Author: Opalim Lifted

For many Nigerian families, a trip to the market is no longer simply about deciding what to cook for the week. It has become an exercise in arithmetic calculating what can be bought, what has to be left behind and which bills can wait. “I used to buy yam, tomatoes, pepper, chicken and other things without thinking too much about the price. But they have become more expensive. Now, before I pick anything, I check the price and calculate what I can afford,” Damilola, a Lagos-based lady who lives alone, said. She said the money that once covered a week’s…

Veteran Nollywood actor Lere Paimo has said he began his acting career in 1958, putting the start of his career four years ahead of veteran actor Pete Edochie’s stated 1962 timeline. The 86-year-old actor made the clarification during an interview with actor Kunle Afod, posted on YouTube on Monday, as a debate over seniority among Nigeria’s veteran actors resurfaced. Paimo’s comments followed Edochie’s recent challenge to actors who claimed they began their careers before him to come forward and substantiate their claims. Edochie had said his acting career dates back to 1962, when he was 15, citing his performance in…

Pascal Odinaka, the Nigerian dancer popularly known as Poco Lee, will appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2027, for a plea hearing.q The date was fixed after his scheduled appearance on Tuesday could not proceed because the charge sheet was unavailable. Poco Lee had been due in court on September 15 for a plea and trial preparation hearing on the charges against him. He, however, did not enter a plea because the charge sheet was unavailable. Although the dancer was not present, the courtroom was reportedly filled with Nigerians who came to observe the…

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intervene in the fight against vandalism and energy theft, which he said are costing Nigeria’s power sector billions of naira annually. Tegbe made the request on Tuesday in Abuja when he led a delegation from the Ministry of Power on a courtesy visit to EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. According to a statement by EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, the minister said vandalism of electricity infrastructure and energy theft were undermining the power sector. He added that the Ministry of Power lacked the statutory…

Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election by a “very wide majority”. Omokri made the prediction during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television’s Politics Today, arguing that Tinubu is entering the 2027 contest from a stronger political position than he did in 2023. According to him, Tinubu has consolidated his political base, gained the support of more state governors and increased his acceptance, particularly in Northern Nigeria. “The best predictor of future events is past events,” Omokri said. He recalled that Tinubu won the 2023 presidential…

China has rejected reports that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite images of a military base housing US troops in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile strike that killed three American soldiers. The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that the satellite imagery was linked to Iran’s July 17 missile strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. However, the unnamed US officials cited in the report did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved and did not accuse Beijing of directly supplying the imagery. “We firmly oppose groundless suspicion and accusations without evidence,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson…

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a nationwide security alert over intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on schools, worship centres, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations. The alert, issued by the Department of Operations, warned that the planned attacks could coincide with the 2026/2027 academic session, prompting heightened surveillance and security measures around potential targets. According to the police, armed elements were reportedly moving from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State, while suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives and their local collaborators were conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets. The…

The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has renewed its commitment to working with state governments, investors, creative entrepreneurs, technology platforms, hospitality businesses and other stakeholders to unlock Nigeria’s estimated $100 billion tourism and creative economy potential. The Minister, Hannatu Musawa, stated this on Monday in Lagos during the official flag-off of “Ember to Remember 2026” and the unveiling of the national tourism calendar. Musawa said the ministry was pursuing a tourism and creative economy capable of contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP throughout the year, while creating opportunities for young Nigerians, attracting investment, strengthening local businesses…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adjusted the arrival and examination times for candidates sitting the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Under the revised arrangement, candidates are now expected to arrive at their designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:30 a.m., instead of the earlier 6:30 a.m. schedule. The examination will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. JAMB announced the adjustment in its weekly bulletin released in Abuja, citing safety and logistical concerns linked to candidates travelling to examination centres very early in the morning. The board said the concerns…

Nigerian dancer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has been granted bail in the United Kingdom, Snaresbrook Crown Court has confirmed. The court said the dancer was granted bail on September 11, 2026, while his plea and trial preparation hearing remains scheduled for September 15. James Baker, the court’s admin team lead, confirmed the development in a statement. “The Defendant has been granted bail on the 11th September 2026,” Baker said. “There is a plea and trial preparation hearing on the 15th September 2026.” The clarification comes after reports circulated on social media last Friday claiming that Poco…