Author: Opalim Lifted

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has completed the six-month suspension handed down by the Senate on March 6, 2025, clearing the way for her return to plenary. The outspoken Kogi central lawmaker was barred from legislative duties, entry into the National Assembly, and access to official resources after being accused of breaching Senate rules. Natasha Akpoti, however, has consistently dismissed the sanction as politically motivated, insisting it was triggered by her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. Her suspension sparked weeks of tension, climaxing in July when she stormed the National Assembly complex with her lawyers, brandishing a court…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has appealed to the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to suspend its planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Monday, over a dispute with the Dangote refinery. On September 5, NUPENG said workers will down their tools and start sourcing for alternative employment from September 8. The union said the decision is in response to Dangote refinery’s alleged prevention of its compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanker drivers from “joining labour unions”. The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) had said they would not join the…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an upward review of the national minimum wage, saying N70,000 has become inadequate. Their demand follows recent wage reviews by some states. In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage law, raising the base from N30,000 to N70,000 for federal, state, and private sector employees. However, inflation and the rising cost of food, transport, housing, and electricity have since eroded the value of the wage. On August 27, Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, announced a new minimum wage of N104,000 for workers in the state, with corresponding adjustments across…

Amnesty International has demanded that Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) immediately withdraw its request to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for the removal of a post by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore criticizing President Bola Tinubu. In a statement on Sunday, the global rights watchdog described the move as “a brazen attempt to silence critical voices and generate a climate of fear” in Nigeria’s online space. X had earlier notified Sowore of the DSS request. Amnesty said the demand by Nigerian authorities for the deactivation of Sowore’s account was “outrageous” and a “desperate attempt at censorship and abuse…

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has approved a de minimis threshold value of $300 for low-value consignments imported through express shipments or passenger baggage. De minimis means the minimum value of goods below which no customs duties or taxes are charged when importing into a country. In a statement on Sunday, Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS public relations officer, said the decision was taken at the board’s 63rd regular meeting on September 2, chaired by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy. He said the decision, which takes effect on September 8, aligns with the best global…

The United States has asked all non-immigrant visa applicants to schedule their interview appointments only at embassies or consulates in their country of nationality or residence. In a new policy announced on September 6, the US Department of State warned that individuals applying outside their country of residence may face significantly longer appointment wait times and risk losing their application fees, which are non-refundable and non-transferable if denied. “Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments,” the directive reads. “Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order the State Security Service (DSS) to withdraw threats to ban social media platform X, over comments made by activist, Omoyele Sowore. The DSS had reportedly implied that it could move against X after Sowore posted a tweet. SERAP warned that such action would amount to “collective punishment” and would severely restrict citizens’ freedom of expression and access to information. “The threat against X if carried out would have a chilling effect on the exercise of Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression, media freedom and access to…

The legal team of activist Omoyele Sowore has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of attempting to censor free speech after social media platform X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that the agency requested the removal of his post criticising President Bola Tinubu. In a statement on Sunday, Sowore’s counsel, Tope Temokun Chambers, described the DSS action as “unlawful and unconstitutional,” warning that it was not only an attack on Sowore but also a violation of the democratic rights of all Nigerians. “We have rejected this censorship request in writing to X and have formally demanded that the DSS desist from…

Nigerians will be treated to a rare celestial spectacle on Sunday evening as a total lunar eclipse popularly called a blood moon, paints the skies deep red. The phenomenon occurs when the Earth aligns directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. As the shadow completely covers the Moon, it takes on a striking crimson glow. The eclipse will last for around 82 minutes, offering viewers in Nigeria the full experience from start to finish from the Moon entering Earth’s shadow to its dramatic re-emergence. Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is completely safe…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has moved to silence activist Omoyele Sowore by asking X (formerly Twitter) to deactivate his account. The request has been rejected, but the clash has sparked a wider storm over censorship, security agencies, and free speech in Nigeria. “Again, the DSS Joins the Fray After Police Failure” Omoyele Sowore, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, said he was not surprised to discover that the DSS had written to X demanding his verified account be deactivated within 24 hours. He described the move as a continuation of harassment after earlier police attempts to silence him…