Author: Opalim Lifted

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has confirmed that 8,453 delegates will take part in the upcoming national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The two-day convention is scheduled for March 27 and 28 at Eagle Square, drawing party members from all six geopolitical zones. Speaking during a world media briefing in Abuja, Idris said the large turnout reflects the party’s national reach and internal unity. According to him, the delegate list underscores the APC’s inclusiveness and organisational strength. “We are expecting a total of 8,453 delegates from across the country. This clearly demonstrates the national spread,…

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new policy outlining eligibility criteria for participation in women’s events at future Olympic Games. In a statement released on Thursday, the IOC said athletes seeking to compete in women’s categories will be required to undergo a one-time Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test, which detects the presence of the Y chromosome. According to the committee, the policy will take effect from the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and will not be applied retroactively. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the decision was informed by scientific and medical considerations. “The policy is…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has reduced its ex-gantry petrol price to N1,200 per litre, marking a N75 drop from its previous rate of N1,275. The refinery also lowered its coastal price to N1,153 per litre, signalling a shift in its pricing structure despite continued volatility in global oil markets. The latest adjustment comes after a series of rapid increases earlier in March. The refinery had raised its petrol price from N1,175 per litre on March 13 to N1,245 on March 20, before pushing it further to N1,275 on March 21. In a statement released on Thursday, the company said…

Veteran rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephen, popularly known as Ruggedman, has questioned the use of Afrobeats as a general label for African music, describing it as a cover for talentless Nigerians. Speaking in an interview with Day Genius, he explained why he has consistently disagreed with the term despite being accused of being jealous of Afrobeats artists. Addressing how the label affects musicians, Ruggedman noted that African artists are often grouped under one category, especially outside the continent. “I don’t like Afrobeats as an umbrella genre for every music coming out of Africa. That was a mistake. I didn’t like it…

Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious new poverty reduction framework aimed at lifting 50 million citizens out of hardship within five years. The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, has launched the ‘One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS)’ in Abuja — a unified national strategy designed to tackle multidimensional poverty through coordinated action and data-driven governance. At the heart of the plan is a N16 trillion funding target between 2026 and 2030. According to the financial blueprint, the government will contribute N1.5 trillion annually, alongside N800 billion from development partners, N600 billion from private sector and impact investors, and N300…

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved a landmark resolution that formally declares slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as among the greatest injustices against humanity. The resolution, led by Ghana, was described by President John Mahama as necessary because the consequences of slavery, including racial disparities, still persist. The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced movement of people in history. Historians estimate that between 10 and 15 million Africans roughly the population of countries such as Sierra Leone, Israel, and Sweden were forcibly transported across the Atlantic between 1500 and 1900. However, experts say this figure significantly…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N387,483,488 recovered from fraud suspects to the Jigawa State Government, marking a major recovery of public funds. The presentation took place at the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate office, where the recovered sum was formally transferred to the state’s Director of Treasury Operations, Muhammad Haruna. The recovery followed intelligence provided by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which flagged alleged misappropriation involving two suspects, Abdullahi Garba and Ayuba Sani. Acting on the tip-off, EFCC operatives launched an investigation that led to the recovery of the full amount. The suspects were subsequently…

Frustration is mounting across Nigeria as subscribers struggle to recover lost SIM cards or register new ones due to a persistent NIMC network glitch. Telecom users say the issue, linked to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has dragged on for days, crippling access to essential services. At the heart of the disruption is the mandatory verification of the National Identification Number (NIN), which must be approved by NIMC before SIM registration or swaps can proceed. However, network providers say the system has been repeatedly unavailable. Registration centres reportedly display the message: “NIMC information temporarily unavailable for subscribers,” leaving many…

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has issued a strong warning to military personnel, local council officials and private motorists over the illegal use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes across Lagos. The agency said offenders would face arrest and prosecution if caught using the dedicated corridors without authorisation. LAMATA emphasised that only designated BRT buses and vehicles operating under its regulated franchise system are permitted on the lanes. It added that emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks are exempted strictly during emergencies. Speaking on the development, Kolawole Ojelabi, head of corporate communications at the authority, said…

A United Kingdom (UK) employment tribunal has ruled that repeatedly calling a colleague “auntie” can amount to workplace harassment, ordering an NHS trust to pay compensation to a healthcare assistant. The case involved 61-year-old Ilda Esteves, who brought a complaint against her employer, National Health Service (NHS), over the conduct of a colleague. Esteves told the tribunal that staff nurse Charles Oppong persistently addressed her as “auntie” despite being asked to stop, creating what she described as an uncomfortable and offensive working environment. While Oppong argued the term was meant respectfully and reflected Ghanaian cultural norms for addressing older women,…