Author: Opalim Lifted

Residents of Bazar and neighbouring villages in Yabo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, say suspected bandits have imposed an N15 million levy on their communities and threatened violence if it is not paid. The affected settlements lie in the Sokoto South Senatorial District, represented by Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Locals told journalists the levy was announced after a raid that began around 11:40pm on a Friday and lasted until about 1:06am. “One of our villages was raided. They abducted seven people and later released our village head and five others after warning us not to report the attack,” said Dauda…

Turkish football has been shaken by revelations that hundreds of referees have been caught betting on matches. Out of 571 active referees, 371 were found to hold accounts with betting firms, and 152 had placed wagers directly on football games, according to insideworldfootball.com. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) disclosed the findings at a press conference in Riva, led by its president, İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu. He described the discovery as a “turning point for Turkish football,” pledging to clean up corruption within the sport. “This is the start of a new era,” Hacıosmanoğlu declared. “We have worked with police and authorities…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared that it will commence a nationwide strike from midnight on November 1, 2025, unless the government reinstates dismissed members, clears part of the outstanding arrears, and restores the value of membership certificates. Addressing journalists in Abuja, NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, said the government owes about 50,000 health workers across Nigeria over N38 billion in unpaid salaries, excluding allowances. He revealed that the country now has barely 11,000 resident doctors, down from over 20,000 a decade ago, with most working at the federal level. Suleiman directed all resident doctors in both…

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with the newly appointed service chiefs at the State House. Last Friday, Tinubu sacked the former service chiefs in a major shake-up of the nation’s military leadership. The president named Olufemi Oluyede, a lieutenant general, as the new chief of defence staff, replacing Christopher Musa. Prior to the appointment, Oluyede was the chief of army staff. Waidi Shaibu, a major general, was named the new chief of army staff, while Sunday Kelvin Aneke, an air vice marshal, was appointed as air chief. Idi Abbas, a rear admiral, was named the mew naval chief, while…

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, is under fire after posting and swiftly deleting a congratulatory letter to the new Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, written on the official Kogi State Government letterhead despite being out of office. The letter, which carried the state coat of arms and Bello’s signature as “Executive Governor,” sparked outrage after it surfaced on social media, with critics accusing him of clinging to power and overstepping official boundaries. Bello’s message to the Army Chief included a contentious line: “It gives me renewed hope that my worthy successor, His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman…

A troubling contradiction is emerging across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs). Despite receiving more than N8.9 trillion in federal allocations between 2023 and 2025, fewer than one per cent of them have a functional website. The absence of a digital presence exposes a glaring accountability gap in the nation’s third tier of government. While LGAs collectively pocket nearly N3 trillion annually from the Federation Account, most operate in near-total digital silence. Experts say the digital blackout reflects poor governance rather than a lack of funds. “Maintaining a website costs a fraction of what councils receive monthly,” said telecoms analyst…

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has regained his freedom after spending four days in Kuje Prison, Abuja. Sowore confirmed his release in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, writing: “Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days by @officialABAT illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.” He was arrested alongside Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as well as Emmanuel Kanu, Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, and 11 others during a #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja last week. The 14 were arraigned…

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, has officially begun direct flight services between Abuja and London Heathrow, expanding its international network and strengthening Nigeria’s aviation footprint. The inaugural flight departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday, marking Air Peace’s second direct London route following the successful launch of its Lagos–London service in March 2024. Allen Onyema, the airline’s chief executive officer, praised the federal government’s support, describing the achievement as “a product of listening to the people’s aspirations.” He commended Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo for policies that have eased the challenges facing local carriers. “It’s not just about Air…

Senator Ned Nwoko has declared that peace will continue to evade Nigeria’s South-East until the federal government addresses the region’s long-standing sense of marginalisation. Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels TV, the lawmaker representing Delta North said the unrest in the region stems from “perceived injustice by successive governments”. Nwoko urged the creation of Anioma State and the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as crucial steps towards ending insecurity and restoring calm. “The problem in the South-East has to do with perceived injustice. What needs to be done is the creation of a…

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has proposed the Fly Nigerian Act, a bill that would require all government officials to use Nigerian airlines on international routes. Keyamo announced the plan on Sunday during the ceremonial send-off of Air Peace’s inaugural direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow. The event was attended by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace. He explained that the proposed law would mandate every public official travelling abroad to patronise a Nigerian airline if it operates that route. Only when no local carrier serves…