Author: Chronicle Editor

The Statue of Liberty was plunged into darkness for a few hours after an unexpected power cut late on Tuesday. The lights illuminating the statue in New York City shut off in what the National Parks Service said was an “unplanned outage”. There was online speculation that the move was deliberate, to show solidarity with the Day Without A Woman inequality protests on Wednesday. But the parks service said it was probably down to construction work. The last rebuilding work after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 is being completed nearby. The statue was shut for a month after damage it sustained…

Ten-man Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the seventh successive season following a second-half 5-1 humiliation by Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium. A controversial decision in the 53rd minute by the referee shattered any hopes of the Gunners becoming the first side in Champions League history to overturn a four-goal deficit. They led through Theo Walcott’s stunning 20th-minute goal, before Bayern were awarded a penalty that also resulted in the sending off of defender Laurent Koscielny. The France centre-back was initially shown a yellow card by referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos for his foul…

Pay-TV company, MultiChoice, has introduced two new incentive programmes, DStv THANKS and GOtv WOW, to reward subscribers for their loyalty. The programmes, which start on 7 March and runs till 21 March, will see all DStv , GOtv Plus and GOtv Value customers get the opportunity to have unlimited access to exciting channels offering a range of the latest quality content. Also all customers on Premium, Compact, Compact Plus, Family and Access plus GOtv Plus and GOtv Value, who stay continuously connected for three months and more, will have uninterrupted access to the channels. Exciting rewards that await loyal customers…

…Rail Project’ll Boost Regional Integration, Economic Growth – Ambode Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said that the Federal Government was committed to delivering a fast and efficient rail service system between Lagos and Ibadan within a projected time frame of December 2018. Osinbajo, who spoke at the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Segment II Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project with Extension to Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, held at the Nigerian Railway Corporation compound, Ebute-metta, recalled that President Buhari, during his visit to China in January 2016, reopened negotiation on the Chinese support for the…

LEKOIL has acquired a participating interest of 17.14% in OPL 310 from Afren Investments Oil and Gas (AIOGNL). According to industry sources, LEKOIL had through its subsidiary, Mayfair Assets and Trust (Mayfair), acquired a participating interest of 17.14% in OPL 310 from Afren Investments Oil and Gas (AIOGNL), a subsidiary of Afren, consented to by Optimum Petroleum as required under the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) and Optimum provided its written consent to this arrangement. Prior to this, Afren held a 40% participating interest in OPL 310. As consideration for the 17.14% interest transfer, LEKOIL funded the first $50M towards drilling…

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has defected form the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He announced his defection on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, but did not give any reason for his action. Ovie Omo-Agege, a lawyer, consummate grassroots politician and mobiliser. Public administrator, corporate leader, erudite thought leader on good governance and public service. He is representing the Urhobo Nation at the upper chamber and the good people of Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State. Breaking: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege officially announces his defection from the Labour Party (LP)…

Senator Walid Jubril, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), has said the party was willing to visit and sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari in London. Jubril, who denied that the party promoted the rumoured death of the President, said that the PDP was rather praying fervently for Buhari’s safe return to Nigeria. “Let him be well and come back and continue with his leadership of Nigeria. “If we are to be given the opportunity, the PDP leaders will even go to London to wish him well and sympathize with his family,” he said in an interview…

Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen is now a Grand Commander of Order of the Niger (GCON) and was decorated during his swearing-in as 20th Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN). He was given the award, Nigeria’s second highest, by acting President Yemi Osinbajo. The inauguration was witnessed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Chief justices of Nigeria, ministers, Justices of the Supreme Court and other dignitaries. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted Tuesday inside the council chambers of Aso Rock presidential villa, Abuja. Onnoghen, a native of Cross River state, was first appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as acting CJN on November…

The Economic Community of West African States confirms Morocco is applying to join the bloc. It comes after the North African kingdom in January rejoined the African Union as it seeks a larger role on the continent. ECOWAS chairman Marcel de Souza says Morocco’s application will be considered at the next summit of 15 member states in July. Some analysts see Morocco’s move as a continuation of checkbook diplomacy to consolidate its claim on Western Sahara. The region has been a source of tension in Africa. The AU decades ago accepted Western Sahara as a full member, leading Morocco to…

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has appointed King Sunny Ade as an Ambassador of the National Re-Orientation Programme “Change Begins With Me.” Speaking in Abuja on Monday when he received the music maestro on a courtesy visit to his office, the Minister described King Sunny Ade as an icon and a trail blazer, who has reigned in the music industry for over 50 years without blemish. Announcing the appointment, he said “we are looking for people like you (King Sunny Ade) that the younger ones can look up to. It’s not just that you have been…