Author: Opalim Lifted

Many desire the crown and its glory but fail to embrace the responsibility and weight that come with it. Leadership is not a game of excuses, my friends. Too often, this is our reality especially in Nigeria, where the stories are always the same: predecessors are blamed, the opposition is accused, or the citizens are labeled as the problem. A fitting example is the Ministry of Interior. In previous years, little was known about its work beyond the announcement of public holidays. That narrative changed with the appointment of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior. Through deliberate action and…

The World Bank has urged Nigeria to ensure that the gains from recent macroeconomic reforms translate into tangible improvements in the living standards of citizens. Mathew Verghis, the bank’s country director for Nigeria, spoke on Wednesday at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report in Abuja. Verghis commended the government for implementing bold policy reforms that have begun to stabilise the economy, but warned that millions of Nigerians have yet to feel the benefits. “Over the last two years, Nigeria has tremendously implemented bold reforms — notably around the exchange rate and petrol subsidy,” Verghis said. “These policies…

WhatsApp has said it is testing a major update that could let users connect without sharing their phone numbers. Instead, users will be able to create unique usernames similar to Instagram, Telegram, or X marking one of the biggest privacy shifts in the app’s history, according to reports. The feature, spotted in WhatsApp’s beta testing programme, will allow people to chat and join groups using usernames rather than phone numbers. This aims to give users more privacy and control, especially in large groups or business chats where sharing numbers can feel intrusive. Leaked screenshots show a new “Username” field in…

Premium Times says it will take legal action against Robert Ngwu, the spokesperson to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over a “false and defamatory” claim that the newspaper received a ₦100 million bribe. Ngwu, speaking during an interview on Channels TV, alleged that the Enugu State Government paid Premium Times to publish its investigation into Nnaji’s alleged certificate forgery. “Premium Times was allegedly paid ₦100 million to start this process,” Ngwu claimed  before admitting he had no proof to support the allegation. Pressed for evidence, he insisted the payment “allegedly” came from Enugu State but failed…

The Nigerian military has deployed a full brigade and heavy weaponry across parts of Kwara South and Kwara North following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to wipe out bandits hiding in the state’s forests. The large-scale military operation, part of Operation Fasan Yanma (OPFY) has already kicked off in Oke Ode and Babanla communities in Ifelodun Local Council, extending to Edu and Patigi. Troops are combing through dense forests long used as hideouts by kidnappers and armed gangs. Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who earlier briefed President Tinubu on the worsening insecurity, expressed gratitude for the swift federal response. “This intervention…

Despite record-breaking cocoa prices, millions of farmers in West Africa remain trapped in poverty, according to the Cocoa Barometer 2025 report released on Wednesday. The global study, led by a consortium of civil society groups under the VOICE Network, paints a grim picture of inequality in the chocolate supply chain. It reveals that while Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana produce over 60% of the world’s cocoa and Nigeria is set to hit 350,000 tonnes in the 2024/25 season, smallholder farmers continue to earn next to nothing. The report blames forward-selling mechanisms that delay price increases, combined with falling yields from ageing…

Ashleigh Plumptre, Super Falcons defender, says she feels safer living in Saudi Arabia than in the UK. In a chat with the BBC, the 27-year-old English-born footballer described her stay in Saudi Arabia as a “peace bubble” compared to her country of birth. Plumptre was born in Leicester, England, and rose through the ranks of Leicester City. She spent three years with the club in the English Women’s Super League (WSL) before joining Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia in 2023. In recent years, global human rights organisations have accused Saudi Arabia of repressing women’s rights and upholding discriminatory, unsafe laws against…

Cristiano Ronaldo has been valued as the first active footballer to become a billionaire, according to Bloomberg.  According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the net worths of the world’s richest individuals, Ronaldo’s wealth is estimated at around $1.4 billion. The index added that the 40-year-old’s net worth was calculated using contract earnings, investment portfolio and endorsement deals. “Ronaldo earned over $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023,” the report reads. “He also signed a decade-long Nike deal for nearly $18 million annually and other endorsements with brands like Armani and Castrol, adding over $175 million to…

Cole Palmer has officially trademarked his iconic nickname ‘Cold Palmer’, sealing his transformation from football prodigy to commercial powerhouse. The Chelsea and England midfielder successfully registered the term with the UK Intellectual Property Office, giving him exclusive rights to use it across a vast range of products from clothing, toys, and football boots to ice cream and even underwater vehicles. The move means no one can now use ‘Cold Palmer’ for commercial purposes without his permission. It follows the 23-year-old’s earlier attempt to trademark the phrase, which was initially blocked by French vineyard Château Palmer. To resolve the dispute, Palmer…

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned that the growing Western narrative accusing Nigeria of “Christian genocide” is a dangerous plot designed to divide the country and spark religious conflict. In a strongly worded statement, Fani-Kayode said he was alarmed by recent comments from American media figures Bill Maher and CNN’s Van Jones, as well as US Senator Ted Cruz, who claimed Christians in Nigeria were being systematically killed. He also noted that Canada’s Parliament had passed a resolution branding Nigeria one of the most dangerous countries for Christians. The former minister questioned the sudden Western interest in Nigerian…