Author: Opalim Lifted

Bruno Fernandes, the lynchpin of Manchester United’s attack who provided a Premier League-record 21 assists during the 2025-26 season, was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year on Tuesday. Club captain Fernandes, a United player since 2020, also scored nine goals as he helped the club finish third in the English top flight. Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, who was the Women’s Super League top scorer with 21 goals, was named Women’s Player of the Year for the second time, having previously won the award in 2024. The men’s annual award, voted for by members of the…

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has ordered a nationwide crackdown on jungle justice and mob action, directing police commissioners across Nigeria to treat every case of mob violence as homicide. Disu issued the directive in a video shared on the official X handle of the Nigeria Police Force. He said no community, vigilante group or association has the legal authority to arrest, try, convict or execute anyone based on suspicion, allegations, rumours or evidence circulated on social media. “Jungle justice is murder. It is not justice. It is a crime, and the Nigeria Police Force will treat it…

Paul Ibe, spokesperson for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, says an Atiku administration would temporarily restore petrol subsidy if elected in 2027 before gradually phasing it out. Speaking on AIT, Ibe said the intervention would give Nigerians and businesses time to recover, stimulate economic activity and boost productivity. He stressed that Atiku’s proposal would not revive the old subsidy system, which he described as opaque. Instead, government support would be tied to crude oil production and domestic refining. “We are not returning to Egypt. We are not going back to the old regime that was opaque,” Ibe said. Ibe said crude…

Dolly Parton, the American country music singer who rose from poverty in Tennessee to become a US cultural giant with hits like “Jolene” and “Coat of Many Colors”, has died at 80, her family said Tuesday. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus,” her nephew Bryan Seaver said in a video on social media. He said the multiple award-winning artist had “opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life.” Parton died after a brief battle with cancer, according to a statement from her team. The singer-songwriter was…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered urgent intervention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road and the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti road, following growing concerns over the worsening condition of the major routes. Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the President’s directive followed reports of severe hardship faced by motorists, with some road users reportedly stranded for hours and, in some cases, days. Umahi, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Francis Nwaze, said Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate steps to restore movement along the affected roads. “President Tinubu, GCFR, has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene and…

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has highlighted the determination of young African leaders to build stronger institutions, competitive economies and a more connected continent. Osinbajo made the remarks after hosting 23 Elevate Africa Fellows from 18 African countries in Abuja. He said discussions centred on some of the continent’s toughest challenges, including strengthening institutions, improving economic competitiveness and leading effectively through complexity. The former vice-president said the dinner also provided an opportunity to hear about the fellows’ work across policy, technology, entrepreneurship, education, health, finance and the arts. “What struck me most?” Osinbajo said. “The diversity of paths, but the unity…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies to launch an immediate, coordinated operation to rescue victims abducted during a recent mass kidnapping in Niger State. The directive followed the abduction and killing of residents in the state, which the President condemned as a barbaric attack on innocent Nigerians. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu directed the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security and intelligence agencies to mobilise for the rescue operation. The President also ordered the Service Chiefs to provide regular updates on…

A five-day gridlock on major roads across Nigeria’s South-South has disrupted businesses, stranded commuters and left thousands of trucks carrying essential goods trapped for days. The crisis, particularly along the Benin-Sapele-Effurun Road, has reportedly cost manufacturers more than N500 billion, with factories unable to receive raw materials or distribute finished products. The figure excludes losses suffered by traders and distributors as perishable goods remain stuck on the roads and risk spoiling before reaching their destinations. Videos circulating on social media show stranded commuters abandoning vehicles and trekking long distances, while commercial motorcycles have become a major means of escaping the…

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has shared highlights of his engagement with students and faculty at the Lagos Business School (LBS), where he spoke on the theme, “Leading Without a Blueprint.” Osinbajo said the visit provided an opportunity to reconnect with members of the LBS community, including Dean Prof Olayinka David-West, MBA Director Chinedu Ewuzie, Mrs Owen Omogiafor OON and Prof Pat Utomi. He also visited Prof Olawale Ajai’s class before addressing MBA students on leadership and decision-making in uncertain circumstances. The former vice-president said the session focused on the reality that some of the most important challenges leaders face do…

Nigeria can no longer rely solely on a centrally controlled police structure to tackle its growing security challenges, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said. Gbajabiamila spoke on Monday at a special session of the 66th annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), titled “NBA Takes the Mic: Who Polices Nigeria?”, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Delivering President Tinubu’s message to the legal community, the Chief of Staff said the administration was committed to addressing what it described as a structural weakness in Nigeria’s policing system. “A country of our size and diversity cannot…