Author: Opalim Lifted

The Federal Government says more than 115,000 official email accounts are currently active across the public service as part of efforts to build a fully digital and paperless civil service. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Digital Transformation Summit 2026 organised by Galaxy Backbone in Abuja to commemorate the organisation’s 20th anniversary. She said the GovMail platform has become a vital tool for secure, professional and traceable communication across government institutions, helping to strengthen accountability and protect institutional records. According to Walson-Jack, the government’s digital transformation programme has also led…

Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has described her acquittal by a London court as the end of nearly 11 years of what she called “unjust vilification, condemnation and scrutiny”. The former minister was cleared of all six bribery charges by the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom after jurors deliberated for several hours on Wednesday. The case stemmed from allegations that surfaced following her arrest in London in October 2015, shortly after she left office. Although she was released on bail, investigations continued for years before UK authorities formally charged her in August 2023. Prosecutors alleged that Alison-Madueke…

Millions of MTN Nigeria subscribers can once again access airtime loans after the telecommunications company restored its popular XtraTime service. The service, which enables eligible customers to borrow airtime and repay on their next recharge, was temporarily suspended following a new compliance requirement introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). MTN announced the suspension in a notice signed by its Company Secretary, Uto Ukpanah. The notice stated: “MTN Nigeria Communications PLC hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that the company has temporarily suspended its airtime and data credit advance service (‘XtraTime’).” The temporary…

South Africa goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams has called for greater unity among African nations after facing online criticism following Bafana Bafana’s opening defeat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking ahead of South Africa’s Group A clash against the Czech Republic, Williams dismissed reports claiming he criticised Africans for supporting Mexico during the team’s first match of the tournament. He said the comments attributed to him were fabricated and had sparked unnecessary backlash. The goalkeeper revealed that both he and his country had been targeted online over issues unrelated to football, including ongoing tensions surrounding xenophobic attacks in South…

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stopped posting corps members to three local government areas in Kebbi State due to rising insecurity, while also pushing for the relocation of its orientation camp. The affected LGAs are Augie LGA, Arewa LGA and Sakaba LGA. Security concerns force posting restrictions Bala Kagarko, NYSC coordinator in Kebbi, disclosed the development on Tuesday during an interview with journalists at the temporary orientation camp in Basura, Jega LGA. He said worsening insecurity has forced the scheme to drastically cut down corps deployment in the state. “For the safety of corps members, we are no…

United States President Donald Trump has dismissed critics of his agreement with Iran, describing them as “fools” following the signing of a landmark Iran peace deal. The remarks came as Trump and Iranian officials separately signed the accord aimed at ending the Middle East conflict and restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route. Oil prices fell after news of the agreement, with markets reacting to expectations that shipping routes would reopen following months of disruption linked to the conflict. The deal was signed in Paris at a ceremony hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron,…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, tightening rules on digital access for minors in a move that aligns it with other countries including Australia, Britain, and Canada. According to the official WAM news agency, citing a cabinet resolution, platforms will be required to actively monitor and disable accounts belonging to under-15s or face sanctions, including possible blocking. “The resolution sets the minimum age for social media use at 15 years,” WAM reported. “Children below this age are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into a self-acclaimed prophet, Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over allegations that he defrauded members of his ministry of more than N70.3 million. In a statement issued by the EFCC on Wednesday, operatives of its Enugu Zonal Directorate are probing claims that the suspect collected large sums of money from worshippers through promises of spiritual solutions, investment opportunities and prosperity schemes. One of the petitioners, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that the prophet convinced him to pay N6.23 million for spiritual works aimed at persuading his brother, who…

Teddie Beverley, the last surviving member of the famous singing trio, the Beverley Sisters, has died at the age of 99. Her death was announced by British composer TY Jeffries in an Instagram post on Wednesday. Jeffries described her as “beautiful, talented and kind” and said the trio would be fondly remembered for their successful careers and lasting impact on British entertainment. “Goodbye to my very cherished friend, beautiful, talented, kind Teddie Beverley. The Beverley Sisters are now all together again,” he wrote. “Great women! Such fabulous careers! They were a huge part of my life and the lives of…

Bloody Civilian has revealed that marriage is not currently part of her plans, despite ongoing pressure from her family to settle down. Speaking in a recent interview, the 26-year-old Abuja-born artist said she is often questioned by relatives who struggle to understand her decision to prioritise a creative career over traditional expectations. She explained that cultural norms within her family remain strongly rooted in conventional views of womanhood, particularly regarding marriage. “One thing my family still does not understand about being an artiste is the fact that certain conventional things that they expect of a woman from the north are…