Author: Opalim Lifted

Rayan Cherki’s thunderbolt strike helped Manchester City overcome Brentford to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. City, who had not reached the last four of the competition since claiming a fourth triumph in a row in 2021, will face Newcastle in a two-legged semi-final. Brentford started brightly but could not capitalise and were then reliant on stand-in goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson to push away a rising effort from Cherki. Having had a sighter at goal, the Frenchman gave City the lead just after the half hour mark. The forward picked the ball up on the edge of the box, cut…

FIFA has introduced a small number of “more affordable” $60 (£45) tickets for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup following criticism of its pricing structure for the tournament. World football’s governing body says the new ticket price will be available to a certain number of “loyal fans” of the countries that have qualified for the World Cup. A FIFA official close to discussions said: “We have listened to feedback and this new category is the right thing to do” – adding the decision was unanimous. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the announcement but added: “As someone…

Gbenga Komolafe has resigned as the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The resignation was announced in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, on Wednesday. Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu has written to the senate for an expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Komolafe’s replacement. Farouk Ahmed’s resignation as the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was also announced by the presidency. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed was named as the successor to the embattled Ahmed. Appointed By Buhari In 2021 Former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Komolafe as the…

Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has resigned following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu, on Wednesday, summoned Ahmed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following allegations of economic sabotage and corruption. Gbenga Komolafe, the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), also resigned, according to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy. Tinubu was said to have nominated successors to the senate for approval. “Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new…

Nigerians who hold second citizenship from Caribbean countries operating citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programmes may have been hit with a double whammy. This follows the United States’ decision to impose partial travel restrictions on several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. The two Caribbean nations, both popular among wealthy Nigerians for offering CBI without long-term residency requirements, were added to Washington’s updated list of countries facing partial entry restrictions on Tuesday Nigeria was also named among the affected states. This means some Nigerians could now face limitations regardless of whether they travel on Nigerian or Caribbean passports. The White House cited…

Confusion has gripped Nigerians following the United States’ suspension of new tourist, student, and exchange visa applications as part of its latest update to travel restrictions. The suspension covers both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J categories — routes most commonly used by Nigerians — despite data showing relatively low visa overstay rates. B visas are issued to temporary visitors for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2); F and M visas are for students (academic and vocational); while J visas are for exchange visitors. President Donald Trump signed the proclamation on Tuesday. “The entry into…

The United States (US) has added Nigeria to a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions, citing “security and documentation” concerns. The White House announced the presidential proclamation on Tuesday, updating its list of countries facing full and partial travel restrictions. Nigeria was among 15 mostly African countries, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, and The Gambia, slammed with a partial travel suspension. Others listed are Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. “Radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State operate freely in certain parts of Nigeria, which creates substantial…

The Lagos state police command has arrested Habeeb ‘Peller‘ Hamzat, the TikTok star, following a viral video of a dangerous driving incident that culminated in a crash during a live broadcast. In a statement issued on Tuesday by Abimbola Adebisi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), the command confirmed that the arrest was prompted by widespread public outcry. The live-stream incident occurred on December 14, 2025. The police stated that the suspect’s actions presented a grave risk to public safety and necessitated immediate action. The command condemned the act as “extremely dangerous,” emphasising that such behaviour could have led to…

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the dispute between Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, and Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution after adopting a motion of urgent public importance. The motion was moved during Tuesday’s plenary by Midala Balami, a lawmaker representing Askira Uba/Hawul federal constituency of Borno State. In a newspaper advertisement on Tuesday, Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent about $5 million on the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland over six years. He said the…

A new biography of former President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the controversial naira redesign policy introduced ahead of the 2023 general election originated from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), not the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as had been widely assumed. The revelation is contained in From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, a biography authored by Dr Charles Omole and presented at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The book states that the proposal to redesign the naira was advanced by the then Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, with the stated…