By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States House of Representatives on Thursday approved a resolution calling on President Donald Trump to halt military operations against Iran, marking another congressional challenge to the administration as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.

The measure passed by a vote of 214 to 208 after four Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in support. It directs the president to withdraw US forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress formally authorises military action.

However, the resolution is largely symbolic because it is a concurrent resolution. It does not require the president’s signature, and its legal effect remains disputed. As a result, Trump is widely expected to disregard it.

The vote came as the United States launched its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets. Iran has also continued attacks on US military bases and allied Gulf states.

The remains of four American service members killed in recent Iran-related attacks were returned to the United States this week and honoured in flag-draped caskets.

The conflict has also affected maritime security in the region. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement said on Wednesday that it attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea after announcing a naval blockade. Iran has also maintained pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.

Thursday’s vote reflected growing concern among lawmakers over the conflict, which began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The war has also become a political issue for Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.

Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal criticised the military campaign, saying it had “no clear mission, no strategy, no end goal.”

Democrats argued that President Trump breached the Constitution by launching and continuing military operations without congressional approval. They have repeatedly used war powers resolutions to force Republicans to take a public position on the conflict.

Most Republican lawmakers, however, remained supportive of the president.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast accused critics of overlooking the sacrifices made by American troops killed in the conflict. He said the military campaign was bringing a “reckoning” for Iranian attacks.

The Senate also considered a separate war powers resolution sponsored by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen on Thursday, although it was expected to fail.

Congress passed a similar resolution in June, but Trump dismissed it as “poorly timed and meaningless.”

The White House has maintained that limiting the president’s military authority would weaken the United States in its efforts to pressure Tehran. Democrats and a small group of Republicans have argued that Congress should reclaim its constitutional authority over decisions relating to war and peace.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise until the latest possible date before the 2027 general elections.

Obi made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday. He argued that an extension would give more eligible Nigerians the opportunity to register and participate in the electoral process.

According to him, the request is necessary because “every day, more young Nigerians attain the age of 18 and become constitutionally eligible to vote.”

“They are not just our future; they are stakeholders in our present. It would be unfortunate if many of them were denied the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility simply because the registration process closed long before the elections,” he said.

Obi also cited a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022). He said the ruling held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election “to protect the constitutional voting rights of eligible Nigerians.”

The former Anambra State governor acknowledged the challenges involved in organising elections. He recognised INEC’s responsibility to conduct free, fair and credible polls. He also noted the need for enough time to clean the voter register and complete logistical arrangements.

He, however, urged the electoral commission to ensure that the registration process encourages wider participation.

“As we continue to encourage Nigerians to participate actively in our democracy, I respectfully appeal to INEC to consider extending the voter registration window to the latest practical date that still allows adequate time for the preparation of a credible voters’ register before the 2027 general elections,” Obi said.

“However, our electoral process should, as much as possible, maximise participation rather than limit it. A democracy is strengthened when every eligible citizen has the opportunity to be heard,” he added.

Obi further called on INEC to “adopt a registration timeline that protects the integrity of the process while ensuring that no eligible Nigerian, especially our young people, is unnecessarily disenfranchised.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Global oil prices surged past the $100-per-barrel mark on Thursday after reported attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea heightened concerns over disruptions to international energy supplies.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained 6.9 percent to trade at $100.60 per barrel. United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also rose by 5.63 percent to $91.72 per barrel.

Reuters reported that the rally followed attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on two Saudi oil tankers. The incidents have raised fears over the security of oil shipments through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, two of the world’s most strategic maritime routes.

The Houthi group confirmed that it carried out the operation against the two Saudi vessels. A Saudi news agency also reported that one of the tankers caught fire after it came under attack while sailing in the Red Sea.

The latest escalation came after the Iran-backed Houthis announced on Tuesday that they would target vessels transporting Saudi oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The group also declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the United States military said on Wednesday that it conducted its 11th straight night of strikes on Iran.

The increase in crude oil prices could boost earnings for oil-producing countries such as Nigeria. However, it may also push up the cost of petroleum products and slow recent progress in easing inflation.

