Author: Opalim Lifted

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is expected to resign from his position as he prepares to contest the Bauchi State governorship in the 2027 elections, according to sources familiar with the development. The anticipated move follows a directive issued by President Bola Tinubu, requiring all political appointees seeking elective office in 2027 to step down on or before March 31, 2026. The directive was confirmed in a statement by Dewan Goshit, head of information and public relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Tuggar’s expected exit comes shortly after the 2026 national…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed mobile network operators (MNOs) to compensate subscribers for poor quality of service (QoS) in areas where performance falls below regulatory standards. In a statement issued on Sunday, Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, said the directive is aimed at ensuring that consumers do not bear the full burden of service disruptions caused by operators’ failure to meet prescribed benchmarks. “The commission’s position is that subscribers should not be made to bear the full burden of service disruptions where operators fail to meet prescribed standards of service delivery,” she said. The…

Pope Leo XIV has warned that God does not accept the prayers of leaders who initiate wars, declaring that those responsible for violence approach God with “hands full of blood” as the Iran conflict enters its second month. Speaking to tens of thousands of worshippers at St Peter’s Square during Palm Sunday, the pontiff delivered a strong message against the use of religion to justify armed conflict. “This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he said under bright sunshine at the Vatican. The pope reinforced his remarks by…

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has declared Nigeria a reliable energy investment destination, urging global investors to tap into the country’s evolving oil and gas landscape. Speaking at CERAWeek 2026 in Houston, Ojulari said Nigeria is leveraging stable policies, improved infrastructure security, and strategic partnerships to strengthen investor confidence. He emphasised that the administration of Bola Tinubu has granted NNPC the autonomy to pursue long-term commercial solutions. “Balance is not about equal allocation; it is about optimal sequencing,” Ojulari said, explaining that oil continues to deliver immediate value, gas supports…

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has issued his first public message from a US prison, saying he remains “steadfast” and “serene” nearly three months after his dramatic capture. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where they await trial on serious drug trafficking and weapons charges. In a message shared via his X account on Saturday, the couple said they were drawing strength from supporters despite strict detention conditions. “We are well, steadfast, serene and in constant prayer,” the statement read. The message, whose original poster remains unclear, marked Maduro’s first…

The Rivers State Government says more than ₦302 billion was spent during the administration of Ibok-Ete Ibas while he served as sole administrator of the state. The disclosure was made by the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning at the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt. The information was presented in response to a Freedom of Information lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is pending before S. H. Aprioku, a judge of the Rivers State High Court. According to a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sounded the alarm over the rapid rise of cryptocurrency-related crimes, warning that billions are being lost globally to illicit digital transactions. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede raised the concern during the inauguration of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Programme for Nigeria (2026–2030) in Abuja. Olukoyede disclosed that more than $160 billion was lost globally in 2025 due to illicit cryptocurrency transactions, underscoring the scale of the threat. He warned that digital currencies such as Bitcoin are increasingly being exploited by criminal networks to move funds across borders undetected. According…

The Federal Government has approved automatic promotion for six civil servants abducted while travelling for their 2025 promotion examinations. The affected officers, staff of the ministry of defence, were kidnapped in Kogi State while travelling from Lagos to Abuja. Announcing the decision in Abuja, Tunji Olaopa, chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), described the incident as deeply unfortunate. He said the promotion was granted on compassionate grounds, following the trauma experienced by the victims. According to him, the decision was reached in consultation with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and other…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has begun a detailed review of over ₦302 billion reportedly spent by the Rivers State Government during the six-month emergency rule under Ibok-Ete Ibas. The disclosure emerged in a counter-affidavit filed before the Rivers State High Court in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit instituted by SERAP. According to the affidavit submitted by the Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Rivers State received over ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025. Additional receipts of about ₦44.87 billion brought total inflows to…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed that the personal email account of its director, Kash Patel, was compromised by a hacking group linked to Iran. In a statement, the FBI said it is aware of “malicious actors” targeting Patel’s personal email but stressed that the breach did not involve classified or government information. “The information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information,” the agency said. The cyberattack has been claimed by the Handala Hack Team, which published alleged documents and personal photos from Patel’s account on its website. The group also released what it…