Author: Opalim Lifted

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has resigned from his position, report said. The Daily Trust quoted sources as saying that the former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) resigned two weeks ago. President Bola Tinubu appointed Baba-Ahmed as special adviser on political matters to Shettima in September 2023. Hakeem is the elder sibling of Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election. Baba-Ahmed served as chief of staff to Bukola Saraki, former senate president, from 2017-2019. Confrontation With Matawalle Over NEF In April 2024, Bello Matawalle, minister of…

Germany and AS Roma centre back Mats Hummels will retire at the end of the season, the 2014 World Cup winner said on Friday, bringing the curtain down on a near two-decade career. A product of the Bayern Munich academy, Hummels, 36, made a switch to arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund in 2008. Having gone on to have a second spell at both the clubs, he joined Roma last year, making 18 appearances for the Serie A club. Capped 78 times for Germany, Hummels lifted the World Cup in Brazil. He has won five Bundesliga titles as well as three German Cups…

In a renewed drive to strengthen Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration in support of the country’s efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. This resolve was underscored during a series of strategic engagements led by Harry Erin, the newly appointed EFCC Director of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), who paid courtesy visits to key stakeholders including the Association of Trustees, Segilola Resources Operating Limited, and others between…

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the second half, including a penalty, to guide Al-Nassr to a 3-1 win over Al-Hilal in the race for the Saudi Pro League title on Friday. Al-Nassr remain in the third place with 54 points but they are now three points behind second-placed Al-Hilal and seven off leaders Al-Ittihad, who visit Al-Ahli on Saturday. Al-Nassr opened the scoring before the interval when Ali Al Hassan curled a shot past goalkeeper Yassin Bono. Ronaldo made it 2-0 two minutes after the break with a precise shot after a pass from Sadio Mane. Reigning champions Al-Hilal tried…

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has remanded a Sierra Leonean national, Ahmed Shaw, for allegedly concealing $90,000 upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja. Shaw was arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following an investigation which revealed that the foreign national had purportedly failed to declare the funds to the Nigeria Customs Service. It was gathered that the Sierra Leonean businessman was apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the non-declaration of the said amount on arrival. During the arraignment yesterday,…

Saudi Arabia authorities have denied issuing a viral memo notifying travellers of visa restrictions and an entry ban. The memo named Egypt, India, Pakistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, and Algeria among the countries facing the restrictions. Nigeria, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh were also listed as restricted from applying for new short-term Saudi visas, including visas for business, visits (single/multi-entry), tourism, and family visits. The restrictions are scheduled to take effect April 13, the memo claimed. The document added that citizens from the listed countries would not be permitted to enter Saudi Arabia from the effective date even if…

David Umahi, the minister of works, has reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos. Addressing journalists in Lagos on Friday, Umahi said permanent work on the bridge will commence in three weeks. The minister said the contractors worked overnight to ensure that the bridge was ready for use The closure of the bridge resulted in hours-long gridlock with commuters and motorists stranded on Wednesday in the Victoria Island area of Lagos. On Monday, Olukorede Kesha, the federal controller of works in Lagos, announced the closure of the bridge for essential maintenance and rehabilitation work. I wasn’t aware of Independence Bridge closure,…

David Umahi, the minister of works, said he was unaware of the decision to close the Independence Bridge in Lagos. On Monday, Olukorede Kesha, the federal controller of works in Lagos, announced the closure of the Independence Bridge for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works. Kesha added that the bridge would remain closed until the end of May. However, the closure resulted in hours-long gridlock, with commuters and motorists stranded on Wednesday in the Victoria Island area of Lagos. Following the public outcry that trailed the gridlock, Umahi ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge. On Thursday, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor…

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season, the 33-year-old Belgian announced on Friday. De Bruyne has lifted 16 trophies since joining City from German side VfL Wolfsburg in 2015 — a haul that includes six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. He has also been named the Premier League Player of the Season twice. “I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player. Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football…

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the remarkable achievement of 15-year-old Nigerian artist Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest painting on canvas. Kanyeyachukwu, who is autistic, unveiled his record-breaking artwork, titled “Impossible is a Myth,” at Eagle Square, Abuja, in commemoration of the 2025 World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). His achievement has drawn global attention, not only for its artistic magnitude but also as a testament to the limitless potential of individuals with autism. In a terse statement, Tinubu wrote, “You said, ‘Impossibility is a myth,’ and you set out to prove that impossibility…