Author: Opalim Lifted

Chairman of First HoldCo, Femi Otedola, has pledged to invest $100 million in the upcoming public listing of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, revealing he sold his stake in Geregu Power to fund the acquisition. The disclosure was made during a visit by the board and management of First HoldCo to the refinery complex in Lagos, where Aliko Dangote said investor demand for the refinery had already climbed to nearly $2 billion ahead of its planned Initial Public Offering (IPO). The development highlights growing investor appetite for what is expected to become one of Africa’s largest industrial listings as Dangote prepares…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed fears that the recent attacks and abductions in Oyo State signal the emergence of a terrorist stronghold in the South-West. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Major General Michael Onoja, director of defence media operations, described the attacks as isolated criminal incidents rather than evidence of an organised insurgent network operating in the region. The clarification follows coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The attacks reportedly left two people…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured travellers and Nigerians that enhanced health surveillance measures have been activated at international airports across the country following growing concerns over the Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa. FAAN said it is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Port Health Services and other agencies to strengthen screening and monitoring procedures for passengers arriving from high-risk countries. In a statement issued on Wednesday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the authority said travellers are now being screened for Ebola-related symptoms at…

The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports of a bandit attack in Ogbomoso and nearby communities, describing the incident as a false alarm fuelled by rumours and misinformation. Fear spread across parts of Ogbomoso and neighbouring Ajaawa Town on Tuesday after claims emerged online alleging that armed bandits had invaded the area around Are-Ago High School. Viral videos shared on X showed students, traders, and residents running from schools and business areas amid fears of an imminent attack. In a statement released on its X page, the police said surveillance and patrol teams were immediately deployed to the affected…

Former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has commended the government of Enugu State for its Smart Green Schools initiative, describing it as a model for educational transformation in Nigeria. In a post shared on Instagram, Osinbajo disclosed that he met with the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to discuss the state’s ongoing rollout of Smart Green solar-powered schools across its 260 wards. According to Osinbajo, the schools are designed to combine modern education with healthcare services for children. He noted that each facility includes a clinic staffed by trained nurses who provide vaccinations for children who may have missed…

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced that energy units preloaded into newly installed prepaid meters are not free and will be recovered during customers’ next recharge. In a public statement issued recently, the electricity distribution company explained that prepaid meters are supplied with initial energy units to allow customers immediate access to electricity after installation. However, AEDC clarified that the value of those units was not deducted when the meters were installed, meaning customers will see a one-time adjustment during their next token purchase. The company said the deduction would be calculated based on the tariff applicable to the…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn against Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and Tanzania in Group L for the qualification series of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The AFCON draw was held in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday. The Super Eagles are paired against some familiar foes they have faced numerous times across several CAF competitions in recent years. Nigeria faced Guinea-Bissau in the group stage of the 2021 AFCON. They were also opponents during the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON, and they were paired again in the group phase of the competition in Côte d’Ivoire. The Super Eagles faced…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says 175 ISIS fighters have been killed in recent counterterrorism operations in north-east Nigeria carried out jointly with the United States. In a statement on Tuesday, Sumaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, said the operations involved coordinated strikes between Nigerian forces and the United States Africa Command (US Africa Command), targeting ISIS networks across the region. According to the DHQ, the operations have been ongoing for several days and focused on disrupting terrorist infrastructure, including checkpoints, weapons storage sites, logistics hubs, and financial channels. “As of 19 May 2026, assessments indicate that 175 ISIS terrorists have…

Security tensions have escalated across Nigeria’s South-West following a violent attack and abductions in Oyo State, where armed assailants struck communities in Oriire Local Government Area, leaving several people dead and others kidnapped. The incident involved an assault on school and surrounding communities in Ahoro-Esinle, where pupils, teachers and residents were taken during the raid. One of the abducted teachers was later confirmed killed after a video linked to the attack circulated online. The violence has triggered renewed debate over the country’s security structure, with pressure mounting on federal authorities and South-West leaders to adopt stronger measures to address rising…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Congo Ebola outbreak may already have spread beyond the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and into other provinces. Anne Ancia said ongoing investigations were revealing wider transmission of the virus than initially believed. “The more we are investigating this outbreak, the more we realise that it has already disseminated at least a little bit across border and also in other provinces,” Ancia said, according to the BBC. She described Ituri Province, the epicentre of the outbreak, as a highly insecure region with significant population movement, complicating efforts…