Author: Opalim Lifted

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he does not need a position in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term. Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke on Saturday after inspecting ongoing projects in the FCT. He said membership of a presidential campaign council does not guarantee electoral victory, arguing that political relevance is determined by a politician’s ability to deliver their state, local government and ward. The ruling APC had earlier unveiled its presidential campaign council, appointing Abdulaziz Yari, senator representing…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has raised safety concerns over the runway-end environment, control tower visibility and availability of meteorological information at Benin’s Oba Akenzua II Airport following the July 23 Enugu Air runway overrun. In its preliminary report released on Friday, the bureau issued four immediate safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). The recommendations, numbered A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, focus on the runway-end environment, the control tower’s line of sight and the availability of weather information. The incident involved an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft, registration…

A US federal judge has struck down President Donald Trump’s visa restrictions affecting nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, seven months after the policy took effect. Jeannette Vargas, the presiding judge in New York, ruled on Friday that the policy was “contrary to law”, finding that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his statutory authority in implementing it. The US Department of State had directed consular officers in January to pause visa processing for nationals of the affected countries while the government carried out a broader review of screening and vetting procedures. The policy was linked to the…

Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a convincing victory against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta ended the club’s 22-year wait for a league title last season – and with a faultless display against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues in their opener, his team reminded the rest of the league why they are favourites to retain the crown. First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the reigning champions firmly in control, and captain Martin Odegaard added a third soon after the restart to seal a comfortable win on the opening day of the campaign.…

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked a federal court for permission to privately explain why it withheld some investigative records relating to allegations of drug trafficking involving President Bola Tinubu. In an application dated August 20, the FBI asked the US District Court for the District of Columbia to allow it to submit an ex parte, in camera declaration under seal. Such a declaration is a written statement submitted privately to a judge, without being made available to the other parties or the public. The FBI said it could not publicly disclose its full reasons for withholding…

Nigeria loses about $3.6 billion every year to food contamination, while foodborne illnesses are estimated to cause more than 200,000 deaths annually, amid concerns over unsafe additives, chemical contamination and poor food-handling practices. The growing crisis is raising serious public health concerns, with experts warning that prolonged exposure to contaminated food and harmful chemicals can contribute to organ damage, cancer and metabolic diseases. From roadside food vendors and open markets to restaurants and packaged products, concerns about the safety of food consumed daily by millions of Nigerians are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Economic hardship has further complicated the situation.…

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal worth £75m with Manchester City for Brazilian winger Savinho, with a further £10m available in potential add-ons. The 22-year-old will undergo a medical before completing a long-term move to north London, ending a transfer pursuit that has stretched back more than a year. Tottenham failed with an approach for Savinho last summer, but the winger opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium. However, his opportunities were limited under Pep Guardiola last season, with the Brazil international making just seven Premier League starts. Savinho’s arrival is part of a major attacking rebuild under Tottenham head…

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged all candidates seeking the presidency in 2027 to defend their records and subject their plans for Nigeria to public scrutiny. Obi made the call on Friday at a press conference marking the launch of his campaign for the 2027 presidential election. He said presidential candidates must have the courage to engage Nigerians directly instead of relying on representatives or surrogates to speak on their behalf. “Every candidate must be willing to present their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny,” Obi said. “No candidate…

American music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs could face potential charges over the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur if Duane “Keffe D” Davis is convicted in his ongoing trial, according to legal sources cited by The Telegraph. Davis is on trial in Las Vegas for allegedly plotting Shakur’s killing during the bitter East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s. Prosecutors have relied partly on statements Davis made to police, in documentary interviews and in a memoir, in which he claimed he sought revenge after his nephew, Orlando Anderson, was attacked by Shakur and members of his entourage. The prosecution…

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho has arrived in Italy after joining Serie C side Ravenna FC, with the 46-year-old refusing to rule out a return to competitive football. The 2002 World Cup winner landed at Forli airport around midday on Thursday ahead of Ravenna’s squad presentation. Ronaldinho’s move to the Italian third-tier club was announced in June. He has also taken a stake in the club, which is owned by his friend Ignazio Cipriani. The former Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan star last played competitively for Fluminense in 2015. He is now part of Cipriani’s ambitious project to take Ravenna…