Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a list of 68 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for approval, signalling a major reshuffle of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps. The list, read during Thursday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, comprises 34 career diplomats, 31 non-career appointees, and three candidates previously cleared by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. The President is seeking swift confirmation to enable Nigeria to fill several key foreign missions. According to the letter, the appointments aim to strengthen Nigeria’s international representation and reposition its diplomatic engagements. The Senate has referred the list to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, directing it…

Despite the consensus across the country on the establishment of state police, some voices are still attempting to reverse the hope-filled efforts toward the most sensible steps to tackle the seemingly intractable insecurity scourge threatening the nation. Those pushing back are relying on the same profitless arguments—what I have repeatedly called the same shibboleth, the same beaten track, the same old hat: that all Nigeria needs is increased funding, more training, and a larger numerical strength of the federal police under the current system. I sincerely hope President Bola Tinubu will not feel intimidated or back down. He is on…

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, immediate past sole administrator of Rivers state and former naval chief, as a non-career ambassador. Tinubu also named Ita Enang, the former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former Imo state first lady; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former minister of interior and former chief of army staff, as non-career ambassadors Their names were absent from the earlier batch of ambassadorial nominees released by the presidency. Tinubu’s latest nominations were conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the senate by Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary. In the correspondence, the president urged lawmakers to give the…

MultiChoice has announced that DStv subscribers may lose access to CNN and 11 other Warner Bros. Discovery channels from January 1, 2026, if ongoing negotiations with the American media company fail to produce a new broadcast agreement. The pay-TV giant issued the notice in a message sent to customers on Monday, explaining that the current carriage deal with Warner Bros. Discovery will officially expire on December 31, 2025. According to MultiChoice, “While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage. If this remains unchanged, a number of Warner Bros. Discovery channels may no longer be…

Nigeria’s immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (rtd), on Thursday formally took the oath of office as the country’s new Minister of Defence, marking a significant moment in President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing recalibration of the national security architecture. The brief but solemn ceremony, held at the State House in Abuja, was administered by President Tinubu, who charged the new minister to bring his extensive operational experience, strategic depth, and institutional knowledge of the Armed Forces to bear in strengthening Nigeria’s defence posture. General Musa’s appointment, confirmed swiftly by the Senate on Wednesday, comes at a time when…

The First Lady of Nigeria and National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the RHI Economic Empowerment Programme for persons with special needs in Akwa Ibom State, distributing N50 million to beneficiaries to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Speaking at the event held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, the First Lady announced that 250 persons living with disabilities in each state and the Federal Capital Territory have received N200,000 business recapitalisation grants to support the growth or revival of their existing businesses. Represented by the Commissioner for…

Chukwuemeka Ejekwu, the skit maker widely known as Sabinus, has confirmed the end of his marriage to Ciana Chapman. During a recent TikTok live stream, the 30-year-old content creator revealed that the union, which was formalised in 2023, has concluded. Sabinus emphasised that the split was amicable, stating, “I’m not married. My marriage ended peacefully”. He further clarified that he and his ex-wife remain on good terms and are focused on co-parenting their daughter. “The mum and I are good. My daughter is okay, and she is doing fine,” he added, directly addressing the well-being of their child. His confirmation…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed a unanimous vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, urging him to seek re-election in 2027. The motion, moved by House Leader Hon. Major Jack and sponsored by 25 other members, praised Tinubu’s leadership and contributions to the development of Rivers State. The lawmakers commended Tinubu for appointing notable Rivers indigenes to key positions and initiating federal projects in the state, including the East-West Road and the Bonny–Bodo Road. They also lauded his economic policies, which have increased revenue allocations to states and local governments, enabling them to meet obligations such as…

Nigerian singer, Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni, has added her voice to the growing concerns surrounding the ongoing conflict between music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his wife, Edo State lawmaker, Natasha Irobosa, following a viral video showing the pair in a physical altercation in London. In a playful video posted on the singer’s Snapchat and later reposted on her X (formerly Twitter) handle titled “Operation Save 2Baba,” Teni called on fellow celebrities to join her in “rescuing” the singer from the situation that has dominated online conversations for days. “We need to go pick 2Baba…

The death of Segun Awolowo, grandson of the late Western Region Premier, Obafemi Awolowo, has prompted widespread tributes from political leaders, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, reflecting the enduring respect and admiration Nigerians hold for the Awolowo family. This was evident when political leaders, diplomats, business magnates, family members, and friends gathered at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, for an emotional night of tributes in his honour. The event drew many eminent Nigerians, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; and Director-General of…