Author: Opalim Lifted

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led tributes on Thursday at a memorial service in Lagos for Dr. Doyin Abiola, hailed as a pioneering journalist, courageous patriot, and tireless defender of democracy. In his remarks, Osinbajo described Abiola as “a beloved aunty, courageous patriot, and tireless fighter for democracy and the rule of law.” He offered prayers for her daughter, Doyinsola Abiola Tobun, her husband, Bamise Tobun, their children, and the wider Abiola family. The service drew an array of dignitaries, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, and Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Dr.…

Chelsea have been charged by the Football Association with 74 alleged rule breaches related to payments to agents between 2009 and 2022. The charges are primarily focused on events which occurred between the 2010-11 to 2015-16 seasons. The alleged rule breaches are around agents, intermediaries and third-party investments in players. Chelsea have until 19 September to respond. Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was in control of the club from 2003 to 2022. He sold Chelsea to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital last year. “During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion…

As the world marks the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, Nigeria is confronted with a self-murder crisis that remains largely hidden behind stigma and silence, with an estimated 15,000 deaths annually and criminalisation of attempted self-murder in the country, discouraging people in distress from seeking help. Nigeria is among the few nations where survivors of self-murder attempts may face imprisonment under Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code. The Federal Government has however reaffirmed its commitment to decriminalising attempted suicide in Nigeria, setting December 2025 as the target date for the reform. The Coordinating…

US President Donald Trump has said he is “filled with grief and anger” after the “heinous assassination” of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a staunch ally of the US president, was shot dead at a university event in Utah on Wednesday afternoon. Trump announced the death of the 31-year-old conservative on social media, hailing him as a “great, and even legendary” figure who was “loved and admired by all, especially me”. In a video message, the US president said, “To my fellow Americans, I’m filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.…

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has appointed Nancy Nathan as the Acting Head of Service, following the death of the former officeholder, Grace Adayilo. The announcement was made in a statement issued Tuesday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister. Adayilo, who passed away last Monday, made history in October 2024 when President Bola Tinubu appointed her as the first female and first indigenous Head of Service of the FCTA. Nathan’s appointment is in an acting capacity and will remain so “pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Service,”…

Qatar has introduced sweeping new visa restrictions barring Nigerian men from travelling alone, a move set to disrupt transit and business travel across the Gulf state. Under rules enforced by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior from 5 September 2025, only women and families are now eligible to obtain tourist or transit visas. Nigerian men travelling independently will no longer be approved unless accompanied by family members. The new requirements also mandate that all applicants present a confirmed return transfer and proof of accommodation exclusively in five-star hotels before visas are processed. Doha says the policy aims to curb overstays, but the…

Kamala Harris believes it was reckless to allow former President Joe Biden to decide to seek re-election in 2024, but she felt she was the last person who could advise her 81-year-old boss not to run, according to excerpts from her new book released on Wednesday. Biden, a Democrat, ended his re-election campaign on July 21, 2024, after a poor debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump that prompted aides and party officials to question publicly whether he could endure a full campaign or serve a second term. “Of all the people in the White House, I was in the…

Communist Cuba’s national power grid collapsed for the fourth time in less than a year on Wednesday morning causing a nationwide blackout, authorities said. “There has been a total disconnection of the Electric System,” the Energy Ministry and National Electric Union said. The grid operator said the grid collapsed at 9.14 a.m. (1314 GMT) on the Caribbean island. The ministry said causes are being investigated and the restoration process has already begun. Even before Wednesday’s grid collapse, leaving 10 million residents without power, many across the island had already been experiencing daily blackouts of 16 hours or more. Power supply…

French President Emmanuel Macron named loyalist Sebastien Lecornu, a one-time conservative protege who rallied behind his 2017 presidential run, as prime minister on Tuesday, defying expectations he might tack towards the left. The choice of Lecornu, 39, indicates Macron’s determination to press on with a minority government that will not rip up his pro-business reform agenda, under which taxes on business and the wealthy have been cut and the retirement age raised. However, in an unusual move in French politics, Macron’s office said the president had asked Lecornu to hold talks with all political forces in parliament to find compromises…

The national grid collapsed on Wednesday morning, causing the power outages across Nigeria. Data obtained by Chronicle NG from the Independent System Operator (ISO) showed that the megawatts (MW) generated dropped from 2,917MW to 1.5MW between 11am and 12pm. In a post on X platform, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the loss of power from the national grid. “Please be informed that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a loss of supply from the national grid at 11:23 am today, affecting electricity supply across our franchise areas,” the company said. “Rest assured, we are working closely…