Author: Opalim Lifted

By Yemi Osinbajo Like wildfires, wars in the Middle East rarely remain contained. Africans have learned this lesson many times, and we are doing so once again. As missiles fly and oil infrastructure smoulders, a quiet catastrophe is unfolding across our continent. It can be measured not in battlefield casualties, but in empty fuel pumps, unaffordable bread, and fiscal balances stretched to the breaking point. The latest geopolitical crisis is not some distant phenomenon. It is right in front of us, visible in government budgets and on our dinner tables. Many African economies are net importers of oil and gas,…

US President Donald Trump has deleted an AI-generated image he posted on Truth Social that depicted him in a messianic light, after it sparked sharp criticism, including from some of his Christian supporters. The image, before it was removed on Monday, showed Trump dressed in a flowing white robe, extending a glowing hand to heal a sick man lying in a hospital bed. The dramatic scene also included the Statue of Liberty, a giant American flag, fighter jets, an eagle, a praying woman, a nurse, and a soldier—evoking strong religious imagery associated with Jesus performing miracles. Trump later defended the…

Leeds stunned Manchester United with their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 as they took a giant stride towards safety on a bad night for Michael Carrick’s side. Minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe sat stony-faced in the directors’ box as Manchester United produced a chronic first-half display. They improved after half-time but only after Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez, returning after two months out through injury, was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. Noah Okafor put the visitors in front with a clinical first-time effort after just five minutes and had Leeds two ahead by half-time with a…

US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after posting an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, intensifying his ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV. The image, shared on Truth Social, shows Trump robed and surrounded by radiant light, appearing to perform a healing. Figures resembling angels or soldiers hover nearby, while fighter jets streak across the sky and fireworks explode overhead. The Statue of Liberty looms in the background, blending religious imagery with American military symbolism. The post comes shortly after Trump launched a series of sharp attacks on the pope, accusing him of being “weak on crime”…

Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has dismissed the concept of the “prosperity gospel,” a Christian belief that financial blessing and physical well-being are always God’s will for believers. Prof. Osinbajo, a pastor, stated that no such doctrine exists in Christian teaching while responding to Korede Komaiya, the presiding pastor of The Master’s Place International Church, during their appearance at a live debate held at Rock of Ages Christian Assembly International (RACAi). Speaking on the debate topic, the prosperity gospel, Mr. Komaiya said he found it difficult when people complained about it. He added that he was unsure whether some…

Nigeria’s electricity output has recorded a modest increase, rising from 3,951 megawatts (MW) on March 28 to over 4,300MW by April 10, the federal government has said. According to Adebayo Adelabu, the improvement signals early progress in efforts to stabilise power supply across the country. In a statement issued on Sunday, his spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, said the increase aligns with the minister’s recent pledge to deliver better electricity within two weeks. The government attributed the rise in electricity generation to improved gas supply to thermal power plants. Gas availability increased from about 605 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd)…

President Bola Tinubu’s political positioning ahead of the 2027 elections is drawing increased attention, with analysts debating its potential impact on Nigeria’s opposition landscape. Although the president enjoys the backing of a large number of state governors, recent developments within opposition parties have raised questions about the broader state of political competition. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), often viewed as an emerging opposition platform, has recently experienced internal tensions. This follows earlier challenges within the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which have faced organisational and leadership disputes in recent years. Some political observers see…

The Lagos State Government has officially outlawed manual processing of building permits, mandating full adoption of its digital approval system in a sweeping reform aimed at improving safety and transparency. The directive, which took effect on April 1, forms part of the administration of governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to modernise governance and streamline urban planning processes. Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa, Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, said all planning approvals must now be processed exclusively through the Electronic Physical Planning Permit System. He warned that any individual or organisation engaging in manual processing would be…

Nimi Wariboko, a professor of social ethics at Boston University, says he is hopeful that Nigeria will produce its first female president in his lifetime. The 63-year-old academic recently expressed this optimism during a book reading session by Carleton University where he was a guest. The two-day event was organised by the university’s Institute of African Studies in collaboration with the department of English, and hosted by Nduka Otiono, the institute’s director. Wariboko, who is also the director of the African Studies Center at Boston University, read from two of his poetry collections, ‘Soap Bubble’ and ‘Songs of Childhood’, exploring…

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has criticised the World Bank for urging Nigeria to expand imports of petroleum products and food, warning the move could derail ongoing economic reforms. In a statement, CPPE’s chief executive, Muda Yusuf, described the recommendation as “deeply troubling” and out of step with Nigeria’s current economic direction. The World Bank, in its recent Nigeria Development Update, had suggested issuing more fuel import licences to ease price pressures and curb inflation. However, the report has since been withdrawn after attracting widespread criticism. Yusuf argued that Nigeria is already seeing improvements in key…