Author: Vardiafrica

Meta plans to test new subscriptions that give people access to exclusive features on its apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities. In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that gives users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, noting that it will test a variety of subscription features and bundles, and…

Saudi Arabia and Nigeria have signed their first-ever bilateral agreement on the recruitment of general workers, creating a formal labour corridor between Africa’s largest economy and the Middle East’s biggest labour market. The deal signals a strategic shift in how Nigerian labour is absorbed into Gulf economies, moving from informal migration pipelines to a regulated, state-backed framework. Signed on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference 2026 in Riyadh, the agreement positions Nigeria as a priority labour partner for Saudi Arabia at a time when the kingdom is aggressively reshaping its workforce under Vision 2030. For Nigeria, it offers…

More than £2m was spent at Harrods on behalf of a then-Nigerian oil minister accused of accepting bribes from industry figures interested in government contracts, a court in London has heard. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is alleged to have been provided with “a life of luxury in the United Kingdom”, including the use of multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur driven car, travel by private jet, and £100,000 in cash. Other benefits she allegedly received included £4.6m spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, the trial at Southwark Crown Court was told. She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge…

Ogbuku announced this during the Mandatory Continuous Procurement Capacity Development Training Programme, organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, at the PTDF Centre for Skills Development in Port Harcourt. He stated: “We will soon automate our procurement processes to ensure compliance, transparency, and better service delivery. We have recently reformed our corporate governance structure and internal processes.” According to the Managing Director, the NDDC had commenced implementation of a new Governance Advisory Service to ensure accountability and transparency in service delivery. Ogbuku observed: “Holding this training in the Niger Delta demonstrates that there is peace in the region, which…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has struck out an ex-parte motion filed by the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility. At Tuesday’s proceedings, Kanu’s legal representative, Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer of the Legal Aid Council, informed the court that he wished to withdraw from the matter, citing irreconcilable issues. He explained that since the last adjourned date, he had been in constant phone communication with the relatives of the applicant. However, the relatives did not show up at the Legal Aid…

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the senate seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter containing Tinubu’s request at plenary on Tuesday. According to Tinubu, the proposed amendment is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the court of appeal in line with constitutional provisions and current realities in the justice sector. “The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and provide clarification of judicial structure and seniority,” the president…

The National Industrial Court has ordered striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their ongoing industrial action and return to work. Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the order on Monday, January 27, while ruling on an application filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. The minister had approached the court seeking an order compelling the workers to call off the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit. The FCT Minister sued the President and the Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) over the industrial action embarked upon by FCTA workers. In…

Dangote Refinery has announced a N100 per litre increase in the retail price of Premium Motor Spirit nationwide.In a statement released by the refinery, the gantry price of petrol has risen to N799 per litre, while the retail price now stands at N839 per litre, up from N699 and N739 per litre respectively, which had been in place since December last year. “Under the current alignment, the PMS gantry price is N799 per liter, while MRS retail outlets are selling at N839 per liter,” the company stated. Dangote Refinery had earlier resorted to gasoline imports to boost supply amid downtime…

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and nine members of the House of Representatives. The governor announced the decision at a political event held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano on Monday. Addressing party leaders, lawmakers and supporters at the event, Governor Yusuf said the decision followed extensive consultations with elected representatives and key stakeholders across the state. “After wide consultation, 22 out of 24 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and nine out of 14 members of the…

The Nigerian military has confirmed that findings from an investigation into 16 detained personnel have linked some officers to an alleged attempted coup to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The confirmation followed the conclusion of investigations into allegations of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations involving the officers. According to the military, officers against whom substantial evidence has been established will be formally arraigned before a military judicial panel to face trial in line with existing laws. In a statement titled “Update on Disciplinary Cases Involving Sixteen Officers Investigated for Indiscipline, Breach of Service Regulations,” the Director…