Author: Opalim Lifted

Hadi Sirika, former minister of aviation, has rejected suggestions that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria in economic distress. Sirika said his years in government gave him a clear understanding of the state of the nation under Buhari, adding that the former president’s stewardship had been unfairly portrayed. Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, the former minister said the country was in a sound socioeconomic position during Buhari’s tenure. The former minister said he disagreed with claims that Buhari’s policies were responsible for the country’s current economic challenges. “I don’t want to get dragged into that debate,…

Davido has admitted that his greatest fear is not falling off the charts but failing to recognise when it is time to leave them. The Afrobeats star made the revelation in a video that has gone viral on social media, where he reflected on the pressures of sustaining a long career in the public eye and the emotional reality of watching celebrated figures lose favour despite years of extraordinary success. According to the singer, seeing icons become targets of criticism after decades of achievement has made him think deeply about his own future in music and the importance of leaving…

Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the director-general of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has urged President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the council. In an open letter, Adeyemi argued that the investigation should be handled by an independent, multi-stakeholder panel rather than the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), saying such a process would inspire greater public and international confidence. He proposed that the panel include representatives of civil society organisations, independent media, international financial observers, human rights groups such as Amnesty International, diplomatic observers from…

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, has called on the United Nations (UN) and international human rights organisations to investigate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA on May 15. Speaking in a broadcast after receiving the rescued pupils and their teachers in his office in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Monday, Makinde said the “circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions”. “I, therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the executive governor of Oyo state, call on the appropriate international human rights organisations and accountability…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Science and Technology, over allegations of certificate forgery and misappropriation of funds. Nnaji was arraigned on Monday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery and misappropriation of funds. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. After the former minister entered his plea, Ogwu Onoja, his counsel, informed the court that a bail application had been filed. However, the prosecution said it was ready to commence trial and present three…

A US-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, says it is ready to help Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), seek asylum and whistleblower protection in the United States. The offer was made by the firm’s founder, Karl Von Batten, in a post on X while reacting to the growing controversy surrounding the PFIPC. Von Batten argued that US authorities could have an interest in the matter because Nigeria’s national budget includes funds sourced from World Bank loans, with the United States being the institution’s largest shareholder. The PFIPC has sparked controversy after reportedly operating like…

South Africa has unveiled plans to increase its strategic petroleum reserves to about 36 million barrels, marking a major shift in its energy security strategy more than five decades after the apartheid era. The proposal was outlined in a draft Strategic Petroleum Stocks Policy released by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for public consultation. The move follows heightened concerns over global oil supply disruptions caused by recent tensions involving Iran and the United States, which pushed international crude oil prices higher and slowed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.…

Davido, the Grammy-nominated singer, has opened up about plans to establish a mental health therapy centre for formerly popular and successful celebrities. Speaking in a recent interview, the hitmaker cited the intense pressure of fame and the criticism faced by football icon Cristiano Ronaldo during the ongoing World Cup. The 33-year-old Nigerian artiste expressed concern over the psychological toll of celebrity life, particularly the struggle to remain relevant after reaching the top. “If there is one thing I could do, I would build a centre for people who have been popular and very successful before,” he said. “A centre for…

Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed allegations of secrecy surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a nurse, at his residence in Ebonyi State, insisting that the incident was immediately reported to the police and handled transparently. Speaking on Sunday while inspecting ongoing work on the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, Umahi explained that the deceased’s family forced open her room after becoming concerned about her wellbeing before rushing her to the hospital. According to the minister, doctors from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH) made efforts to revive Habila but were unsuccessful. “The family broke the…

The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, following widespread public criticism. The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter proposing the fee adjustment to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made. Reacting to the development, former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described the decision as a victory for millions of Nigerian parents, students and civil society groups who opposed the…