Author: Opalim Lifted

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 The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter proposing the fee adjustment to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made.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…

Apple has sued OpenAI and two former employees, alleging that the artificial intelligence (AI) company misappropriated its trade secrets to accelerate its expansion into the consumer hardware market. According to Reuters, a lawsuit filed on Friday in the United States (US) District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that OpenAI orchestrated a coordinated effort to obtain and exploit Apple’s confidential information through former employees, recruitment practices, and supplier relationships. The iPhone maker claimed the information was used to support OpenAI’s plans to develop AI-powered consumer devices that could compete with Apple’s products. Responding to the lawsuit, OpenAI denied…

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, describing the move as “a victory for the Nigerian people.” Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, shortly after the Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension of the planned fee review following widespread public criticism. He commended the government for responding to public concerns but argued…

The Nigerian military says it has neutralised an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and recovered multimedia materials that allegedly reveal the presence of three foreign collaborators operating with the terrorist group in Borno State. According to a statement issued on Sunday by Muhammed Goni, Acting Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai, the recovered materials identified the foreign operatives as Abu Ishaq, described as a Palestinian Arab and ISWAP’s overall trainer; Abu Thaiba, a Moroccan Arab serving as a medical doctor within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity has yet to…

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed N50,000 examination fee for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), warning that it will deny millions of children from poor and middle-income families access to education. In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the proposed fee hike and the recent increase in fees for federal unity colleges as harsh, economically insensitive and inconsistent with the government’s constitutional obligation to make education accessible. The criticism follows the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, which awarded ₦10 million in damages to former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over a publication concerning the alleged $6 billion Mambilla Power Project fraud. The appeal was filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday, July 10, 2026, by the EFCC’s counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, according to a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale. The appeal challenges the entire judgment delivered on July 8, 2026, by Justice Peter Kekemeke of the…

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, popularly known as the Taskforce, has impounded 309 commercial motorcycles operating illegally along the ECOWAS Road corridor as part of a major enforcement operation aimed at improving security, traffic management and environmental sanitation. The exercise, coordinated by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources with support from the Lagos State Police Command, also targeted street trading, illegal structures and other environmental violations across the Alaba Rago axis and adjoining communities. According to the Taskforce, the operation aligns with the Lagos State Government’s enforcement of the ban on commercial…

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has launched a whistleblower initiative offering a N500,000 cash reward to anyone who provides credible information leading to the arrest of individuals involved in the illegal use of its branded trucks. The company said the initiative is designed to curb unauthorised haulage activities, safeguard its nationwide logistics network and protect the integrity of its operations. In a statement issued on Sunday, Dangote urged members of the public to report any suspected cases of its trucks being used to transport unauthorised goods or passengers. According to the company, trucks belonging to its subsidiaries are permitted to carry…

David Oyedepo, presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, has urged members of the Living Faith Church Worldwide to obtain their voter cards and actively participate in the electoral process, describing it as a civic responsibility for every responsible citizen. Speaking during Sunday’s service at the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State, Oyedepo said Christians should not remain indifferent to the democratic process but should exercise their constitutional right to decide who governs their countries. “We have a civic responsibility as responsible citizens of our various nations. This church is today in 144 nations,” he said. He encouraged worshippers…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted about N800 billion in public funds for political and campaign purposes. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, was filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja. According to reports cited by SERAP, APC governors allegedly made monthly contributions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations into a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election…