Author: Chronicle Editor

With the Trump administration’s trade agenda focused on reining in China and renegotiating the North American Free Trade agreement, Africa has barely appeared on the radar screen. That could change this week as President Donald Trump’s top trade negotiator and other senior US officials head to the West African nation of Togo to review a Clinton-era free trade pact with sub-Saharan Africa, in the administration’s first high-level delegation to visit the region. Looming over the two-day ministerial is China’s growing role in African trade and influence, as Beijing finances massive infrastructure projects in the region, some through its new Asian…

The Police Command in Jigawa said no fewer than eleven persons had drowned in various rivers in the state in the last one month. A statement issued by the spokesman of the command, SP Abdu Jinjiri, in Dutse on Tuesday described the number of people drowned within such period as “outrageous”. “The police has decried the outrageous number of people drowned in rivers in the state in the last one month. “No fewer than eleven of such incidents were recorded in some parts of the state. Read Also Catholic Bishops condemns Ozubulu church massacre “The Jigawa police command has expressed…

Mobil Oil Nigeria has officially changed its name to 11 Plc, with the change of name set to implemented by the Nigeria Stock Exchange on 11 August. In a statement issued by Godstime Iwenekhai acting head, Listings Regulation Department, the NSE said the company has already obtained a new Certificate of Incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission. “Dealing members are hereby notified that Mobil Oil Nigeria has changed its name to 11 Plc (pronounced as “Double One Plc”). “This is sequel to the resolution passed by the company’s shareholders at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 24 May 2017.…

Jigawa Government on Tuesday announced plans to distribute ultra-modern mini rice mills, harvesters and other implements to boost rice production in the state. Alhaji Jamilu Usaman-Danmalam, Special Adviser to the state governor on Rice Production and Value Chain said the implements would be distributed to youths under the government cluster farming scheme. The special adviser said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Dutse, that the items would be issued to the young farmers on loan. He listed the farming implements to include 100 mini rice milling machines, 100 single row planters, 100 double…

A federal court in Rio de Janeiro sentenced a Brazilian judge to eight years imprisonment on Tuesday for driving confiscated luxury vehicles, local media reported. Judge Flavio Souza, who was presiding over criminal proceedings against former billionaire Eike Batista, was removed from office in 2015 after he was caught driving Batista’s Porsche Cayenne in Rio. The judge also kept another luxury car confiscated from Batista in his garage, as well as a piano and several Rolex watches. They were seized by a court from Batista, once Brazil’s richest man, because of his high debts, the O Globo news portal reported.…

The Federal Government has urged the contractors handling Itapke-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line to complete it to allow commercial activities to begin by June 2018. The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amechi gave the directive while inspecting ongoing work by Julius Berger Construction Company at the Agbor-Abraka segment of the project. He said the railway, which was abandoned in the last 34 years, would connect the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Kogi, Edo and Delta states.Amaechi explained that Julius Berger had been directed in December 2016 to mobilise back to site to complete the construction of over-pass bridges in the rail. He said…

The President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has condemned Sunday’s killings at a catholic church in Ozubulu, Anambra, describing it as “inhuman” and “barbaric”. Kaigama, who is the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, made the condemnation in a statement on Tuesday in Jos. The Police had confirmed 12 people dead and many injured after the attack by unknown gunmen on worshippers in an early morning Mass at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu. Police had linked the attack to suspected drug trafficking feud between two members of the community living outside Nigeria. READ: Boko Haram kill 31…

Nigerian protesters demanded Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari, receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed ailment for more than three months, either return or resign. Buhari left for the British capital on May 7 on what is his latest medical trip, appointing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to act on his behalf. Dozens of protesters marched in heavy rain to the presidential villa in Abuja with banners urging that the 74-year-old retired general, who headed a military regime in the 1980s, return. “Resume or resign, Nigerians say enough is enough,” one said, with others stating: “If president Buhari cannot return to…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will refuse to sanction any deal allowing attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho to move to Barcelona. (Daily Mirror) Liverpool will not be able to hold on to 25-year-old Coutinho this summer, says club legend Graeme Souness. (Sky Sports) Brazil international Coutinho has “got to go” to Barca, says ex-England striker Ian Wright. (BBC Radio 5 live) Barcelona are also still keen to sign Borussia Dortmund’s 20-year-old French striker Ousmane Dembele. (Sport) Manchester United will bid for Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale if the 28-year-old is left out of Zinedine Zidane’s starting XI for Tuesday’s Super Cup final…

At least 31 fishermen have been killed by Boko Haram jihadists in two separate attacks on islands in Lake Chad in northeastern Nigeria, fishermen and vigilantes fighting the Islamists told AFP late Monday. Armed jihadists stormed the fishing islands of Duguri and Dabar Wanzam in the freshwater lake Saturday, attacking fishermen working in the area and shooting and hacking their victims. “Boko Haram attacked Duguri and Dabar Wanzam islands and killed 31 people,” a member of a local militia fighting the jihadists in Maiduguri, Babakura Kolo told AFP. “They (Boko Haram) killed 14 in Duguri and another 17 in Dabar…