Author: Opalim Lifted

The senate has confirmed Christopher Musa, the immediate past chief of defence staff, as the new defence minister. Musa’s nomination was approved on Wednesday after senators scrutinised his military background and responses to questions on key issues regarding security. Musa assured lawmakers of his commitment to serve Nigeria diligently if confirmed as a minister. “I believe that the challenges we are facing is a Nigerian challenge, not only for the armed forces or security forces, but for everyone working together,” Musa said. “I want to assure you, we will win working together as a team. Even when I was CDS,…

A rowdy scene unfolded in the Senate on Wednesday after some lawmakers opposed a move to excuse Christopher Musa, former Chief of Defence Staff and ministerial nominee, from questioning. Trouble began when Sani Musa, senator representing Niger East, proposed that the nominee be allowed to “take a bow and go.” The suggestion was immediately rejected, with several senators rising to their feet and shouting in protest as the chamber became visibly unsettled. ‘Donald Trump Is On Our Neck’ Senate President Godswill Akpabio halted the push, reminding lawmakers that the screening was a serious exercise requiring public interrogation. He said Nigerians…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased cash withdrawal limits on all channels to N500,000 weekly for individuals and N5 million for corporates. Announcing the policy revision in a circular on Tuesday, the regulator pegged automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawals at N100,000 daily, with a weekly cumulative withdrawal of N500,000. The development is a major shift from tighter cash policy measures introduced under the previous administration. In December 2022, the central bank, under Godwin Emefiele, its former governor, had directed deposit money banks and other financial institutions to limit over-the-counter cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate entities per week…

The US government has halted immigration applications for citizens from 19 nations, including Afghanistan, Yemen and Haiti, an official memorandum said Tuesday, deepening the nation’s sweeping crackdown on migration. Authorities paused green card and citizenship processing, according to the memo, for people from countries already subject to travel restrictions announced in June by President Donald Trump. Those 19 nations also include Venezuela, Sudan and Somalia. Senior US officials have signaled in recent days they would starkly tighten restrictions on immigration, a move fueled by the shooting of two National Guard soldiers last week. The main suspect in the shooting, which…

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday demanded greater efficiency, tighter coordination, and more measurable outcomes in the ongoing fight against insecurity across the country. The President made the call during a high-level security meeting with heads of intelligence agencies and the nation’s service chiefs at the State House, Abuja. The closed-door session, which lasted for over an hour, reviewed recent security developments and assessed the effectiveness of current operations nationwide. Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described the engagement as “frank and highly productive,” noting that the President issued fresh directives designed…

The sudden resignation of the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, may signal further exits from the Federal Executive Council in the coming weeks. Badaru’s departure on Monday has intensified speculation about an imminent cabinet shake-up. Although it is not for anyone to predetermine the President’s next move, strong indications suggest that more ministers could be eased out as the administration approaches the 2027 election cycle. Badaru’s resignation, conveyed in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to President Tinubu, brought an abrupt end to his tenure at a time when the nation is intensifying efforts to confront mounting security challenges.…

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has announced the creation of a regional security trust fund under which the 19 northern states and their local government areas will contribute a combined N1 billion monthly. According to the forum, the fund will be deducted at source to tackle the escalating banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping ravaging the region. The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a crucial joint meeting between the governors and members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) in Kaduna on Monday. The communiqué, signed by Inuwa Yahaya, NSGF chairman and governor of Gombe,…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have formed a partnership to strengthen national economic stability. In a social media post on Tuesday, Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, said both organisations sealed the partnership during his meeting with Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in Abuja. “It was a moment of significant alignment and shared purpose to receive Governor Oluyemi Cardoso @olayemicardoso1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria @cenbank on a courtesy call this afternoon,” he said. “Our dialogue moved beyond mere discussion into a…

Barcelona duo Claudia Pina and Vicky Lopez produced excellent second-half finishes as Spain beat Germany 3-0 in the second leg of the Uefa Women’s Nations League final to retain their title. With the game goalless after the first leg, it was hosts Spain who took command after the break, having missed several earlier chances. Pina broke the deadlock in the 61st minute when she found the bottom corner after playing a one-two with Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box. Lopez doubled the lead seven minutes later with a curling strike into the top corner after she…

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Christopher Musa as the new minister of defence. In a letter to Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, Tinubu conveyed Musa’s nomination as the successor to Mohammed Badaru who resigned on Monday. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu was confident that Musa would bring renewed leadership to the defence ministry at a time the government has declared a national security emergency. “General Musa, 58, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the…