Author: Chronicle Editor

Tracka, BudgIT’s transparency platform that allows citizens to collaborate, track and give feedback on public projects in their communities is expanding to Abia, Bauchi and Benue states. With an established presence in 26 States, scaling Tracka’s reach to these three states is a laudable step towards BudgIT’s mandate of ensuring public projects are effectively implemented through active citizen participation and government engagement. Over the years, there have been shoddy and poor execution of public projects at both national and subnational levels. This has been heightened by public ignorance of the budget process and inability of the citizens to demand for…

Renowned researcher and intelligence expert, Matthew Page, has warned the public against believing any quotes attributed to him and made by Reno Omokri because the former aide of President Goodluck Jonathan manipulates facts. Page, a US intelligence community’s top Nigeria expert who served with the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Defense Intelligence Agency and Marine Corps Intelligence said he has urged Omokri to desist from misquoting him. “As a point of information, Reno has repeatedly misquoted me and manipulated factual clarifications which I provided him (unwisely in hindsight) in May 2017. “In spite of me asking him…

The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has congratulated the newly-elected Speaker of the House of Assembly. He described Victor Edoror’s election as the end of a deformed and lopsided democracy. Ize-Iyamu, in a congratulatory message signed by the Chairman of Edo APC Media Campaign Council, Prince John Mayaki, described the election of Edoror as victory for Edo state and all constituencies previously denied representation. He said: “I am happy to receive the news of the emergence of Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror as the Speaker of the Edo State House Assembly. “His emergence…

US President Donald Trump has said Joe Biden is “against God”, ramping up attacks on his Democratic rival and foreshadowing an ugly election battle. The remarks, during a trip to Ohio, came as Mr Trump tries to make up ground in the crucial Midwestern states that were his path to victory in 2016. “He’s against God. He’s against guns,” said the president, a Republican. Mr Biden, an avowed Catholic, will take on Mr Trump in November. Opinion polls suggest the Democrat currently leads. The former US vice-president has spoken frequently about how his faith helped him cope with the deaths…

The Nigerian Army has explained that suspected soldiers held in connection with a bullion van robbery in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State are not their men. Col. Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations in 82 Division, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday in Enugu. Yusuf said the two men are not serving in any Army unit, command, formation or division. “The attention of Headquarters 82 Division, Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication on the unfortunate bullion van robbery incident at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on July 29 which led to the arrest of two…

Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 31, is close to signing a new three-year deal at the club. (Telegraph – subscription only) Manchester United will listen to offers for 27-year-old England midfielder Jesse Lingard. (Guardian) Lazio are confident of completing the signing of Manchester City and ex-Spain midfielder David Silva. The 34-year-old will become a free agent this summer. (Sky Sports) Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian, 31, has agreed a three-year deal with Arsenal worth £100,000 per week. (ESPN) Barcelona are set to make a 40m euro (£35.9m) bid for Leicester’s 24-year-old Turkey defender Caglar Soyuncu. (NTV Spor – in Turkish) West Ham have not received any bids for 21-year-old England centre-back Declan Rice, says manager David…

US billionaire Dan Friedkin has signed a deal worth 591m euros (£532m) to take over Serie A side Roma. “We look forward to closing the purchase as soon as possible and immersing ourselves in the AS Roma family,” said Friedkin. It is anticipated that the deal with go through by the end of August. It is Friedkin’s first significant investment in a sport. He has business interests in the car, entertainment and hospitality industries. Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta to join Roma He will take on Roma from a group of United States-based investors, led by businessman James Pallotta, who bought…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 354 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Thursday. The 354 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 45,244. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 265 patients from isolation centers across the country with three new deaths reported. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported 76 new confirmed cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 15627. Nigeria announces 457 new coronavirus cases But it was the Federal Capital Territory that recorded…

The Justice Research Institute (“JRI”) a leading research and critical information development institute, as part of its research and policy development output is hosting a webinar on “Selection and Appointment of Judges: Lessons for Nigeria.” In this insightful and interactive webinar, the panellists will appraise Nigeria’s procedure for the appointment of judges vis-a-vis the procedure in the United Kingdom (UK), with experience sharing from Ghana and Kenya. The webinar will take place on Saturday, 8th August 2020 from 11:00. The lead speaker for this edition is Dame Anne Rafferty, DBE, PC, Chair of the Judicial College, Royal Courts of Justice.…

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has appointed Balaraba Ibrahim as a special assistant on Women Affairs (Unmarried). A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mohammaed Sabi’u Baba, described Ibrahim as knowledgeable and experienced. “I am pleased to convey the approval of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON the Executive Governor of Bauchi State for your appointment as Special Assistant Women Affairs (Unmarried). “The appointment is based on your knowledge, experience and personal qualities of hard work, honesty and absolute loyalty,” the statement said. Four murder suspects test positive for COVID-19 in Bauchi “I would expect you…