Author: Opalim Lifted

Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious new poverty reduction framework aimed at lifting 50 million citizens out of hardship within five years. The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, has launched the ‘One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS)’ in Abuja — a unified national strategy designed to tackle multidimensional poverty through coordinated action and data-driven governance. At the heart of the plan is a N16 trillion funding target between 2026 and 2030. According to the financial blueprint, the government will contribute N1.5 trillion annually, alongside N800 billion from development partners, N600 billion from private sector and impact investors, and N300…

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved a landmark resolution that formally declares slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as among the greatest injustices against humanity. The resolution, led by Ghana, was described by President John Mahama as necessary because the consequences of slavery, including racial disparities, still persist. The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced movement of people in history. Historians estimate that between 10 and 15 million Africans roughly the population of countries such as Sierra Leone, Israel, and Sweden were forcibly transported across the Atlantic between 1500 and 1900. However, experts say this figure significantly…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N387,483,488 recovered from fraud suspects to the Jigawa State Government, marking a major recovery of public funds. The presentation took place at the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate office, where the recovered sum was formally transferred to the state’s Director of Treasury Operations, Muhammad Haruna. The recovery followed intelligence provided by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which flagged alleged misappropriation involving two suspects, Abdullahi Garba and Ayuba Sani. Acting on the tip-off, EFCC operatives launched an investigation that led to the recovery of the full amount. The suspects were subsequently…

Frustration is mounting across Nigeria as subscribers struggle to recover lost SIM cards or register new ones due to a persistent NIMC network glitch. Telecom users say the issue, linked to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has dragged on for days, crippling access to essential services. At the heart of the disruption is the mandatory verification of the National Identification Number (NIN), which must be approved by NIMC before SIM registration or swaps can proceed. However, network providers say the system has been repeatedly unavailable. Registration centres reportedly display the message: “NIMC information temporarily unavailable for subscribers,” leaving many…

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has issued a strong warning to military personnel, local council officials and private motorists over the illegal use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes across Lagos. The agency said offenders would face arrest and prosecution if caught using the dedicated corridors without authorisation. LAMATA emphasised that only designated BRT buses and vehicles operating under its regulated franchise system are permitted on the lanes. It added that emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks are exempted strictly during emergencies. Speaking on the development, Kolawole Ojelabi, head of corporate communications at the authority, said…

A United Kingdom (UK) employment tribunal has ruled that repeatedly calling a colleague “auntie” can amount to workplace harassment, ordering an NHS trust to pay compensation to a healthcare assistant. The case involved 61-year-old Ilda Esteves, who brought a complaint against her employer, National Health Service (NHS), over the conduct of a colleague. Esteves told the tribunal that staff nurse Charles Oppong persistently addressed her as “auntie” despite being asked to stop, creating what she described as an uncomfortable and offensive working environment. While Oppong argued the term was meant respectfully and reflected Ghanaian cultural norms for addressing older women,…

Nearly three in five Nigerians earn below N100,000 monthly or have no income at all, according to the latest 2025 savings report by Piggyvest. The findings paint a stark picture of mounting financial pressure, as rising living costs continue to outpace income growth across the country. The report reveals that close to 60 percent of Nigerians fall within the lowest income brackets, while only six percent say they feel financially secure. This highlights a widening disconnect between economic reforms and the daily realities faced by households. “On paper, the economy is stabilising… On the ground, however, the strain hasn’t let…

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council will convene a second emergency debate on Friday over a deadly airstrike on a school in southern Iran that reportedly killed 168 children. Council president Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro announced the session on Wednesday, saying it would focus on the protection of children and schools in armed conflicts. The urgent debate follows a request by Iran, China and Cuba, citing the February 28 strike on a school in Minab, a city in southern Iran, at the start of the ongoing war. Preliminary findings from a United States military investigation, reported by The New York…

Russia says a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault sparked a fire at a major Baltic export hub, marking a sharp escalation in cross-border strikes between the two sides. According to Russia’s defence ministry, air defences intercepted and destroyed 389 drones overnight on Wednesday, with most targeting regions near Ukraine and areas around Moscow. One strike ignited a blaze at the strategic port of Ust-Luga, a crucial hub for oil, coal and fertiliser exports on the Gulf of Finland. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said the fire was being brought under control, with no casualties reported. Ukraine’s military confirmed targeting energy infrastructure at…

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, is set to be discharged from hospital on Friday and moved into temporary house arrest, following a serious illness that left him in intensive care. The 71-year-old was rushed to hospital two weeks ago with bronchopneumonia while serving a 27-year prison sentence over an attempted coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Doctors say Bolsonaro is now “clinically stable” after spending more than a week in the ICU. His cardiologist, Brasil Caiado, confirmed that his condition has improved significantly, with only a minor lesion remaining in his left lung. “We…