Author: Chronicle Editor

The outgoing UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon bids farewell to staff and Permanent Representatives at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, being his last official working day as the UN scribe. Ki-moon, whose 10-year tenure comes to an end on Dec. 31, was full of appreciation for the opportunity to serve. The outgoing two-term UN Scribe was also full of praise for the UN staff for their hard work and was thankful to those who had gathered to wish him well. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” the outgoing secretary-general, who assumed office on Jan. 1, 2007, said continuously, as…

The fight against Boko Haram insurgents has recorded substantial military and security successes, UN acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa, François Fall, has said. While briefing the UN Security Council, Fall noted that much territory previously controlled by Boko Haram had been reclaimed. “The collective efforts of the Lake Chad Basin countries in fighting terrorism have resulted in substantial military and security successes. “The Multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has continued with cross-border operations and reclaimed much of the territory controlled by Boko Haram.” He said Fall, who is Head of the UN Regional Office for Central…

The Federal Government has commenced the payment of the N30, 000 monthly stipends for beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme -the job creation programme of the Buhari presidency. The N-Power programme is designed to engage scores of unemployed Nigerian graduates from tertiary institutions across the country. The Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity,Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, stating that “all successfully verified beneficiaries who have provided bank accounts are being processed for payment.” According to the presidential media aide, “some beneficiaries will receive their…

A soprano singer, Jan Chamberlin, quit the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Friday rather than perform at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Chamberlin wrote a resignation letter to choir president Ron Jarrett — and her fellow singers, saying she “could never look myself in the mirror again with self-respect” if she sang in the January 20 ceremony in Washington. “I have spent several sleepless nights and days in turmoil and agony,” Chamberlin wrote in a letter she also posted on Facebook. “I have reflected carefully on both sides of the issue, prayed a lot, talked with family and friends, and…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assented to the ‎Endangered Species Control of International Trade and Traffic Amendment Act 2016, earlier passed by the National Assembly. The Act is a further step taken to discourage trafficking in endangered species and encourage the culture of preservation. The government has also increased the penalties for violations the law on trafficking on the endangered species in line with today’s realities. Amendment to the law on the endangered species now in force would deter people from trafficking in endangered species because endangered species are the preserves of the country. Sen. Ita Enang, the Senior Special…

The former permanent secretary otherwise known as Perm Sec of the Nigerian Federal Government who retired with 45 brand new SUVs has been revealed. He is Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, who retired from the Ministry of Power. He is from Bayelsa state. The Nation newspaper reported Saturday that the vehicles recovered from him were actually 47, apart from 100 motorcycles. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which is investigating Godknows Igali has found that the vehicles were bought for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign in the 2015 general election, with looted funds. It was unclear why he did not…

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal, 29, and will make an initial offer of £34m. (Sun) Meanwhile, 24-year-old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will open talks over a new contract at Chelsea after Conte described the Belgium international as “one of the best in the world”. (Guardian) Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce says he turned down an offer to manage in the Chinese Super League. (Daily Mirror) Stoke midfielder Bojan Krkic, 26, is willing to listen to offers to quit the club in January.(Sun) Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 35, believes team-mate Paul Pogba, 23, tried…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided not to expel 35 US diplomats from Russia in retaliation for Washington’s latest sanctions against Moscow. In what may be perceived a diplomatic master stroke, he wished President Barack Obama and his family a happy new year and invited the diplomats earlier declared persona non grata and their children to a New Year party in the Kremlin. Earlier today Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, had declared 35 American diplomats persona non grata, in a response to President Barack Obama’s expulsion of Russian diplomats for ‘malicious’ meddling in US election via cyber hacking. The American…

Alhaji Sani Zoro, the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), has advised the IDPs to be wary of returning home until the military certifies their communities safe. Zoro gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Friday. He noted with concern that some IDPs have started rushing home after the capturing of Sambisa forest, saying this did not augur well for their safety. According to him, there is the need for the military to certify the communities safe, after liberating the territory hitherto seized by insurgents. “I am…

The remains of a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Plateau, Mr Sargwah Wazhi, who was killed by armed robbers on Dec. 22, was laid to rest on Friday amidst tears. Wazhi, who was also a former Plateau House of Assembly member, was shot dead by robbers at Deika, Mangu Local Government Area while returning from an APC stakeholders meeting in Shendam Local Government Area. The robbers had blocked the road and were robbing travellers when Wazhi, who was in company with the Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Council, Mr Nicholas Vongsing, ran into them. Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau,…