Author: Opalim Lifted

The Federal Government of Nigeria has sought the assistance of the World Bank to provide funding worth $50 million to support state governments for the installation of solar plant pilots and infrastructure upgrades. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun spoke on the initiative when he met with a World Bank delegate on Monday in Abuja. The team was led by the Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiamé Diop while the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Ms. Olu Verheijen was in attendance. A statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations,…

The Federal Government has reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to allow Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to that Arab nation starting on Monday (today). The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday when he briefed State House correspondents following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. “Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” he said. “This…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has distributed 20 trucks of rice each to the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to address national food scarcity. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this after Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The minister said this is the first step as the government takes steps to address the issue of food shortage in the country. He appealed to the governors to ensure the effective distribution of the grains (rice) to the most vulnerable in the society. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s inflation figure has reached a…

Xherdan Shaqiri announced his retirement from international football on Monday after winning 125 caps with the Switzerland national team. Midfielder Shaqiri, 32, who now plays with Chicago Fire in the United States, is Switzerland’s second most-capped player after team-mate Granit Xhaka on 130 caps. The former Bayern Munich and Liverpool player made his international debut in March 2010 aged 18. He represented his country at four World Cups and three European Championships. In what turned out to be his last game for the Nati, Shaqiri scored in the penalty shoot-out as England beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1…

President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the appointment of former Ondo State Commissioner, Dr. Femi Adekambi, and reinstated Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey as the project coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). Adekambi’s appointment as the HYPREP project coordinator came less than two days ago. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed it in a statement on Monday. The statement reads, “President Bola Tinubu has approved the reinstatement of Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). “The President reached the decision following a performance review of the HYPREP…

Nigeria’s inflation increased for the 18th time in June 2024 to 34.19 percent from 33 95 percent recorded in May amid worsening hardship. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its latest Consumer Price Index and Inflation report released on Monday. Looking at the movement, the June 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.24 percent points when compared to the May 2024 headline inflation rate. On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.40 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023, which was 22.79 percent. This shows that the headline inflation…

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the former Chief of Army Staff, has urged separatists to perish their thoughts of Nigeria’s disintegration, predicting that the country will remain a united nation. Buratai spoke in Kuta, Osun State, on Sunday at the 60th birthday celebration of Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude. The event attracted a host of dignitaries, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, and ex-Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others. Buratai, who described Olowu Kuta as a detribalized Nigerian who has shown love to people across all ethnic groups in the country, said those agitating…

Defending champions and Copa America 2024 winners Argentina and Euro 2024 winners Spain will go head-to-head for the 2025 Finalissima. The first-ever Finalissima was played in 2022, but the tradition of the best teams in UEFA and CONMEBOL going head-to-head dates back to 1985. Italy and Argentina played in the inaugural edition at Wembley Stadium, with Lionel Messi’s Argentina coming out on top, 3-0. Next year, Messi is expected to lead Argentina again, this time against a rising Spain team led by 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, whose only other meeting with Yamal came in a now-viral photoshoot in 2007. Ahead…

Defending champions Argentina sealed a record-breaking 16th Copa America title and a third consecutive major trophy after an extra-time strike from substitute Lautaro Martínez fired Lionel Scaloni’s side to a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. The game, which was delayed by more than an hour after thousands of fans without tickets tried to enter the stadium, was a cagey affair over 90 minutes but opened up in the extra period. Martinez, the tournament’s leading scorer, latched onto a precise through ball from Giovani Lo Celso before lifting his effort over advancing…

Argentina captain Lionel Messi limped off with an apparent ankle injury in the second half of their Copa America final against Colombia on Sunday, bringing an end to what is likely the 37-year-old’s last international tournament. The Inter Miami forward went down off the ball in the 64th minute and left the field to a standing ovation from fans at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. The eight-times Ballon d’Or winner was then seen sobbing on the sidelines, with an ice pack on his ankle. Messi appeared to hurt his ankle in the 36th minute after a collision with Santiago…