Author: Opalim Lifted

The Presidency has said reports claiming Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, a senior ISIS commander, was killed in 2024 were based on mistaken identity. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, said security agencies have now confirmed that the earlier reports were inaccurate. The clarification followed the announcement by US President Donald Trump and President Bola Tinubu that Al-Minuki was killed during a joint military operation carried out by Nigerian and American forces in the Lake Chad Basin. Questions emerged online after old reports resurfaced claiming the ISWAP commander had already been declared dead during military operations in…

Chelsea are set to appoint former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso as their new manager after he reportedly agreed to take charge at Stamford Bridge. According to sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, Alonso has accepted Chelsea’s proposal, with the agreement now in the final stages before an official announcement. Romano wrote on his verified X account on Saturday that Chelsea are preparing to confirm Alonso as their new head coach “in the upcoming days” after the Spaniard said yes to the project. The report added that Alonso will sign a four-year contract running until June 2030 and is expected in London…

The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s frequent foreign engagements, insisting the trips are aimed at boosting investment and strengthening Nigeria’s global economic partnerships rather than serving political optics. The response followed criticism from Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Peter Obi, who questioned the value of the President’s overseas visits and argued that international engagements should be judged by measurable economic outcomes. According to the Presidency, Obi’s position presents a “populist” interpretation of Nigeria’s diplomatic strategy while overlooking the broader objectives behind the engagements. The government maintained that Nigeria’s participation in major international forums is carefully planned to attract investors,…

Manchester City secured FA Cup glory with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley after Antoine Semenyo produced a moment of brilliance to settle a largely disappointing final. The match struggled to come alive for long periods, with both sides failing to create clear-cut opportunities in a tense and scrappy contest. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 72nd minute when Semenyo delivered a stunning back-heeled finish after meeting a cross from Erling Haaland. The clever flick beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and proved enough to hand City the trophy. Haaland had endured a frustrating afternoon with limited service but…

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has asked President Bola Tinubu to order a public inquiry into the raid on the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On Tuesday, EFCC operatives invaded UUTH in two saloon cars and a tinted bus, with some officers masked, before arresting Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery and deputy chairman of the hospital’s medical advisory committee. The incident left workers, patients, and visitors running for safety amid confusion within the hospital premises. In a statement on Friday signed by Olayinka Atilola, NMA national publicity…

The Independent National Electoral Commission Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says all 22 registered political parties have submitted their membership registers in line with the Electoral Act 2026. In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission confirmed that submissions were completed two days before the extended deadline of 10 May 2026. The announcement was made by Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee. He said the extension followed concerns raised by political parties during a meeting held on 24 March 2026 over timelines contained in the revised timetable for the 2027 general elections. According to the Commission,…

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Peter Obi, has lamented the recent attacks and kidnappings of students from two schools in Borno and Oyo states, describing them as threats to Nigeria’s future. The recent attacks in Borno and Oyo states saw gunmen abduct students from Mussa Primary/Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba LGA and from schools in Ahoro-Esinele, Oriire LGA, where a teacher was killed and the principal abducted in the latter incident. Reacting to the incidents on Saturday via a post on his official X account, Obi described the kidnappings as part of a growing “ransom economy” that endangers children’s right…

President Bola Tinubu has praised a joint counterterrorism operation by Nigerian and United States forces that reportedly killed a senior Islamic State commander in the Lake Chad Basin. According to a statement issued on Saturday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the overnight operation led to the death of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, alongside several of his lieutenants. Tinubu said the mission was carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces in collaboration with the United States military as part of ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism in the region. The president described the operation as a major example of successful…

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State Joint Campus Committee (JCC), has called for urgent government intervention and a full-scale investigation into the suspected toxic gas incident around Our Lady’s Apostles School in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The students’ body raised concerns following reports that several students and residents were allegedly exposed to harmful substances, leading to breathing difficulties, panic and emergency hospitalisations. In a statement issued by the Chairman of NANS Ogun JCC, Comrade Tijani Habeebullahi Adekunle, the association described the development as a serious environmental and public safety issue that requires immediate action from relevant authorities. According…

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom, questioning the economic value of the trip to Nigerians. Obi, in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday, said foreign trips by government officials should produce measurable benefits such as investments, industrial partnerships, technology transfer, factory expansion and job creation. The former Anambra state governor argued that diplomacy should focus on economic growth and national productivity rather than political optics. According to him, serious nations align foreign policy with economic expansion and industrial development. Obi compared Tinubu’s UK…