Author: Opalim Lifted

Kylian Mbappe scored twice with Jude Bellingham also on target as Real Madrid thrashed Monaco in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first Champions League game in charge of the Spanish side. Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso on 12 January after Real Madrid lost to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, saw his side run out comfortable winners to boost their chances of reaching the last 16. The 15-time European champions only needed five minutes before they took the lead against Monaco, whose former player hurt them yet again. Franco Mastantuono made a bright run down the right and fed captain Federico Valverde,…

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has accused some local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of exploiting the Makoko community for financial gain, insisting their opposition to recent demolitions is driven by profit rather than genuine concern for residents. Speaking recently, during the signing of the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law at Lagos House, Ikeja, the governor pushed back against mounting criticism over the ongoing clearance of structures in the waterfront settlement. Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Government has no interest in arbitrarily demolishing homes, stressing that the exercise is solely about public safety and the protection of critical infrastructure. “Of…

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has sharply rebuked officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) during an unscheduled visit to the passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, declaring that delays and inefficiency amount to “wasting people’s precious time.” In a widely shared video from the visit, the minister is seen confronting officers and questioning lapses in service delivery at the busy passport centre. Tunji-Ojo’s intervention forms part of his broader push to sanitise the passport issuance process, curb sabotage, and restore public confidence in government services. The surprise inspection immediately sparked strong reactions online, with many Nigerians praising the minister’s hands-on…

The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu following the secret conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on controversial businessman Gilbert Chagoury. In a statement released on Tuesday, Frank described the decision to bestow Nigeria’s second-highest national honour on the Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire as a “sad day” for the country, arguing that it signals the official normalisation of corruption at the highest levels of government. The award was conferred by Tinubu on 8 January, coinciding with Chagoury’s 80th birthday, and…

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr) Rasidi Ladoja (Arusa I), has called on Nigerians to take personal responsibility for their safety, warning that the country’s security challenges demand collective vigilance and responsible behaviour. The monarch gave the advice while receiving Khalifa Sheikh Habeebullahi Muhyideen Ajani Bello at his palace in Oke Aremo, Ibadan. Sheikh Bello is the successor to the late and widely respected Islamic preacher, Alhaji Muideen Bello. In a statement signed by the Olubadan’s Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga, Oba Ladoja said insecurity is a global concern, but citizens must remain alert and cautious in their…

Okafor Victor, the rapper better known as Mr Real, has apologised to D’banj following comments he made about the artiste’s Creative, Reality, Entertainment, Arts and Music (CREAM) platform. The controversy started after Mr Real claimed that the CREAM platform could not afford to offer him a N20 million ambassadorial deal, a statement that sparked backlash online. In response, Pelumi Olajengbesi, legal counsel to D’banj, filed a petition against the rapper, accusing him of criminal defamation and requesting that a magistrate issue a criminal summons. Following the petition, the court ordered Mr Real to appear on January 19 to answer to…

The magistrate court in Sagamu, Ogun state, has adjourned the trial of Adeniyi Kayode, the driver of the crashed Lexus sport utility vehicle (SUV) involving Anthony Joshua, to February 23, 2026. Kayode appeared before the court on Tuesday for the continuation of his trial. On January 2, the Ogun police command hit the driver with a four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence. Olufunilayo Somefun, the magistrate, had granted him N5 million bail with two sureties. He was remanded in the…

A senior officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service has warned that Nigeria’s growing unemployment, insecurity and irregular migration could worsen if young people are not equipped with practical, marketable skills. Speaking in Minna, the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Service, Barrister Danlamin Audi, said empowering youths with vocational and entrepreneurial skills was critical to national development, security and long-term prosperity. He stressed that relying solely on formal education is no longer sufficient in a fast-changing economy where many graduates struggle to secure jobs. Audi urged parents to take greater responsibility for identifying and nurturing their children’s talents, noting that families who…

The United Nations Volunteering (UNV) programme is opening doors for people worldwide to contribute meaningfully to global development without leaving home. Through the United Nations Online Volunteer initiative, individuals can support UN agencies and partner organisations entirely online, making international volunteering more accessible than ever. The programme is open to anyone aged 18 and above, with no requirement for a specific academic qualification. Participation is completely free, and volunteers can work from anywhere in the world using only an internet connection and relevant skills. Becoming a United Nations Online Volunteer is straightforward. Interested applicants begin by creating a volunteer profile…

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice. Malami was arrested at the front of Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on Monday. A video circulating online shows the former AGF entering a vehicle apparently belonging to the DSS shortly after leaving Kuje prison. Before he entered the van, Malami asked the DSS officials to present their identity cards. A security source confirmed Malami’s arrest. “Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing,”…