Author: Opalim Lifted

Matthijs de Ligt scored an equaliser deep into stoppage time to earn Manchester United a point in a Premier League thriller at Tottenham. In an astonishing climax to a game the visitors seemed to have control of, Brazilian striker Richarlison appeared to have won the game for Tottenham when he flicked Wilson Odobert’s long-range shot past Senne Lammens. But in the last of six minutes of injury time, with keeper Lammens up for a Manchester United corner, De Ligt found the net from an acute angle to give his side a point. There were disbelieving looks from both sides at…

As voting preparations got underway in Awka, Anambra State, a group of energetic youths were seen playing football near the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) polling units at Awka 2, Ward 6, on Saturday morning. While INEC officials busied themselves arranging election materials and setting up polling booths, the impromptu football match caught the attention of early voters waiting for the process to commence. The relaxed atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the high-stakes nature of the election. Today’s poll is a crucial moment for Anambra. The outcome will determine whether Governor Charles Soludo consolidates his reformist agenda or faces…

Residents of Anambra State have expressed mixed reactions as voters head to the polls today under tight security. While some praised the organisation of the exercise, others voiced concern over the overwhelming presence of security personnel across the state. The Nigeria Police Force initially deployed 45,000 officers to monitor the election but increased the figure to 55,000 on the eve of the poll. This number excludes operatives from other security agencies drafted to ensure peace in the state. On Friday, long convoys of buses carrying police officers were seen in Awka, the state capital, heading to their respective duty posts.…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2025 CAF Awards will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on Tuesday, 19 November. In a statement published on its website on Friday, the continental football body said the ceremony, scheduled for 7 p.m. local time (same as Nigerian time), will recognise Africa’s most outstanding footballers, coaches, clubs, and national teams over the past year. Nigeria will feature prominently at the event, with several players shortlisted in key categories. Reigning African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, will look to retain his title, having been named among the nominees for the…

Omah Lay, the Nigerian singer, has secured his first-ever Grammy Award nomination. The nominees for the 2026 Grammys were unveiled on Friday, with several Nigerian artistes making the list. Omah Lay is nominated in the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category for his collaborative single ‘With You,’ which features fellow Nigerian superstar Davido. The track will face stiff competition from a lineup of heavyweight African artistes, including Burna Boy for his song ‘Love,’ Wizkid and Ayra Starr for their hit ‘Gimme Dat,’ South Africa’s Tyla for ‘Push 2 Start,’ and Ugandan artiste Eddy Kenzo alongside Mehran Matin for ‘Hope & Love’.…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the ex-gantry price of petrol to ₦828 per litre, a ₦49 drop from the previous ₦877. According to sources at the facility, the price slash comes as the refinery ramps up operations to reach a record-breaking capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), surpassing India’s Jamnagar refinery, currently the world’s largest at 1.36 million bpd. Earlier this month, the refinery announced that its daily supply now exceeds Nigeria’s total demand, with over 45 million litres of petrol and 25 million litres of diesel being loaded nationwide each day. The refinery also reaffirmed its…

There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu may soon carry out a slight reallocation of ministerial portfolios following the inauguration of two new ministers to fill recent vacancies in his cabinet. Presidency sources revealed that with the Federal Executive Council now complete with 48 ministers, the President is considering a minor reshuffle amid mounting distractions — including US President Donald Trump’s warning on human rights abuses and Nigeria’s sluggish response to insecurity. Tinubu last conducted a major cabinet shake-up on October 23, 2024, when he dismissed five ministers, appointed seven new ones, and reassigned ten others. Key portfolios such…

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, has declared that a Christian genocide is ongoing in Nigeria, urging President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with former US President Donald Trump to curb the violence and protect Christian communities. Speaking to journalists in Ibadan on Friday, Oke said it was “undeniable” that Christians were being systematically targeted across the country, citing the killings of Deborah Samuel, the abduction of Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls, and attacks in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo, Niger, and Plateau states. “There is Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is no other name to…

Elections in Nigeria have always been defined by controversies. Electoral malpractice, ranging from ballot snatching to result sheet manipulations, has persistently plagued our democracy. However, in 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced the smart card reader, which sought to verify voters electronically for the first time. It was far from perfect. Machines failed, networks crashed, and officials reverted to manual accreditation in many places. In fact, Business Day reported how over 5.8 million people had to without digital accreditation. Learning from those mistakes, INEC launched the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) in 2021 to replace the card reader.…

Barely sixteen days after taking charge, the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, faces his first major challenge as Anambra State goes to the polls tomorrow for its governorship election. Amupitan, who pledged to deliver elections that truly reflect the will of Nigerians, assured citizens that the commission is “fully prepared to deliver a credible, transparent, and peaceful election.” The INEC boss revealed that 24,000 officials will be deployed across 5,720 polling units in the state’s 21 local government areas, supported by 60,000 security personnel drawn from the police, army, air force, and…