Author: Chronicle Editor

At least 14 people sustained burns in a fresh outbreak of fire at a camp housing tens of thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram jihadists in northeast Nigeria, according to an aid agency. The outbreak comes just two weeks after a blaze at the camp, located at Rann, about 175 kilometres (108 miles) east of the Borno state capital Maiduguri, killed five people. “There have been three separate fires reported,” stated a memo seen by AFP from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) circulated among international aid agencies in Maiduguri. The incidents, which occurred over…

On Tuesday 10 April, some news sites reported that Nigerian Stock Exchange recorded a market crash following President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to seek re-election the previous day. This reading of the Stock Market activities of Monday 9 April, is not only mendacious but outright mischievous. The Stock Market had been recording more of price/index decline over the last two weeks mostly on account of investors taking profits or dumping their holdings in consequence of disappointing fourth quarter results from highly capitalised quoted companies. The major reason for the general price decline of the Stock Market on 9 April was LaFarge…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not invited Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn to their royal wedding at the Windsor Castle. The decision not to have an “official list” of political leaders in attendance also means that US President Donald Trump will not be invited. The decision was made based on the church’s size and the fact Prince Harry is only fifth in line to the throne. It has also been confirmed that Barack and Michelle Obama, who are friends of the prince, have not been invited. Among the 1,200 members of the public who will be allowed into the…

For 14 days, starting from 28 May, DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact subscribers will have access to a pop-up channel airing a new football show, History of Football. The show, launched by MultiChoice and A+E Networks International, will run 24/7 till 10 June on DStv channel 187. Outside of Africa, History of Football will air in over 160 territories, with every major territory having access to over 40 hours of content, which will be a blend of global and local programming. David Villa, a World Cup winner with Spain and one of the most decorated players in the world,…

YouTube’s most viewed music video Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Daady Yankee has been hacked after recording over five billion views. More than a dozen other artists, including Shakira, Selena Gomez, Drake and Taylor Swift are also affected. The original clips had been posted by VEVO. The Despacito video has been removed, but its cover image had shown a group wearing masks and pointing guns. The hackers, calling themselves Kuroi’sh and Prosox, had written “Free Palestine” underneath the videos. Several of the clips remain live at time of writing. READ: TY Danjuma still chairman Presidential Committee on North East Initiative…

The Presidential Committee on North East Initiative (PCNI) has debunked the reports in the social media about the resignation of Lt. Gen. TY Danjuma as its chairman. Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir, Head of Media and Communications, PCNI debunked the fake report in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. He appealed to news organisations, journalists and social media users to first verify stories from the agency before publishing. “The attention of the Presidential Committee on The North East Initiative (PCNI) has been drawn to online reports and social media posts on the purported resignation of the Chairman of the PCNI. READ: Senate…

The Senate on resumption from its two-week Easter break suspended plenary in honour of its member, the late Mustapha Bukar who died on April 4. Until his death, Bukar, 63, represented Katsina North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber and was Chairman Committee on Capital Market. Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, moved a motion for suspension of plenary. A minute silence led by the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki was observed for the deceased. Saraki, thereafter, said a valedictory service would be held on Wednesday in honour of their deceased colleague who served the country immensely. READ:…

South Africa’s MTN has signed an agreement to form a partnership with Ecobank on mobile banking across Africa, the telecoms group and lender said on Tuesday. Rob Shuter, group CEO of MTN, and Ade Ayeyemi, CEO of Ecobank, attended the signing in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria. MTN and Ecobank’s agreement on a mobile banking partnership came on the heels of an announcement by Kenya’s top three telecom companies on Friday to offer cross-network money transfers by mobile phone. Shuter said MTN was building its mobile services business, which is an important part of its digital growth strategy and…

…Says no controversy on Abacha funds recovery Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has dismissed reports in some quarters that the Nigerian government received $300 million of late General Sani Abacha’s loot. She also rejected claims that the Finance Minstry paid monies to lawyers for securing the funds. Oluyinka Akintunde, special adviser Media and Communications said in a statement that “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has been drawn to false media reports of a “strongly-worded letter to the President” objecting to the payment of $16.9 million fees to two lawyers for the recovery of Abacha…

Yulia Skripal, the poisoned daughter of Russian ex-spy Sergei, has been discharged from hospital, the BBC understands. The 33-year-old was discharged from Salisbury District Hospital yesterday and taken to a secure location. Her 66-year-old father remains in hospital but his condition is “improving rapidly”. The pair were taken to hospital on 4 March after being exposed to the toxic nerve agent Novichok. The father and daughter were found slumped on a park bench in the centre of Salisbury. READ: US senator Tammy Duckworth first to give birth in office Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who attended the scene, was also treated…