Author: Chronicle Editor

The U.S. Government has supported the ECOWAS with Information Technology and Communication equipment to enhance its early warning mechanism, as part of its partnership to promote peace and security within the sub-region. Mrs Halima Ahmed, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security said in a statement on Friday in Abuja that the gesture would enable the Early Warning Directorate to achieve its objectives and mandate. “The equipment will enhance the capacity and coordination of National Early Warning and Response Centres in member states, as well as the collation of relevant data within the community,” she said. Ahmed further expressed…

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, on Thursday told the Security Council that the humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin was “growing in dramatic fashion”. Briefing the Security Council, the UN official underlined the significant challenges and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad Basin region, including, in particular, those posed by the militant group, Boko Haram. The UN official, therefore, urged sustained support to national and regional security, political and humanitarian action, according to the presentations obtained by the UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “The humanitarian crisis across northeast…

With less than a week to the end of the tenure of President Yahya Jammeh, of Gambia, he has put in motion another ploy to extend his stay. This time, his political party has filed a request with the Supreme Court for an injunction aimed at blocking the swearing in of his rival, Adama Barrow, who won the 1 December election. The petition was filed on Thursday. Supreme Court Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle, confirmed receipt of the petition, which was filed by Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC). “It is filed today with the court registrar,” said Fagbenle,…

The Nigeria Army plans to conduct military exercises in Southern Kaduna, Pla­teau and Kano States – tagged Op­eration Kunama (Scorpion) – as part of measures to contain the onslaught of Fulani marauders against farmers in the region. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, disclosed this yesterday to State House corre­spondents after President Mu­hammadu Buhari convened the first national security meeting of 2017. It was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy; the Inspector-General of Police; Director-General of the Depart­ment of State Services (DSS); the Minister of Defence, and…

Two of the top national security figures in US president-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration broke with their soon-to-be boss on Thursday. They took a hard line against Russia even as the incoming president indicates a willingness to work with Moscow. Defence secretary nominee James Mattis accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to damage the NATO military alliance, while the nominee to head the CIA spy agency Mike Pompeo said that the US faced one of the most “complicated” threat environments in decades, including an increasingly aggressive Russia. The hearings came a day after Trump denounced the publication of a…

Four Boko Haram members, carrying concealed 100 motorcycles have been arrested by Nigerian troops. According to Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen Sani Usman noted that the fleeing terrorists were arrested on Wednesday afternoon at Madaki village in Biu Local Government Area, Borno State by troops of 27 Task Force Brigade. The terrorists were named as Muazu Gogobir, Mamman Shuaibu, Muhammadu Muhammadu and Isah Ibrahim. They were intercepted along with 100 concealed motorcycles at the outskirt of the town. The suspected Boko Haram terrorists are undergoing preliminary investigation, Sani stated. According to Usman, following the dislodgement and sequent occupation of Boko Haram stronghold…

Scores of political gladiators in Osun, as well as residents of the state were in total confusion on Thursday as it was reported that former commissioners and other aides of the governor have been ejected from their official quarters in Osogbo as a result of the directive from the office of the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. It was gathered that the directive has continued to generate a lot of tension among the former aides, who have continued to reside at their official apartments despite the dissolution of the cabinet after the completion of Aregbesola’s…

The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N256.4 billion revenue between January and December 2016. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr Uche Ejesieme. According to him, this is against N266.1 billion recorded in 2015. “This figure represents a marginal difference when compared with the figure for 2016, with a shortfall of less than N10 billion, attributable to some factors beyond the control of the command,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the…

Former England manager Graham Taylor has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72, BBC Sport has reported. During his club management career, he led Watford and Aston Villa to runners-up spot in the old First Division. He also took Watford to the 1984 FA Cup final, where his side were beaten by Everton at Wembley. Taylor was appointed England boss in 1990 but resigned in 1993 after the team’s failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. A family statement said: “With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed…

Mr Oscar Onyema, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief Executive Officer, has predicted that Nigeria’s economy would recover from recession in 2017 with a modest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast of 0.6 per cent. Onyema stated this at the NSE 2016 Market Recap and Outlook for 2017, in Lagos, on Thursday. He expressed optimism that the nation’s economy and the equity market would rebound in 2017 with the right economic policies and strategies. He said that the economy would be driven by vigoorous fiscal policy implementation with focus on articulation of desired goals. He said that lower rates of disruptions…