Author: Chronicle Editor

A group of scientists is suggesting a reset for the puberty age or the age of adolescence, from 9-14 for girls and 12-16 for boys to 10-24 for all the genders. The scientists made the suggestion after studying adolescent health for many years. Writing in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, doctors from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Melbourne suggested broader adolescent years due to biological and societal changes in youths. According to the research, earlier puberty has accelerated the onset of adolescence in nearly all populations. For example, in industrialised countries such as Britain, the average age for…

Two Americans and two Canadians have been freed after being kidnapped in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna, a police spokesman said on Saturday. Kidnapping, usually for ransom, is common in parts of Nigeria, though abductors usually target other Nigerians. However, the kidnapping of foreigners is not uncommon. The Americans and Canadians were ambushed by unknown gunmen on Wednesday while travelling from the town of Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the capital, Abuja. Kafanchan is more than three hours’ drive northeast of Abuja. READ: US court convicts Nigerian Osa Alohaneke for killing Cameroon fiancée Mukhtar Aliyu, a spokesman for Kaduna…

Osa Alohaneke, a Nigerian in the United States faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail, after he was convicted by a court in Fort Bend County, Houston for the 2015 stabbing to death of his fiancée, a Cameroonian. After deliberating for some 13 hours, a jury late Friday afternoon convicted 59-year-old Osa Alohaneke in the slaying of Evelyne Ebane Epiepang, 52. Alohaneke looked down and showed no emotion when the verdict was read in court. Prosecutors alleged that Alohaneke used a kitchen knife to attack Epiepang, his fiancée, and her friend, Veronica Taku. Alohaneke, who…

Retired Civil Servants in Rivers State have issued two months ultimatum to the Rivers State government to pay off all the outstanding pensions in the state. The retired civil servants said failure on the part of Government to comply with the ultimatum would attract legal action. The State leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners said this in reaction to alleged statement credited to Governor Wike at flag off of road construction at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government on the 23rd December last year where the Governor denied that the state government was owning the pensioners. Rising from a state…

Fire engulfed and burnt three duplexes on 34 Road, B Close, Gowon Estate, Egbeda in Lagos on Friday 19 January, but no casualty was recorded. An eyewitness, who spoke to NAN, said that the fire was first noticed at about 7.15 p.m in one of the duplexes before spreading to the others. He said that an occupant in one of duplexes, who had just returned, opened the door and met the raging fire; He immediately raised an alarm which attracted neighbours and sympathisers. According to the witness, the bewildered occupant’s action quickly attracted more sympathisers’ who ran helter-skelter in assisting…

Nurses under the auspices of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA), have lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government over the fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in Ebonyi State. At least two doctors and a nurse have died, while health workers are said to be battling for life from the disease. Reacting to the development, the association decried as despicable the level of lip service paid to strengthening of the Nigerian health system by successive governments. Read Also US government shuts down as senate fails to pass budget It frowned at the state of the Nigerian health system and…

The US government has begun shutting down of many of its services after the Senate failed to agree on a new budget. A bill to fund the federal government until 16 February did not receive the required 60 votes amid a bitter dispute over immigration and border security. It is the first shutdown ever to happen while the same party, the Republicans, controls Congress and the White House. The impasse will affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and the recriminations have already begun. The White House accused Democrats of “[putting] politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children,…

Britain’s Co-op supermarket has extended a job scheme that recruits Nigerians who are victims of modern slavery and have been rescued or have escaped exploitation. Co-op has also urged other brands to get on board. Co-op’s “Bright Future” programme was launched in April 2017 with anti-trafficking charity City Hearts, offering trafficking victims a four-week paid placement leading to a potential permanent job at one of its stores or warehouses in Britain. In brothels, cannabis farms, car washes and nail bars, the government estimates there are at least 13,000 victims of forced labour, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude in Britain, most…

Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is being lined up to replace Antonio Conte as Chelsea manager in the summer, with former Blues defender Juliano Belletti as his director of football. (Star) And Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is the prime target for Paris St-Germain. (Mirror) Tottenham are expected to beat Arsenal to the signing of Bordeaux’s 20-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder Malcom. (Telegraph) It may not be a done deal yet but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has congratulated Manchester United on the signing of Arsenal’s Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, 29. (Talksport) Manchester City pulled out of the deal to sign…

Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has signed for his boyhood club Feyenoord, 14 years after leaving the Dutch giants. The 34-year-old is to return on a free transfer after leaving Turkish side Fenerbahce. The Netherlands international made his senior debut at Feyenoord in 2001 and went on to play 78 games for the club, scoring 22 goals. He left to join Arsenal in 2004. READ: Chelsea to swap Batshuayi for Edin Dzeko, plus they want Peter Crouch too Van Persie spent eight seasons with Arsene Wenger’s side, winning the FA Cup with them in 2005, before…