Author: Chronicle Editor

SuperSport, broadcast rights owners of the English Premier League (EPL) in Nigeria and most of the rest of Africa, and MultiChoice, parent company to DStv and SuperSport are considering not renewing rights for the EPL, the UEFA Champions League, when they come up for renewal at the end of the 2020/21 football season, THISDAY has learnt. A reliable source close to the companies attributed the development to the rising cost of international sports rights and the continually falling value of the naira against other major currencies. “It is becoming impossible to maintain many of these sports rights, especially the EPL,…

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has announced the resumption domestic flight operations in Nigeria as the federal government continues to lift lockdown. Flights from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja to Lagos will resume on July 8 while flights to and from Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Maiduguri will resume July 11. According to a tweet by the aviation minister, flights from other local airports will resume on July 15. Local flights to resume – FG No date has been fixed for resumption of international flights. I am glad to announce that Abuja & Lagos airports will resume domestic operations on the…

A howler by goalkeeper Tim Krul helped set Arsenal on their way to a win that lifts them up to seventh as bottom club Norwich City’s hopes of staying in the Premier League faded further. Dutchman Krul lost possession to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the edge of his own penalty area for Arsenal’s opener, the Gabon forward whipping the ball from his feet to score his 18th top-flight goal of the season. Aubameyang then turned provider for Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka to sweep home his first club goal since March 2019 before Aubameyang added another after a mistake by Josip Drmic.…

Everton kept up their post-restart push for a place in next season’s Europa League with an impressive victory over Leicester at Goodison Park. The Blues are unbeaten since the Premier League began again two weeks ago, with a second successive win coming courtesy of two goals in quick succession in the game’s first quarter. Richarlison struck from close range before Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a debatable penalty, awarded following a lengthy VAR review for handball against Wilfred Ndidi. Leicester rallied at the start of the second half and pulled a somewhat fortuitous goal back when Mason Holgate’s attempted clearance flew into…

…To investigate illicit financial flows The Senate on Wednesday moved to block Nigeria’s revenue loss owing to money laundering, tax evasion by international oil companies operating in the country (IOCs), proceeds of corruption and other criminal activities involving illicit financial flows. The decision to so do was reached in resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion on “the need to review the domestic legal framework against illicit Financial Flows and to consider the creation of a Tax Amnesty for the voluntary repatriation of funds to Nigeria.” The upper chamber, accordingly, resolved to invite the Minister of Finance, Budget…

The Nigerian government has announced a new pump price for Premium Motor Spirit commonly known as petrol from N140.80 to N143.80 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), in a circular on July 1, 2020 said, “After a review of the prevailing market fundamentals in the month of June and considering marketers’ realistic operating costs, as much as practicable, we wish to advise a new PMS pump price band of N140.80-N143.80 per litre for the month of July 2020. “All marketers are advised to operate within the indicative prices as advised by the PPPRA.” The agency had on…

The Chief of Staff to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, Babagana Wakil is dead, the state government has said. According to the state government, the cause of his death has not been made public and it is not clear if it has anything to do with COVID-19. The Borno government in a press statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Isa Gusau, confirmed the death of Mr Wakil. Court jails Borno director for obstruction of justice “Jana’iza (burial)/of late chief of staff, Dr Babagana Wakil is to hold 4 pm today at his extended family residence in Shehuri North, Maiduguri,”…

The Senate and House of Representatives have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the implementation of the plan to recruit 774,000 Nigerians for Special Public Works across the country. The position of both chambers of the National Assembly followed a sharp disagreement between the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour, Employee and Productivity and the Minister for State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN over the modalities for appointing the 20-member Selection Committee for the programme. Keyamo who had appeared at an interactive session organized by the joint committee opposed a resolution of the Joint Committee to resolve into…

A pan-African education group backed by global investment firm Actis has acquired its first university in Nigeria as it seeks to make inroads into Africa’s largest economy, its chief executive told Reuters. Honoris United Universities, majority owned by private equity firm Actis, has universities in countries including Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritius, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. CEO Luis Lopez said Honoris closed the deal to acquire Nile University in February before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Nigeria. He declined to disclose financial details of the acquisition. Nigeria is the education group’s first entry into West Africa, he added. Some 1,700 students have…

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has signed a new “long-term” contract with the Premier League club. The 18-year-old has broken into the Gunners’ first team this season, making 33 appearances. The versatile England Under-19 international’s previous deal was due to expire next summer, leading to reports he could leave. Saka tweeted: “Arsenal is my team. I’m so happy to to finally announce my contract extension.” Arsenal’s technical director Edu said: “This is so important for us as we move forward as a club. “This is something everyone involved wanted to happen and we are delighted that Bukayo has signed a new long-term contract.”…