Author: Opalim Lifted

US President Donald Trump has said his preferred option in the ongoing conflict with Iran would be to “take the oil”, signalling a potential escalation beyond previously stated war aims. Speaking in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump openly suggested targeting Iran’s energy assets, including the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub. “To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran,” Trump said, dismissing critics of the idea. The remarks come amid intensifying hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, with global energy markets already under pressure.…

The United States (US) national average retail petrol price has crossed the $4 per gallon ($1 per litre) mark for the first time in over three years, highlighting growing pressure on consumers as global tensions escalate. According to a Reuters report, data from GasBuddy showed that prices reached the milestone on Tuesday the first time since August 2022. The surge comes amid heightened instability in global energy markets triggered by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Analysts describe the $4-per-gallon level as a key psychological threshold for consumers, last seen after the Russian invasion of Ukraine…

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has issued a 10-point advisory to Nigerians residing in the country over rising tensions following the alleged coronation of an Igbo traditional ruler in the Eastern Cape Province. On Monday, several vehicles were burnt in the province as protests erupted against the alleged coronation of Solomon Eziko as the traditional leader of the Igbo community in the city. According to multiple reports, the protest was organised by members of ActionSA, a political party in South Africa, who described Eziko’s coronation as a violation of the province’s sovereignty and constitutional order. Reports indicate that…

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns to April 14, giving taxpayers in Lagos more time to comply. The initial deadline, set for March 31, was announced earlier this year for the 2026 year of assessment. However, in a statement issued on Monday, Ayodele Subair, executive chairman of LIRS, confirmed the extension to ease the filing process. According to the statement signed by Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, head of corporate communications, the move is aimed at helping taxpayers submit accurate returns without errors. Subair urged residents to treat tax compliance as…

Apostle Johnson Suleiman, founder of Omega Fire Ministries, has condemned Nigeria’s leadership following the deadly attack in Jos, describing it as evidence of governance failure. In a strongly worded post on X, Suleiman said the violence in Plateau State reflects a leadership that prioritises politics over the protection of lives. “Jos attack is another evidence of failed leadership,” he wrote, criticising what he described as wasteful political activities instead of safeguarding citizens. The cleric warned that history would judge leaders who, according to him, have enabled the same insecurity they once condemned. “I believe in the power of prayers but…

Violence erupted in South Africa’s Eastern Cape on Monday as protests against an alleged Igbo traditional leader coronation spiralled into chaos, leaving several vehicles and properties destroyed. The unrest, reported in areas including KuGompo City, was linked to claims that a Nigerian national, Solomon Eziko, had been crowned as a traditional leader of the Igbo community. Protesters described the move as a breach of South Africa’s constitutional and cultural systems. Members of ActionSA were said to have organised the demonstration, insisting that only recognised processes should determine traditional leadership. According to SABC News, Athol Trollip, the party’s Eastern Cape chairman,…

Iziaq Salako, the minister of state for health and social welfare has warned that future pandemics are unavoidable, urging Nigeria and other nations to strengthen readiness and response systems. Speaking at a public health symposium in Abuja on Monday, the minister of state for health and social welfare said the next global health crisis is inevitable and requires urgent preparation. “The next pandemic is not a matter of if but when,” Salako said at the event themed Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Insights from China and Nigeria. He noted that COVID-19, which killed more than seven million people worldwide,…

The UK Home Office has announced a sweeping increase in visa fees for people seeking to visit, study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom, with changes taking effect from April 8. Under the new structure, visa charges will rise by as much as £222, as part of broader government efforts to curb migration and tighten border controls. The policy shift comes alongside stricter measures targeting asylum seekers and migrants. Authorities say failed asylum seekers could receive up to £10,000 to voluntarily leave the country, while those found working illegally risk losing access to taxpayer-funded accommodation. In addition, the government…

The Ethiopian government has directed all public institutions to send non-essential employees on annual leave in an effort to cushion the impact of a fuel shortage disrupting transportation across the country. The war in Iran has worsened the fuel crisis in the East African nation, with long queues sometimes involving hundreds of trucks, buses, and cars forming overnight at fuel stations. The government said placing public workers on leave would help reduce demand for transportation and fuel. In the long term, authorities plan to rely on electric vehicles (EVs). A document published by the Ministry of Finance and the Ethiopian…

Suspected bandits have attacked a wedding celebration in Kahir village, Kagarko LGA of Kaduna state, killing 13 people and abducting 28 residents in a late-night raid. The attackers, said to be heavily armed, stormed the venue at about 11pm on Saturday, opening fire on guests gathered for a bachelor’s eve party. Emmanuel Musa Kahir, a resident and former special adviser to the Kagarko council chairman, said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and shot indiscriminately, leaving 13 people dead at the scene. Seven others sustained injuries during the attack. Six victims are receiving treatment at the general hospital in Kagarko,…