Author: Opalim Lifted

US President Donald Trump attended the solemn return of six American soldiers killed in the escalating conflict with Iran, as tensions in the region continued to intensify. The flag-draped remains arrived on Saturday at Dover Air Force Base, where US service members who die overseas are traditionally brought back to American soil. Wearing a white “USA” baseball cap and accompanied by senior cabinet officials, Trump saluted as each transfer case was carried from a military transport plane. The troops were killed last Sunday after a drone strike hit a key US command centre in Kuwait. The attack came just a…

Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal booked their places in the FA Cup quarter-finals after dramatic victories in the fifth round on Saturday. Manchester City fought back to defeat Newcastle United 3–1 at St James’ Park, while Chelsea edged Wrexham 4–2 after extra time and Arsenal survived a scare to beat Mansfield Town 2–1. City had to recover after falling behind early when Harvey Barnes fired Newcastle ahead in the 18th minute. Pep Guardiola’s side responded before half-time through Savinho, whose effort levelled the score in unusual fashion. Egypt forward Omar Marmoush then took control of the contest in the second…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said 30 banks have successfully met the new minimum capital requirements introduced under its banking sector recapitalisation programme. In a statement issued on Friday, Hakama Sidi Ali, acting director of corporate communications at the apex bank, said lenders across the industry have continued to strengthen their capital bases in response to the policy introduced in 2024. According to the regulator, 33 banks have already raised additional funds through rights issues, initial public offerings (IPOs), and private placements as part of the recapitalisation process. “The Central Bank of Nigeria introduced a capitalisation programme for…

Nigeria’s electricity network operators have explained why power supply is sometimes switched off during heavy rainfall, saying the move is primarily to protect lives and prevent damage to critical infrastructure. In a post on its official X account, the Transmission Company of Nigeria-managed national grid said water and electricity pose serious safety risks when rain affects power installations. According to the operator, electricity distribution companies, commonly known as DisCos, may intentionally cut supply when intense rain begins to prevent accidents such as fires, sparks or electrocution. The grid operator explained that rainwater can seep into weak electrical connections, leaking transformers…

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country will ultimately overcome insecurity, praising the courage and sacrifice of the Armed Forces. The president gave the assurance on Friday during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the Armed Forces at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Tinubu told the troops that the nation remained grateful for their commitment and the risks they take in defending the country. “I have listened to the Chief of Army Staff on my recent approvals to the Nigerian Armed Forces. My duty is to thank all of you on behalf of a…

A deadly Boko Haram/ISWAP attack in Ngoshe community of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, has left civilians, soldiers and insurgents dead, while more than 100 residents remain missing or abducted, according to Senator Ali Ndume. Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, confirmed the development during a recent interview in Maiduguri. He said the assault occurred on Tuesday evening when suspected insurgents stormed the community. The senator revealed that thousands of residents, mostly women and children, fled the attack and are now taking refuge in Pulka community. According to Ndume, the attackers overran the military formation stationed in Ngoshe.…

Nigeria’s electricity crisis deepened yesterday as power distribution companies received only 2,830 megawatts (MW) due to persistent gas shortages affecting thermal power plants. Operational data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that grid generation stood at 3,940.53MW at about 05:00 on March 5, 2026. However, between 06:00 and 08:00 hours, several generating units were forced offline because of inadequate gas supply, triggering a further 292MW drop in available capacity. The reduced output sharply constrained electricity available to the country’s 11 power distribution companies (DisCos), which collectively received only 2,830MW for distribution to homes and industries. At its lowest…

Escalating military tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have triggered a global economic ripple effect that could derail Nigeria’s recent progress in taming food inflation. At the centre of the disruption is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. The near standstill in shipping through the narrow waterway has sent oil prices surging and freight costs climbing developments that could push food and fuel prices higher in Nigeria. The crisis comes just as the National Bureau of Statistics reported early signs of relief for…

Nigeria’s electricity generation has dropped further after gas supply shortages forced several thermal power plants to shut down, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has said. In a recent statement, the system operator attributed the continued decline in power generation on the national grid to persistent gas supply constraints affecting thermal generating stations across the country. According to NISO, total electricity generation stood at 3,940.53 megawatts (MW) as of 05:00 on March 5, 2026, already below expected capacity due to limited gas supply to power plants. The situation worsened between 06:00 and 08:00, when several generating units were forced offline…

Rockets targeted the complex of Baghdad International Airport on Friday evening, an area that hosts a military base and a United States diplomatic facility, Iraqi authorities have confirmed. According to Iraq’s security media cell, several rockets were fired at about 8:20 pm local time from the Abu Ghraib district, west of the capital. The statement said a number of rockets were launched towards the airport area but added that several of them landed in empty locations away from the main airport complex. Security sources earlier told AFP that drones may have carried out the attack. However, a security official later…