Author: Opalim Lifted

State governors backed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to halt fuel subsidy payments in the country, as well as the administration’s other early policy efforts, on Wednesday. The governors, acting via the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), showed their support for President Tinubu during the president’s first meeting with them at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The state chief executives were headed by the NGF Chairman and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who expressed satisfaction with the President’s decision to remove subsidies, all-inclusive leadership, and statesmanship. They congratulated President Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy behemoth, promising to work with him…

Two key personalities—Festus Keyamo and Nasir el Rufai—who played important roles in the just-concluded Buhari era have just proven two adages to be absolutely true. For El Rufai, there is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face, and for Keyamo, all that glitters is not gold. These two men, who have probably been role models for many, have recently unravelled in the most embarrassing and shameful manner, so much so that those who held them in high esteem would be having second thoughts by now. None of us, especially from southern Nigeria, had ever suspected that Nasir…

Ex-Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has blamed the devil for the misunderstanding between himself and his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, during the latter’s administration. Aregbesola, who spoke in Yoruba during a welcome rally organised by his loyalists to welcome him back to the state at Freedom Park, Osogbo, said the devil successfully allowed animosity to thrive between them after the Supreme Court victory party in July 2019. The former minister, Aregbesola had attributed his political successes to President Bola Tinubu, who identified and supported his political aspirations since 1999 in Lagos State. He, however, asked for forgiveness from everyone who…

The President, Bola Tinubu, met on Wednesday with major oil marketers at Aso Rock, Abuja. The oil marketers were led by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who served as chairman of the oil marketers organisation. Tinubu’s meeting with oil marketers comes amid the uproar and demonstrations over the elimination of subsidies on premium motor spirit, often known as fuel. The President, during his inaugural speech on May 29 at the Eagle Square in Abuja, announced the removal of subsidy payments on petrol. The President said that the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari did not make provisions for subsidy in…

The Nigerian Governors Forum is presently being hosted in the Presidential Villa by President Bola Tinubu. Both returning and newly elected governors from their respective states are present during the conference. Soon after the president swore in Senator George Akume as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the meeting got started at midday. Details to come…

Vaccines against African swine fever being tested in Vietnam are close to approval, global and US veterinary officials said, in what would be a major breakthrough to tackle the deadly animal disease that regularly ravages pig farms worldwide. African swine fever has for years disrupted the $250 billion global pork market. In the worst outbreak in 2018–19, about half the domestic pig population died in China, the world’s biggest producer, causing losses estimated at over $100 billion. After decades of failed attempts due to the complexity of the virus, two vaccines co-developed by US scientists and being tested in large…

European regulators have licensed the region’s first vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths annually. The Arexvy injection, manufactured by the British pharmaceutical company GSK, is intended to protect persons aged 60 and over. RSV usually causes cold-like symptoms, although it is a primary cause of pneumonia in children and the elderly. Since the virus’s discovery in 1956, efforts to produce a vaccine have been hampered by the virus’s complicated molecular structure and safety issues with past vaccination attempts. The approval on Wednesday by the European Commission, which follows a recent endorsement from the…

President Bola Tinubu swore in Senator George Akume as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hycent Alia, as well as various serving and previous governors, including the former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Almakura, and the immediate past Secretary General of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were present at the brief ceremony today (Wednesday). Others in attendance included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Federation Civil Service Head Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and Mrs. Regina Akume. Tinubu already…

Lai Mohammed, a former Minister of Information and Culture, has been named managing partner of international lobbying company Ballard Partners. 2023 Election: We corrected misconception on Obi’s chances- Lai Mohammed  This comes less than two weeks after the cabinet of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was disbanded. Mohammed’s new job was announced on Tuesday in a statement posted to Ballard Partners’ official Twitter feed. “Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, is opening its first African office in Abuja, Nigeria, the nation’s capital,” it said. “Lai Mohammed, the immediate past Nigeria minister of information and culture,…

Pope Francis will have abdominal surgery in Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican announced in a statement, adding that the 86-year-old pontiff will be hospitalised for several days. The procedure is the latest in a string of health issues for the pope, who has presided over the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics for the last decade. He arrived to Rome’s main hospital, a short drive from the Vatican, at about 1130 local time (0930 GMT). The upcoming procedure was not mentioned by Francis during his weekly audience at the Vatican on Wednesday morning, where he looked to be in…