Author: Opalim Lifted

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has told US Secretary Marco Rubio that Muslim lives matter too, in response to Rubio’s claim that thousands of Christians are being slaughtered in Nigeria by radical groups. Rubio had described the alleged killings of Christians by Islamist and Fulani militias as tragic and unacceptable, saying the United States was prepared to take action. He wrote on X: “The ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria by radical Islamists and Fulani ethnic militias is both tragic and unacceptable. As @POTUS said, the United States stands ready,…

Premier League leaders Arsenal continued their impressive start to the season with a comfortable win at Burnley to make it nine consecutive victories in all competitions. Goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice sealed the win – their fifth in a row in the league – as Mikel Arteta’s side moved seven points clear at the top, albeit having played a game more than some of their rivals. It was an impressive victory against a Burnley side that can often prove difficult to break down and had recorded back-to-back victories before facing the Gunners. But no side has scored more…

President Bola Tinubu has unveiled the NINAuth app, a new digital verification tool designed to strengthen Nigeria’s national identity system and streamline data management across government institutions. Speaking at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu said the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to build a credible, secure and verifiable identity system, describing it as vital to national development. He announced that all ministries, departments and agencies will soon adopt the NINAuth app for both staff and citizen data verification. According to him, technology remains central to improving efficiency, transparency and accountability in governance. “Today’s launch of the NIMC NINAuth…

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has cleared the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) of alleged bias and irregularities in its 2025 staff promotion exercise. Following petitions from aggrieved employees and advocacy groups, the Council said it conducted an independent fact-finding investigation, which confirmed that the process was fair, transparent, and merit-based. At a press briefing in Abuja, NCSCN Executive Director, Blessing Akinlosotu, stated that the promotion adhered to public service rules and the Commission’s internal framework. “Contrary to claims of marginalisation or breach of the Federal Character Principle, our inquiry found the process was conducted within legal and…

US President Donald Trump has once again labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians. Announcing the move on Friday, Trump cited what he described as “Christian genocide” in the country. It marks the second time Nigeria has received the CPC status. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, the US made the same designation, which President Joe Biden later revoked. The latest decision follows pressure from US lawmakers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to act against what they claim are continuing religious violations in Nigeria. What Does CPC Status Mean? A CPC is a…

The federal government has rejected US President Donald Trump’s move to tag Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over Christian genocide claims. “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. The US president blamed radical Islamists for the “mass slaughter”. In a statement on Saturday, Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs said the claims do not reflect the realities on the ground. Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the ministry, said Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully. Trump redesignates Nigeria as ‘country…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has dismissed Kim Kardashian’s claim that the 1969 moon landing, which saw humans set foot on the lunar surface for the first time, was staged. Kardashian made the comments in the latest episode of her reality TV show The Kardashians, where she told actress Sarah Paulson that she believed the historic Apollo 11 mission “didn’t happen”. In the episode, the reality star is seen showing Paulson an interview clip featuring astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who, alongside Neil Armstrong, participated in the 1969 mission. “I’m sending you a million articles with both Buzz Aldrin and…

Maryanne Moghalu, wife of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu, has stood by her controversial statement advising investors to steer clear of Lagos, insisting she has “nothing to apologise for.” Her 2024 warning resurfaced after governance expert Dr Joe Abah and social commentator Ogbeni Dipo debated online over ethnic remarks. During their exchange, Dipo reminded Abah that Moghalu had previously cautioned investors, saying, “Invest in Lagos at your own peril,” following the Lagos State Government’s demolition of structures deemed illegal or unapproved. Responding to the renewed criticism, Abah said Moghalu’s stance would not deter him or…

Military investigators have teamed up with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to trace suspicious financial transactions linked to the alleged October 1 coup attempt. Top security sources told The Punch that the agencies are carrying out a forensic probe into the accounts of both military and civilian suspects accused of funding the plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration. As part of the investigation, several bank accounts are believed to have been frozen, though officials declined to confirm the move. “This is standard procedure in cases of this nature,” one security official…

Protests over Tanzania’s disputed presidential election have entered a third day, with reports suggesting that hundreds may have been killed amid a government crackdown. Demonstrations erupted across the East African nation on Wednesday following the announcement of election results that opposition groups have dismissed as fraudulent. In response, authorities imposed a curfew in Dar es Salaam and restricted internet access, further fuelling public outrage. By Thursday, the electoral commission declared that President Samia Hassan was in an early lead with 96.99 percent of votes counted in just eight of the 272 constituencies. The announcement triggered fresh waves of unrest, as…