Author: Chronicle Editor

The World Bank said on Friday it has approved a $200 million loan to Nigeria to support the government’s effort to boost small and mid-scale farmers. The loan from the International Development Association, the bank’s low-interest arm, has a maturity of 25 years with a grace period of five years. Nigeria slipped into its first recession in 25 years last year, brought on by low prices for its mainstay, crude oil. It has been trying to diversify away from hydrocarbons, build badly needed infrastructure and boost agriculture. “Priority value chains … will include products with potential for immediate improvement of…

The head of a group helping organise Shell’s clean-up efforts in an oil Delta community in Nigeria said on Friday he was hopeful clean-up work after two spills in 2008 could start in April. Royal Dutch Shell agreed in 2015 on a 55 million pound ($68.62 million) settlement with the Bodo community after accepting liability for two pipeline leaks due to corrosion that contaminated their land. [http://reut.rs/2hTxctf ] But progress to clean up the spill has been slow after Shell said members of the community had denied it access in August 2015 when work was set to begin. A community…

US President Donald Trump has demanded a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives on Friday on his troubled health care bill. The American Healthcare Act is intended to replace parts of President Barack Obama’s signature “Obamacare” law. A vote on Thursday was delayed because of opposition from some Republicans. Mr Trump reportedly warned fellow Republicans that they had a choice between voting for his bill on Friday or being stuck with Obamacare for good. The president made the warning during a closed-door meeting at the White House, US media reported. Republican and House Speaker Paul Ryan said: “For seven-and-a-half…

More than 200 migrants are feared dead in a boat sinking off the coast of Libya, a Spanish aid organisation says. Proactiva Open Arms said it had recovered five bodies floating near two capsized boats, which can each hold more than 100 people. The group’s Laura Lanuza said the five they pulled from the Mediterranean were young men who appeared to have drowned. A spokesman for Italy’s coast guard, which co-ordinates rescues, confirmed the five deaths. But he told the BBC that they could not confirm the estimates of deaths given by Proactiva, and said they had received no distress…

Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Teranga Lions of Senegal on Thursday played out a 1-1 draw in an international friendly played in London. Senegal’s playmaker Moussa Sow had put his team in front in the 54th minute of the game before a hard fighting Kelechi Iheanacho stole the show for the Nigerian side after he converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute for a late equaliser. The match played at The Hive, home ground of Barnet Football Club saw the Teranga Lions dominate in full control of the first half and also hitting the Nigerian post. The Senegalese effort…

Former militant leaders in the Niger Delta oil region have threatened the Federal government to stage protests over delayed stipends granted under a 2009 amnesty. “We are calling for the immediate release of the balance sum of the 2016 supplementary budgetary allocation to avert any situation that will warrant beneficiaries of the program going to the streets to protest and barricade roads,” the former militants said in a statement. The government is now in talks with militants to end the attacks which cut Nigeria’s output by 700,000 barrels a day(bpd) for several months last year, reducing total production at that…

Somalia’s new president appealed to the international community Thursday for more aid to avert a famine threatening his country that could also undermine fledgling political hopes born in his peaceful election. “Almost half of our people are facing acute food shortages and about 15 percent are facing famine” amid a severe drought, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo, said in a video conference with the United Nations Security Council. “Among the many pressing priorities for my administration, responding effectively to the current humanitarian crisis tops the agenda,” he said. Somalia, a Horn of Africa country of 12…

Recent reports that Transparency International UK had endorsed the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has proven to be false. A statement issued by the Anti-corruption body, EFCC had said that the International Anti-corruption monitor had endorsed Mr Magu as an Anti-Corruption icon. The statement of the EFCC had come on the heels of the rejection of Magu by the Nigerian Senate as the nominee for confirmation to head the commission. However, in a statement by TI announcing the event which Magu was invited to, it was categorically stated that the the invitation was not an…

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced to death, two of the four persons accused of killing Cynthia Osokogu, the Nasarawa State University postgraduate student. The accused Okwumo Nwabufo, and Olisaeloka Ezike, the judge ruled, will die by hanging. Osokogu was murdered on 22 July 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, after she was lured to Lagos by her Facebook lover. The other accused were: Orji Osita, 33, who is a pharmacist and Ezike Nonso 25, the younger brother of Olisaeloka Ezike. They were, discharged and acquitted by Justice Akinlade. All…

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said his government would continue to invest in physical and social infrastructure in the Lagos State University (LASU). Ambode made the promise at the 21st Convocation ceremony of the institution in Lagos. “We have many projects nearing completion and these legacy projects when completed, will no doubt, change the entire landscape of the university,” he said. Ambode said that a 6000-bed hostel would be delivered for the university as part of the state government’s development plans. The governor, however, commended the university management team led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, for…