Author: Chronicle Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied reports from some quarters that it allocates dollars unilaterally. A statement by Mr Isaac Okoroafor, acting Director, Corporate Communications on Saturday in Abuja, decried the way some Nigerians disparaged those in leadership. He added that the CBN had set up an inter-bank foreign exchange market where anyone who wishes to buy foreign exchange could bid for and buy through their banks. ”It is not true that CBN allocates dollars. “There is nowhere in the world that the Central Bank sits by and allow vicious speculators to solely distort the value of its…

Everton want to bring 31-year-old Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park and also sign Netherlands winger Memphis Depay, 22, from the Old Trafford club. (Sunday Express) Manchester United could lose France forward Anthony Martial, 20, to Barcelona or Real Madrid in a £60m deal, with Real’s Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez potentially moving in the opposite direction.(Sun on Sunday) Arsenal are ready to make a bid to bring Chelsea and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 29, back to Emirates Stadium. (Sunday Express) Liverpool will compete with French champions Paris St-Germain for the signature of Borussia Dortmund and…

Nigeria’s Presidency has replied the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi over the proposed external borrowing of $29.9 billion. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President said the money is meant for the execution of developmental projects across the country. President Muhammadu Buhari had in October requested the National Assembly to approve a foreign loan of 29.9 billion dollars to fund developmental projects across the country between 2016 and 2018. However, the Emir was widely reported on Friday as expressing his disapproval of the borrowing plans by the Buhari-led administration. Sanusi, a former governor…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola apologised for his team’s part in the mass brawl that resulted in Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho being sent off at the end of their 3-1 defeat by Chelsea – but defended both players. Chelsea had fought back from 1-0 down to secure an eighth straight win that moved them four points clear at the top of the Premier League, and City’s frustrations boiled over in injury time. Aguero was dismissed for his wild lunge on Chelsea defender David Luiz, with team-mate Fernandinho also shown a red card for clashing with Cesc Fabregas in the melee…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday commended the Super Falcons for emerging African champions for the 8th time. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, Dogara said that by winning the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations, the Super Falcons had made Nigeria proud. The Super Falcons defeated the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 at the final game of the competition on Saturday. Super Falcons scored in the 84th minute of the match. “The Super Falcons played classic Nigerian soccer, exhibiting the true Nigerian spirit of…

Despite the decision to ignore the barrage of worthless statements by Governor Nyesom Wike in the past weeks concerning the December 10 rerun election in Rivers State. The State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) however, has observed that the governor seems to have particularly taken interest in scrutinising precautionary personal security arrangements by APC candidates as the rerun elections approach. The above observation was contained in a statement signed and issued today by the Rivers State APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya. It reads: “To drive home his needless hysteria, Gov. Wike has gone to town reeling out names…

The Police is to deploy about 20, 000 of its personnel to provide security during the forthcoming re-run elections in Rivers state. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this while addressing Officers and men of Kano state police command on Saturday. He said that 20 gun boats and three helicopters would also be deployed to Rivers State to enhance security the the during elections. He said the force had taken adequate security measures to ensure that the elections were peaceful. According to him, the Nigeria Police force is planning to establish a school in Kaduna for the training…

Alexis Sanchez’s fine hat-trick secured an emphatic victory over West Ham at London Stadium as Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League table. Mesut Ozil opened the scoring with Arsenal’s first shot on target after Angelo Ogbonna’s mistake and Sanchez’s cut-back set up a simple finish. The Hammers threatened to equalise after the break before Sanchez turned, drove into the box and finished brilliantly past Darren Randolph. Keep that one safe, @Alexis_Sanchez ⚽#WHUvAFC pic.twitter.com/nCT3gEKpUh — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 3, 2016 The Chilean added a second eight minutes later with a low strike into the corner, before Andy…

A local Sheriff has said that officials are prepared to deal with up to 40 deaths in Oakland, California after a nightclub fire. At least nine people have been confirmed dead in the blaze that broke out during a party in a converted warehouse late Friday night. Oakland fire chief Teresa Deloach-Reed said at least another 25 people are unaccounted for in the California fire. The fire started at 23:30 local time on Friday (07:30 GMT Saturday) in Oakland, police told the BBC. The venue was hosting a concert by electronic group Golden Donna. The event’s Facebook page indicates a…

Nigerian-born Adebayo Ogunlesi, who is the chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm and one of Fortune 500 companies, has been named a member of an economic advisory forum to US president-elect Donald Trump. The 63 year-old Nigerian is the only African face in the 16-man team, which has Steve Schwarzman, CEO of private-equity giant Blackstone as chairman. “President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced that he is establishing the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum,” said the press release from Blackstone. “The Forum, which is composed of some of America’s most highly respected and successful business leaders, will be called upon to meet…