Author: Opalim Lifted

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into allegations that senior government officials and politicians named in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) forensic audit report have obstructed its publication. The report, which covers the period between 2000 and 2019, was commissioned to examine alleged financial misconduct and structural inefficiencies within the NDDC. SERAP expressed concern that the findings of the audit have yet to be made public and that recommendations for accountability and reform remain unimplemented. In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP described the obstruction or suppression…

Arsenal have completed the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a deal worth almost £60m. The Spain midfielder is the Gunners’ second signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrival of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for £5m. The 26-year-old, who rejected an approach from Liverpool last summer, came through the ranks at Real Sociedad before becoming a regular in their first team. The deep-lying midfielder – who played 236 times for the Spanish club, scoring 10 goals – has signed a five-year deal. “This is a huge moment in my career,” said Zubimendi. “It’s the move…

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo state. Adelabu declared his intention recently when he met with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and stakeholders in Ogbomoso and Oyo zones in Oyo state. Speaking at the residence of Ayoade Adeseun, one of the APC leaders in the state, the power minister said the stakeholders’ consultation was part of his 2027 governorship ambition. He appealed to aggrieved party members for forgiveness, adding that the concern should be how the party would return to power in 2027. “I’m here to tell…

Tiwa Savage, the Nigerian singer, has celebrated 12 years of ‘Once Upon a Time’, her debut album. The album was released in 2013 and features hit songs such as ‘Kele Kele Love’, ‘Love Me’, ‘Without My Heart’, ‘Ife Wa Gbona’, ‘Folarin’, ‘Olorun Mi’, and ‘Eminado’. It was produced by Don Jazzy, Mavin Records founder, alongside Spellz and several other notable producers. In a post via X on Friday, Savage said she poured her heart into the album and is proud to still be standing 12 years later. She thanked her fans, whom she described as “amazing soldiers”, for their continued…

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has successfully priced its fully marketed offering on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The GTCO said it issued approximately 2.29 billion new ordinary shares at N70 per share ($0.0459), expecting to raise gross proceeds of N160.3 billion ($105 million). The announcement was made in a statement signed by Erhi Obebeduo, group general counsel and company secretary, released via the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NGX) on Friday. On Thursday, the company said it will cancel the listing of its global depositary receipts (GDRs) on the LSE by July 31 and replace them with its ordinary shares.…

Two leading Nigerian commercial banks, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wema Bank, have reinstated international transaction capabilities on their naira debit cards, nearly three years after the service was suspended across the banking sector due to foreign exchange (FX) shortages. In separate notices to customers, the banks announced the reactivation, marking a significant step in easing cross-border transactions for Nigerians. UBA said the service is now available on all its Premium Naira Cards — Gold, Platinum, and World variants. “In line with our continued commitment to providing seamless and enhanced banking experiences, we are pleased to inform you that…

The House of Representatives has invited stakeholders to a national food security summit scheduled to be held from July 8 to 10. The summit, themed ‘Curbing malnutrition and food insecurity through effective synergies,’ will be held in Abuja. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Chike Okafor, chairman of the house committee on nutrition and food security, said the summit is part of the activities scheduled for the green chamber’s open week. Okafor said Nigeria continues to grapple with “alarming rates of malnutrition and food insecurity” despite decades of national policies and sectoral programmes aimed at improving nutrition…

Troops of operation Hadin Kai have recovered 56 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by suspected members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno. In a statement on Friday, the Nigerian Army said the explosives were discovered on the Marte–Dikwa bridge during a clearance operation by troops in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). According to the statement, the IEDs were placed strategically to cause mass casualties and disrupt military and civilian movement along the route. “So far, a total of 56 fully prepared IEDs have been safely recovered from the location. Controlled…

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for the cancellation of illegitimate debts, a democratised global financial system, and increased legislative oversight on financing for development in Nigeria. Speaking at the Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, Spain, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said illegitimate and unjust debts continue to stall development, mortgage future generations, and erode national sovereignty. “These debts were incurred without public consent or accountability. They are odious, fraudulent, and must be cancelled,” Rafsanjani declared. Stronger Legislative Engagement in Nigeria Rafsanjani, who also heads Transparency International Nigeria, urged Nigerian lawmakers to assert their…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition as a hollow display of desperation and self-interest. In a statement on Thursday, Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the APC, said the event, which took place in Abuja on Wednesday, was a “gasping whimper” rather than the “roar” its promoters had promised. Morka accused the coalition’s leaders of being “hoaxers and self-obsessed merchants of vendetta” driven by selfish political ambition. He said the ADC’s unveiling was nothing more than “a roll call of Nigeria’s me-or-nothing politicians” who are desperate to return to power…