Author: Opalim Lifted

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that Nigerians and other applicants in the United States seeking Nigerian visas must now submit their applications directly to Nigerian diplomatic missions following the disengagement of Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services). The move takes immediate effect and ends OIS Services’ role in collecting and submitting visa applications on behalf of Nigerian missions in the United States. In a public notice signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Thursday, the NIS directed all applicants to submit their visa requests directly to the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or the…

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a nationwide protest against South African interests, threatening to shut down the operations of MTN and MultiChoice while urging Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank. According to the student leader, the planned action is in response to South Africa’s treatment of Nigeria and Nigerians. He said NANS is prepared to mobilise students across the country to ensure the protest is carried out. “We are going to shut down MTN and MultiChoice. We will force Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank,” the NANS…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has released a step-by-step guide to help Nigerians living abroad renew their passports online through its Contactless Passport Application System. In a post shared on its official X handle on Tuesday, the Service encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to take advantage of the digital platform for passport renewal. According to the NIS, applicants should: Visit the official NIS Passport Application portal. Select “Continue” from the pop-up window. Click “Apply for Renewal/Re-issue.” Create an account and verify their identity using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth. Complete the application form and choose their…

Peggy Ovire, the Nigerian actress, has confirmed the finalisation of her divorce from actor Frederick Leonard, weeks after publicly accusing him of infidelity. Ovire took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday to share posts celebrating the development. She reposted a message from a friend that read, “Thank You Jesus. My queen is free,” and followed it with another post stating, “Thank You Jesus. It is done.” The actress also took to Snapchat on Thursday to share a video of herself with the caption: “Miss Peggy Ovire.” The confirmation comes after Ovire accused Leonard of having an affair with a married…

A High Court in Imo State has sentenced Samuel Ehirim, a 42-year-old pastor, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a minor. The judgment was delivered recently by Justice C.O. Chukwumaeze, who held that the prosecution proved its case “beyond reasonable doubt” and established the defendant’s guilt through credible and consistent evidence. Ehirim was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on sexual assault, assault with intent to commit an unnatural offence, indecent treatment of girls under the age of 13, and assault, contrary to the provisions of the Imo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law No. 8…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the federal government of deliberately keeping former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in detention until after the 2027 general election to weaken the opposition. Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the continued detention of el-Rufai by the APC-led administration was politically motivated. Abdullahi stressed that the party was not against the prosecution of anyone facing legitimate criminal charges but questioned the prolonged detention of the former governor despite the offences being bailable. “When you are holding someone in custody for bailable offences, and…

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed that he once refused to pay a N300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers for the release of his brothers, insisting he would rather they were killed than negotiate with criminals. Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Lawal said the incident happened before he became governor. According to him, the kidnappers initially demanded N300 million, but he rejected the demand outright and told them to carry out their threat if they wished. “I told them I wasn’t going to pay a kobo. If they wanted to kill them, they should…

The Federal Government has approved the adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s unified national emergency number, a move aimed at improving emergency response and ensuring faster coordination among security and rescue agencies across the country. The decision was approved by the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, as part of efforts to establish a single emergency lifeline accessible nationwide. The new system is expected to replace the current mix of emergency contact numbers used by different agencies, making it easier for Nigerians to seek help during emergencies. To ensure smooth implementation, NEC also approved the establishment of a…

Kylian Mbappe scored his eighth goal of this World Cup to make up for an earlier missed penalty as France proved too good for Morocco and moved into the semi-finals. Mbappe won the first-half penalty when he was fouled by Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui, but his poorly hit spot-kick was comfortably saved by Yassine Bounou. The Real Madrid striker made amends in the 60th minute with a superb curling effort from just inside the penalty area to give France a deserved lead. Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s advantage six minutes later when he was allowed to run…

The Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), University of Ibadan, has congratulated one of its most distinguished alumni and former president, Mr Laolu Akande, on receiving the 2026 Voice of Truth Award, describing the honour as a fitting recognition of his lifelong commitment to ethical journalism, truth and public service. In a statement jointly signed by the union’s President, Adebumowa Jesutomiwo, and General Secretary, Olajide Tikristi, the student journalists said the award reflects Akande’s unwavering dedication to truth, public accountability, courageous reporting and principled journalism. According to the union, the recognition is a testament to a distinguished career defined by integrity…