Author: Chronicle Editor

Southampton have requested referee Mike Dean does not officiate their upcoming fixtures and will appeal the red card shown to defender Jan Bednarek in their 9-0 loss to Manchester United. Fellow Premier League side Arsenal will appeal defender David Luiz’s sending off in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by Wolves. Saints also do not want Lee Mason, who was the fourth official at Old Trafford, to officiate their games. Mason was the referee in Saints’ recent controversial 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. Bednarek was the second player to be sent off for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side when he brought down Anthony Martial and…

Another 425 Nigerians stranded in Saudi Arabia arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja via Saudi Air Flight B773 at about 1300Hrs, Wednesday, 3, February 2021. They will join other returnees that arrived earlier and are currently undergoing quarantine at the Federal Capital Territory Hajj camp for 14 days in line with the reversed COVID-19 protocols by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. Nigeria repatriates hundreds of migrants from Saudi Arabia

The Federal Executive Council has approved a memo from the Ministry of Education for the establishment of 20 new private universities across the country. The 20 new private universities are to be given provisional licenses to run for three years while the ministry monitors and evaluates their growth. This brings the total number of private universities in the country to 99. Also during the meeting, members observed a minute of silence for two late cabinet members who died recently. The minute of silence was observed just before the commencement of the weekly meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu…

Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, on Tuesday, attacked some prominent leaders in the southwest region of the country. Mr Igboho, who spoke during a virtual town hall meeting with the Yoruba in Diaspora on the security issues in the region, alleged that some leaders are sabotaging his efforts to secure the Yoruba land. The meeting started around 11:15 p.m. and ended a few minutes after 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, with over 1,000 participants from Nigeria and the diaspora. Mr Igboho, who apologised for joining late at around 12:16 a.m., said he had a meeting earlier with the Alaafin…

There were strong indications Tuesday night that President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu to hand over. Adamu completed his 35 years service on Monday. He was expected to have handed over to the most senior officer at the close of work on Monday, but he did not, fueling the feeling that he might be granted an extension of service. Tuesday, Adamu was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport to receive President Buhari who returned to Abuja after a four-day trip to his hometown Daura. It was learnt that the IG was told of his fate after…

Manchester United equalled the Premier League record by putting nine goals past nine-man Southampton – the second time Saints have lost 9-0 in as many seasons. A red card for Saints’ Alexandre Jankewitz after only two minutes triggered a complete collapse for the visitors, who were on the end of the same scoreline against Leicester City in October 2019. It is only the third time a team has lost 9-0 in the Premier League, with United also beating Ipswich Town by that margin in 1995. Aaron Wan-Bissaka opened the scoring with his first goal at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford and…

A COVID-19 testing laboratory will soon be established at the State House Clinic, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said on Tuesday in Abuja. Speaking at the commissioning of State House Clinic Special Care Centre (COVID-19 Isolation Centre), Mustapha said the Buhari administration is using the challenges posed by the pandemic as an opportunity to change Nigeria’s health infrastructure. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving resources for new health infrastructure, noting that through the PTF the 2021 budget made provision for the establishment of at least one…

Jeff Bezos said Tuesday that he will step down as chief executive of Amazon, leaving the helm of the company he founded 27 years ago. Bezos will transition to the role of executive chair in the third quarter of this year, the company said. Andy Jassy, the chief executive of Amazon Web Services, will take over as CEO of Amazon. Jeff Bezos agrees $35bn divorce In a statement, Bezos called it “an optimal time for this transition.”

Exxon Mobil Corp on Tuesday posted a historic annual loss after the COVID-19 pandemic hammered energy prices and reduced the value of the company’s shale gas properties by more than $20 billion. Exxon last year slashed spending on new projects by nearly a third, outlined plans to cut up to 15% of its workforce while adding $21 billion to its debt to cover the losses and restructuring. The changes come amid “the most challenging market conditions Exxon has ever experienced,” said Chief Executive Darren Woods, and over time will cut costs by $6 billion a year compared to 2019. The…

Arguably the strangest Premier League match of the season took place this evening as Arsenal lost 2-1 against Wolves. Both David Luiz and Bernd Leno were sent off for denying goal scoring opportunities. Nevertheless, Arsenal were nothing short of brilliant prior to Luiz‘s red card. Nicolas Pépé’s superb first half goal was well deserved after the team came close to opening the scoring on numerous occasions. Then, Red! Mustafi leaves Arsenal for Schalke David Luiz accidentally took away Willian José’s legs, Red! Goal neves. Half-time. Moutinho scores the goal of his career. Then Bernd Leno comically handled the ball outside the…