Author: Opalim Lifted

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…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released a preliminary report detailing extensive damage to an Arik Air aircraft following an in-flight engine anomaly. On February 11, an Arik Air Boeing 737-700 aircraft operating a Lagos–Port Harcourt flight diverted to Benin Airport after the crew “heard a loud bang from the left engine.” The aircraft, operating flight W3-740 with registration 5N-MJF, was descending into Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the incident occurred. The aircraft had seven crew members and 80 passengers on board, bringing the total number of occupants to 87. According to the report, the aircraft was climbing…

Millions of Nigerians are grappling with the harsh economic impact of a fresh petrol price hike, as transport fares surge and households struggle to keep up with rising living costs. The increase follows a decision by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to raise the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from ₦1,075 to ₦1,175 per litre. Across cities such as Lagos and Abuja, commuters and transport operators say the adjustment is already hitting their pockets. Commercial bus driver Abdulrahman Oyedele in Igando said operators had little choice but to increase fares to avoid operating at a…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued new rules to strengthen security and improve customer control over instant payment services, including mobile and internet banking. The guidelines, which will take effect on July 1, were contained in a circular dated March 12 and signed by Musa Jimoh, director of the payments system policy department at the CBN. In the circular addressed to all banks and payment service providers, the CBN said the measures are aimed at reducing fraud and giving customers greater control over how they transact digitally. Under the new framework, all financial institutions offering instant payments must…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a presidential petroleum reform and value optimisation task force to design and sequence the next phase of structural reforms in the petroleum sector. In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and founder and chairman of the Fate Foundation, will serve as the chairman of the task force. As chairman, the presidency said Adeola will oversee the group’s work and ensure the timely delivery of its mandate. Other members of the task force include Ademola…

US President Donald Trump has suggested that Russian leader Vladimir Putin may be quietly assisting Iran during the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel. Speaking in an interview with Fox News Radio aired on Friday, Trump said he believed Moscow might be offering some level of support to Tehran. “I think he might be helping him a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?” Trump said. Several US media outlets have reported that Russia may have provided targeting intelligence to Iran for attacks against American forces during the conflict. The remarks come…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to ₦1,175 per litre, triggering a temporary suspension of sales by depot operators across several locations. The development comes days after the refinery reduced the ex-depot price of petrol by ₦100, bringing it down to ₦1,075 per litre on March 10, 2026, from the previous ₦1,175 per litre. Following the earlier reduction, depot owners adjusted their selling price to an average of about ₦1,100 per litre. However, the sudden upward review by the refinery forced many operators to halt transactions in order…

A US KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, killing four crew members, the US military confirmed on Friday. United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said the crash happened on Thursday at about 2:00 pm Eastern Time (1900 GMT). The aircraft went down during an operation in Iraq, while another plane involved in the incident landed safely, the command said. “Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X. The military added that initial…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed commercial banks to restrict loan defaulters particularly large-ticket obligors from accessing new credit facilities. In a circular issued to banks, the apex bank said the move aims to strengthen financial stability and prevent systemic risks within the banking sector. A large-ticket obligor refers to an individual or company that owes a substantial amount to a bank. Under the directive, any borrower with a non-performing loan recorded in the Credit Risk Management System (CRMS) or by licensed private credit bureaus will no longer qualify for additional credit. According to the CBN, such borrowers…

A Chinese national has been arrested at Kenya’s busiest airport after authorities discovered more than 2,000 live queen garden ants hidden in his luggage in an alleged wildlife trafficking attempt. The suspect, Zhang Kequn, was intercepted during a security check at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, according to prosecutors. Investigators said the ants were being transported to China and were carefully concealed in test tubes and rolls of tissue paper inside his luggage. A prosecutor told the court that officers discovered 1,948 garden ants packed in specialised test tubes, while another 300 live ants were hidden in three rolls…