Author: Chronicle Editor

The longest bridge in Nigeria, the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge will be shut for scheduled maintenance by the Federal Ministry of Works on Friday midnight. Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said maintenance of the busiest bridge in the country was to replace damaged components for better motoring experience. According to him, the maintenance work will last from July 2020 to January 2021. Providing more insight, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola, explained that work on the 11.8km bridge will commence on the outward mainland section of the bridge. He said the ministry will be working with…

The House of Representatives have given the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, 48 hours to publish names, contracts, dates and amount of contracts awarded to members of the 9th Assembly. Ruling on a matter of privileges brought by Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the Minister, who alleged 60 percent of contracts from the NDDC were given to members of the National Assembly, should publish the benefiting lawmakers, especially members of the 9th Assembly. He further said the names of their companies and the contracts they got should be published or face the wrath of…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House in Abuja following his peace mission to a West African country. Arriving at the President’s office at about 11am, the former President went into a closed-door with Buhari. Jonathan is at the State House to update Buhari on his recent international assignment in Mali. President Jonathan headed the mediation team of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Mali’s lingering political crisis. Buhari is in control – Presidency ECOWAS recently appointed Dr. Jonathan to head the political reconciliation in Mali where there is leadership tussle.…

Twelve officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were suspended indefinitely on Monday. More officials were quizzed by the Presidential Investigation Committee, headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami (retd). Some of those grilled were handling sensitive investigations. One of the officials had his car pushed at the Banquet Hall Wing of the Presidential Villa before it could start. According to findings, all the 12 got their suspension letters yesterday. A top source said: “After being in limbo for one week, we got our suspension letters on Monday. “We were informed that the suspension is indefinite. We have taken…

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has described as a painful loss the death on Monday of Mallam Isma’ila Isa Funtua. Lawan expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late business mogul, community leader, social and political activist and nationalist. “The news of the death of Mallam Isa Funtua left me with profound sadness. “He was a man who touched many lives and impacted the development of Nigeria with his foresight, industry, enterprise, boundless enthusiasm, magnetism, friendliness and accommodating spirit. “Mallam Isa Funtua made friends across tribe, religion, generation and class in Nigeria, and touched many lives in public service…

Manchester City are close to completing the signing of Bournemouth and Netherlands defender Nathan Ake, 25. (Guardian) Manchester United will make a take-it-or-leave it offer of £80m to Borussia Dortmund for England winger Jadon Sancho, 20. (Star) Chelsea are in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a £70m deal to sign Kai Havertz, with all other suitors for the 21-year-old Germany forward thought to be out of the race. (Sky Sports) But Bayer Leverkusen want a fee worth potentially more than £90m – they expect £63m up front with more than £27m in additional clauses. (Sun) Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is still Bristol City’s number one target to become their new manager, despite reports he had turned…

By Segun Ibidapo In logic, “argumentum ad ignorantiam” describes a deficit in reasoning whereby an argument is based on sheer ignorance. It is the most hilarious slip to make in a debate. To now add this to the error of “precipio principii” (winding, meaningless argument) committed blissfully by Ms. Abimbola Adelakun is a big tragedy indeed. Writing in her column in The Punch of Thursday (July 16), Ms. Adelakun threw caution to the winds in what appeared a premeditated mission of malice, to malign the character and sully the widely acknowledged integrity of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The piece at…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of desperation. PDP, yesterday in Benin, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, asked of when leaders and members of APC would stop making frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations against the PDP and Edo State Government. It wondered what was the concern of Ize-Iyamu about Governor Godwin Obaseki’s appointment of aides. PDP said: “We really do not want to respond to the infantile tantrum of APC, as it is now becoming obvious to the good people of Edo State, especially…

Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Monday explained why a former acting managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was sacked. Akpabio told House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta that she was sacked following a letter from the late Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, that she did not posses the requisite qualification to occupy a public office. Explaining further, Akpabio said a memo from the late Kyari stated that “the former NDDC boss does not have an NYSC certificate”, adding that the letter formed one of the basis for her removal from office. The…

Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Monday indicted members of the National Assembly as the major beneficiaries of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Akpabio who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta in Abuja, cleared himself of allegations of corruption leveled against him by former acting MD of NDDC, Ms Joi Nunieh. He said: “Who are the greatest beneficiaries? It’s you people now…because if you look at your chairman… “Are you asking me the benefits to National Assembly? I just told you that we have records to show that most of the contracts of NDDC are given…