Author: Chronicle Editor

On Tuesday, Governor Rauf Aregbesola stated that a total of N14.2bn was paid out by his government in less than two weeks, just before the end of December 2016. Aregbesola stated this when the State government officially declared the year 2017 open for activities, through an interdenominational thanksgiving session at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo. Aregbesola, who laced his speech with songs of praises to God in Islamic and Christian ways, said with what befell the state before the close of 2015, it was gratifying that the state bounced back in what can now be felt as relief from the hardship…

Four Chelsea fans accused of aggravated violence against a black man on the Paris Metro have been given suspended one-year sentences by a French court. Joshua Parsons, 22, and James Fairbairn, 25, had denied their actions of February 2015 were racist in nature. Their co-accused, fellow Chelsea fans Richard Barklie, a 52-year-old former policeman, and William Simpson, 27, from Surrey, were tried in absentia. They were also ordered to pay the victim 10,000 euros in compensation. Souleymane Sylla was targeted at Richelieu-Drouot station as football fans made their way to a Champions League match between Paris Saint Germain and Chelsea.…

The Akwa Ibom Agency for the Control of AIDS (AK-SACA), says it is training about 85 orphans and vulnerable children on the acquisition of skills for sustainable living. The AK-SACA Programme Manager, Dr Nkereuwem Etuk, made the disclosure in Uyo on Tuesday at the meeting of the state working technical group on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and AIDS (PMTCT). Etuk said the training was in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, adding that the beneficiaries were trained on skills such as hairdressing, fashion design and catering. He said that the training was supported by…

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has earmarked N5.6 billion for the health sector and provision of water in the 2017 budget. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is contained in the fiscal policy document Dankwambo presented to the state House of Assembly in Gombe on Dec. 22, 2016. In the document obtained by NAN, he said N3.110 billion was earmark for the provision of water supply as the sector continued to receive priority attention since May 2011 to date. According to him, water supply and sanitation policy has been developed to guide supply and sanitation initiative…

Manchester United are holding out for more than £20m for out-of-favour midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 27, who has been the subject of bids from West Brom and Everton. (Manchester Evening News) French side Marseille have joined the race to sign Schneiderlin and are willing to meet United’s valuation. (Sun) United midfielder Michael Carrick, 35, is still waiting to be offered a new contract, with his current deal expiring in the summer, and is now free to talk to other clubs. (Sun) Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will wait until the summer before making a move for Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez,…

On his first day in office, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has called for teamwork. Guterres urged staff at the world body’s New York Headquarters that it was not enough to do the right thing; we need to earn the right to do the right thing”. “It is very important for us to recognise our achievements but we also need to recognise our shortcomings, to recognise our failures and where we are not able to deliver as we should,” he charged. He outlined the multitude of challenges – ranging from complex conflicts to global terrorism – confronting the world. Guterres called…

On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Turkey’s President, Recep Erdogan over the New Year attack and the progress made against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. The White House, in a readout said the U.S. President expressed his condolences for the many killed and wounded in the horrific terrorist attack against a nightclub in Istanbul, for which ISIL has claimed responsibility. He also condoled the Turkish leader on the Dec. 17 attack against off-duty Turkish security personnel in Kayseri, for which TAK, a wing of the PKK, had claimed responsibility. “The two leaders agreed that Turkey and…

Members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) staged a sit-in at the Alabama office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions on Tuesday to protest his nomination as the nation’s next Attorney-General, criticising his record on voting rights and race relations. NAACP activists vowed to occupy Sessions’ Mobile, Alabama office until the conservative Republican lawmaker either withdrew as a candidate or they were arrested. Sessions, 70, has a history of controversial positions on race, immigration and criminal justice reform and the NAACP also held demonstrations at his other offices in Alabama. “Senator Sessions has callously ignored the…

Leicester City have confirmed that an agreement has been reached with KRC Genk for the transfer of Wilfred Ndidi for an undisclosed fee. The Nigerian international midfielder, 20, has agreed personal terms, undergone a medical and will sign a contract to June 2022 once a work permit has officially been granted. He will wear City’s no.25 shirt. Ndidi has agreed personal terms, undergone a medical and will sign a contract to June 2022 once a work permit has officially been granted!— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 3, 2017 The Foxes beat off considerable competition to secure Ndidi’s signature – the tall,…

Arsenal completed a stunning comeback at Bournemouth as they rescued a point in injury time having fallen 3-0 behind to the Cherries. The Gunners looked destined for a third away league defeat in a row before a late rally that began with a diving Alexis Sanchez header and gathered momentum when a stunning Lucas Perez left-footed volley reduced the gap to a single goal. Bournemouth went down to 10 men when Simon Francis was sent off for a challenge on Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal capitalised as Olivier Giroud headed a 92nd-minute equaliser. The home side had overwhelmed the Gunners early…