Author: Chronicle Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released an emergency mobile phone line for customers denied access to foreign exchange by banks for medical bill and school fees. CBN also released email address for immediate complaint against any commercial bank that denies a customer access to foreign exchange. The customers have been advised to either call 07002255226 or send an email to cpd@cbn.gov.ng. The provision is made particularly for customers buying foreign exchange for school fees and medical fees. “Any customer who is not attended to within 24 hours for BTA/PTA or 48 hours for tuition and medical fees should…

Gilbert Baker, the San-Francisco-based artist who created the rainbow flag as a symbol for the gay community, has died aged 65, US media report. The San Francisco Chronicle said Mr Baker died in his sleep at his home in New York on Thursday night. He initially designed an eight-colour flag in 1978 for the city’s gay freedom day, the precursor to the modern pride parade. A candlelight vigil is planned for Friday evening in San Francisco. Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black tweeted: “Rainbows weep. Our world is far less colourful without you, my love. Gilbert Baker gave us the rainbow flag…

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has lauded the appointment of Mr. Anthony Adejo Okpanachi as the pioneer Managing Director/ CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria. The 51 years old Okpanachi is an experienced banker and resource manager of international repute. The Governor, through a congratulatory message signed by his spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo, described the erudite banker as “Kogi’s intellectual credit to the banking industry”, expressing “profound confidence” in Mr. Okpanachi to use the bank to achieve “monumental development for the nation in line with the Change Agenda of the President Buhari administration.” “I congratulate Mr. Anthony Adejo Okpanachi for…

Woman Rising, the annual celebration of women through music, arts and networking returns on April 8 and 9, 2017 in a two-day extravaganza in its usual extension of the annual celebration of International Women’s Day. Now in its seventh year, WOMAN RISING has evolved from a small 50-person gathering which debuted in 2011 to a comprehensive, far-reaching and impactful annual 2-day meeting of women across the creative and business spectrums alike – attracting over 500 women cumulatively. Our 2017 ensemble will feature Adunni Nefertiti (all-female acapella folk group), Kaline, amazing newcomers Evelle, Debbie and Sheillah, as well as our international…

The Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it will commence a nationwide strike on Monday. NUPENG’s President, Mr Igwe Achese, announced this in a signed communique on Friday in Lagos, at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the union’s secretariat in Yaba. The communique said the strike would draw the attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers, such as bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and the alleged excesses of some security agencies. “The…

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved appointments into the executive management of some government agencies and parastatal agencies. Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and publicity), announced the appointments in Abuja on Friday. According to him, the new chairman of the board of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is former newspaper editor and ex-presidential spokesman, Chief Duro Onabule. Other executive directors of NTA include Dr Steve Egbo (Administration and Training), Mr. Abdul Dembos (Marketing), Mr. Mohammed Labbo (News), Mrs Fatima M. Barda (Finance), Mr. Stephen Okoanachi (Engineering) and and Mr. Wole Coker (Programmes). At the Federal Radio…

Nigeria and France will continue to deepen the buoyant diplomatic, economic and military relationships between the two countries, even as both the Federal Government and the French Republic are now exploring new ways to confront and defeat the ideologies fueling terrorism. This was the highlight of the bilateral meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and French Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, in Paris after the Vice President attended and spoke at the just concluded global forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity hosted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD. While recalling the tremendous progress made by the Buhari administration in…

Two friends, Chidiebere Ejide (18) and Chidi Amadi (22), who allegedly conspired and gang-raped their female friend, appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s’ Court in Lagos on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Amadi is to stand trial on a charge for conspiracy, while Ejide is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, rape and stealing. The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecutor, Cousin Adams, told the court that the offences were committed on March 27, between 4.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., at Haile Selassie Hotel, Aguda, Lagos. He said that the complainant, Aduke…

Some medical experts have advised Nigerians to seek early attention when ill especially if they are suspicious of meningitis because the disease is curable if presented early. The meningitis outbreak across several states has caused the death of over 282 people in the past two months. Adefunke Babatola, a paediatrician, adviced that parents should take their children early to hospitals for diagnosis because the treatment is more successful if detected early. She said symptoms to look out for in children include high body temperature, irritability, excessive crying, headaches for those old enough to know what they are experiencing, photo phobia…

The walls were once painted white. And, in its past life, the floor was a layer of smooth cement. But the walls have turned brown now, covered in dust and sweat, and the cement has started to crumble into potholes and cracks. This is the notorious Mile 2 Prison outside the Gambian capital Banjul. Just the mention of that name was once enough to inspire fear in those who did not tow the government line in this tiny West African country. It was where the political prisoners of former president Yahya Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia for more than two…