Author: Opalim Lifted

Morocco led the list of heavyweight contenders who got their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns off to a winning start, with Algeria and Nigeria also victorious on Friday, while Senegal were held to a draw in Mozambique. Patrick Vieira’s debut as Senegal coach ended in a frustrating 1-1 stalemate away in Maputo as Geny Catamo thrashed home a long-range equaliser for the home side after Nicolas Jackson had put Senegal into a 32nd-minute lead in Group J. There was also a surprise home draw for Egypt, who have a record seven African titles, but were held 0-0 by Angola…

Nigeria is targeting September 2028 to end price regulation in the domestic gas market as the country moves towards a fully established willing-buyer, willing-seller framework. Rabiu Umar, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), disclosed this on Thursday at a gas market maturity workshop organised under the Decade of Gas initiative at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Abuja. Umar said the transition would take place within 24 months, subject to the market meeting defined maturity conditions. “The journey we are starting should lead us to a place where we should target a…

The Anambra government has presented official documents relating to N363.38 million in salary arrears, as Peter Obi, former governor, maintains that he did not burden the state with debts before leaving office. The documents were shared on social media by Anambra State New Media, a platform affiliated with the state government, as it challenges Obi’s claim. They include a memo dated May 22, 2025, signed by a former head of service, and terms of settlement reached between the state government and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE). The memo establishes that the…

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected the presidential campaign council recently established by the Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, saying support groups should not assume the role of the political party. Obi made the clarification on Thursday during an appearance on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme. The former Anambra State governor said the NDC is the political platform to which he, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his running mate, and their supporters belong. He said the OK Movement, Obidient groups, Kwankwasiyya and other organisations should operate as support groups for the party rather than create structures that…

Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has defended the inclusion of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the party’s presidential campaign council. El-Rufai was named Deputy Chairman of the ADC campaign council despite being in detention, a development that has drawn questions over his role in the opposition party’s campaign structure. Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, Momodu said the appointment was intended to recognise what he described as El-Rufai’s political sacrifice. “It is a way of honouring his sacrifice because his travails, I can say, are quite political in nature,” Momodu said.…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has constituted his Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, with several senior African Democratic Congress (ADC) figures named to key positions. The two-page campaign structure, announced on Thursday, includes Atiku’s running mate, Rotimi Amaechi; ADC National Chairman David Mark; former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai; and former Edo State Governor John Oyegun. Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was appointed chairman of the campaign council, while El-Rufai was named deputy chairman. Senator Austin Akobundu will serve as Director-General and Campaign Manager. “This is a structure built for work. Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment.…

Kingsley Moghalu, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has rejected his inclusion in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, saying he was not consulted before his name was published. Moghalu made his position known in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, shortly after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar released the campaign council list for the 2027 presidential election. Atiku named Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman of the council and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman. Moghalu was listed as a member of the campaign policy team headed by Mohammed Hayatu-Deen,…

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to vote President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) out of power in the 2027 elections, citing economic hardship and insecurity. Atiku spoke in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday while receiving Eyitayo Jegede, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and his supporters into the ADC. The ex-Vice president said the ADC would offer an alternative government focused on tackling insecurity and economic hardship if elected in 2027. Atiku promises to restore fuel subsidy Atiku said an ADC government would…

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has approved the composition of the party’s National Campaign Council and Presidential Campaign Management Committee ahead of the 2027 elections. The campaign described the structure as lean and strategically organised, with responsibilities spread across six major directorates. The appointments were announced in a statement on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. Shaibu said the structure was designed to reflect the economic realities facing Nigerians. “At a time when families are being compelled to do more with less, the campaign must demonstrate the…

Dave Umahi, minister of works, has ordered the removal of all illegal advertisements on the First Niger Bridge. The minister also directed that pictures of President Bola Tinubu be used to beautify the bridge in appreciation of his “good works”. Umahi gave the directive on Wednesday while inspecting ongoing rehabilitation works on the infrastructure, which links Delta to the south-east and south-south states. “All the illegal advertisements on the bridge should be removed. If anybody wants to advertise for anything, he has to apply to the ministry of works,” he said. “In the meantime, the south-south and south-east SSA to…