Author: Opalim Lifted

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) lauded President Bola Tinubu for his recent strategic appointment of Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the newly established National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC). Isaac Abrak Chairman, Northern Christian Youth Professionals disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Describing the move as “visionary” and “economically inclusive,” the group expressed confidence that the initiative would empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by improving access to credit, ultimately boosting economic growth nationwide. “This bold step signals the President’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s economy through sustainable support for SMEs,” said NCYP…

President Bola Tinubu has established the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC), with an initial capital of N100 billion. Tinubu also approved the constitution of the NCGC board, appointing Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, as chairman. Announcing the development in a statement on Thursday, the presidency said the company is a transformative institution designed to de-risk lending and boost access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The NCGC is also expected to serve small corporates, manufacturers, consumers, and large enterprises across Nigeria. “This landmark move is in keeping with His Excellency’s 2025 New Year…

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has invited singer Speed Darlington over his admission of having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Darlington sparked outrage on social media after footage of him confessing to having sexual intercourse with the minor surfaced on Tuesday. The backlash prompted responses from authorities, with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) stepping in to address the issue. However, the DSVA clarified that while the incident’s exact location remained unclear, its jurisdiction is limited to Lagos. As a result, the agency escalated the matter to NAPTIP for…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of favouring the wealthy while subjecting poor Nigerians to hardship. In a statement assessing Tinubu’s two years in office, Atiku said the current administration is “one of the most incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people governments” in Nigeria’s democratic history. Atiku said no previous administration has “inflicted this level of hardship” on the masses while disregarding transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership. “This government has not only deepened poverty across the country, but it has also set new records in wasteful public spending,” Atiku said. “At a time when millions of Nigerians…

Elon Musk is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration after a headline-grabbing but divisive campaign to slash federal spending. The Tesla CEO’s exit comes just 130 days into his tenure as a special government employee overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A White House official confirmed to reporters late Wednesday that Musk’s “off-boarding will begin tonight,” hours after he posted a thank-you message to President Donald Trump on his social platform X. His departure follows growing tension inside the administration and an apparent loss of influence. Sources say Musk left without speaking to Trump directly. His…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that COVID-19 cases are rising globally. In a report on Wednesday, the WHO said since mid-February 2025, global COVID activity has been increasing, with the test positivity rate reaching 11 percent as of May 11. The organisation said the positivity level has not been observed since July 2024, adding that the rise is primarily within countries in the eastern Mediterranean, south-east Asia, and western Pacific regions. “Since early 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 variant trends have slightly shifted. Circulation of LP.8.1 has been declining, and reporting of NB.1.8.1, a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM), is increasing,…

Nigeria’s era as Africa’s largest fuel importer has ended following increased output from the Dangote refinery, according to Bloomberg. Citing an energy consultancy firm in a report on Wednesday, Bloomberg said the title is now held by South Africa, where operational fuel production capacity has shrunk. Elitsa Georgieva, executive director at CITAC, an energy consultancy, told the publication that Nigerian imports are dropping due to Dangote’s continued operation. “Since the beginning of this year, South African imports have been consistently highest in sub-Saharan Africa,” she said. According to Bloomberg, the shift illustrates the ambition of several African nations, including Uganda…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 in the semi-final of the 2025 Unity Cup. An early strike from Cyril Dessers and an own goal from Razak Simpson drowned out a second-half response from Brandon Thomas-Asante in a pulsating match at the G-tech stadium in London, UK, on Wednesday. Unity Cup is a four-nation exhibition tournament, but the arch-rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana transcended the friendly connotation of the match. The stadium started buzzing way before the first whistle even went for the latest instalment of the West-African derby. Eric Chelle, Super Eagles head coach, handed appearances to three…

A pilgrim from Zamfara state has delivered a baby in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, during the 2025 hajj exercise. The development that has sparked concerns over breaches of health regulations. Saudi Arabia and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have consistently warned that pregnant women should not participate in the pilgrimage due to its strenuous nature and the risk of medical emergencies. Despite the warnings, cases of Nigerian haji evading pregnancy screening continue to emerge. The 2025 guidelines issued by the Saudi ministry of health prohibit participation by women in their final two months of pregnancy or those with high-risk…

Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), has acquired over 45 million shares in the financial institution. Bili Odum, group company secretary, announced the transaction in a regulatory filing on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) on Tuesday. Odum said 45,034,044 shares were acquired on May 23 at N34.3 each – bringing the total transaction value to approximately N1.53 billion. In 2023, Elumelu raised his shares in UBA by 161.9 million to 2.54 billion (direct and indirect) from 2.38 billion in 2022. On May 25, 2024, the business mogul announced plans to further increase his stake in the company.…