Author: Chronicle Editor

All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has vehemently denied reports that he was planning to run for the Presidency of Nigeria. In a rebuttal by his media office, Tinubu said he will never stand in any contest against President Muhammadu Buhari or support anyone against him. The statement titled: “Response to Thisday false news report” added that the former Lagos State governor was neither planning a team nor holding consultations with the intention of planning any presidential campaign. Here is the statement in full: “The front page story of the February 28 Thisday newspaper alleging that Asiwaju Bola…

Mr David Kente, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba, on Monday dissociated himself from the hate video circulating in the social media against Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd). Billionaire Danjuma was a former army chief and defence minister of Nigeria and an indigene of the state from Takum. Kente, addressing journalists in Wukari, described the video as fake and an attempt by some of his political opponents to tarnish his image. He noted that linking him to a hate video against Danjuma was callous and very disheartening. Kente explained that the elder statesman was his role…

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) says it is targeting to electrify 80 per cent household in Nigeria by 2040. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the launch of the NEPAD stakeholders meeting on Skills Initiative for Africa on Youth empowerment. He said that the Federal Government was partnering with NEPAD to achieve this target Lawal, who was represented by Amb. Roy Ugo, the Permanent Secretary, office of the SGF, said that government hopes to achieve the improved electrification under the NEPAD’s Programme of Infrastructural…

…Vows To Sustain Enforcement Of Okada Ban The Lagos State Government on Tuesday assured farmers in the State especially in Epe axis of adequate measures to protect them against incessant kidnappings. The State Government vowed to pursue vigorously and sustain the renewed enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada plying restricted routes. Rising from the monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the State Government assured residents and investors of commitment to their security and well-being, adding that no stone would be left unturned towards protecting the people. The State’s Commissioner of…

Mo Ibrahim, Sudanese telecoms magnate failed to award a $5 million African political leadership prize on Tuesday, the second year running the gong designed to foster regional democracy has gone begging due to a lack of suitable candidates. Since its launch in 2006, the Ibrahim Prize has only been awarded four times – to Mozambique’s Joaquim Chissano, Botswana’s Festus Mogae, Cape Verde’s Pedro De Verona Rodrigues Pires and Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2014. Candidates have to be democratically elected African heads of state or government who have left office in the previous three years at the end of their constitutional…

Jerome Valcke, the former right-hand man of ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter has appealed against his 10-year ban from football. Valcke, who was secretary general of the sport’s world governing body, was banned last year for his alleged involvement in a scheme to profit from World Cup ticket sales. The Frenchman, 56, has now asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to overturn the sanction. Valcke has always maintained he has done “absolutely nothing wrong”. He was originally suspended for 12 years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs (£70,800) by Fifa, though the length of the ban was later reduced. As…

There are now indications that the Nigerian economy is well on its way out of recession considering the 2016 overall and last quarter Gross Domestic Product reports. A review of the recent GDP figures released today by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, show a contraction of -1.30% in the fourth quarter of 2016, translating into an estimated economic growth rate of -1.51% for the full year. Besides, the Nigerian economy actually performed better overall last year as the growth rate was higher with a contraction at -1.5% than the -1.8% predicted by the IMF, raising the hope that the…

Nigeria’s April crude oil exports are on track to drop by just over 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April from the previous month, according to loading programmes compiled by Reuters on Tuesday. The exports of 1.54 million bpd, on 50 cargoes, are down from a revised March programme that included 1.65 million bpd on 56 cargoes. The biggest month-on-month decline was in Qua Iboe, Nigeria’s largest oil stream. Qua Iboe exports in March were revised higher to 11 cargoes, four more than the 7 planned to load in April, due to loading delays that have pushed February exports back.…

President Donald Trump says he believes President Barack Obama is behind some of the protests against Republican lawmakers across the country. In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” that aired Tuesday, Trump responded to a question about the protests, saying, “I think that President Obama is behind it, because his people are certainly behind it.” He adds that he thinks Obama loyalists are also behind White House leaks. Trump concedes, “I also understand that’s politics. And in terms of him being behind things, that’s politics. And it will probably continue.” He says he’s not surprised, saying “I’m…

On the eve of his first congressional address Tuesday President Donald Trump offered a taste of his upcoming budget, announcing he would ask Congress for a nearly 10 percent rise in defense spending and a large cut in foreign aid. Previewing measures designed to back up campaign promises with dollars and cents, Trump promised a fiscal plan focused on “public safety and national security.” An administration official said Trump’s plan would include a $54 billion increase in defense spending and a corresponding decrease in non-military programs. “Most federal agencies will see a reduction as a result,” the official said. There…