Author: Opalim Lifted

The United States (US) government has suspended the processing of green card and citizenship applications submitted by Nigerians following Nigeria’s inclusion in an expanded list of countries facing immigration restrictions under a new directive by President Donald Trump. According to a report by CBS News, a US government official confirmed that the Trump administration has instructed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt the consideration of immigration petitions from nationals of countries newly placed under the administration’s expanded travel restrictions, citing national security concerns and an ongoing review of vetting procedures. The directive follows a presidential proclamation…

A fire outbreak occured at one of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices in Abuja on Saturday. Videos circulating on social media show flames engulfing parts of the building, triggering panic in the area. In a statement signed by Sikiru Akinola, technical assistant (print media) to the FIRS executive chairman, the agency said the fire broke out at its office located at No. 15 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5. “The fire, which broke out on the fourth floor of the building, was promptly responded to by our security personnel on duty,” the statement reads. “With the swift support of…

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has cautioned against unrealistic projections in the 2026 budget. Speaking recently at a joint sitting of the national assembly after President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 appropriation bill, Abbas said overly optimistic assumptions could undermine fiscal discipline and weaken public confidence in the budgeting. The speaker said the experience of the outgoing 2025 fiscal year showed the importance of grounding budgets in credible, resilient and realistic assumptions. “If 2025 was a year of adjustment and learning, 2026 must be a year of fulfilment,” he said. “Growth must increasingly translate into jobs, higher…

Arsenal secured the win they needed at Everton to return to the top of the Premier League in a scrappy encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Manchester City overhauled the Gunners with a comfortable victory against West Ham United before this match, putting the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta’s side on the return to his former club. Arsenal’s cause was helped when Everton defender Jake O’Brien needlessly handled Declan Rice’s 27th-minute corner, with Viktor Gyokores hammering home the resulting penalty in emphatic fashion. Arsenal snatch two own goals to scrape win against rock-bottom Wolves The Gunners were not at their best…

Alexander Isak came off the bench to score for Liverpool but then went off injured as Arne Slot’s side beat nine-man Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Isak broke the deadlock in the 56th minute but was injured in the act of scoring, before Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead 10 minutes later. Richarlison came off the bench to pull a goal back for Spurs but the visitors held on to inflict further pain on Thomas Frank, whose side had Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off and have now won just one of their past eight league games. After a…

World Cup 2026 ticket holders are owed thousands of pounds by FIFA for tickets they resold on the tournament’s official marketplace. FIFA’s terms indicate payment should be made within 60 calendar days of a transaction,, external but some people who sold tickets on the website in early October have still not received their money. FIFA, which has come under criticism for its World Cup ticket pricing, declined to provide a statement explaining the delays. The issues stem from FIFA needing to obtain additional bank details from those affected before payments can be processed, BBC sports reported. The tickets in question…

The National Assembly (NASS) on Friday pledged rigorous oversight of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, saying lessons from the implementation challenges of the 2025 budget would guide lawmakers’ consideration of the new fiscal proposal. The assurance was given by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, where President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 budget estimates. The President, who arrived at exactly 2.59 pm, was accompanied by Vice‑President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The President was also joined by several…

Bologna will face Napoli in the Italian Super Cup final after overcoming Inter Milan 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time on Friday. The penalty shootout featured several missed attempts before Ciro Immobile converted to send Bologna into the final. Bologna take on Napoli on Monday after the Italian champions secured a 2-0 victory over AC Milan on Thursday. Inter struck early on at King Saud University Stadium, as Alessandro Bastoni swung in a cross to the back post in the second minute where Marcus Thuram arrived at full stretch to fire into the net. However, despite…

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the late iconic Afrobeat musician, is set to be honoured with a special merit award at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy’s special merit awards ceremony celebrating the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical Grammy Award recipients will be held on January 31, 2026, during Grammy Week 2026, on the night before the 2026 Grammys. The Recording Academy announced via Instagram on Friday that Fela is among ten people to be honored with the special award. Grammys described Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” adding that his influence shaped the genre and inspired a new…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three Indian nationals and a Nigerian before a Kwara State High Court over an alleged criminal breach of trust involving KAM Steel Integrated Company Limited. Those charged are Lalit Sarwat, Ravi Raghavendra and Gagan Sarswat, alongside an Ilorin-based dispatch manager, Oniyide Samuel. They appeared on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, before Justice Sulaiman Akanbi sitting in Ilorin. The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring between November 2024 and September 2025 to unlawfully divert company property while working as employees of KAM Steel. The offences are contained in a two-count charge bordering on…