Author: Opalim Lifted

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has officially tied the knot with Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. The marriage between the top government official and the former Olori of the Ile-Ife Kingdom was confirmed on Friday in a celebratory post by Abraham Double-d Dajoh, a member of the Dajoh family, on Facebook. In the statement, the Dajoh family, which Akume belongs, described the union as “beautiful” and “uncommon,” formally welcoming Queen Zaynab into their fold in Mbakor, Benue State. “We, the entire…

Mali came from behind to draw with Morocco in Group A of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, which leaves the host nation on the brink of a place in the knockout stage. It proved to be a tale of two penalties at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervening on both occasions to send referee Abdou Abdel Mefire to his screen. Brahim Diaz put Morocco ahead from the spot deep in first-half stoppage time after the ball struck the hand of Mali left-back Nathan Gassama. But the Eagles got a spot-kick of…

Mohamed Salah’s penalty gave Egypt victory over South Africa as the seven-time champions survived playing the second half with 10 men to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a game to spare. Having gone ahead through Salah’s contentiously-awarded spot kick in the 45th minute, the Pharaohs swiftly found themselves at a numerical disadvantage when right-back Mohamed Hany received a second booking during stoppage time at the end of the first half. Bafana Bafana made an attacking change at the break, replacing Thalente Mbatha with Sipho Mbule, but spent much of…

Nigeria’s proposed January tax reforms face uncertainty as allegations of alterations continue to draw opposition from lawmakers, labour and civil society, heightening risks of legal disputes, taxpayer resistance and a growing credibility crisis. Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume recently called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by suspending the implementation and ordering a thorough investigation into allegations that the laws were altered. Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja, warning that proceeding with implementation while the allegations remain unresolved would undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the tax regime. His intervention…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says attacks on Christians in Nigeria has to come to an end. Netanyahu’s stance formed part of his Christmas message late Wednesday night to Christians around the world. Judaism, Israel’s main religion, and Christianity are deeply linked Abrahamic faiths sharing roots in ancient Israel. However, while Christians view Jesus as the Messiah, Jews await his arrival. Christmas is the Christian celebration of Jesus’ birth. Felicitating Christians, Netanyahu criticised global persecution of the sister faith, citing Middle Eastern countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. Netanyahu in Israeli court for graft trial Outside the region, Nigeria…

Nigeria’s fragile power sector has plunged millions deeper into darkness after electricity generation from the national grid collapsed to about 3,000 megawatts (MW), far below both installed capacity and government promises of improvement. On Tuesday, grid supply fell sharply despite Nigeria boasting over 13,000MW of installed generation capacity. The decline comes at a time when Band A and B customers are paying higher tariffs in exchange for assurances of better and more reliable electricity, with the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, previously pledging an average supply of 5,000MW. By early evening, generation had slipped further to just 2,652MW, with only…

It’s Christmas, and you’re still wondering where to go or what to do for fun without spending too much. Between the rush, last-minute plans, and tight budgets, deciding how to enjoy the day can feel overwhelming. Here is a list of simple and affordable places where you can soak in the festive mood, have a great time, and still stay within your budget. Amusement parks Amusement parks are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to enjoy Christmas, especially for families and groups of friends. With a relatively low entry fee, visitors can enjoy multiple activities such as rides,…

Manchester United forward Amad Diallo’s composed strike gave holders Ivory Coast victory over Mozambique in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F opener in Marrakech. The Elephants, aiming to become the first defending champions since Egypt in 2010 to retain the title, squandered a succession of first-half chances against opponents ranked 60 places below them at 102nd in Fifa’s rankings. Amad provided relief for Emerse Fae’s side four minutes after the restart, capitalising on static defending to meet Franck Kessie’s knockdown with a cool low finish that arrowed between Sunderland defender Reinildo’s legs on its way in. Mozambique…

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentencing of Sani Endurance Aferokhe and Hillary Odo, two former bankers, for diverting N10.3 million belonging to bank customers. According to a post on X by the commission on Wednesday the judgment was delivered by Justice A. O. Onovo of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu. The case was handled by the EFCC and relates to offences committed while the convicts were staff of Intercontinental Bank Plc, now Access Bank Plc. Aferokhe and Odo were arraigned on January 18,…

The United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria has assured Nigerians that visas issued before January 1, 2026, will remain valid despite new US travel restrictions affecting the country. The reassurance followed concerns after the US government placed Nigeria among 15 mostly African countries under partial travel suspensions on December 16. Other affected countries include Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and The Gambia. According to US authorities, the decision was based on security concerns linked to the presence of radical Islamic terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State, in parts of Nigeria. The US government said these conditions create…