Author: Chronicle Editor

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 999 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Tuesday. The 999 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 79,789. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 396 patients from isolation centers across the country with four new deaths reported. The Federal Capital Territory recorded the highest number of positive cases for the day with 416 new cases. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported 324 new confirmed cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone…

The Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Tuesday announced a 72-hour closure of the Third Mainland Bridge to cast concrete on the expansion joints. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the shutdown will take effect from midnight on Saturday to midnight on Tuesday. He added that construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints. “There is going to be total closure of Third Mainland Bridge to allow for the casting of three number expansion joints on the Island bound lane. “The effective date of the closure…

Lionel Messi scored his 644th goal for Barcelona during his side’s victory over Real Valladolid to break Pele’s record of the most goals for one club. Argentina forward Messi, 33, scored Barca’s third when he collected Pedri’s backheel, took a touch then slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jordi Masip. Messi created the first goal when his cross was headed in by Clement Lenglet and started the move for the second, finished off by Martin Braithwaite. Messi also hit the post in injury time. Brazil great Pele scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Santos in his homeland between 1956 and…

The Federal Government has commenced part payment of the salary arrears of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The payment is part of the carrots being offered by the government to make university teachers return to the classrooms after almost 10 months on strike. It was learnt last night that ASUU leaders will today address a news conference, where, according to a source, the lecturers may suspend their strike. A professor in one of the federal universities in the North confirmed the development on Tuesday. He said most of them received salaries for only two months out…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned Nigerians of attacks at key and vulnerable places across the yuletide. The state security agency then released emergency phone numbers that will enable citizens communicate suspicious persons and activities. “DSS wishes to inform the public about plans by some criminal elements to carry out violent attacks on public places including key and vulnerable points during the yuletide seasons,” DSS spokesman, Peter Ifunaya said in a statement. The DSS added that, “The planned dastardly acts are to be executed through the use of explosives, suicide bombing and other dangerous weapons. NSCDC official shoots…

Coronavirus has reached the Antarctic continent, which had so far been free of Covid-19. The Chilean army has reported 36 cases at its Bernardo O’Higgins research station on the Antarctic Peninsula. The 36, 26 of whom are military personnel and 10 maintenance workers, have been evacuated to Chile. The news comes just days after Chile’s navy confirmed three cases on a ship which had taken supplies and personnel to the research station. The news means that Covid cases have now been recorded on all seven continents. New coronavirus variant: What do we know? The Sargento Aldea arrived at the research…

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has challenged counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to showcase projects they delivered in their various states. Wike threw up the challenge on Tuesday when the Benue State Governor; Samuel Ortom inaugurated the Tombia Road, Ndoni Street and Amaji Street in New GRA Phase 2, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state. The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said only PDP governors were developing and delivering infrastructural projects in their various states. He said such projects had continued to improve the wellbeing of the people…

Founder Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola SAN says the standard of education has declined considerably in Nigeria, stressing that, the country was now producing graduates that were more dangerous than illiterates. According to him, many so-called graduates cannot defend their certificates. Afe Babalola, 91, noted that Nigeria was headed for dire straits if nothing was done to arrest the trend. The legal luminary stated this during a reception for 37-year-old Prof Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships of the institution who recently became a SAN. Many Nigerian graduates can’t read or…

A 17-year-old boy who is identified simply as Joshua has reportedly died after smoking a high dose of suspected colorado. The incident was said to have happened on Sunday at Oba- Ile area of Akure North local government area. Witnesses said the deceased usually smoke the substance with his friends. He was said to have gone into a coma after puffing three times in order to get high. Smokers 14 times more likely to contract coronavirus The witness said he was in a coma for two days and was rushed to the hospital when he didn’t wake up after two…

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the mandate of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic till March 2021. President Buhari’s decision was said to be in view of the spread of a second wave of the coronavirus. He spoke when he received members of the PTF, who were in the State House to submit the end of the year 2020 report to him. Nigeria Senate, ministers meet on purchase COVID-19 vaccine According to him, the nation cannot afford to lose the gains of the past nine months in the fight against the pandemic. More to follow…