Author: Chronicle Editor

By Femi Onakanren The recently released white paper by the Lagos State Government, subsequent to the report submitted by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry (JPI) should have provided final closure on the events of the ill-fated #EndSARS protests, particularly also on matters relating to developments on 20/10/2020 at the Lekki Toll Gate. The protest was a landmark event in our national history for many reasons, some good, some bad. On the side of good, it demonstrated a unified will, led by the youths, to demand a change in the system. Armed with a sense of civic duty, the youths demanded…

The Federal Government says the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), will close the dairy importation gaps and address other challenges to livestock development in Nigeria. A statement by Juliet Okeh, an Information Officer, in the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said this at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, with Commissioners of Agriculture across the 36 states of the federation. The meeting included the FCT and other stakeholders on the State Level Project Socialisation on Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES). The minister, represented by…

Gunmen burnt at least 21 passengers to death including children when their bus was ambushed by gunmen in Sokoto state on Monday. The passengers were travelling from Sabon Birni to the town of Isa near the border with Niger Republic. Police spokesperson Sanusi Abubakar said many others who were injured in the incident are receiving treatment in a hospital for severe burns. One of those involved in evacuating the casualties described the scene as “horrendous” and that most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The attack happened late on Monday but details are just emerging due to poor communication…

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued a traffic advisory to residents for 9 December 2021, urging them, to use alternate routes. According to LASTMA, Ahmadu Bello Way, from Adeola Odeku intersection to Adetokunbo Ademola by Eko Hotels Roundabout will be temporarily closed to traffic and traffic diverted to Adeola Odeku, Akin Adesola to connect desired destination. The transport management agency explained that Akin Adesola connecting Ahmadu Bello Way by IMB will be temporarily closed to traffic and traffic will be diverted to Oyin Jolayemi, Oko Awo and Sanusi Fafunwa to connect desired destinations. From Ozumba Mbadiwe (Civic Centre)…

Liverpool are leading the race to sign 18-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund next summer. (Mirror) Real Madrid are favourites to sign Germany defender Antonio Rudiger, 28, who is getting closer to leaving Chelsea as a free agent at the end of the season. Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham have also expressed an interest. (Independent) Manchester United and Liverpool face competition from Atletico Madrid for 18-year-old American striker Ricardo Pepi. (Mirror) The player top of Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s transfer targets is RB Leipzig’s 23-year-old Mali midfielder Amadou Haidara. (Mirror) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp…

Okays establishment of National Sports Commission The Senate on Tuesday passed two bills seeking to establish the National Sports Commission and the Federal University of Sports, Nkalagu in Ebonyi State. The passage of both bills during plenary followed the consideration of two separate reports by the Committee on Sports and Youth Development. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Obinna Ogba, in his presentation, said the National Sports Commission when established, would be charged with the responsibility of administering, encouraging and developing sports and games throughout Nigeria. He added that stakeholders at the public hearing, lauded the legislative intent of the bill,…

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday reiterated that Nigeria needs to deploy technological applications in the battle against all forms of insecurity confronting it. He made; the remarks while granting audience to a delegation of the Abuja Chapter of Cranfield University Alumni Association. Lawan is an alumnus of Cranfield University of UK where he obtained his M.Sc and PhD in GIS and Remote Sensing. The Senate President recalled the enormous resources the Cranfield University had especially in the areas of technological courses. “Nigeria needs so much of technological applications in almost every aspect of our life especially when we have…

The Nigerian government has estimated that at least 11 million citizens could be pushed below the poverty line in 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, stated this on Tuesday at the National COVID-19 Summit in Abuja. Represented by the Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, the minister explained that the pandemic had worsened the recession, which has pushed an additional 6.6 million Nigerians into poverty in 2020. According to her, before the pandemic, about two million Nigerians were expected to fall into poverty by 2020 as population…

If you’ve been stumbling over how to say “Omicron” or the pop singer Billie Eilish’s last name, you’re not alone. Because they’ve made a list of 2021’s most commonly mispronounced words. A survey has identified which words and names were the most tricky for newsreaders and people on TV to pronounce this year. It was compiled by the US Captioning Company, which provides subtitles for live events on TV and in courtrooms. They found Omicron had proven especially challenging. The new Covid variant, named after the Greek letter O, is supposed to be pronounced “OH-mee-kraan” or “AH-muh-kraan”, depending if you…

Existing vaccines should still protect people who contract the Omicron variant from severe Covid cases, a World Health Organization (WHO) official says. It comes as the first lab tests of the new variant in South Africa suggest it can partially evade the Pfizer jab. Researchers say there was a “very large drop” in how well the vaccine’s antibodies neutralised the new strain. But the WHO’s Dr Mike Ryan said there was no sign Omicron would be better at evading vaccines than other variants. “We have highly effective vaccines that have proved effective against all the variants so far, in terms…