Author: Opalim Lifted

Trent Alexander-Arnold will become a Real Madrid player on Sunday, 1 June after Liverpool accepted a fee to release the defender early from his contract. Sources at Liverpool have indicated that the fee is 10m euros (£8.4m), which Real Madrid have made as a single, up-front payment. However, sources at the Spanish club have suggested they have paid a lower amount. A payment has been agreed to allow the England right-back to join Real Madrid in time to play in the Club World Cup. The 26-year-old would have been able to leave Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract…

When President Bola Tinubu greeted Nigerians in his New Year speech on January 1, he said his administration would establish a National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) before the end of the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. It was one of many promises that generally conveyed his intention to better the lot of citizens and make inflation bearable. The NCGC is another way the federal government plans to increase access to credit for individuals and critical sectors of the economy after introducing the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp) scheme in April 2024. “…the federal government will establish the National Credit Guarantee…

Hailey, wife of Justin Bieber, the Canadian singer, is selling Rhode, her makeup brand, to e.l.f Beauty in a deal worth $1 billion. The brand, co-founded by Hailey in 2022 and named after her middle name, offers a line of skincare and lip products. e.l.f., which stands for eyes, lips, and face, is said to be acquiring the company for $800 million in cash and stock, with the potential for an additional $200 million payout based on future sales performance. The deal is anticipated to close later this year as e.l.f with describing Rhode as “a beautiful brand that we…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested Obi Levi Obieze, a native doctor, over alleged involvement in abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings. Obieze, popularly known as Levi Obu Onyeka, is a popular herbalist in Umuojor village in Ishiagu community of Ezeagu LGA of Enugu. Recently, videos and pictures showing gory images of corpses in a sewage pit at an uncompleted building allegedly owned by Obieze began trending on social media. Vigilantes and security operatives were said to have discovered the pit in an uncompleted building allegedly owned and used by Obieze as a shrine. The vigilantes were on the lookout…

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) lauded President Bola Tinubu for his recent strategic appointment of Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the newly established National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC). Isaac Abrak Chairman, Northern Christian Youth Professionals disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Describing the move as “visionary” and “economically inclusive,” the group expressed confidence that the initiative would empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by improving access to credit, ultimately boosting economic growth nationwide. “This bold step signals the President’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s economy through sustainable support for SMEs,” said NCYP…

President Bola Tinubu has established the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC), with an initial capital of N100 billion. Tinubu also approved the constitution of the NCGC board, appointing Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, as chairman. Announcing the development in a statement on Thursday, the presidency said the company is a transformative institution designed to de-risk lending and boost access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The NCGC is also expected to serve small corporates, manufacturers, consumers, and large enterprises across Nigeria. “This landmark move is in keeping with His Excellency’s 2025 New Year…

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has invited singer Speed Darlington over his admission of having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Darlington sparked outrage on social media after footage of him confessing to having sexual intercourse with the minor surfaced on Tuesday. The backlash prompted responses from authorities, with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) stepping in to address the issue. However, the DSVA clarified that while the incident’s exact location remained unclear, its jurisdiction is limited to Lagos. As a result, the agency escalated the matter to NAPTIP for…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of favouring the wealthy while subjecting poor Nigerians to hardship. In a statement assessing Tinubu’s two years in office, Atiku said the current administration is “one of the most incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people governments” in Nigeria’s democratic history. Atiku said no previous administration has “inflicted this level of hardship” on the masses while disregarding transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership. “This government has not only deepened poverty across the country, but it has also set new records in wasteful public spending,” Atiku said. “At a time when millions of Nigerians…

Elon Musk is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration after a headline-grabbing but divisive campaign to slash federal spending. The Tesla CEO’s exit comes just 130 days into his tenure as a special government employee overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A White House official confirmed to reporters late Wednesday that Musk’s “off-boarding will begin tonight,” hours after he posted a thank-you message to President Donald Trump on his social platform X. His departure follows growing tension inside the administration and an apparent loss of influence. Sources say Musk left without speaking to Trump directly. His…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that COVID-19 cases are rising globally. In a report on Wednesday, the WHO said since mid-February 2025, global COVID activity has been increasing, with the test positivity rate reaching 11 percent as of May 11. The organisation said the positivity level has not been observed since July 2024, adding that the rise is primarily within countries in the eastern Mediterranean, south-east Asia, and western Pacific regions. “Since early 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 variant trends have slightly shifted. Circulation of LP.8.1 has been declining, and reporting of NB.1.8.1, a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM), is increasing,…