Author: Opalim Lifted

The Federal Government has attributed the delayed June 2025 salary payments for some of its workers to a technical network glitch specifically affecting accounts domiciled with Zenith Bank. In a statement released on Friday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), the government acknowledged complaints from public servants across several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) who are yet to receive their salaries. “Upon investigation, it was discovered that the salary payments were disrupted due to a technical issue during the processing phase at the bank,” said Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF.…

Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has hinted at disapproval over President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, suggesting the move oversteps constitutional boundaries. Tinubu made the controversial declaration on 18 March 2025, citing deep concern over the escalating political crisis in the state. He accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of unlawfully demolishing the State House of Assembly and went on to suspend the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly for six months. A sole administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, was appointed to take charge. However, Shettima’s…

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-final of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The Justine Madugu team secured the last-eight berth after defeating Botswana 1-0 in their second group game on Thursday. The Super Falcons needed a late winner from Chiwendu Ihezuo to grab the critical three points against the resolute Botswana side at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco. Nigeria began the match with the same starting line-up that thrashed Tunisia 3-0 in the team’s opener last week. Asisat Oshoala and Rinsola Babajide, both goal scorers in the previous game, returned to…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo on the Supreme Court’s affirmation of his election as Governor of Edo State, describing the verdict as a “massive win for democracy.” In a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu urged Governor Okpebholo to remain magnanimous in victory and focus on uniting the people of Edo to deliver rapid development and good governance. “This is a time to rally everyone, regardless of political affiliation, towards a common goal of progress for Edo State,” the President stated, adding that the governor must…

I want an Igbo President. Not because I’m Igbo, I’m not at all! I want an Igbo President for fairness, for justice, for balance, and for the soul of Nigeria. More than 60 years since independence, Nigeria, our beloved country still grapples with the ghost of tribalism, structural imbalance, and a political system that has, time and again, shut out the Southeast from the highest office in the land. The Igbo, one of the tripod pillars upon which Nigeria was founded, remain the only major ethnic group yet to fully taste the presidency in a democratic Nigeria since 1999. This…

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has issued a stern warning to the public about fraudulent job recruitment websites. In a public advisory on Thursday, the board cautioned Nigerians not to fall victim to fake platforms promising employment opportunities within the paramilitary services. “We strongly advise applicants to disregard any job portal other than our official recruitment site,” the CDCFIB stated. Official Recruitment Begins 14 July The CDCFIB confirmed that applications for genuine vacancies across its agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Immigration…

The presidency has dismissed reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revoked the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas for United States citizens. A statement on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, clarified that Nigeria has not withdrawn the long-term visa privileges previously extended to US nationals, contrary to viral reports on social media. The clarification follows a decision by the US government to reduce the validity period and number of entries for most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens. In an announcement on Tuesday, the US embassy in Nigeria said the affected visa…

The United States embassy on Tuesday announced new restrictions on visa issuance for Nigerians, reducing most non-diplomatic and non-immigrant visas to single entry with a three-month validity.  The move represented a major shift from the multiple-entry visas, longer validity, and greater flexibility many Nigerians are used to, Chronicle NG reports. The decision, effective July 8, has triggered questions across social media and travel communities. What went wrong, why now, and how will this affect Nigerians planning to travel to the US? Here is what you need to know. What Are Non-immigrant Visas? Non-immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who…

US President Donald Trump left African leaders momentarily stunned during a White House meeting after asking Liberian President Joseph Boakai where he learnt to speak “such beautiful English”. Trump had just wrapped up listening to translated remarks from the presidents of Senegal, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania — whose official languages are French, Portuguese, and Arabic. But when Boakai spoke in clear English, the US president seemed caught off guard. “Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States and we believe in your policy of making America great again,” Boakai said, thanking Trump for his leadership and commitment to peace…

A High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has fixed 17 July 2025 to rule on an application by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), recently told the court that the application, filed on 20 June, requests the release of his client’s international passport to enable the trip. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the move, filing a counter-affidavit. The agency argued that the request could delay ongoing legal proceedings and labelled it an “abuse of court process”, noting Bello had made a similar application before…