Reflecting the changing market conditions, Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Thursday raised its ex-gantry price of petrol from ₦1,075 to ₦1,215 per litre.

The refinery also resumed the sale of petrol in naira.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Global oil prices climbed sharply on Wednesday, with Brent crude rising above $95 per barrel for the first time in six weeks amid growing concerns over instability in the Middle East.

Market data showed that Brent crude gained 3.41 percent to close at $95.11 per barrel, its highest level since June 11. United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also recorded an increase of 3.11 percent, reaching $86.96 per barrel.

Analysts linked the rise in prices to fears of possible disruptions to major oil supply routes following the intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran. Concerns have also grown over threats to maritime activities by the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen.

On Wednesday, the US military announced that it had carried out attacks on Iran for an 11th consecutive night. The development came shortly after the Kuwaiti military reported that its air defence systems intercepted Iranian drones.

US President Donald Trump also warned Tehran against actions in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States would “bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant” whenever Iran targets ships passing through the strategic waterway.

The tension widened further on Tuesday after the Houthis threatened to attack vessels transporting Saudi oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.

The increase in Brent crude prices could have implications for Nigeria, which relies heavily on imported petroleum products. Higher international oil prices may lead to an increase in local petrol prices if import costs continue to rise.

Reports had earlier indicated that oil marketers were considering an upward review of ex-depot petrol prices due to the rising cost of imported fuel cargoes.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Billionaire businessman and Chairman of First HoldCo, Femi Otedola, has increased his ownership in the financial institution to 21.96 percent after purchasing additional shares worth N77.58 billion.

A share dealing disclosure by an insider, which was filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), showed that Otedola acquired 706.13 million shares through his investment company, Calvados Global Services Limited.

The latest purchase increased his stake in First HoldCo from 20.42 percent to 21.96 percent. It also raised the number of shares under his control from 9.28 billion to 9.99 billion.

Based on the company’s closing share price on Wednesday, the value of Otedola’s total investment in First HoldCo has risen to about N1.04 trillion.

The latest valuation marks a sharp increase from June 18, when his holdings in the company were estimated at N566.43 billion.

The acquisition follows another major investment made by Otedola last month. He bought 680 million shares in First HoldCo through a private placement at a cost of N29.6 billion, further strengthening his position as the company’s largest shareholder.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on the National Assembly to invite the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) to explain what he described as conflicting accounts over the bank accounts of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. He argued that the contradictory positions taken by the CBN and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) have raised serious concerns about the credibility of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to the former vice-president, the testimony presented by the CBN before the House of Representatives differs sharply from the earlier position of the OAGF regarding the opening of the PFIPC accounts.

He alleged that the conflicting explanations point to an effort to conceal the circumstances surrounding the accounts.

“This is where the cover-up appears to begin. One institution denied authorising the opening of the PFIPC accounts and alleged forgery,” he said.


“Another, before the representatives of the Nigerian people, stated that the accounts were opened on the directive of the Accountant-General after due process was followed. Both accounts cannot be true.”



Atiku also said the inconsistencies have left the administration caught in what he described as a “web of deception.”

“When two of your most sensitive financial and monetary authorities publicly contradict each other on the same transaction, no serious leader needs a clairvoyant to know that his administration is trapped in a web of deception and a profound crisis of credibility,” he stated.



“The President cannot continue to watch from the sidelines while his government tears itself apart with conflicting narratives.”



The ADC presidential candidate challenged President Tinubu to state which account of events he accepts.

“President Tinubu must answer a simple question: Which version does he believe—the Accountant-General’s or the Central Bank’s? If he believes neither, why has he not acted?” he said.



“Every day he delays ordering a truly independent investigation, he deepens public suspicion that preserving his administration’s image has taken precedence over establishing the truth.”



Atiku further argued that the silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation has worsened the controversy.

“The continued silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the nation’s chief law officer, only compounds this credibility crisis and reinforces the perception that this administration is more interested in containing the political fallout than uncovering the truth,” he stated.



He urged the National Assembly to invite both the CBN governor and the Accountant-General to appear together before its investigative committee under oath.

