Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reform and global engagement following reports of Nigeria’s strongest quarterly growth in a decade. At Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Tinubu said the government would “move forward with unity and purpose” to overcome challenges and build a resilient economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Finance and Economy Minister Wale Edun revealed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 4.23% in Q2 2025, marking the nation’s best performance since the post-COVID-19 rebound. He noted that 13 sectors recorded growth above 7%, up from nine in the previous…

The United States (US) military has drawn up contingency plans for possible intervention in Nigeria after former President Donald Trump reportedly ordered preparations for military action to “protect Christians” from Islamic militant attacks. Defence and security officials confirmed that the Pentagon’s options remain limited and unlikely to resolve the deep-rooted insurgency that has ravaged northern Nigeria for over a decade, claiming thousands of Christian and Muslim lives, The New York Times reports. Sources said the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, has proposed three military options — light, medium, and heavy — for review by the Joint Chiefs…

Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has announced she will not seek re-election in 2026, marking the end of a landmark 39-year congressional career. The 85-year-old Californian Democrat revealed her decision in a video posted on X, saying: “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service.” Her announcement came just days after California voters overwhelmingly backed Proposition 50 — a redistricting effort expected to bolster Democratic chances in next year’s midterm elections. Pelosi, long considered one of the most powerful and polarising figures in American politics,…

Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, the son of Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, has been confirmed as substantive chairman of Agege LG. Obasa’s confirmation follows the resignation of Tunde Azeez, the former chairman, who had been on medical leave shortly after he was inaugurated on July 27, 2025. Azeez formally stepped down on Wednesday over persistent health challenges. His resignation letter was read by Adeshina Haruna, leader of the house, during the plenary at the Agege council chamber. Lawmakers unanimously voted to confirm Obasa, who had been acting in the role, as substantive chairman. Obasanjo says El-Rufai needed…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Human Resource (HR) managers to lead Nigeria’s transition toward a humane, ethical, and future-ready world of work. He said technology must serve people, not replace them, while calling for clear ethical frameworks to guide the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in workplaces. Osinbajo made the call at the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Abuja, where President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, commended the Institute for its visionary role…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will headline a major national political summit in Abuja next week, as Nigeria gears up for sweeping electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. The “National Electoral Reforms Summit for Credible Elections in 2027,” scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, is being organised by the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in partnership with political and civil society groups. Jonathan is billed to chair the event, with Osinbajo delivering the keynote address. According to a statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, Publicity Manager of the summit, the gathering—initially focused on electoral and…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged African governments to stop celebrating economic growth figures that fail to improve the lives of ordinary people. Speaking at the Ford Foundation’s 65th anniversary in West Africa, held in Abuja, Osinbajo said Africa has recorded some of the fastest GDP growth rates globally in recent years, yet still struggles with poverty, unemployment, weak healthcare, and poor education outcomes. He lamented that during his time as Nigeria’s vice president and chair of the economic team between 2016 and 2019, he saw how disconnected macroeconomic figures were from citizens’ lived realities. “Africa is the fastest-growing…

The Federal Government has accused foreign lobbyists, particularly in the United States, of orchestrating the narrative of a so-called “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday that the government’s findings revealed a network of external actors deliberately promoting false and divisive portrayals of Nigeria’s security challenges. “There is a clear correlation between some lobbyists operating in the US and the activities here in Nigeria,” Idris said. “Some of those pushing this ‘Christian genocide’ narrative have direct ties to American lobby groups influencing opinion abroad.” The minister…

From fruit stalls to abattoirs, a deadly trend has invaded Nigerian kitchens. A Senate investigation has uncovered shocking food adulteration practices across the country — from fruits ripened with calcium carbide and meat softened with paracetamol to grains laced with Sniper insecticide and cassava soaked in bleach. Declaring the situation a “public health emergency”, the Senate on Wednesday vowed to strengthen existing laws and impose tougher penalties on anyone using toxic chemicals in food production or processing. The resolution followed the adoption of a damning report by the Joint Senate Committees on Health and Agriculture, which revealed widespread and dangerous…

Cypriot champions Pafos picked up their first ever win in the Champions League proper as they stunned Villarreal. The hosts, formed only 11 years ago, have lost just one of their 10 matches in the competition this season, including qualifiers – and that was to Bayern Munich. And this was another landmark moment for the team managed by ex-Arsenal assistant Juan Carlos Carcedo. Dutch defender Derrick Luckassen scored the historic winner with an unmarked header following a 46th-minute corner from former Watford winger Ken Sema. Cyprus’ president Nikos Christodoulides, a Pafos fan, reportedly missed the goal – taking his seat…