Author: Opalim Lifted

The Abia state government has attributed the N210 million allocation listed for the purchase of a photocopier in its 2026 budget to a technical error that occurred during the final compilation of the document. The clarification follows public criticism and commentary over the controversial allocation. In a statement issued on Saturday, the state ministry of budget and planning said the amount was never meant for the purchase of a photocopier. According to the ministry, the “figure that appeared beside the photocopier item on page 289 is not the provision for a photocopier”. “It is, in fact, the value for a…

Ose Oyamendan, a Nigerian-American filmmaker, is set to release a documentary on the life and political struggle of the late MKO Abiola. Abiola was widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, which is adjudged Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll. The documentary, titled MKO, chronicles the annulment of the June 12 election, the pro-democracy struggle that followed, and Abiola’s death while in military custody. The film features interviews with key figures connected to the events, including former head of state Ibrahim Babangida; Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the National Electoral Commission; Baba Gana Kingibe, Abiola’s…

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on the country’s first state visit to the United Kingdom in 37 years, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu will be guests of the King at Windsor Castle from 18 to 19 March, marking a significant moment in UK–Nigeria diplomatic relations. State visits are regarded as one of the highest forms of diplomatic engagement, using royal ceremony and tradition to underline the importance of bilateral ties. The last Nigerian leader to receive such an honour was General Ibrahim Babangida, who visited the late…

Tragedy struck again in Kaduna State on Saturday as a Catholic priest and 10 other persons were kidnapped, while three people were killed by suspected terrorists in Karku community, Kauru Local Government Area. The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction of the priest, Reverend Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, raising the alarm over the attack, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday. Sources at the Kaduna State Police Command said security operatives have launched a manhunt for the assailants in the Kauru axis, where the incident took place. In a statement issued by the Diocesan Chancellor of the Catholic…

Dangote Refinery has announced plans to begin local production of surfactants, a key raw material used in detergent manufacturing across Nigeria and West Africa. Surfactants are essential ingredients in cleaning products, responsible for breaking down dirt and creating the foaming action in detergents used for household cleaning, laundry and personal hygiene. The announcement was made on Wednesday by David Bird, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, during a news conference. Bird disclosed that the refinery has concluded commercial discussions for the installation of a Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) plant, which will enable local production of surfactants for detergent manufacturers. According…

Nigerians spent the equivalent of more than $1bn on beer and other brewery products in the first nine months of 2025, highlighting the resilience of the country’s alcohol market despite inflation and currency pressures. An analysis of unaudited financial results from Nigerian Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc and Champion Breweries Plc shows that the listed brewers generated a combined ₦1.54tn in revenue between January and September 2025. At current exchange rates, this translates to roughly $1.04bn, driven largely by beer sales. Nigerian Breweries Plc, the country’s largest brewer, accounted for the bulk of the revenue. The company recorded ₦1.05tn in…

Veteran Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba or 2Face, has said his ambition to venture into politics remains alive. The music star made the revelation during his appearance on the Mic On podcast with Seun Okinbaloye in a video released on Saturday evening. When asked if his earlier political ambition was still alive, 2Baba responded in the affirmative, linking his interest to years of civic engagement. “It’s definitely alive. For me, I’ve always been involved. For many years, I spearheaded a campaign called Vote Not Fight, and we saw some results. We didn’t solve the whole problem, but…

BUA Cement has commenced the production of POP gypsum plasterboards at its Port Harcourt facility, less than a year after operations began at the 2,400-tonne-per-day plant, marking a significant expansion of its building materials portfolio. Chairman of the company, Abdul Samad Rabiu, announced the development in a Facebook post, describing it as part of BUA’s broader push to deepen local manufacturing in Nigeria. “Production has commenced at our Port Harcourt facility for POP gypsum plasterboards, building on the POP production we started earlier,” Mr Rabiu said. The move positions BUA to tap into a long-standing supply gap in Nigeria’s POP…

President Bola Tinubu and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike are facing mounting criticism after Abuja’s 50th anniversary passed with little or no official celebration, triggering outrage among residents and indigenous communities. February 3, 2026, marked 50 years since Abuja was proclaimed Nigeria’s capital. While seven states created on the same day rolled out lavish golden jubilee celebrations, the nation’s capital was met with silence — a move critics have described as insulting, careless and historically damaging. Under Nigeria’s constitution, President Tinubu is effectively the governor of Abuja, with executive authority delegated to the FCT Minister. Many argue that…

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has declared that his political camp does not require the backing of a sitting governor to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Rivers state ahead of the 2027 polls. Speaking on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the headquarters of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Wike said his political structure is strong enough to deliver Rivers for Tinubu without external support. The former Rivers governor praised Desmond Akawor, coordinator of the group in the state, for what he described as extensive grassroots mobilisation across all local government areas.…