Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) becomes a permanent national intervention, following a closed-door meeting with the Fund’s leadership at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting, held on Tuesday, brought together the Chairman of the NELFUND Board, Jim Ovia, and the Fund’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, to review the progress of the student loan programme more than two years after its launch. According to Presidency sources, the NELFUND leadership briefed the President on the scheme’s performance, including the number of beneficiaries, implementation challenges, opportunities for expansion…

Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has criticised the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as a misplaced priority that Nigeria cannot afford amid pressing economic challenges. Speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television on Tuesday, Duke argued that the 750-kilometre project is an imprudent use of scarce public resources, insisting that government spending should reflect the country’s economic realities. “I’ll bring this up. Take the Lagos-Calabar highway. I know the country cannot afford it,” Duke said. He questioned the feasibility of constructing a coastal road through the Niger Delta, particularly Bayelsa State, which he described as…

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe military action, while expressing optimism that negotiations could produce a breakthrough within days. Speaking to reporters in California on Tuesday, Trump said discussions with Iran had made significant progress and suggested an agreement to reopen the strategic waterway could be reached as early as Wednesday. “The strait is going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard — and then the strait’s going to be open,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. The Strait of Hormuz, one…

Hackers have breached the database of Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions, compromising limited customer information in what the lender described as part of a wider global cyberattack. The bank confirmed the incident in an email sent to customers on Tuesday, saying the attackers gained access to limited customer information, including email addresses and phone numbers. According to Zenith Bank, the breach forms part of a broader cyberattack targeting organisations across multiple sectors globally. The bank, however, assured customers that its banking services and digital channels remain secure and fully operational, stressing that no disruption has been recorded.…

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts across Nigeria to immediately expel any student found culpable of kidnapping or related crimes after a thorough investigation. Speaking during a meeting with the pro-chancellor, governing council and management of the Federal University of Lafia in Abuja, Alausa said tertiary institutions must not become breeding grounds for criminal activities. “If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a culture. Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such individuals must…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating cybercrime across Africa, with Nigeria emerging as both a major source and target of attacks, as cyber-related losses across the continent more than doubled to $484 million, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. The 40-page report, released recently, revealed that AI now enables 55 per cent of reported cybercrimes across Africa by making attacks faster, more scalable, and increasingly difficult for victims, financial institutions, and digital platforms to detect. The findings come as Africa’s digital economy continues to expand rapidly, with the continent recording more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers in 2025. However,…

David Umahi, minister of works, says President Bola Tinubu ignored calls for his removal over the death of Mary Habila, a nurse, at his residence in Ebonyi State. Habila died on June 27 while attached to the minister’s medical team. Her death sparked widespread public interest, with calls from some Nigerians for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her passing. As the outrage grew, the Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations (SOKAPU) filed a N20 billion suit against the minister over the loss of life, alleging a breach of duty of care while the deceased was in…

Growing opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino has fuelled speculation over who could replace him when the world football governing body elects its next president in 2027. Infantino is facing a difficult re-election campaign after the football federations of Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdrew their support following the collapse of his proposal to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. The presidential election, which will determine FIFA’s leadership for the 2027–2031 term, is scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18. Here are five leading figures being tipped as potential challengers: Victor Montagliani (CONCACAF President)…

Chelsea have completed the signing of experienced midfielder Jordan Henderson on a two-year contract following his departure from Brentford, the Premier League club announced on Monday. The 36-year-old joins the Blues on a free transfer after making 34 appearances for Brentford last season, a campaign that earned him a place in England’s World Cup squad. Speaking after sealing the move, Henderson expressed his excitement about joining the west London club. “Given the size of the club, the manager, who I have great admiration for, and the quality of the players, this was a huge opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Henderson…

Nigerian TV host Frank Edoho has criticised the rising cost of properties in Lagos, describing the country’s real estate sector as “armed robbery”. Speaking on the KK Podcast, the 54-year-old broadcaster lamented the soaring prices of luxury homes, arguing that they bear little relationship to the quality of infrastructure available. Edoho compared property values in Nigeria with those in the United States, citing a social media post claiming that Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio purchased a private island in the US for $1.7 million. He contrasted that with a mansion in the Osapa area of Lagos, reportedly priced at about $1.5…