Author: Opalim Lifted

The United Kingdom said it issued 132,000 visas to Nigerians in the first half of the year, as Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner, disclosed in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. Baxter, however, could not readily give the total number of applications received from Nigerians during the period. “In the first half of the year, we granted approximately 132,000 visas, and those are all sorts of visas, which include visit, work, and study visas. “In the previous full year before that, we issued about 324,000. In that year, the UK issued about three million visas, and of those three…

Arsenal defeated Manchester United in a thrilling game at Emirates Stadium by scoring twice in extra time. Alejandro Garnacho’s goal in the 87th minute, which would have tied the score at 1, was disallowed for offside by the video assistance referee in a wild climax to a mainly rough game. Eight more minutes later, the drama shifted to the other end as Declan Rice’s deflected shot gave Arsenal the lead before his replacement. Gabriel Jesus broke free to seal the victory and send the stadium into a frenzy. Marcus Rashford went inside and blasted an accurate right-footed shot past Arsenal…

As the crisis in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) rages on, key stakeholders of the group say that Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, its presidential candidate, is in the best position to restore order. Some of the stakeholders who spoke with the reporters said that Kwankwaso was the party’s leader and could easily end the raging bad blood by calling a family meeting. Chronicle NG reports that the party recently got enmeshed in a crisis with one faction suspending Kwankwaso and many other top notchers over alleged anti-party activities. The group specifically accused him of hobnobbing with opponents of the NNPP.…

A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Robinson Uwak, has thrown his weight behind the actions taken by the African Union (AU) and international bodies against the military junta in Gabon. He urged African leaders to ensure good governance and adhere to democratic tenets to keep a military coup at bay. Uwak, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, condemned the latest coup in the country. Chronicle NG reports that the military officers had, on Aug. 30, ousted President Ali Bongo of Gabon, a few days after the country’s national electoral body proclaimed him (the incumbent) as the…

Mohamed Salah scored as Liverpool easily defeated Aston Villa to maintain their impressive start to the Premier League season and put rumours about his future in the rearview mirror. The Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad made a £150 million offer for the Egypt international, but Jurgen Klopp’s team rejected it, stating that the 31-year-old is not for sale. When Salah scored Liverpool’s third goal in the second half at Anfield, finishing at the back post from Darwin Nunez’s cross to secure a third straight league victory, he further demonstrated his value to the club. After just three minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai…

Prince Clem Agba, the immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, said that the Benin-Auchi-Okene-Obajana Road has yet to be completed due to insufficient funds for the project. Agba spoke on the road project while sharing his thoughts with the audience at the grand reception and dinner night organized in his honour by the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Benin. According to him, budgetary provisions had always been spread thin on projects that were usually inserted in the budget by the National Assembly, such that the money budgeted could not accomplish…

The Socio-Economic Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the unlawful ban and withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.” According to reports, the Federal Government recently withdrew the accreditations of some 25 journalists from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The affected journalists were simply told at the main gate of the presidential villa to submit their accreditation tags. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1766/23 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order to direct and compel President Tinubu…

Bryan Mbeumo’s last-minute equalizer secured a thrilling point for unbeaten Brentford as Bournemouth failed to record their first Premier League win under Andoni Iraola. Brentford took an early lead when Mathias Jensen’s brilliant free kick caught Bournemouth keeper Neto off guard at the near post, but Dominic Solanke equalized before halftime by shooting through Ben Mee’s legs. Substitute David Brooks’ first goal in the Premier League since recovering from Hodgkin’s cancer gave the Cherries the lead late in the second half, the Wales midfielder tapping home from close range after Rico Henry made a mistake. Mbeumo had wasted a fantastic…

Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick to show his incredible potential and help Brighton set the tone for another memorable Premier League season as they outgunned Newcastle. After overachieving last season, both sides discovered their European groups this week, and Albion look considerably better situated than the Magpies to challenge near the top this time around. Ferguson of the Republic of Ireland pounced from close range after keeper Nick Pope mishandled Billy Gilmour’s long-range shot. The 18-year-old curled home a 25-yard beauty to make it 2-0 and then added another via a fantastic Fabian Schar deflection for his 10th Premier League…

Bayern Munich came back from a goal down to defeat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 to retain their unblemished start to the Bundesliga season. Mathys Tel scored with three minutes remaining in normal time to give Bavarians their third win in a row. Ko Itakura gave Monchengladbach the lead at halftime, but Leroy Sane equalized after 58 minutes. England’s Harry Kane played the entire game as Bavarians fell behind new leaders Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference. With a 5-1 win over SV Darmstadt earlier in the day, Leverkusen climbed to the top of the table, and they will face Bavarians at the…