“If a single individual could allegedly orchestrate a scheme that has thrown two of Nigeria’s most critical financial and monetary authorities into public contradiction, Nigerians are entitled to ask how many other abuses may have escaped detection because of weak oversight and institutional failure,” he said.



Atiku also called on President Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the matter.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

United States President Donald Trump has lauded Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people” in a letter dated July 6, 2026.

President Trump applauded Tinubu’s commitment to addressing challenges facing Nigeria, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities, and pledged continued US support in the fight against terrorism.

“It is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against these terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote in the letter.

The endorsement comes amid strengthening security ties between the two nations, with cooperation reaching new heights in recent months. The partnership has yielded tangible results, including a coordinated attack on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad area on May 16, which resulted in the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants.

In November last year, both presidents agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-headed by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States. The collaboration has since focused on training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations to counter terrorist activities across the region.

“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world,” Trump stated. “We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.”

Trump confirmed the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to equip Nigerian military personnel with “the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack.”

The strengthened bilateral relations were further underscored last week when US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja for meetings with senior government officials. Garcia pledged to enhance cooperation between Washington and Abuja in security and other collaborative areas.

“I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency,” Trump concluded in his letter.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Portugal captain and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has stirred online debate after his verified social media account liked a post that described FIFA as “one of the most corrupt institutions on the planet.”

The post accused FIFA of favouring Argentina and attempting to help Lionel Messi win the FIFA World Cup. It also criticised the governing body’s leadership and rising ticket prices.

Ronaldo’s apparent endorsement of the post quickly drew widespread attention and sparked discussion across social media platforms.

By Uzair Adam

The Jigawa State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of a 60-year-old man who reportedly suffered a medical emergency at a hotel in Dutse, the state capital.

Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 12:50 p.m. after the man, who had checked into the hotel with a 20-year-old woman, developed breathing difficulties shortly after ordering a meal.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, said officers from the Yalwawa Police Division responded to a distress call and immediately rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Dutse, where doctors confirmed him dead.

Shiisu said detectives secured the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation, during which they recovered food items, beverages, a suspected sexual enhancement substance and other personal belongings for forensic analysis.

He noted that all exhibits were properly preserved as part of efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to the police spokesman, the deceased’s body was released to his family for burial after medical certification of death and completion of the necessary procedures.

He added that the 20-year-old woman who accompanied the deceased is cooperating with investigators by providing information to help establish the sequence of events leading to the man’s death.

The Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State assured residents that the investigation would be carried out professionally, thoroughly and impartially.

He also urged members of the public to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information that could hamper the investigation or cause unnecessary panic.

Shiisu said the police would provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced a ₦2 billion donation for the revitalisation of the Akwete weaving industry during her maiden visit to the Akwete Weaving Cooperative Village in Abia State on Tuesday.

Mrs Tinubu, who described the visit as a personal engagement rather than a formal event, said she would personally wear an Akwete wrapper if her husband, President Bola Tinubu, secures a second term in office.

“If God brings my husband in a second time, I’ll be wearing a buba and wrapper made from Akwete. I am going to be wearing that because it is very soft breathable cotton,” she stated.

The First Lady commended the women of the cooperative for their passion and resilience in preserving the craft across generations. She noted that young people in the community were continuing the family tradition, describing it as “a craft transferred from generation to generation.”

Mrs Tinubu explained that she had approached the visit informally, opting to spend time with the women rather than follow a scripted programme. She came without a prepared speech because the trip was intended as personal engagement.

She thanked Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, describing him as a good man. The First Lady recalled reaching out to his wife in the past specifically to enquire about the weaving tradition and expressed gratitude that the visit had finally materialised despite the delay.

“I just wanted to meet with these women, which I will tell the story. But we went on, and my husband said something. He said I was getting frustrated. I said, Otti is a good man. He’s a very good man. I see that, and I want to thank you,” she said.

The First Lady urged Nigerians to patronise locally made textiles as a way of preserving indigenous craftsmanship and boosting the livelihoods of rural weavers, while also encouraging citizens to embrace Igbo traditional attire made from Akwete fabric as a means of supporting local artisans.