Author: Opalim Lifted

The Lagos government has announced an 18-week maintenance program for Mazamaza Bridge along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway. The move comes against the backdrop of plans to eventually demolish and rebuild the bridge as part of Blue Line Rail Phase 2, a 14-kilometre extension from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. In a statement on Friday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, noted that the repair will begin on Monday, 19 January 2026. According to the statement, the repairs will cover both the Toll and Service Lanes in both directions, targeting expansion joints and other key bridge elements. The bridge will not…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to attend the national observance of Armed Forces Remembrance Day, describing his absence as troubling and poorly timed. In a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the physical and moral presence of the Commander-in-Chief at such a solemn event is a vital symbol of solidarity with serving personnel and bereaved military families, especially at a time of worsening insecurity across Nigeria. The ADC argued that Armed Forces Remembrance Day is not a routine ceremony but a moment that demands leadership, reflection and…

The supreme court is set to deliver judgement on Friday in the appeal filed by Aminu Lamido, son of Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, over his conviction for failing to declare $40,000 at an airport. Lamido is challenging the rulings of the federal high court and the court of appeal, which found him guilty of false declaration of foreign currency and ordered the forfeiture of part of the undeclared money. Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Aminu on December 11, 2012, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while preparing to travel to Cairo, Egypt.…

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential tax reform committee, says the issuance of guidelines for implementing the new tax laws has been delayed due to uncertainty over the final gazetted version. Oyedele spoke in Lagos on Wednesday during the 2026 Economic Outlook organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). The tax expert said he told the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) to wait, explaining that guidelines for implementing the tax laws cannot be issued until the final version is concluded. “Our plan in an ideal world was for all these regulations, guidelines,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday tendered fresh bank records in the ongoing trial of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, before a federal high court in Abuja. Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving about N110.4 billion. At the resumed hearing before Maryanne Anineh, the presiding judge, the prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), presented prosecution witness six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, for further cross-examination.…

The police in Lagos say it will resume its investigation into sexual assault and murder allegations against Chris Okafor, but only after a separate higher-level probe is concluded by the office of the inspector general of police (IGP). The case originated earlier this month following public outcry over accusations circulating on social media against Okafor, the founder of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries. An anonymous individual, claiming to be in hiding in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, alleged they were hired by Okafor to carry out murders. In response to the public furor, Olohundare Jimoh, the state police commissioner, directed…

American rapper ASAP Rocky has shared how his mother, Renee Black, once believed he would end up with singer Rihanna long before they became a couple. Speaking on the New York Times Popcast, Rocky said his mother often encouraged him to see Rihanna as more than a friend, even when he insisted nothing romantic was happening between them. He admitted he brushed off her advice at the time because he believed Rihanna was not interested in him that way. Looking back, he said her instincts were right and that the timing eventually worked in their favour. “My mother used to…

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has struck out the criminal charges instituted by the federal government against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central. Chizoba Orji, presiding judge, struck out the suit on Thursday following a notice of discontinuance filed by the federal government. At the court session, West Idahosa, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, moved for the matter to be struck out following the prosecution’s application for discontinuance. He also prayed the court to release all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties. The prosecution counsel did not oppose the application. Consequently, the case was struck out,…

The Budget Office of the Federation has firmly dismissed claims that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion “salaries budget,” describing the allegation as misleading and based on a poor understanding of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, clarified that the N246.77 billion figure associated with the NEDC in the budget is not a personnel-only allocation. Rather, it is a statutory lump-sum provision presented at an aggregate level, in line with standard practices under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for statutory and quasi-statutory agencies.…

The federal government of Nigeria has commended the Super Eagles for their performance and resilience at the tournament despite their defeat. On Wednesday, the Atlas Lions of Morocco defeated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on penalties to reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, conveyed the message in a statement on Thursday. He said the team demonstrated character, teamwork, and resilience, qualities he described as deeply important to the nation. The minister said the players’ effort and commitment throughout the competition earned them the respect and gratitude of…