Author: Opalim Lifted

Argungu Fishing Festival 2026 opens with record 59kg catch as 40,000 participants storm river in Kebbi. The 61st Argungu International Fishing Festival has opened in spectacular fashion, with a massive 59kg fish setting the pace for this year’s competition in Kebbi State. Excitement erupted at Mata Fada in Argungu town on Saturday as thousands of fishermen plunged into the river just after noon, moments before the formal ceremony and the arrival of President Bola Tinubu. The festival’s biggest catch weighed 59 kilograms, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Sunday Dare. Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area clinched the…

Italy has launched a programme to suspend the debts of African nations and convert them into investments. Giorgia Meloni, the country’s prime minister, spoke on Saturday at the 39th African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The prime minister’s announcement forms part of the ‘Mattei Plan’ — a set of economic and diplomatic initiatives aimed at strengthening Italy’s presence in Africa by combining investment, cooperation, and anti-migration efforts. Speaking during the opening session, Meloni said she believes debt cancellation is crucial for building a “truly free Africa capable of determining its own destiny”. “We wanted to chart a course…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held in June and July. Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, announced the competition’s schedule at a press conference following the confederation’s executive committee (ExCo) meeting on Friday. He, however, added that the exact dates for the tournament’s commencement will be announced “in due time”. The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. Motsepe debunked reports claiming that CAF is considering stripping the three countries of their hosting rights due to a lack of preparedness. He described the reports as “totally…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed plans to expand the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to 28 participating teams. CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, announced the proposed expansion on Friday during the confederation’s executive committee (ExCo) meeting press conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. AFCON currently features 24 teams, and the proposed expansion would allow four additional countries to participate in each edition. “I had said in Morocco that CAF’s objective is to have AFCON, or the equivalent of AFCON, every year — not every two years. And AFCON, as we know it, we want to increase it to…

A technical team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has visited the Eba oil well in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area as preparations advance for the commencement of commercial drilling operations in the state. The inspection followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval for commercial exploration and forms part of the federal government’s efforts to deploy the required technical capacity and infrastructure for production. Officials of NNPCL conducted the exercise alongside representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and national security agencies to evaluate the site and confirm its readiness for drilling. The delegation was led by Hussein…

Abubakar Yusuf, former senator for Taraba Central, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s economics policies are failing to deliver results. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Yusuf said bluntly: “For me, it’s not working. I’m a member of the APC. I would be the last person to hide the facts.” Although Yusuf acknowledged that the administration may be operating within its chosen policy framework, he argued that the framework itself is flawed. “Within the policy framework, yes, they are doing their best, but it is not the framework that is suitable for Nigeria at the point in time that…

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rimi LGA in Katsina State has been killed by suspected cattle rustlers. In a statement on Friday, Nasir Mu’azu, the state’s commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said late-night reports were received from community leaders in Rimi about the presence of suspected rustlers in Magaji town, under Maje-Gobir ward. He said the officer mobilised security personnel to the area after verifying the information. “The suspects reportedly invaded Magajen Gobir, prompting residents to organise and confront them,” Mu’azu said. “The ensuing confrontation lasted into the early hours of the morning, coinciding with Subh (dawn)…

The administration of Donald Trump is preparing a major expansion of efforts to strip US citizenship from naturalised Americans, significantly widening its immigration crackdown. Officials familiar with the plans say U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun redeploying specialists and reassigning staff nationwide to identify potential denaturalisation cases. The target is to generate between 100 and 200 cases each month for immigration litigation — a sharp rise from Mr Trump’s first term, when just 102 cases were filed over four years. Denaturalisation has historically focused on individuals accused of concealing criminal histories, human rights abuses or other material facts…

Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has challenged the federal government’s claim that President Bola Tinubu secured $50 billion in investments through foreign trips. Speaking during an interview on 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo, Adebayo said the Tinubu $50bn investment claim lacks verifiable evidence in Nigeria’s economic data. ‘No Visible Impact’ on Nigeria’s Economy Adebayo argued that such a massive inflow would have produced measurable changes in key economic indicators, including the national budget, corporate financing, stock exchange listings, and gross domestic product (GDP). “The statement that President Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips have attracted $50…

Valentine’s Day in Nigeria is getting a major upgrade in 2026, as fresh Google search data shows Nigerians are moving beyond the traditional dinner-and-roses routine. Instead, they are opting for hyper-personalised experiences, glow-up dates, curated aesthetics, and celebrations that extend beyond romantic partners. From spa dates to money bouquets and Galentine’s parties, love this year is less about cliché gestures and more about intentional, picture-perfect moments. Here’s what Nigerians are searching for this February: 1. The Rise of the ‘Glow-Up’ Dates In a surprising twist, search interest in “Valentine couple package for dental” is climbing, suggesting that couples are choosing…