Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has defended the economic reforms introduced by his administration, saying Nigeria has avoided fiscal collapse and is now showing signs of recovery after three years of “difficult but necessary decisions”. In a nationwide address marking the third anniversary of his administration, Tinubu acknowledged the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms. However, he maintained that the measures had begun to stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence. The President said his administration inherited “profound economic and structural difficulties”, including mounting fiscal pressures, unsustainable subsidies, declining revenues, exchange-rate distortions, rising debt-servicing costs, insecurity,…

Travellers relying on portable power banks for phones and gadgets are now facing stricter airline restrictions as aviation authorities move to curb growing safety concerns linked to lithium batteries. The new measures follow a rise in incidents involving overheating, smoke and fires caused by power banks on aircraft. In March, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced tighter restrictions on lithium battery-powered power banks. Under the updated rules, passengers can carry only two power banks and are banned from charging them during flights. Travellers are also prohibited from checking power banks into aircraft holds and are instead advised to keep…

Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defence, says Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, “was most responsible for killing Christians” in Nigeria. Al-Minuki was killed on May 15 during a joint US-Nigerian operation targeting his compound in the Lake Chad Basin. During a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Hegseth said the US military’s operations against ISIS in Nigeria were in line with President Donald Trump’s directive to protect “persecuted Christians”. US troops began targeting Islamist terrorists late last year following allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria. “Maybe a year ago, [the president] heard the call of Nigerian…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the worsening economic hardship and insecurity across the country, saying ordinary Nigerians are “bleeding” under the weight of rising poverty and violence. In an Eid-el-Kabir message, the labour union said the nation’s working-class and poor majority continue to bear the brunt of economic instability, inflation and insecurity. The union’s president, Joe Ajaero, said Nigerians are facing severe hardship despite government assurances of reforms and recovery. According to the NLC, escalating insecurity in different parts of the country has further compounded the struggles of citizens already grappling with high living costs, unemployment and declining…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, has said a vessel discharging petroleum products at the MRS terminal in Lagos acted illegally after it was sealed over incomplete documentation. The vessel, Mt Ny Maria, carrying 81,200 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), arrived from the Lekki Deep Seaport on May 23 and berthed at Dantata Jetty, popularly known as MRS. Customs officers reportedly stopped the discharge operation on the same day the vessel berthed. The Guardian reports indicated that the petrol cargo was loaded from the Dangote Refinery and that the vessel had already undergone port,…

Dino Melaye, a former federal lawmaker and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has compared Atiku Abubakar’s landslide victory at the party’s presidential primary poll to Arsenal FC’s recent English Premier League triumph. Melaye and Atiku are Arsenal fans. Tunde Ogbeha, returning officer of the ADC presidential primary poll, announced Atiku as the winner of the exercise on Wednesday night. Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes to defeat two other contenders — Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank, and Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State. Amaechi polled 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes. Atiku…

Troops of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday repelled an attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists in Chibok LGA of Borno State after a fierce gun battle at a military position in Yarchida. According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the attack occurred around 12:30pm when the insurgents attempted to overrun troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion stationed in the area. The troops reportedly responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in an intense exchange of gunfire to prevent the terrorists from gaining access to the base. Reinforcements from the 117 Task Force Battalion were later deployed to support the defending troops, strengthening the…

Olakunle Nafiu, director-general (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps, says serving corps members are not exempt from Nigeria’s cybercrime law during their mandatory national service year. NAN reports that Nafiu spoke in Abuja on Thursday during an interview, where he noted that corps members are citizens and are bound by the constitution and other extant laws regulating online conduct, cyber activities, and public behaviour. Nafiu said allegations of cyberbullying involving corps members would be investigated and handled by relevant law enforcement agencies in line with the law. He also said the NYSC is not mandated to provide legal representation…

Folasade Tinubu-Ojo has threatened to stage a protest over alleged manipulation of the results of the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos. Recently, the APC concluded its primary elections for presidential ticket, governorship flagbearers, senatorial and House of Representatives seats, as well as state House of Assembly seats. Allegations of imposition and electoral irregularities have trailed the ruling party’s primaries in some states. Speaking at a weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders in Alausa on Wednesday, Tinubu-Ojo, Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, called for the scrapping of the Justice Forum and Mandate Group in the Lagos APC. The…

Several students were rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital on Wednesday after a Children’s Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium descended into chaos following a stampede linked to the use of pepper spray by bouncers. The event, organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education, reportedly turned rowdy after some male students allegedly harassed female students during the celebration. According to reports, the male students, said to be from Ihogbe College, made persistent advances towards female students at the venue, attracting the attention of security personnel stationed at the stadium. The bouncers reportedly confronted and rebuked the students, but…