Author: Opalim Lifted

The Federal Government of Nigeria said spiritual forces do not cause tuberculosis (TB), and it can be cured. The government also restated that TB screening and treatment are free in government-owned health facilities. The Deputy Director of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr Urhioke Ochuko, said this during a road show and awareness walk in Abuja to commemorate the World TB Day theme: “Yes! We can end TB: commit, invest, and deliver.” World TB Day is commemorated on March 24th annually to raise awareness on tuberculosis and to mobilise efforts, including political commitment to resources and healthcare financing…

The federal government and the government of Canada have signed a codesharing agreement to boost efficiency in the aviation industry. Gbenga Saka, special adviser on digital media to Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, announced on his X page on Friday. Codesharing is a practice in the airline industry where two airlines enter into an agreement that allows one to sell seats on a flight operated by the other. The agreement signed would allow two or more airlines either from Canada or Nigeria to sell seats on each other’s flights. Speaking during the signing of the agreement, Keyamo…

The Federal Government has explained how it successfully convinced Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, to take on the role of Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council at the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State. Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa revealed that Vice President Kashim Shettima played a crucial role in nominating and persuading Bishop Kukah to accept the appointment. This came to the fore during the inauguration of the university’s Governing Council and Principal Officers in Abuja yesterday. Speaking at a conference hall at the Ministry’s headquarters, Dr Alausa said: “Bishop Kuka is very busy.…

Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has expressed delight after Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen surpassed his long-standing goal record for the national team. Osimhen scored his 24th and 25th goals for Nigeria during Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda in the 2026 World Cup qualifier in Kigali, moving him to second place on Nigeria’s all-time scorers list behind only the late Rashidi Yekini, who holds the record with 37 goals. “Osimhen has finally overtaken me and I think that is good because the record has been hanging on for a very long time. I am very happy for him and I…

New England head coach Thomas Tuchel got his reign under way with a scrappy win over Albania in a World Cup 2026 qualifier at Wembley. Tuchel promised to bring back excitement after succeeding Gareth Southgate – but it was in short supply as the Three Lions struggled for fluency against the ultra-cautious visitors on Friday. One player to impress was Arsenal’s gifted teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, who marked a dream debut by scoring the first goal of the German coach’s era – sliding home a composed finish from Jude Bellingham’s perfect pass after 20 minutes. It made Lewis-Skelly the youngest…

Nigeria remains open to cryptocurrency companies even as it pursues an $80 billion lawsuit against Binance, Information Minister Mohammed Idris. The government sued Binance in February over alleged economic losses and detained US staffer Tigran Gambaryan in a money laundering case. He was released after eight months, and charges were dropped. Binance, which ceased Nigerian operations in March 2024, denies all allegations. “This is part of the effort to strengthen our laws, not to cripple anybody,” Idris said as quoted by Semafor. “There are other companies operating in the crypto sector in Nigeria, you don’t see them [facing charges].” He…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, (NNPC) Limited has warned the public to beware of fraudulent recruitment advertisements circulating online, stating that it is not conducting any hiring process at the moment. In a statement issued on its official X handle on Friday, the state-owned oil company cautioned job seekers against falling victim to fake recruitment schemes, emphasizing that all legitimate job openings would only be announced through its official channels. “The general public is hereby informed that NNPC Limited is not recruiting. “Official recruitment announcements will only be made through our website and verified social media platforms,” the statement read.…

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in as Namibia’s first female president and the country’s fifth leader. Peter Shivute, Namibian chief justice, swore Nandi-Ndaitwah in on Friday during the nation’s 35th Independence Day ceremony at the State House. Outgoing president Nangolo Mbumba, 83, handed over power to Nandi-Ndaitwah at the ceremony that was moved from the Independence Stadium because of rare heavy rains. Nicknamed NNN, Nandi-Ndaitwah won the election late last year with more than 57 percent of the votes cast, with Panduleni Itula, her closest rival, getting 26 percent, according to the electoral commission. However, Itula rejected the outcome, saying…

The United Kingdom (UK) has announced plans to introduce new fees for passport applications starting from April 10, 2025. In a statement on Thursday, the United Kingdom Home Office said the fee increase, which is subject to approval by the parliament, aims to help move towards a self-sustaining system, reducing its reliance on funding from general taxation. According to the proposals, the fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will rise from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and £57.50 to £61.50 for children. Postal applications will also see an increase, from £100 to £107 for adults…

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has berated the National Assembly for backing President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state. On Thursday, the national assembly ratified the decision of the president through voice votes. In a statement on Friday, Obi said the approval further exposes the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy, which he described as transactional and devoid of genuine opposition. “The parliamentary vote held yesterday clearly demonstrates that democracy, in its true sense, does not exist in Nigeria. Where there is no functional opposition, democracy cannot thrive,” he wrote on…