Author: Opalim Lifted

Inter Milan struck twice in the final 18 minutes to claim a 2-0 win over River Plate on Wednesday, sealing top spot in Group E and sending the Argentines crashing out of the Club World Cup. Sebastiano Esposito broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, just minutes after River were reduced to 10 men following Lucas Martínez Quarta’s straight red for hauling down Henrikh Mkhitaryan as the last man. Alessandro Bastoni added the insurance goal deep into stoppage time to complete a composed performance from the Nerazzurri. The result sees Inter move into the last 16, where they’ll face Brazilian…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar may lose his title of Waziri Adamawa following a new policy by the Adamawa state government requiring all kingmakers and traditional council members to be indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they represent. Atiku, a native of Jada in Ganye chiefdom, currently holds the title of Waziri Adamawa, conferred on him in June 2017 by Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, the Lamido of Adamawa. The title comes with a seat on the Adamawa Emirate Council. However, a circular signed by Adama Mamman, permanent secretary in the state ministry of chieftaincy affairs, and dated June 19, stated that…

The proposal by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to construct a security fence along Nigeria’s borders may be one of the most meaningful national security initiatives of our time—if implemented with purpose. For decades, Nigeria’s borders have remained perilously porous, serving as open corridors for terrorists, arms traffickers, and transnational criminals. Insurgents and smugglers traverse these frontiers with ease, particularly from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, exacerbating insecurity across the country—especially in the North-East. After carrying out killings and acts of terror, these insurgents often escape freely across the borders. This unrestrained cross-border movement…

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has stated that the increasing disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria discourages investors and endangers citizens. The former Anambra governor claimed he is experiencing rights abuse for simply contesting the presidential election. In a post on his X page on Tuesday, Obi shared an incident involving his younger brother whose company property in Ikeja, Lagos, was allegedly demolished without legal justification. The LP chieftain said the worsening state of human rights in the country has exposed ordinary Nigerians, small businesses, and vulnerable groups to systemic…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his 60th birthday, commending his leadership and sustained drive to transform Nigeria’s commercial capital. In a statement released by Presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga on Tuesday, Tinubu lauded Sanwo-Olu as a dedicated public servant whose work reflects the ambitious Lagos master plan initiated during his own tenure as Governor from 1999 to 2007. “Your execution of this vision is exemplified by landmark achievements, including completing the Blue and Red Rail lines and the ongoing preparations for the Purple Line, which will serve the vital Lekki corridor,”  Tinubu said. The…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it has not received any formal applications for the registration of a new political party. According to Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission has so far only received letters of intent—not official applications—from interested groups. “The truth is that we have so many letters of intent presently, and none of them is an application yet,” he said. “They must first meet the criteria before submitting a letter of intent.” Olumekun said associations seeking to register as political parties must follow the…

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been given a two-match ban for his red card in Friday’s 3-1 Club World Cup defeat by Flamengo. Jackson was dismissed just four minutes after coming on as a late substitute for a studs-up challenge on Flamengo defender Lucas Ayrton. The Senegal forward was given an automatic one-match ban that rules him out of tonight’s final group game against African side ES Tunis (02:00 BST). But a FIFA disciplinary committee reviewed the incident and decided to extend the ban as it was deemed serious foul play, meaning Jackson will miss Chelsea’s last-16 match should they…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the prosecution of Friday Audu, Huang Haoyu, and An Hongxu over a staggering ₦3.4 billion and $2.56 million cybercrime case, in what is shaping up to be one of Nigeria’s biggest online fraud trials. The trio, along with Genting International Co. Ltd., are accused of being part of a 792-member cyber syndicate busted in Lagos on 19 December 2024 during a surprise sting dubbed “Eagle Flush Operation”. At the resumed trial on Monday, 23 June 2025, Chidubem Ogbura, a banker from Union Bank Plc, took the stand as Prosecution Witness 1…

In the soft, golden valleys of Yakoko, beneath the watchful shadows of Taraba’s ancient mountains, a story was born — not whispered, but roared. A girl, tall and black like the hills that raised her, walked gently through the earth… until destiny handed her a basketball. Her name? Abubakar Jamila Ganza. But in courts and conversations from Jalingo to Yokohama, she is known simply as Meelath — or by her battle name — MANKILLER, the Taraba Giant. Jamila stands like a storm in motion. 6 feet and 3 inches of grace and grit, carved by nature and nurtured by hardship.…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has commenced the automation of payment processes across its airports. Speaking recently at a stakeholders’ forum with airport concessionaires in Lagos, Olubunmi Kuku, the managing director (MD) of FAAN, said the development started with the state’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). Kuku said the new system will require the use of electronic cash registers (ECR) devices for payments, alongside the automation of toll gates and parking facilities to promote transparency and accountability. “Today, the environment is slightly porous as people are just using physical ID cards and identification to pass through.…