Author: Opalim Lifted

Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, says bandits use “a special kind of technology” to make calls and evade surveillance. The minister spoke in a chat with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday night. Tijani said the monitoring of bandits’ calls for intelligence purposes is “more technical” than Nigerians assume. The minister said the criminals bounce calls off multiple towers to throw off security agents tracking their communication. “The reason why the president actually pushed us to invest in towers in those areas is that we realised that there was a special kind of…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he has no regrets over his open support for President Bola Tinubu since 2022, insisting that his decision was guided by character, integrity and a firm belief in equity and justice. Wike spoke in Abuja in the early hours of Saturday at a special event organised to mark his 58th birthday, where political leaders and associates from across party lines gathered to celebrate his life, achievements and political influence. The former Rivers State governor said his support for President Tinubu remained consistent before, during and after the 2023…

A few days to the kick-off of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, football lovers in Nigeria are protesting CAF’s decision to limit the number of matches that will be shown on terrestrial or free-to-air television to 32, while European terrestrial stations have the right to show all 52 games. CAF recently limited public channels to only 32 of the 52 matches, a number many Nigerians consider insufficient. A cross-section of Nigerians called on the Federal Government to work with the Heads of State of other African countries to call CAF to order and ensure that the…

Hotel room rates across North America have surged at unprecedented levels ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with average prices rising 328 percent across 16 host cities, according to a market analysis by The Athletic, the sports publication of The New York Times. The spike, which triggered immediately after last week’s World Cup draw, signals an aggressive pricing trend that could reshape the event’s financial landscape for fans, local businesses and tourism operators. The steepest rise was recorded in Mexico City, where the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 triggered extraordinary rate inflation. At Le…

The first prosecution witness, Peter Okoye, has told the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja that the wife of his elder brother, Jude Okoye, owns 800,000 shares in Northside Music Limited, the company at the centre of a $1 million theft charge. Jude, who previously managed the P-Square duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, is facing trial alongside Northside Music Limited on four counts of alleged fund diversion. He pleaded not guilty. During Friday’s hearing, defence counsel Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN) presented bank statements linked to Northside Music Limited and pressed the witness to clarify the transactions. But Peter insisted the…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court has ordered the remand of Chris Ngige, former minister of labour and productivity, in Kuje prison, pending the determination of his bail application. Ngige was arraigned on Friday before Maryam Hassan, presiding judge, on an eight-count charge bordering on misuse of office, contract fraud and receiving gratification. In the charge dated October 31, the commission alleged that the former minister used his position to confer undue advantage by awarding multiple contracts to associates and companies linked to him. The EFCC alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023, Ngige, while serving as supervising…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says an explosion occurred on its Escravos-Lagos pipeline. In a statement on Friday, Andy Odeh, NNPC spokesperson, said the explosion happened on December 10, near Tebijor, Okpele, and Ikpopo communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state. Odeh said initial observations indicated a pressure drop consistent with a loss of containment on an NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) pipeline. “The cause of the explosion is still unknown but would be confirmed after a detailed investigation has been concluded,” the NNPC said. “Our priority at this time is the safety of nearby communities and the protection…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has alerted passport applicants to a system downtime from 12:00am on December 12, 2025, to 6:00am on December 14, 2025, due to routine maintenance, repair, and upgrade work. The maintenance aims to improve system performance and enhance user experience, the Service said. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency, Akinlabi Akinsola, stated that the scheduled maintenance will cause temporary interruptions to the digital passport application platform. He said, “During this time, users may experience temporary service interruptions, slower response times, or limited access to certain NIS Passport Services. “We kindly request the public’s patience and…

Upwardly mobile afrobeats sensation, Denny Zee has explained the reason behind his short break from the music scene. For almost two years, the Epe, Lagos born singer, songwriter and producer had been off the scene, but he’s currently back with a new cut titled ‘Werk’. ‎The afrobeats Singer described ‘Werk’ as a piece of art that will surpass the records of his previous hits -‘Joh’, ‘Bana,’ and ‘Tender’. ‎Formerly signed to Nuul Gang, a Sweden-based record label owned by an international DJ, Denny Zee’s career took on a global outlook through collaborations and international releases that expanded his artistic reach.…

Much as we need extra hands to combat terrorists, we should not leave certain flanks uncovered. President Bola Tinubu has ordered that policemen attached to public figures and senior officers be withdrawn to strengthen frontline forces and protect society at large. The withdrawal has already begun. Policemen and women attached to senators and high court justices have been recalled. Those affected are understandably expressing concern over how vulnerable they have become without security aides during this period of heightened and persistent insecurity. Public and career functionaries who are socially and politically exposed should be exempt from the withdrawal of their…