Author: Chronicle Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated General Theophilus Danjuma (Retired) on his 80th birthday and praised him for his numerous interventions to stabilize Nigeria. In a congratulatory letter signed by him , he wrote: “On behalf of the Federal Executive Council, my family and all Nigerians, please accept my warm felicitations on your 80th birthday. “I share in the grace and joy that comes with this special day, having keenly followed your leadership trajectory over the years in selfless service to the nation, courageous military career and building a versatile business empire.” The President also lauded General Danjuma’s various roles in…

Asaba, the Delta State capital and particularly the Koka/Ibusa Road Junction on the Benin-Asaba expressway, was on Friday thrown into pandemonium as mid-day armed robbery attack on a bullion van took place practically unchallenged. The bandits according to eye witness account laid ambush on the vehicle conveying undisclosed amount of money from Onitsha in neighbouring Abambra State to an undisclosed location. The robbers were said to have intercepted the vehicle when the driver was negotiating the turnoff on Ibusa Road, which ironically is often manned by hordes of policemen. There was sporadic shooting between the hoodlums and the police escorting…

The Pope has revealed he wants to change the Lord’s Prayer – as he thinks the current version implies that God pushes people toward sin. He said the line “lead us not into temptation”, memorised by hundreds of millions of Christians for centuries, is based on a flawed translation. “It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation,” the Pope said. The implication is awkward for Christians, who believe it is Satan who tempts people to sin. “I am the one who falls. It’s not him pushing me into temptation to then see how…

No fewer than 14 peacekeepers serving in eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been killed, causing outrage in the world. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of the soldiers. He described the killing as the “worst attack” on UN peacekeepers in recent history. The UN in a statement said late Thursday, the Company Operating Base of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) at Semuliki in Beni territory, North Kivu, was attacked by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) elements. The attack resulted in a protracted fighting between the suspected armed group elements and…

Female singing sensation, Simi, has expressed delight at the chance to perform at GOtv Boxing Night 13, holding on 26 December at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Simi will join Small Doctor, Falz, and Reekado Banks to thrill perform live at the event. She also promised to deliver a memorable performance to fans at the event. Speaking in Lagos on Friday, the Joromi crooner, said: “I’ll be performing live with my band, The Banjos, at GOtv Boxing Night 13. “I can hardly contain my excitement because it will be incredible. I look forward to having the time of…

…Says VAIDS is not a witch hunt …Over 2,000 properties sealed off in Abuja Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), has collected N17 billion in previously unpaid taxes over a six-month period. Fowler made the disclosure, Thursday, at a media workshop on VAIDS in Abuja. The FIRS Chairman also disclosed that the Federal Government is expecting the sum of N6 billion before the end of the year. He equally stated that the FIRS had also sealed off over 2,000 properties in the…

Bitcoin flirted with $17,000 on Thursday, triggering a warning the cryptocurrency is “like a charging train with no brakes” and prompting fresh concern about its looming launch on mainstream markets. Still under $14,000 in Asian trading hours, it smashed through $15,000 in European trading and then later surged to $16,777.08 around 1630 GMT, according to Bloomberg data. The rally came just a day after the virtual currency, which has been used to buy everything from an ice cream to a pint of beer, hit the $12,000 mark for the first time, while it has soared nearly 70 percent in value…

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration’s trade and investment policies will help the nation to diversify the economy, attract more foreign investments and speed up the country’s industrialization. Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said Buhari stated this at the commissioning of two newly-established agro-based industries, shortly before he ended his two-day State Visit to Kano on Thursday. The President noted that the overall effect of these achievements would lead to job creation and better living conditions for citizens as promised by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). At the newly-built 1,200-tonne capacity solvent…

Fitch has cut its 2017 economic growth forecast for Nigeria to 1 percent from 1.5 percent, the ratings agency said on Friday. Nigeria returned to growth in the second quarter of 2017 after shrinking by 1.5 pct in 2016 but the recovery has been fragile because oil revenues remain depressed and hard currency is short. Speaking at a Fitch event in London, Jermaine Leonard, a director for sovereigns, added that although Nigeria’s 2018 budget had an oil production target of 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd), the Fitch forecast was just above 2 million bpd. Partly this was linked to…

A leading contender to replace President Jacob Zuma as head of South Africa’s governing ANC has said he believes the woman who accused Mr Zuma of rape over a decade ago was telling the truth. Mr Zuma’s deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, told a local radio station: “Yes, I would believe her.” In 2006 Mr Zuma was found not guilty of raping Fezekile Kuzwayo – the daughter of an old family friend. He said she had agreed to have sex. Mr Ramaphosa is competing against Mr Zuma’s ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to become the leader of the ANC later this month. The winner…