Author: Opalim Lifted

Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has urged the federal government to suspend the implementation of the proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), warning that some of the changes could weaken the scheme’s core mandate. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved seven major reforms to the one-year national service programme. The proposals include digitalisation, replacing military leadership with civilian administrators, introducing a redesigned uniform and expanding skills-based training. In a statement issued on Sunday, Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, said the reforms should not undermine the NYSC’s founding objectives…

The Nigerian Army says it is fully prepared to prevent any attempt by extremist groups to infiltrate Nigeria as security concerns grow across the Sahel region. Speaking at the grand finale of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said the military remains on high alert over the activities of foreign jihadist groups operating near Nigeria’s borders. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication covering the Lake Chad region, Shaibu said the changing security situation in neighbouring countries requires increased vigilance and sustained military preparedness. He disclosed…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the matter on Monday, fixed July 10 for judgment after previously reserving its decision when parties adopted their final written addresses on May 26. The EFCC is asking the court to permanently forfeit the properties to the federal government, arguing that they are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. At the last hearing, EFCC counsel,…

The federal government has convened key players in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to discuss fair petrol pricing amid concerns that retail fuel prices have not reflected the recent decline in global crude oil prices. The meeting, held on Monday at the headquarters of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja, brought together representatives of Dangote Refinery, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN). Welcoming participants, Rabiu Umar, Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, said the engagement was aimed at finding practical solutions rather…

The signage directing visitors to the office of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), remains mounted at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. A visit to the Federal Secretariat on Monday showed that the PFIPC signage is still mounted on the floor occupied by the Federal Ministry of Health, directing visitors to the office. The Federal Secretariat houses the offices of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), making it the administrative hub of the federal civil service. Despite the absence of a legal framework or a presidential declaration, the PFIPC…

The United States says it will closely monitor how Nigeria conducts its 2027 general elections, with a senior lawmaker indicating that the outcome could influence future relations between both countries. Riley Moore, a member of the US House of Representatives, made the remarks during an interview with NoireTV, a cable and streaming network serving the African diaspora. “We’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. That’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to,” Moore said. The congressman also revealed that the US House…

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially been terminated, 18 months after its creation. President Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk, the American billionaire and founder of Tesla Inc., in November 2024 to lead DOGE, an initiative created to improve efficiency and cut costs within the US government. At the time, Trump was the president-elect. After assuming office in January 2025, Trump signed an executive order formally establishing DOGE. The initiative was slated to expire on July 4, 2026. Under Musk, DOGE launched sweeping efforts to reduce the federal workforce and overhaul agencies, including United States Agency for International…

Iranian leaders joined prayers on Sunday over the casket of the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during a second day of funeral ceremonies, but his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was conspicuously absent. The elder Khamenei ruled the Islamic Republic from 1989 until he was killed, aged 86, in an airstrike on the first day of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28. Officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi, joined Sunday’s ceremonies, along with huge crowds paying their final respects in Tehran. However, Mojtaba has not appeared in public since his appointment in early…

England produced their best display of the World Cup amid the passion and emotion of the Azteca Stadium to secure a dramatic victory over Mexico and set up a quarter-final against Norway. On a night of sheer sporting theatre, with the game delayed by an hour because of severe storms, Thomas Tuchel’s side even survived Jarell Quansah’s red card early in the second half to record one of their finest wins in recent years. Mexico had lost only two of 89 competitive games at their Azteca fortress, but England’s cool approach early on allowed them to take command when the…

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, says troops are making “tremendous progress” in efforts to rescue the 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day, Shaibu said military operations to secure the victims’ release are ongoing. The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire LGA, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools. The incident shocked the country…