Author: Chronicle Editor

The Nigerian government on Wednesday approved the spending of N8.5 billion to ramp up COVID-19 testing across the country. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the money at Wednesday’s meeting for the purchase of 12 assorted items by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, told reporters after FEC meeting that the cash will help the country address community transmission of the pandemic, which has affected 586 Local Government Areas. “The Ministry of Health presented a memo on behalf of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to procure materials for preparation for the COVID-19…

The mother of a Florida pupil taking her first day of online lessons was killed while her 10-year-old was doing a Zoom call with her class, police say. The shooting occurred on Tuesday at 08:00 local time (13:00 GMT) in Indiantown, Florida, and was witnessed by five other children in the home. According to investigators the girl’s teacher heard arguing and was able to mute before the fatal shots were fired. The suspect, Donald Williams, 27, was arrested after fleeing on a bicycle. Maribel Rosado Morales, 32, was killed in front of four of her own children and two young…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 453 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Wednesday. The 453 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 47,743. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 334 patients from isolation centers across the country with no new death reported. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported 113 new confirmed cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 16187. Nigeria announces 423 new coronavirus cases The Federal Capital Territory reported 72 new cases, Plateau…

Paris St-Germain scored two late goals in a sensational comeback against Atalanta to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 25 years. A night of frustration for PSG forward Neymar looked set to ensure more continental disappointment for the French champions as unfancied Atalanta led through Mario Pasalic. But the Brazil forward then laid on a 90th-minute equaliser for Marquinhos and substitute Kylian Mbappe teed up former Stoke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to slide in the winner. On the 50th anniversary of the club’s founding, it looked like being a familiar tale of failure for PSG on…

Manchester City have entered the race for Bayern Munich’s Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara and are believed to be offering more than Liverpool for the 29-year-old. (SportBild – via Star) Manchester United have put the rest of their transfer business on hold while they try to sign Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho, 20. (Mirror) Manchester United’s move for Sancho is in danger of collapsing with Dortmund bemused by their approach to negotiations, initially offering the winger a pay cut. (Mail) Juventus have approached Arsenal over a possible transfer for French striker Alexandre Lacazette, 29. (CalcioMercato – in Italian) Watford are ready to demand a club record fee of more than £40m for Senegal winger Ismaila…

Brunel Engineering and Consulting Company Limited and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc have filed terms of settlement before a Federal high court in Abuja to amicably resolve the debt owed by the Engineering company. The terms of the settlement which have been endorsed as the judgement of the court was as a result of a petition filed before the court by a Lagos lawyer Dr. Francis Chuka Agbu SAN, on behalf of Guaranty Trust Bank, it was alleged that the respondent, Brunel Engineering and Consulting Limited, was awarded a contract by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the refurbishment of…

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede Wednesday said one native doctor and 67 Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members have been arrested for unlawful assembly. Akinmoyede revealed that the IPOB members were on their way to see the native doctor to fortify them against bullet penetration when they were arrested in Orji, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state on August 9. “It is believed that the group is planning an attack on security agencies with the aim of snatching weapons,” he added. He alleged that the native doctor had removed bullets from one of the suspects (IPOB)…

Embattled Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has described his removal from office as false. He said he remains vice chancellor of the institution. In a statement following the Registrar’s announcement of the Governing Council’s decision to remove him, Ogundipe said the removal was a figment of the Registrar’s imagination. The statement titled: “Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos by Oladejo Azeez, Esq” reads: “The attention of the University of Lagos (Unilag) management has been drawn to the ‘Notice to the General Public on the Removal of…

Nigerian stocks climbed to an eight-week high on Wednesday lifted by gains in shares of energy companies after global oil prices rallied. Recovering after two days of losses, the main share index rose 1.04% to 24,141.48 points on Wednesday. The index of Nigeria’s top five oil and gas companies climbed 5.24%. Brent crude was up 68 cents, or 1.5%, at $45.18 a barrel by 1350 GMT, after falling around 1% on Tuesday. Seplat, which is also listed in London, rose by 10% – the maximum allowed on the Lagos bourse. Energy firm Oando and Total each rose more than 1%.…

Russia has dismissed mounting international concern over the safety of its locally developed Covid-19 vaccine as “absolutely groundless”. On Tuesday, it said a vaccine had been given regulatory approval after less than two months of testing on humans. But experts were quick to raise concerns about the speed of Russia’s work, and a growing list of countries have expressed scepticism. Scientists in Germany, France, Spain and the US have all urged caution. “It seems our foreign colleagues are sensing the specific competitive advantages of the Russian drug and are trying to express opinions that… are absolutely groundless,” Russia’s Health Minister…