Author: Opalim Lifted

Families of 52 residents kidnapped across Borno State have resorted to selling their houses in anticipation of ransom demands from their abductors. The victims were kidnapped by gunmen from different parts of the state on April 15, leaving their relatives facing weeks of uncertainty and financial strain. Hassan Yati, spokesperson for the victims’ families, said one family whose two sons were abducted was defrauded of ₦1.5 million after individuals falsely claiming to represent the kidnappers demanded ₦3 million. The family later discovered that the terrorists had neither demanded the money nor authorised anyone to collect ransom on their behalf. Yati…

The Federal Government has launched the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, offering selected young Nigerian entrepreneurs up to ₦5 million in non-dilutive funding. The initiative is a partnership between the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and Cascador. Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the programme on Facebook on Friday, describing it as an opportunity to help young founders become investment-ready and gain access to funding. Under the pilot programme, selected early-stage entrepreneurs will undergo an intensive four-week programme focused on business fundamentals, investment readiness, pitch preparation and one-on-one mentorship. At the end of…

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a new entrepreneurship programme targeting more than 100,000 young Nigerians every year. The Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) project was unveiled as part of SMEDAN’s activities to mark International Youth Day 2026. The initiative is designed to support young entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey, from developing an idea to expanding an established enterprise. According to SMEDAN, BRYNE will combine enterprise training, incubation, mentorship, access to finance, market opportunities and business development support through physical and digital platforms. SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, said the programme…

The UK government has introduced a new 24-week target for asylum appeals, aimed at cutting lengthy delays and speeding up the removal of people found to have no legal right to remain in the country. The target took effect on 12 August and applies to new asylum and immigration appeals submitted to the First-tier Tribunal involving non-detained foreign national offenders (FNOs) and people receiving asylum support and accommodation. The government said the current average waiting time for a case to be decided by a judge is 67 weeks. Under the new target, the First-tier Tribunal is expected to hear in-scope…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun uploading polling unit results from the ongoing Osun State governorship election to its Result Viewing (IReV) portal. The development follows the conclusion of voting at several polling units across the state after the official closing time of 2:30 p.m. fixed by the commission. As of the time of filing this report, 849 of the 3,763 expected polling unit results had been uploaded to the IReV portal, representing 22.56 per cent of the total results. The upload marks the beginning of the electronic transmission and public viewing of results as INEC officials proceed…

Francis Fadahunsi, senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, has asked his supporters to monitor how voters cast their ballots in Ilesa. Fadahunsi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator, made the remarks on Saturday at Polling Unit 001, NUD Primary School, a collation centre in Ilase-Ijesa, where voting was ongoing in the Osun governorship election. In a Facebook post by Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Fadahunsi was seen speaking in Yoruba and instructing his supporters to monitor the voting patterns of individual voters. “Look at where each person voted. Look at the vote of each person,” Fadahunsi said.…

At least 38 people have died after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia, triggering tsunami waves, landslides and widespread damage, officials said. The Indonesia earthquake struck at 4:58am local time on Saturday at a depth of about 15 kilometres, according to the Indonesian geophysics agency BMKG. Several aftershocks followed the powerful tremor. Authorities said 38 people had died, while two others suffered serious injuries and 11 sustained minor injuries. About 2,000 residents were evacuated to safer areas. Rescue teams were still struggling to reach Nagekeo, the region closest to the epicentre, because landslides had blocked roads and communications…

The Federal Government has unveiled the Tinubu Light Initiative, a nationwide renewable energy programme targeting one million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with affordable clean energy. The initiative was unveiled by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) during the National Showcase of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 in Abuja. NBTI Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kazeem Raji, said the programme is designed to reduce business operating costs, create jobs, promote clean energy adoption and strengthen local manufacturing. Raji said the initiative would create more than 50,000 direct jobs while improving the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses. He identified…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Ogun State Police Command have intensified enforcement against the sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml (20cl). The enforcement exercise, which began in Abeokuta, is being extended to other parts of Ogun State and will continue until full compliance is achieved. The Police Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Deputy Superintendent of Police Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a post on the command’s X handle on Friday. According to him, NAFDAC’s Ogun Office 1 State Coordinator, Akinwale…

The Osun State Police Command on Saturday arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly harboured at his residence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state. Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was said to have been apprehended in the early hours of Saturday during a police operation. The suspects and 200 PVCs were reportedly recovered during a raid on his residence. The disclosure was made by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abiodun Ojelabi. In a video clip obtained after the arrest, the lawmaker…