Author: Opalim Lifted

Hotel room rates across North America have surged at unprecedented levels ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with average prices rising 328 percent across 16 host cities, according to a market analysis by The Athletic, the sports publication of The New York Times. The spike, which triggered immediately after last week’s World Cup draw, signals an aggressive pricing trend that could reshape the event’s financial landscape for fans, local businesses and tourism operators. The steepest rise was recorded in Mexico City, where the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 triggered extraordinary rate inflation. At Le…

The first prosecution witness, Peter Okoye, has told the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja that the wife of his elder brother, Jude Okoye, owns 800,000 shares in Northside Music Limited, the company at the centre of a $1 million theft charge. Jude, who previously managed the P-Square duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, is facing trial alongside Northside Music Limited on four counts of alleged fund diversion. He pleaded not guilty. During Friday’s hearing, defence counsel Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN) presented bank statements linked to Northside Music Limited and pressed the witness to clarify the transactions. But Peter insisted the…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court has ordered the remand of Chris Ngige, former minister of labour and productivity, in Kuje prison, pending the determination of his bail application. Ngige was arraigned on Friday before Maryam Hassan, presiding judge, on an eight-count charge bordering on misuse of office, contract fraud and receiving gratification. In the charge dated October 31, the commission alleged that the former minister used his position to confer undue advantage by awarding multiple contracts to associates and companies linked to him. The EFCC alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023, Ngige, while serving as supervising…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says an explosion occurred on its Escravos-Lagos pipeline. In a statement on Friday, Andy Odeh, NNPC spokesperson, said the explosion happened on December 10, near Tebijor, Okpele, and Ikpopo communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state. Odeh said initial observations indicated a pressure drop consistent with a loss of containment on an NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) pipeline. “The cause of the explosion is still unknown but would be confirmed after a detailed investigation has been concluded,” the NNPC said. “Our priority at this time is the safety of nearby communities and the protection…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has alerted passport applicants to a system downtime from 12:00am on December 12, 2025, to 6:00am on December 14, 2025, due to routine maintenance, repair, and upgrade work. The maintenance aims to improve system performance and enhance user experience, the Service said. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency, Akinlabi Akinsola, stated that the scheduled maintenance will cause temporary interruptions to the digital passport application platform. He said, “During this time, users may experience temporary service interruptions, slower response times, or limited access to certain NIS Passport Services. “We kindly request the public’s patience and…

Upwardly mobile afrobeats sensation, Denny Zee has explained the reason behind his short break from the music scene. For almost two years, the Epe, Lagos born singer, songwriter and producer had been off the scene, but he’s currently back with a new cut titled ‘Werk’. ‎The afrobeats Singer described ‘Werk’ as a piece of art that will surpass the records of his previous hits -‘Joh’, ‘Bana,’ and ‘Tender’. ‎Formerly signed to Nuul Gang, a Sweden-based record label owned by an international DJ, Denny Zee’s career took on a global outlook through collaborations and international releases that expanded his artistic reach.…

Much as we need extra hands to combat terrorists, we should not leave certain flanks uncovered. President Bola Tinubu has ordered that policemen attached to public figures and senior officers be withdrawn to strengthen frontline forces and protect society at large. The withdrawal has already begun. Policemen and women attached to senators and high court justices have been recalled. Those affected are understandably expressing concern over how vulnerable they have become without security aides during this period of heightened and persistent insecurity. Public and career functionaries who are socially and politically exposed should be exempt from the withdrawal of their…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections would be far easier than the opposition’s historic victory over former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. The party asserted during the inauguration of its new leadership team in Delta State, where former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Great Ogboru, was unveiled as a member. Representing the National Chairman of the party, David Mark, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, said the newly inaugurated team has been mandated to embark on aggressive nationwide mobilisation, membership registration…

Oxford University Press (OUP has declared “rage bait” the 2025 Oxford English Dictionary word of the year. “Rage bait” is defined as online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive. According to Oxford, the usage of the word has increased threefold in the last 12 months. “Rage bait” was first used online in a posting on Usenet in 2002 as a way to designate a particular type of driver reaction to being flashed at by another driver requesting to pass them, introducing the idea of deliberate agitation. The word emerged as this year’s…

President Bola Tinubu has insisted on his earlier directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from very important persons (VIPs) in the country. On November 23, Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country during a security meeting with the inspector-general of police (IGP), the chiefs of army and air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS). The president said the move was aimed at boosting police presence in communities, especially remote areas where stations are understaffed and citizens remain vulnerable to attacks. Speaking at the opening of the federal…