Author: Opalim Lifted

The Niger State Government has introduced a policy requiring religious preachers to submit their sermons for approval before delivering them publicly. Governor Umar Bago confirmed the new measure during an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday. Bago explained that the measure is aimed at ensuring that sermons do not contain messages that are harmful to the people or the government. “I didn’t ban evangelism… For everyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it’s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done,” Bago said. “We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity…

The Transparency Network has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude its investigations into allegations that rocked the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in early 2024, leading to the exit of Dr Betta Edu as minister and other senior officials of the government. The group, in a statement yesterday, alleged that the suspense in the investigations nearly two years after the alleged scandal has left a cloud of suspicion over many other career civil servants and politicians, who, it claimed, suffered collateral damage on account of the alleged scandal. Among those mentioned was the suspended Executive Secretary…

Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the removal of the petrol subsidy saved Nigeria from bankruptcy. Sanusi recently spoke at the second edition of the Kano International Poetry Festival (KAPFEST), organised by the Poetic Wednesdays Initiative. Sanusi backs subsidy removal, says it saved Nigeria from bankruptcy The monarch said the subsidy regime was unsustainable, noting that it placed the burden of fluctuating global oil prices, exchange rates, transportation costs and refining expenses entirely on government coffers. “Subsidy was simply the government saying, ‘If the price of petrol is N100,…

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) says the ban on shea nut export exposes exporters to legal and reputational risks. On August 26, President Bola Tinubu directed a six-month temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts. In a statement on Sunday, Muda Yusuf, CPPE’s chief executive officer (CEO), said the policy has triggered market disruptions and affected farmers’ income. “Shea nut prices have fallen by over 30% since the ban, eroding incomes of farmers and aggregators,” he said. “Existing export contracts face potential default, exposing exporters to legal and reputational risks. “Loan defaults loom large,…

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pushed the federal government to remove the petrol subsidies. Speaking on Channels TV, Falana said no country in the world has completely scrapped subsidies. “There’s no way you can remove subsidies completely; no country in the entire world has abolished subsidies completely,” he said. “Even leading Western countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and others subsidise electricity, agriculture and many aspects of people’s lives.” Falana said the removal of the petrol subsidy in Nigeria was not…

The Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Centre (FEW) has issued a flood alert for 32 locations across 11 states between September 14 and 18. In a circular issued on Sunday by Usman Bokani, director of erosion, flood and coastal zone management, the centre said rising water levels in the River Gongola, River Benue and River Niger pose additional risks. The affected areas include Ganye and Natubi in Adamawa; Abinsi, Agyo, Gogo, Ito, Makurdi, Udoma and Ukpiam in Benue; Agima, Rukubi and Odogbo in Nasarawa; Beli, Serti and Donga in Taraba; Umugboma, Umukwata, Abraka, Aboh and Okpo-Krika in…

Tobi Amusan strolled to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles heat at the ongoing World Athletics Championship in Tokyo. Amusan on Sunday posted a time of 12.53s to win the heat ahead of Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton and Italy’s Elena Carraro, who finished second and third, respectively. The world record holder began her quest for gold in the hurdles event on a good note, taking charge of the track over the distance despite posting the fifth-best reaction time to the starting gun. The Ogun state indigene has been placed in Heat 2 of the semi-final lineup, where she will compete against…

Nigerian athlete Israel Okon has advanced into the semi-final of the men’s 100m event at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The fast-rising sprinter took first position in 10.04s in Heat 6, fending off the duo of second-placed Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Italy’s Lamont Jacobs in third place. The 18-year-old ranked sixth among seven athletes who won their heats, higher than Letsile Tebogho, the 200m Olympic gold medalist. Okon, the national 100m champion, has been placed in Heat 3 of the semi-final which will take place on Sunday. He will face a competitive field that includes Tebogho, Botswana’s…

Nonye Soludo, wife of Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, has threatened legal action against Uche Ekwunife, a former senator, over an allegation of infidelity. Ekwunife, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Anambra gubernatorial election, had alleged in a viral video that Soludo and his wife were part of the administration of the late Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who was the governor of the state from 1999 to 2003. The former senator alleged that the administration of the late Mbadinuju failed Anambra state. However, in a recent statement, Soludo said Ekwunife had spread “malicious claims” about her…

Reality TV star and actress Phyna has laid her younger sister Ruth Otabor to rest. Ruth passed away on August 31 after a road accident involving a Dangote truck on August 13. The 24-year-old had just graduated from Auchi Polytechnic six days before the incident and suffered severe injuries, including the amputation of her leg. The burial ceremony, held on Saturday at Ruth’s residence in Ogun State, was attended by friends and fellow ex-BBNaija housemates Christy O and Groovy, all dressed in black to show their support. The atmosphere was emotional as Phyna and the mourners paid their last respects…