Author: Chronicle Editor

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has said that his security men did not threaten Daily Trust journalist, Eyo Charles in Calabar, Cross River after a news conference. Fani-Kayode who was attempting to defend himself following a backlash from Nigerians from all walks of life after he verbally assaulted the journalist, noted that, he only reprimanded the reporter. “During my tour of the South and after a long and successful press conference in Calabar, Cross River state, a journalist put up his hand for the last question and said, “Well we do not know who is bankrolling you,” he claimed…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 252 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Tuesday. The 252 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 52,800. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 707 patients from isolation centers across the country with three new deaths reported. Plateau state reported 50 new cases, the highest number of cases for the day. Enugu recorded 35 and Rivers 27 new cases. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported 26 new confirmed cases taking the total number of…

Paris St-Germain and Manchester United are in position to sign Lionel Messi after the Argentine forward, 33, told Barcelona he wants to leave – and both would be willing to pay a fee. (Sport – in Spanish) Thiago Silva, 35, is set to undergo a Chelsea medical on Thursday, despite a late attempt by Paris St-Germain to offer the Brazilian defender a new deal. (Sky Sports) Philippe Coutinho would prefer to return to the Premier League than stay with Barcelona – with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea interested in the 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder. (Marca) Everton are in talks over a deal for Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez, 29, with boss Zinedine Zidane keen for him to leave the club. (talkSPORT) Chelsea are set…

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, says the Federal Government has started considering full reopening schools. Nwajiuba said this during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja. Though he said no date has been fixed yet for full schools’ resumption, the minister urged protesting students to “be patient with FG”. He explained that the government had continued to engage stakeholders, some of whom have expressed readiness to resume fully. Secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 19, 2020. The minister expressed optimism that…

Legendary Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has asked to leave this summer. The Argentina international, 33, sent a fax to the club on Tuesday saying he wishes to exercise a clause in his contract, allowing him to leave for free with immediate effect. Barca were beaten 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals on 16 August. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner made his debut for Barca in 2004 and has won the Champions League four times. Barcelona, though, believe the clause has now expired and Messi is contracted to the club until 2021 with a 700m euro buy-out clause. The board…

The International Press Centre (IPC) condemns the verbal assault inflicted on a journalist by a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani Kayode. The journalist, Eyo Charles, who reports for the Daily Trust newspaper, was asking the former minister at a press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria, if he was funded to embark on a tour of projects in the state to which he responded with verbal attacks. The Minister was also seen threatening to deal with journalist Eyo Charles, who has since claimed that a security detail in the entourage of the former Minister confronted him after…

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a one-year waiver for the import of electricity meters in a bid to improve the power situation in the country. The Nigerians government explained that the waiver will support the ongoing reforms in the power sector. “In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting reforms in the electricity industry, and the implementation of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, President has approved a one year waiver of Import Levy on electricity meters, a tweet on the official Presidency Twitter account read. ELECTRICITY SECTOR: In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to…

Italian club side AS Roma have confirmed the signing of Spanish winger Pedro on a free transfer from Chelsea. The 33-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Giallorossi after spending the past five seasons at Stamford Bridge. “I am happy to be here in Rome,” Pedro told the Serie A club’s official website. “I am excited about this new challenge and to compete for our goals in the coming seasons. I thank the fans for the welcome I have received. I hope to make them happy.” It was reported in June that the experienced winger was nearing an agreement with Roma, having turned down approaches from Real Betis, Vissel Kobe and Inter Miami. READ…

Justice I.M Sami of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced two oil thieves to one year imprisonment each for illegal dealing in petroleum products. The convicts, Friday David and Ikechukwu Utobo, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s zonal office on August 18,2020 on one-count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products. One of charge read: “that you Ikechukwu Utobo being the driver on board Mark Tanker with registration number KPR 667 XA on or about the 3rd of March , 2020 at Iwofe, Port Harcourt…

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja assured Nigerians and the international community that his administration will use the remaining years in office to improve access to quality education, health care and enhance productivity, while listing nine priority areas. The President, who received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors/High Commissioners of eight countries at the State House, said efforts were being made to sustain Nigeria’s position as profitable investment destination with unequalled incentives in all sectors, especially large market and flexible tax system which investors from various countries can take advantage of. The Ambassadors/High Commissioners who presented their Letters of Credence are:…