Author: Opalim Lifted

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the successful export of 456,000 tonnes of refined petroleum products to five African countries, marking a major milestone in its regional expansion drive. In a briefing on Sunday, the company revealed that it had completed the sale of 12 cargoes of fuel, shipped to Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo. The development follows the refinery’s ramp-up to its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day in February. According to the refinery, the products were sold on a Free on Board (FOB) basis to international traders, who are responsible for transporting the fuel…

Ollie Watkins ended a six-match Premier League goal drought as Aston Villa boosted their chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a comfortable win over relegation-threatened West Ham. The forward was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad earlier this week but appeared keen to impress and was rewarded for his efforts in the 68th minute, doubling his side’s lead when he prodded in the rebound after Mats Hermansen saved from Morgan Rogers. Unai Emery’s side had earned just nine points from their previous 10 Premier League matches and their chances of a top-five finish were at risk…

Manchester City ended Arsenal’s bid for an historic quadruple with a deserved victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Nico O’Reilly scored twice in four second-half minutes as Pep Guardiola’s side overpowered the Premier League leaders with an outstanding display. It was a day of pain for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, whose decision to keep faith with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in this competition instead of first choice David Raya backfired badly. Kepa gifted City their first goal on the hour when he dropped Rayan Cherki’s routine cross for O’Reilly to pounce with a stooping header. O’Reilly swiftly doubled…

Nigeria has declared its readiness to support global energy stability as geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt oil markets in the Middle East. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said the country is prepared to play a stabilising role in the global energy sector, stressing that Nigeria remains a dependable oil supplier. In a statement issued by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris noted that rising global demand for oil presents an opportunity for Nigeria to contribute meaningfully to energy security. “The world needs oil, and Nigeria is there,” he said, adding that the country is willing to take steps that…

Social media has been flooded with outrage following disturbing videos showing women being harassed during a festival in Ozoro, Delta State. The viral footage, which surfaced on Thursday, captured groups of men tearing at women’s clothes, groping them, and subjecting them to public humiliation. The scenes have triggered widespread anger, with many Nigerians questioning how such actions could be linked to culture or tradition. Some online claims suggested the behaviour was part of the festival, alleging that participants were allowed to molest women. However, others strongly disputed this, insisting the acts were a recent deviation rather than a recognised cultural…

African countries are increasingly turning to the Dangote Refinery as fuel shortages deepen following supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. A new report by Bloomberg reveals that countries including Ghana, South Africa and Kenya are exploring petroleum imports from the Lagos-based facility owned by Aliko Dangote. The shift comes as many African nations struggle with reduced fuel supplies traditionally sourced from large refineries in the Persian Gulf, now affected by ongoing regional conflict. According to the report, the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery — one of the largest in the world — has become a critical alternative supplier. The…

The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the long-standing common entrance examination for pupils transitioning from primary school to junior secondary school (JSS), replacing it with a Continuous Assessment (CA) system. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the policy shift during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, describing it as a move to better reflect pupils’ academic performance over time. According to him, the new CA system will track pupils’ progress from primary one through to the end of their basic education, offering a more comprehensive measure of learning than a single examination. “It will be replaced…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to ensure full transparency in the ongoing probe into an alleged ₦200 trillion discrepancy involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. In a letter dated 21 March 2026 and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged Akpabio to direct the Senate Public Accounts Committee to publish the names and roles of all officials implicated in the case. The organisation said disclosure should be done “regardless of social or political status” to strengthen public trust and prevent any perception of a cover-up. Call for full…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the sexual assault and public harassment of women during a recent festival in Ozoro, describing the incident as a national disgrace and a disturbing form of gender-based violence. Viral videos circulating on social media show women being accosted in broad daylight, forcefully stripped of their clothing, sexually assaulted, and subjected to degrading treatment by groups of young men, while others watched, recorded, and in some instances cheered. In a statement jointly signed by the association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, and the Chairperson of the NBA Women’s Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, on Saturday, the NBA…

Jehovah’s Witnesses have announced a major clarification to their long-standing position on blood use in medical care, granting members the right to decide how their own blood is handled during procedures. In a video statement released on Friday, Gerrit Lösch said the updated guidance allows individual Christians to make personal decisions about the use of their own blood during surgery or treatment. He stressed that the core doctrine remains unchanged—members must still abstain from receiving another person’s blood. “The Bible does not comment on using one’s own blood in medical care,” Lösch explained, noting that the clarification is aimed at…