Author: Chronicle Editor

As the clocks struck midnight marking New Year’s Day in Brussels and 11 p.m. Thursday in London, the United Kingdom finally cut its ties with the European Union, almost a year after its formal departure from the 27-nation bloc. The end of the transition period, four-and-a-half years after a majority in the UK voted to quit the European Union, is a significant moment in the nation’s history. After almost five decades as part of the bloc, the UK will now forge a separate path. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that Britain will be an “open, generous, outward-looking, internationalist…

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has said the Nigerian Army will shame and disgrace the Boko Haram and Islamic States for West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists in 2021. Buratai gave the assurance at a sit-out night to usher in the 2021 New Year at the TY Buratai Institute for War and Peace, Buratai in Biu Local Government Area of Borno. He said the troops of Nigerian army had done a lot in the fight against insurgency in the North East in 2020, adding that they were committed to decisively deal with all forms of insecurity in the country.…

Africa’s Largest Entrepreneurial Intervention Leads Way on Covid-19 Economic Recovery TEF Targets Over 3,000 SMEs – Dedicated Focus in 2021 on Female Entrepreneurs The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs, opens applications on its TEFConnect digital platform today, January 1, 2021. This year’s intervention prioritises the economic recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities. To address the unique challenges arising from the pandemic, lift millions out of poverty and create sustainable employment across the continent, the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme will empower 1,000…

President Muhammadu Buhari in his New Year speech on Friday has reiterated his promises to Nigerian youths to bequeath to them a nation in which their future is secured. Buhari, whose government has come out with several programmes to empower Nigerian youths, such as N-Power, CBN financed Youth Investment Fund and others, re-affirmed his commitment to the youth. He said they need all Nigerians’ collective encouragement and support. “In securing this nation we need to secure the future of our youth”, Buhari said. “Our young people are our most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad. Their ingenuity, creativity, innovation…

President Muhammadu Buhari has delivered a heartfelt message to Nigerians in a national broadcast of state-owned television station, Nigerian Television Authority on January 1, 2021. The President in his address assured the youths that he is committed to them, describing them as the most valuable assets Nigeria has home and abroad. He also said that his administration will continue to pursue its agenda in Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption (SEA) as it seeks to position Nigeria better. Read the full speech below: NEW YEAR SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1ST JANUARY 2021 My fellow countrymen…

No winter break, a shorter season and injuries piling up. Whether a team is challenging for the title, aiming for a European spot or looking to avoid relegation, reinforcements may well be needed for that push in the second half of the season. Will clubs decide to splash out or aim to bring in players on short-term deals? BBC Sport takes a look at players who could move when the transfer window opens on 4 January. Premier League PAUL POGBA (27, midfielder, Manchester United) Linked with: Juventus Will he leave? Won’t he leave? It has been a running theme during Pogba’s…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill of N13,588,027,886,175 into law. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president’s action followed the earlier passing of the bill by the National Assembly on December 21 during an emergency session convened for the purpose of passing the budget. NAN observed that the signing of the budget is also in line with the president’s promise to return the nation to the January to December budget circle. NAN reports the budget estimate was increased by the sum of N505, 607,317,942 from the estimate of N13, 082, 420,…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 1,016 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Wednesday. The 1,016 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 86,576. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 537 patients from isolation centers across the country with 11 new deaths reported. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported 434 new confirmed cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 29,618. Cross-over night: Lagos state government debunks misleading information FCT recorded 155 new cases, Plateau state recorded…

The Premier League says it has no plans to suspend the season despite a rise in positive coronavirus tests. On Tuesday, the latest round of top-flight testing found 18 people had the virus. New coronavirus cases at Fulham led to their Premier League match at Tottenham on Wednesday being called off. West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has called for a football “circuit break” but the Premier League says it “has not discussed pausing the season”. “The league continues to have confidence in its Covid-19 protocols to enable fixtures to be played as scheduled, and these protocols continue to have the full…

Deeper Life High School, on Tuesday, said there was no attempt to cover up the case of an 11-year-old schoolboy, who was allegedly molested at its campus in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. #JusticeForDonDavis has since been trending on social media with many Nigerians calling for justice to be served on the matter. Abortion legalized in Argentina, Pope Francis’ homeland A parent at the school, Mrs Deborah Okezie, had said some senior pupils molested her son, Don Davis, by pushing their hands and legs into his anus and threatened to kill him if he reported to anyone. But speaking in a…