Author: Opalim Lifted

Routine US visa processing in Abuja will end from August 1, 2026, following a major restructuring of visa operations across Africa by the United States Department of State. The move, announced by the State Department, is part of the Trump administration’s strategy to strengthen national security, improve the consistency of visa screening and vetting, reduce operational costs, and better align visa services with US immigration priorities. Under the new arrangement, Nigerians applying for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas must schedule appointments and pay visa fees at the US Consulate in Lagos, which has been designated as Nigeria’s regional hub for routine…

Segun Aina, a professor of computer engineering, has assumed office as the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Aina took over the reins of the board on Friday from Ishaq Oloyede, whose two-term, 10-year tenure ended on July 31, 2026, at JAMB’s headquarters in Bwari, Abuja. On May 21, President Bola Tinubu appointed Aina, who was 39 years old at the time, as the substantive JAMB registrar to succeed Oloyede. He is the youngest person to serve as JAMB registrar. In a statement announcing the appointment, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy,…

Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has chaired a high-level meeting on unlocking diaspora capital for Africa’s transformation during the 2026 ECOSOCC Citizens’ Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Osinbajo disclosed this in a statement following the session, which focused on the African-Diaspora Investment Corridor Initiative. The meeting was co-hosted by the Africa Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, Future Perspectives, the African Union Citizens and Diaspora Organisations Directorate (CIDO) and Cleva. According to Osinbajo, the initiative seeks to harness the financial resources, expertise and networks of Africans in the diaspora to drive sustainable development and investment…

Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has outlined what he believes is the pathway to Nigeria’s progress, stressing that the country’s future depends on embracing shared values, integrity and a collective commitment to nation-building. Speaking on the challenges facing Nigeria, Osinbajo said sustainable development cannot be achieved through policies alone but requires citizens and leaders to uphold honesty, accountability and a strong sense of national purpose. According to the former vice president, nations that make lasting progress are built on values that encourage trust, justice and responsible leadership. He urged Nigerians to move beyond divisions and work together in pursuit…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned of planned attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State following the reported collapse of a ceasefire agreement. A leaked DSS intelligence memo indicates that the planned operations are linked to the breakdown of a ceasefire arrangement between the insurgents and the governments of the two states. The memo, seen by the news platform, alleged that the terrorists intend to abduct senior government officials, councillors, district heads, pastors and residents in the affected communities. A DSS source confirmed the…

The Federal Government has adopted Kaduna State’s household mapping model as the national framework for identifying out-of-school children, marking a significant shift from estimate-based planning to verified data in tackling Nigeria’s education access crisis. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa announced that the model would be implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The nationwide household mapping exercise is designed to determine the exact number of out-of-school children, where they live and the households they belong to. The government said the verified…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Thursday inspected two local government offices in Osun State and declared that the Commission is “operationally, technologically and logistically prepared” for the August 15 governorship election. He led a high-powered delegation of National Commissioners and the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner on the tour to assess the Commission’s level of readiness. The Chairman’s first stop was the Osogbo Local Government INEC office, where he was received by the Electoral Officer, Kadri Saburi Adetunji. Osogbo LGA has 15 Registration Areas and was listed by INEC as one of…

The Federal Government has urged global investors and financiers to take advantage of investment opportunities in Nigeria, insisting that recent economic reforms have stabilised the economy and laid the foundation for sustained growth. Speaking at the 7th African Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the administration had implemented some of the most far-reaching economic reforms in Nigeria’s recent history. According to him, the reforms include the unification of the foreign exchange market, improved transparency in trade finance…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Tinubu administration to disclose full details of the ₦15.13 billion appropriated in the 2026 Federal Budget for the procurement of 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). Speaking on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate said Nigerians deserved transparency rather than secrecy over the expenditure. Referencing an analysis by public accountability organisation Tracka, Atiku said the budget allocation equates to about ₦387 million for each vehicle, raising serious concerns about value for money. “Tracka’s analysis shows that ₦15.13 billion was budgeted…

Ghana has accepted a proposal to extend the presidential term from four to five years and lower the minimum age for contesting the presidency from 40 to 35. The development follows a review of the country’s 1992 Constitution by a committee set up last year by President John Mahama. However, Felix Ofosu, the minister for government communications, clarified on Thursday that the proposed constitutional amendment would not apply to incumbent President Mahama. Earlier, Dominic Ayine, the attorney-general and minister of justice, announced that the government had accepted the committee’s recommendation, saying the proposal was intended to give future administrations a…