Author: Opalim Lifted

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items while travelling to the United Kingdom. The suspect was apprehended at the airport’s departure hall while attempting to board a British Airways flight, BA082, bound for Heathrow Airport, on Saturday, March 14, 2026. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, a search of the suspect’s luggage revealed blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons and concealed…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into the alleged spending of about ₦5.9 billion on the rebranding of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). In a letter dated March 14, 2026, SERAP called on the president to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe the reported expenditure. The organisation also asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to identify officials who approved and…

Iran’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, says it launched a missile salvo at United States forces stationed at a key airbase in Saudi Arabia. The Guards said the missiles targeted the Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj late on Saturday. According to Iranian state media, the base is used to support advanced US fighter aircraft, including the F‑35 Lightning II and F‑16 Fighting Falcon. It also allegedly stores fuel tankers used in military operations. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed that the base was hit. However, the country’s defence ministry said earlier that its air defence systems intercepted…

United States President Donald Trump has said several countries could deploy warships alongside the United States to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open amid rising tensions with Iran. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said nations affected by disruptions in the strategic waterway may join the US in securing the route. “Many countries, especially those affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” he wrote. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s…

A missile struck a helipad inside the United States embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraqi security officials said. Two security officials confirmed the incident, according to a report by the Associated Press. Footage from the Associated Press showed a column of smoke rising over the compound on Saturday morning. The sprawling complex is one of the largest US diplomatic facilities in the world. The facility has repeatedly been targeted by rockets and drones fired by Iran-aligned militias. Images circulating online also showed smoke and dust rising above the embassy after the strike. NATO forces shoot down third Iranian ballistic missile There…

President Bola Tinubu has urged the Nigerian media to extend scrutiny beyond the federal government and hold state and local governments accountable for how they spend their allocations. Tinubu made the call on Friday during an interfaith breaking of fast with media proprietors and executives at the State House in Abuja. The president said the media should pay closer attention to how funds distributed from the federation account are utilised at sub-national levels. According to him, recent economic reforms implemented by his administration — particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy — have significantly increased the funds available to states…

The Lagos State Government has reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise as part of renewed efforts to maintain a cleaner and healthier city. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the exercise will begin on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and will take place on the last Saturday of every month between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The announcement was made during a sensitisation programme organised by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor. No restriction of movement The sanitation exercise was suspended in 2016 after a court ruling nullified the compulsory restriction of…

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Air Peace for an urgent meeting on Monday over a series of unexplained flight disruptions and passenger complaints. The Authority said the decision followed reports from passengers on the Heathrow–Abuja flight who were allegedly rerouted through Gatwick–Lagos–Abuja and left stranded in Lagos. According to the NCAA, the incident, along with other complaints relating to delayed refunds, compensation, and the provision of basic passenger care, has prompted the activation of its Consumer Protection Department. The regulator stated that it would not tolerate any situation in which paying passengers are abandoned by airline operators.…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it distributed N1.89 trillion in February to the federal government, states, and local government councils. The revenue was shared during the March 2026 FAAC meeting held in Abuja on Friday, chaired by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. As of the time of filing this report, the finance ministry had not responded to newsmen enquiry on the January allocation. According to a statement by the ministry, the committee said the total gross revenue available in February stood at N2.23 trillion before deductions were made. From the N1.89 trillion…

Air Peace has clarified the circumstances surrounding the disruption of its Abuja–London service on March 13, 2026, dismissing reports that passengers were abandoned after the aircraft returned to base. The airline said the claims circulating in parts of the media were inaccurate, stressing that no passenger was stranded during the incident. According to Air Peace, the aircraft operating the Abuja–London (Heathrow) flight made an air return after the flight crew detected a crack on the windshield, which was suspected to have been caused by a bird strike. The airline explained that the decision to return to Abuja was taken in…