Author: David Great

The Defence Headquarters says Nigerian troops have, in one week, apprehended 304 suspected terrorists and 152 suspected oil thieves and eliminated 80 terrorists in various operations across the country. DHQ spokesman Edward Buba announced this while briefing journalists on the operations of the armed forces across the country on Thursday in Abuja. Mr Buba said the operations also led to the rescue of 44 kidnapped victims and the recovery of 112 assorted weapons and 898 sets of ammunition within the week. In the North-East, he said the Operation Hadin Kai troops killed 31 terrorists, arrested 16 and rescued five kidnap…

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has elected Gabriel Idahosa as LCCI president and chair. Chinyere Almona, the LCCI director-general, announced this during the organisation’s 135th annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday in Lagos. Mr Idahosa’s appointment followed the expiration of the tenure (which started in 2021) of Michael Olawale-Cole. Ms Almona described the new LCCI president as a distinguished individual with a remarkable track record of leadership, dedication, and commitment to the growth and development of various organisations, particularly in professional services, trade promotion, and industry. She said in the last two years, Mr Idahosa served commendably as…

An ECOWAS court on Thursday dismissed a case by Niger’s military junta that sought to lift a raft of sanctions imposed by the regional ECOWAS bloc on the country after a July coup. Soldiers from the Nigerien presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and went on to set up what they called a transitional government, one of a series of recent coups in West Africa’s Sahel region. That transitional government had told the Abuja-based ECOWAS Community Court of Justice that the sanctions, which included border closures by Niger’s neighbours and a cut in power supplies by Nigeria,…

A huge blast at an explosives depot in Seychelles on Thursday injured 66 people and brought down buildings, prompting the country’s “shocked” president to declare a state of emergency. The archipelago — famous for its idyllic white beaches and high-end tourism — is also grappling with flooding and landslides due to heavy rainfall which have claimed two lives, President Wavel Ramkalawan said, ordering citizens to stay at home. The blast happened in the Providence industrial area in Mahe, the largest island in the Indian Ocean nation of Seychelles, causing huge damage at the site and to surrounding areas, the presidency…

Nigeria’s duo of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been shortlisted in the final three-man list for the men and women categories of the CAF Player of the Year awards, respectively. Osimhen who finished as the top scorer in the 2022/2023 Italian Serie A season, will battle Liverpool and Egypt winger Mohammed Salah, Morocco’s star and World Cup semi-finalist, Achraf Hakimi, and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez for the top gong. Chronicle NG reported on Monday night that Osimhen was named the Italian Footballers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his outstanding performance with the Neapolitans last season. Osimhen was also instrumental in…

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, has approved the reviewed “service charter’’ of the apex bank. The service charter is a requirement of the Business Facilitation Act 2022 for driving the ease of doing business in Nigeria. It compels the CBN to fully comply with the directives of SERVICOM on improving customer service delivery. The CBN stated on Thursday in Abuja that the charter outlined the working relationship between the bank and its external customers. “The document clearly outlines the bank’s mandates, vision, mission, and core values. It contains the list of services offered by the bank…

In global economic dynamics, few countries exemplify the intricate connection between natural resource exports and financial stability. Nigeria is one of them. As one of Africa’s largest oil producers, Nigeria’s economic health is tied to the whims of the global oil market. The recent fluctuations in oil prices have cast both shadows and light on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, a key indicator of economic resilience. In that respect, Nigerian investors involved in forex trading and other economic activities tied to the oil market are currently dealing with the fluidity of the local economy. A Quick Economic Background The dependence of…

Israeli troops battled Hamas militants Thursday in the heart of southern Gaza’s main city where a suspected mastermind of the October 7 attacks is believed to be hiding, while pressing their offensive across the besieged territory. Breaking through Hamas’s defences of Gaza’s second largest city, Israeli troops, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and bulldozers rolled into Khan Yunis, forcing already displaced civilians to flee again, witnesses said. Hamas said late Wednesday on Telegram that its fighters were engaged in fierce battles against Israeli troops “on all axes of the incursion into the Gaza Strip,” as it claimed they destroyed two dozen…

The police command in Ogun says it has arrested two persons, Akeem Usman and Niyi Ifadowo, for allegedly killing 18-year-old 100-level Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student Quadri Salami for rituals. SP Omolola Odutola, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday. Ms Odutola stated that Mr Salami’s father, on November 14, reported at Kemta Police station, Abeokuta, that his son had been missing since November 8. She quoted the father as saying he had not set his eyes on his son and all efforts to locate him proved abortive. The PPRO…

The Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied stories making the rounds on social media that a substantial amount was allocated for the renovation of his residence in the 2024 Appropriation Bill. In a post via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Gbajabiamila said there was no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the renovation of his residence, adding that he lives in his private apartment. “I have seen social media commentary regarding the 2024 Appropriation Bill, particularly the provisions under the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. Owing to the erroneous…