Author: Opalim Lifted

More than two-thirds of electricity consumers in Nigeria are illegally bypassing their prepaid meters and consuming power without paying, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has revealed. The disclosure came on Thursday at the fifth annual conference of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) in Abuja, where industry experts urged the government to strike a balance between cost-reflective tariffs and consumer protection. The revelation adds to Nigeria’s worsening power sector liquidity crisis, with utilities already struggling to collect revenue now facing widespread energy theft. Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Mainstream Energy Limited and NISO board member, Audu…

Aston Villa had little trouble securing a 2-0 home win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv thanks to goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen, while Nottingham Forest were held to a 0-0 draw at Sturm Graz, where Morgan Gibbs-White saw a first-half penalty saved. Maatsen gave Villa the lead in first-half stoppage time, steering the ball in from a tight angle. Malen then sealed the result from the penalty spot a minute before the hour mark after Elad Madmon had fouled Ezri Konsa. Many pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters gathered outside Villa Park before the match. Local police made six arrests. In Austria,…

FIFA has announced the creation of a new annual honour, the FIFA Peace Prize, Football Unites the World, which will debut next month during the 2026 World Cup finals draw in Washington D.C. According to the world football governing body, the award will celebrate individuals who have made exceptional efforts to promote peace and unity through football. “In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it’s fundamental to recognise those who work tirelessly to end conflicts and bring people together,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Football stands for peace, and this prize reflects our belief in its power to unite communities…

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reform and global engagement following reports of Nigeria’s strongest quarterly growth in a decade. At Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Tinubu said the government would “move forward with unity and purpose” to overcome challenges and build a resilient economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Finance and Economy Minister Wale Edun revealed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 4.23% in Q2 2025, marking the nation’s best performance since the post-COVID-19 rebound. He noted that 13 sectors recorded growth above 7%, up from nine in the previous…

The United States (US) military has drawn up contingency plans for possible intervention in Nigeria after former President Donald Trump reportedly ordered preparations for military action to “protect Christians” from Islamic militant attacks. Defence and security officials confirmed that the Pentagon’s options remain limited and unlikely to resolve the deep-rooted insurgency that has ravaged northern Nigeria for over a decade, claiming thousands of Christian and Muslim lives, The New York Times reports. Sources said the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, has proposed three military options — light, medium, and heavy — for review by the Joint Chiefs…

Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has announced she will not seek re-election in 2026, marking the end of a landmark 39-year congressional career. The 85-year-old Californian Democrat revealed her decision in a video posted on X, saying: “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service.” Her announcement came just days after California voters overwhelmingly backed Proposition 50 — a redistricting effort expected to bolster Democratic chances in next year’s midterm elections. Pelosi, long considered one of the most powerful and polarising figures in American politics,…

Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, the son of Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, has been confirmed as substantive chairman of Agege LG. Obasa’s confirmation follows the resignation of Tunde Azeez, the former chairman, who had been on medical leave shortly after he was inaugurated on July 27, 2025. Azeez formally stepped down on Wednesday over persistent health challenges. His resignation letter was read by Adeshina Haruna, leader of the house, during the plenary at the Agege council chamber. Lawmakers unanimously voted to confirm Obasa, who had been acting in the role, as substantive chairman. Obasanjo says El-Rufai needed…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Human Resource (HR) managers to lead Nigeria’s transition toward a humane, ethical, and future-ready world of work. He said technology must serve people, not replace them, while calling for clear ethical frameworks to guide the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in workplaces. Osinbajo made the call at the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Abuja, where President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, commended the Institute for its visionary role…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will headline a major national political summit in Abuja next week, as Nigeria gears up for sweeping electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. The “National Electoral Reforms Summit for Credible Elections in 2027,” scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, is being organised by the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in partnership with political and civil society groups. Jonathan is billed to chair the event, with Osinbajo delivering the keynote address. According to a statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, Publicity Manager of the summit, the gathering—initially focused on electoral and…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged African governments to stop celebrating economic growth figures that fail to improve the lives of ordinary people. Speaking at the Ford Foundation’s 65th anniversary in West Africa, held in Abuja, Osinbajo said Africa has recorded some of the fastest GDP growth rates globally in recent years, yet still struggles with poverty, unemployment, weak healthcare, and poor education outcomes. He lamented that during his time as Nigeria’s vice president and chair of the economic team between 2016 and 2019, he saw how disconnected macroeconomic figures were from citizens’ lived realities. “Africa is the fastest-growing…