Author: Opalim Lifted

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation. The 53-year-old said he will step down as leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Party, which he has led since 2013. He says he is stepping down to allow his party to choose a new leader as he suspends parliament until March due to political deadlock. Trudeau, who has been prime minister since 2015, faced calls to quit from a chorus of his MPs amid poor showings in opinion polls. He came under further pressure after his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned in December over clashes on policy. Canada PM Trudeau…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that its foundation will be offering 1,000 free cataract extraction surgeries in Ogun State. The state-owned oil company revealed the initiative in a social post on Monday, with the goal of improving lives and restoring sight. “Blindness can be avoided. Take advantage of this programme to get screened and have your sight restored. Spread the word and help us reach those in need,” NNPCL said. The free cataract surgeries will be available from January 6 to 12, 2025, as part of NNPCL’s ongoing efforts to support healthcare in local communities. Surgical…

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), has thrown its weight behind the demand by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), a government-owned commercial company, to account for an alleged missing N825 billion and $2.5 billion oil money. The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria maintained that it has “consistently called for the probe of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), now NNPC Limited, and its officials, citing widespread corruption, mismanagement, and lack of transparency in the oil industry.” In a statement signed by its…

Gunmen allegedly led by a notorious bandit leader, Danisuhu have reportedly imposed a levy of N172.7 million on 25 villages in the Tsafe west area of Zamfara state. According to counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, in a post on his official X account on Monday, the bandit levies were accompanied by demands for in-kind contributions, including bags of soyabeans and threats of violence against those who fail to comply. Makama said these threats have prompted many residents to flee their homes, with several villages in the area now deserted, leaving behind ghost settlements. The security analyst in a breakdown of the…

Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, has reacted to speculations that he has perfected plans to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A social media post on X claimed that El-Rufai was set to receive the membership card of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna. Reacting to the post, the former Kaduna governor said rumours bordering on his political re-alignment were patent lies. “Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” he wrote. Since 2023, there have…

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasingly likely to announce he intends to step down, though he has not made a final decision, a source familiar with the situation disclosed to reporters. Trudeau was expected to announce as early as Monday that he would quit as leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party after nine years in office, Globe, Mail, Reuters reported. The source requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Trudeau’s departure would leave the party without a permanent head at a time when polls show the Liberals will badly lose to the official opposition Conservatives in…

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has declared a three-day mourning and prayers – from Sunday, 5th to Tuesday, 7th January, in honour of the late Secretary to the State Government, Temitayo Oluwatuyi. The governor made this declaration when he led members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the wife of the late Oluwatuyi and members of his family at their residence in Akure, on Sunday. Oluwatuyi died on Saturday, at a hospital in Akure, while receiving treatment after surviving a road accident in December, 2024. In his condolence speech, Aiyedatiwa noted that the late Oluwatuyi was…

Tottenham have signed 21-year-old Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague in a deal worth about £12.5m. Tottenham have been without first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario since he fractured an ankle on 24 November during the 4-0 win over Manchester City. Fraser Forster has been deputising for Vicario, but he missed Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Newcastle with illness, which led to a debut for 25-year-old Brandon Austin. Tottenham have only won two of their past 11 games and are 12th in the Premier League. Kinsky has agreed a deal until 2031 and the move is subject to the granting of international…

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has dismissed an AI-generated image circulating online that depicted him as an alhaji. The image, which showed the respected pastor in Islamic attire, sparked widespread reactions on social media after it went viral in December 2024. Speaking during the first Holy Ghost Night of the year, held in the early hours of Saturday, January 4, Adeboye addressed the image with a touch of humour. “I’m sure many of you saw that picture showing me as an alhaji,” he said with a smile, drawing laughter from the…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited to “account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing N825bn and $2.5bn meant for ‘refinery rehabilitation’ and other oil revenues, as documented in the 2021 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.” SERAP said the annual report was published on Thursday 27 November 2024. SERAP urged Mr Kyari “to identify those suspected to be responsible for the disappeared oil money and hand them over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission…