Author: Opalim Lifted

Ekperipe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), says the International Energy Agency (IEA) has officially admitted Nigeria as its newest associate member. Ekpo spoke on Tuesday at the NOG Energy Week 2026 conference held in Abuja. He said the admission makes Nigeria the IEA’s sixth African associate member and the first member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to attain the status. According to the minister, “On July 2, 2026, the International Energy Agency officially admitted Nigeria as its newest associate country.” “As the first OPEC member to partner with the IEA and its sixth…

TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has been arraigned before a magistrate’s court in Lagos on three counts of resisting police officers and breaching the public peace. Peller, alongside Bello Oladipo, was arraigned before the court on Monday following an incident that occurred on July 2, 2026, along Coastal Road in Lekki, Lagos. The charges, as read in court, include conspiracy to commit a felony, obstruction of police officers in the discharge of their duties, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace. The case stems from a viral video that surfaced last week showing…

Nigeria’s Senate has called on the federal government to immediately halt the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members, arguing that the programme poses a threat to national security and undermines justice for victims of terrorism. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Ali Ndume, who maintained that former insurgents should face prosecution rather than be reintegrated into society. Ndume said many communities affected by the insurgency remain traumatised and continue to oppose the policy. The senator argued that allowing ex-fighters to return to civilian life while victims continue to suffer sends the wrong message and could weaken public…

Femi Gbajabiamila , Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has threatened a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who describes himself as the convener of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations of murder and bribery. In a letter signed by his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, Gbajabiamila demanded that Adeyemi immediately remove all videos in which he allegedly made defamatory claims against him. The letter also called on Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and across all social media platforms where the press conference he addressed on June 26…

A prosecution witness in the alleged N7.8 billion fraud trial of Godwin Emefiele has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that he deposited billions of naira in cash on behalf of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Richard Agulu testified as the third prosecution witness (PW3) before Justice Yusuf Halilu on Tuesday. He said the cash was delivered by Eric Ocheme, identified as Emefiele’s personal assistant. Agulu, a former Zenith Bank employee, made the allegation during cross-examination by Matthew Burkaa, counsel to the defendant. He told the court that the funds were either paid into…

The Ghanaian government has postponed a planned visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following recent anti-migrant tensions in South Africa that affected several foreign nationals, including Ghanaians. The decision comes after reports of assaults on Africans by groups targeting undocumented migrants in South Africa. In response, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, summoned South Africa’s acting high commissioner, Thando Dalamba, to express Ghana’s strong concern over the reported intimidation and harassment of foreign nationals. Ghana also began repatriating some of its citizens from South Africa in the aftermath of the incidents. Reports had suggested Ghana rejected a planned state…

Nigeria’s local cement price remains among the highest in Africa despite the country’s production capacity far exceeding domestic demand, raising concerns over housing affordability and infrastructure costs. A report by The Guardian revealed that a 50kg bag of cement now sells for between N12,500 and N15,000 in cities including Abuja, Lagos and Abia. By comparison, similar quantities cost about N6,500 in South Africa, N4,500 in Egypt, N7,000 in Kenya and N7,500 in Ghana. Nigeria currently has an installed cement production capacity of more than 60 million metric tonnes annually, while domestic consumption stands at only 25–30 million tonnes, leaving a…

The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 3,535, while more than 16,700 people have been injured, according to updated official figures released on Monday. The powerful back-to-back earthquakes flattened entire neighbourhoods in La Guaira state, north of the capital, Caracas, leaving widespread destruction and forcing thousands from their homes. Authorities said 16,740 people were injured and more than 17,000 residents have been left homeless by the disaster. Although the government has not released an official figure for those still missing beneath the rubble, the United Nations estimates that as many…

Charles de Ketelaere scored twice for Belgium as the United States became the third and final co-host to be knocked out of the World Cup. It was a largely lethargic display by the US who had star striker Folarin Balogun in their starting line-up after President Donald Trump had asked Fifa to review his ban following his red card in the previous round. FIFA responded by suspending the automatic one-match ban for 12 months but their leading scorer at the tournament, with three goals, was largely isolated as Belgium dominated the game. They took the lead in the ninth minute…

Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has urged the federal government to suspend the implementation of the proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), warning that some of the changes could weaken the scheme’s core mandate. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved seven major reforms to the one-year national service programme. The proposals include digitalisation, replacing military leadership with civilian administrators, introducing a redesigned uniform and expanding skills-based training. In a statement issued on Sunday, Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, said the reforms should not undermine the NYSC’s founding objectives…