Author: Opalim Lifted

Nigeria’s economic hardship and rising housing costs are forcing many young people to delay marriage and starting families, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed. Speaking at the 2026 World Population Day commemoration, UNFPA Nigeria Resident Representative, Muriel Mafiko, said the agency’s survey found that most young Nigerians still aspire to marry and have children, but financial hardship is making those goals increasingly difficult to achieve. According to Mafiko, unemployment, underemployment, soaring living and housing costs, insecurity, and unequal access to quality education and healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services, are limiting young people’s ability to plan confidently for…

The government of Canada has officially launched online passport renewals, marking a major step in modernising passport services and making the renewal process faster and more convenient for eligible citizens. Under the new system, Canadians who meet the eligibility requirements can renew their passports entirely online, eliminating the need to visit a passport office or mail paper applications in many cases. According to CIC News, applicants can securely submit their renewal application, upload the required documents and photograph, pay the applicable fees online, and track the progress of their application through the digital platform. The online service is currently available…

Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has endorsed the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro’s plan to establish a Community Volunteer Fire Station to serve Kafe District, Life Camp, Gwarinpa and neighbouring communities in the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking through his former Deputy Chief of Staff, Adeola Rahman Ipaye, at the investiture of Rotarian Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi as the club’s 17th President, Osinbajo described the initiative as a practical demonstration of Rotary’s commitment to community service. He said the fire station project, alongside planned interventions in healthcare, education, peacebuilding and economic empowerment, reflected how citizens could complement government efforts in building…

FIFA is considering the sale of a minority stake in a new commercial entity valued at around $20 billion, a move aimed at raising billions of dollars from outside investors while retaining control of world football’s biggest competitions. According to Reuters, the governing body is working with investment bank JPMorgan to establish the new venture, with external investors expected to acquire up to a 20% stake. Former Liberty Media chief executive Greg Maffei has reportedly been advising on the project. The proposed entity would oversee FIFA’s commercial operations, including the FIFA World Cup, while FIFA maintains full governance and operational…

Executive Director of Dangote Industries Limited, Halima Dangote, has revealed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has committed more than 30 per cent of his wealth to charitable causes to ensure his philanthropic legacy continues for generations. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, Halima said her father had already donated 25 per cent of his wealth to the Aliko Dangote Foundation and earmarked about 33 per cent of his inheritance for charity in accordance with Islamic principles. “He sort of put all the structure in place whereby we focus a lot on health and education. He actually donated…

Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on Nigeria’s worsening housing and rental crisis, warning that millions of Nigerians are being priced out of decent accommodation by soaring rents and exploitative practices. In an open letter addressed to the President on Tuesday, Adeyanju argued that the country’s housing situation had become a constitutional and human rights issue, particularly in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos, where he said tenants face excessive rent demands and arbitrary charges. He said many landlords and estate agents compel tenants to pay…

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has withdrawn his request to compel Oluwatosin Ajayi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), to testify in his ongoing cybercrime trial. Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”. At the previous hearing on July 22, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, counsel to Sowore, told the court he would seek a subpoena compelling Ajayi to appear and produce a September 7, 2025, letter requesting that Sowore retract the alleged defamatory posts published on his X and Facebook…

Chad has announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that the global tribunal has failed to deliver justice fairly and has disproportionately focused on African countries. The Chadian government made the announcement on Monday, saying the decision followed an extensive review of the ICC’s operations since it began work in 2002. According to officials, the court’s effectiveness has been “limited and uneven” across different regions of the world. Government spokesman Gassim Chérif Mahamat said Chad was also concerned about what it described as the ICC’s heavy concentration on African cases. Officials noted that of the 13…

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be held responsible if anything happens to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai while in detention. Abdullahi made the remarks during an interview on Symfoni, alleging that El-Rufai’s continued detention is politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from playing a key role in the 2027 general election. According to him, the former Kaduna governor is not being held because he has been found guilty of any offence, insisting that only the courts have the authority to determine his guilt…

President Donald Trump on Tuesday welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington as the wars involving Ukraine and Iran entered critical phases. The two leaders travelled to the US capital to attend a memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican and close Trump ally who consistently advocated stronger American support for Ukraine. While Zelensky’s visit comes amid renewed momentum for Ukraine’s military campaign against Russia, Netanyahu’s discussions with Trump are expected to focus on the lack of progress towards a broader diplomatic resolution to the conflict involving Iran. Speaking on arrival, Zelensky…