Author: Opalim Lifted

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says Nigeria’s oil output rose by 0.89 percent to 1.71 million barrels of oil per day (bopd) in July. In a recent statement, the commission said the July production figure increased from the 1.69 million bopd recorded in June. The agency said the figure comprises 1.50 million bopd of crude oil and 204,864 bopd of condensates. “Nigeria’s oil output recorded significant growth in July 2025, averaging 1.71 million barrels of oil per day (bopd). The figure comprises 1.507 million bopd of crude oil and 204,864 bopd of condensates,” NUPRC said. “This reflects a…

More than two billion people worldwide still lack access to safely-managed drinking water (aqua), the United Nations (UN) said Tuesday, warning that progress towards universal coverage was moving nowhere near quickly enough. The UN’s health and children’s agencies said a full one in four people globally were without access to safely-managed drinking water last year, with over 100 million people remaining reliant on drinking surface aqua — for example from rivers, ponds and canals. The World Health Organization and UNICEF said lagging aqua, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services were leaving billions at greater risk of disease. They said in a…

Celtic blew the chance to reach the Champions League after an ignominious defeat in a penalty shootout away to Kairat Almaty as Brendan Rodgers’ side failed to score a goal in 210 minutes. Substitute Adam Idah missed the first spot-kick, and home keeper Temirlan Anarbekov capped a fine display with further saves to deny Luke McCowan and, tellingly, Daizen Maeda. It sealed a 3-2 outcome on penalties to send the Kazakh side into the Champions League proper for the first time in their history. Maeda had earlier blasted a late 85th-minute shot over the bar that would have ended the…

France has returned three colonial-era skulls to Madagascar, 128 years after they were taken during the French conquest of the island — including one believed to be that of King Toera, a Sakalava ruler executed by French troops in 1897. At a solemn ceremony in Paris on Tuesday, the remains were formally handed over by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who hailed the restitution as a “historic event” between the two nations. The skulls had been held in the collections of the Museum of Natural History in Paris. “This ceremony also symbolises the completion of a historical, scientific and memorial…

Fabio Carvalho and Igor Thiago scored against the run of play as Brentford frustrated Bournemouth in the second round of the EFL Cup. Both sides had gone close mid-way through the first half after a dull opening – Carvalho brushed the outside of the post after pouncing on a turnover, before Cherries captain Ryan Christie hit the woodwork with a deflected 25-yard strike. Bournemouth enjoyed almost 65% possession in the first half, but a defensive lapse allowed their Premier League opponents to break the deadlock. Defender Kristoffer Ajer met a diagonal free-kick with a header back across the penalty area,…

Former Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has urged believers to embrace the power of faith and community in shaping lives and destinies. He made the call while speaking at the KICC International Gathering of Champions in Kent, United Kingdom. Osinbajo, who shared personal insights from his public service journey, emphasised that stories gain their deepest meaning when they inspire others to serve. He hailed Senior Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo and Resident Pastor Yemisi Ashimolowo, who have, for over three decades, grown the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) into one of Western Europe’s largest congregations. The event also reunited Osinbajo with…

Adamu Laka, coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), says President Bola Tinubu will launch Nigeria’s revised counter-terrorism strategy in October. Speaking at the third quarter stakeholders’ meeting of NACTEST on Tuesday in Abuja, Laka said the document has been completed and sent to Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), for approval. He said the review, which began in February 2025, was designed to reflect emerging threats, shifting terrorist tactics, and the use of new technologies. “I am pleased to report that the review process has now reached a decisive milestone,” Laka said. “The revised draft national counter-terrorism strategy, which…

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says President Bola Tinubu could not have retained petrol subsidy because there was no budgetary provision for it when his administration came on board. Speaking recently during a panel session at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where he shared the stage with Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, Tunji-Ojo said paying subsidy without appropriation would have been unlawful. “As of the time this administration came on board, there was no provision for subsidy in the national budget,” the minister said. “Paying for subsidy would have been illegal because it was not…

President Bola Tinubu has directed a temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts. Abubakar Kyari, the minister for agriculture and food security, announced the ban on Tuesday. Kyari said the ban takes effect immediately. He said the measure aims to promote local processing and add value within the country. The minister said the measure reflects a broader strategy seen in the West African region to strengthen the agro-industrial base and increase export revenues by focusing on processed rather than raw products. APC slams Obasanjo over ‘hypocritical’ comments against Tinubu According to Kyari, the step aligns with similar efforts…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to activate 260,000 counter-terrorism brigade in the subregion. Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, spoke on Monday at the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja. Touray, represented by Abdel-Fattah Musah, commissioner for political affairs, peace and security at the ECOWAS commission, said the force would provide logistics and financial support to frontline states. He noted that the ministers of finance and defence from member countries would meet in Abuja on Friday to finalise modalities for an annual $2.5 billion budget. “This bold initiative has become…