Author: Opalim Lifted

Arsenal took a huge step towards becoming Premier League champions as Kai Havertz’s goal was enough to beat relegated Burnley at Emirates Stadium. Havertz had an eventful night – as he escaped a red card after a video assistant referee review ruled that a late challenge on Lesley Ugochukwu was not bad enough to be upgraded from a yellow. Victory means that the Gunners are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have two games to play and take on Bournemouth on Tuesday. And if Pep Guardiola’s side drop points against the Cherries, then Arsenal will be crowned Champions.…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued strict bail conditions involving former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in an ongoing case before the court. Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the former governor must report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the determination of the matter. The court also granted bail in the sum of ₦100 million with one surety in a like amount, alongside stringent verification requirements. Under the conditions set, the surety must reside in Maitama…

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has condemned the recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, calling for urgent security action and a united effort to tackle kidnapping and violent crimes across Nigeria. In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch described the abduction of students and teachers from schools within the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso as disturbing and unacceptable. As gathered by Chronicle NG, armed gunmen reportedly invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has reduced the price of aviation fuel (Jet A1) from N1,750 per litre to N1,650 per litre, in a move designed to ease cost pressures on airlines and support steady fuel supply across Nigeria. The adjustment, announced in a statement on Monday, forms part of a broader set of measures introduced to stabilise fuel distribution and reduce operational strain in the aviation sector. Alongside the price reduction, the refinery has introduced a 30-day interest-free credit facility for marketers and airline operators. The arrangement is backed by bank guarantees, allowing eligible operators to access fuel on…

Organised labour in Nigeria is intensifying pressure for another national minimum wage review despite complaints that several state governments are yet to fully implement the existing ₦70,000 wage approved in 2024. The push has heightened tensions between labour unions and state governments, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) accusing some governors of selective implementation of the wage law. President Bola Tinubu signed the ₦70,000 national minimum wage into law on July 29, 2024, raising the benchmark from ₦30,000. However, labour leaders say implementation remains uneven nearly two…

Teachers in Ogbomoso on Monday shut down classroom activities and staged a peaceful protest to the Oyo State TESCOM office following the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The protesters marched through the town carrying placards with different inscriptions, urging authorities at all levels to intensify efforts to secure the release of victims still being held by kidnappers. The demonstration comes amid growing concern among education stakeholders and residents after the abduction incident, which has heightened fears over safety in schools across the state. The teachers demanded tighter security around schools and…

Jose Mourinho is reportedly poised for a dramatic return to Real Madrid, with multiple reports indicating a verbal agreement has been reached for him to take over as head coach. The Portuguese manager, known globally as “The Special One”, is understood to have agreed an initial two-year contract with the Spanish side, pending the completion of formal documentation and final sign-off. Football transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano stated on social media platform X that all key terms have been verbally settled between Mourinho and Real Madrid. He added that only official paperwork remains before the appointment is finalised, with the manager…

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over the increasing wave of terror attacks in Nigeria’s South-West region and called on governors in the zone to take urgent action. The group condemned the coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where gunmen reportedly invaded communities and abducted pupils, Guardian reports. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was saddened by the attacks and urged authorities to decisively address insecurity across the country. The affected schools reportedly include Baptist Nursery and Primary School,…

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has visited Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following Friday’s deadly attack and abduction of pupils, teachers and residents in communities within the council. The visit comes amid heightened tension after gunmen invaded schools in the Ahoro-Esinle axis, killing a teacher and abducting several pupils and education workers. During the visit, Disu expressed concern over the incident and extended condolences to families of those killed in the attack. The IGP was accompanied by Ojo Adekimi, commissioner of police for Kwara State, due to the proximity of the affected communities to the Oyo-Kwara…

Nigeria’s military has clarified that no American troops participated on the ground in the operation that killed Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, a senior Islamic State commander linked to ISIS operations across West Africa and the Sahel. The operation was carried out near Metele in Borno State under Operation Hadin Kai, with support from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). According to the military, the US provided intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and other operational assistance, while Nigerian forces conducted the ground mission. Speaking in televised remarks monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said…