Arsenal sit top of Group F with two wins from two games. There were 10 changes to the Arsenal team who drew with Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday but no place in the squad…

The 344-year-old tortoise that resides in the traditional ruler of Ogbomoso’s palace, popularly known as ‘Alagba’, has passed on. Mr Toyin Ajamu, the Private Secretary to Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, Soun of Ogbomoso, confirmed this to newsmen on Thursday in Ogbomoso. The dead tortoise attracted several visitors both from Nigeria and abroad to the palace. Ajamu said that the tortoise, whom he described as the oldest in Africa, died on Thursday during a brief illness. He said the tortoise would be greatly missed not only by the palace household but everyone who came in contact with it during its lifetime. “Alagba…

Gunmen kidnapped six schoolgirls and two staff members from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Thursday, police has confirmed. Police said the girls and staff were taken in the early morning from a school called Engravers College in a remote area near the village of Kakau Daji in Kaduna state. It was not immediately clear who had taken them. While the militant Islamist group Boko Haram and a branch of Islamic State are active in northern Nigeria, kidnappings by other armed groups are also rampant — mostly for ransom. READ: Facebook removes multiple accounts from Nigeria, others “The command…

Facebook Inc has removed several pages, groups and accounts on its platforms from Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Indonesia, citing coordinated inauthentic behaviour. A total of 280 Facebook accounts, 149 pages and 43 groups, and 121 Instagram accounts were removed, the social media platform said on Thursday. Facebook, which owns one-time rivals Instagram and WhatsApp, said the accounts were engaged in spreading content on topics like UAE’s activity in Yemen, the Iran nuclear deal and the criticism of Qatar, Turkey and Iran. The social media giant has recently been cracking down on such accounts after coming under fire in…

As part of measures to further enhance the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria, the National Assembly would ensure that card reader is given legal backing in the new Electoral Act. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege disclosed this when he received the Nigerian Representatives of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, (AU-ECOSOCC). The council was led by Dr. Tunji Ashaolu in Abuja, Omo-Agege said it was important that the card reader be made part of the legal regime for elections. In a statement issued by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the…

The Federal Government has raised concerns over reports that some beneficiaries of its N5,000 monthly stipends under the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme are being shortchanged. The Senior Adviser to President Buhari on Social Investments, Mrs Mariam Uwais revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the Third-Party Monitors for the National Social Safety Nets Project. Uwais said that although payment of the N5,000 monthly stipends to poor and vulnerable households was going seamlessly, there had been reports of extortion and bullying of beneficiaries in some communities. “The reported attempts to extort or bully them comes from random quarters…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the Buhari administration will honestly and transparently resolve the request by labour for a salary increase for other levels of workers not affected in the implementation of the new national minimum wage. Prof. Osinbajo stated this today at a meeting with the new leadership of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa. The team was led by the new President of the union, Comrade Quadri Olaleye. Labour, Employment & Productivity Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige was also at the meeting. Commending the labour leaders’ engagement with the Federal…