Author: Vardiafrica

The education ministry has banned student transfer into SS3 classes across all public and private secondary schools. The directive, the ministry disclosed in a statement on Sunday, will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic year. Boriowo Folasade, the director of press and PR, said the measure is to curb the “increasing incidence of examination malpractice” that continues to undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s education system. The PRO said it was necessitated by the growing concern over the use of “so-called special centres” during external examinations. From the 2026/2027 academic session, admissions and transfers will be strictly limited to SS1 and…

Presidents and their deputies from across West Africa met Sunday in Nigeria for a regional meeting whose agenda was dominated by two recent coup attempts. A successful putsch in Guinea-Bissau in November and a foiled military takeover in Benin a week ago have rattled the regional bloc ECOWAS. The bloc was previously hit with a string of coups between 2020 and 2023 in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger — all of whom are still under junta control. “The events of the last few weeks have shown in concrete terms what regional solidarity means,” ECOWAS commission president Alieu Touray said…

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State on Sunday received his All Progressives Congress, APC, membership card, marking his official registration with the party. The membership card was presented to the governor by the Chairman of the APC Hospital Ward in Wukari Local Government Area, Umaru Tanko, during a brief ceremony at the TY Danjuma House in Jalingo. Speaking after receiving the card, Kefas said his registration in the APC had officially validated his status as a member of the party, thereby enabling him to participate fully in all party activities. He disclosed that the official defection ceremony, which was earlier…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation, is yet to meet his bail requirements. The EFCC was responding to Malami’s claim that his bail was revoked because of his attendance at a political gathering in Kebbi state. Malami is being probed for 18 alleged offences, including money laundering, abuse of office, and terrorism financing. In a statement on Friday, Mohammed Bello Doka, his special assistant on media, had said the former AGF did not default on any bail requirements. “For the avoidance of doubt, Abubakar Malami, SAN did not default on any bail condition.…

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reforms committee, says the tax reform laws will mandate commercial banks to report accounts with N25 million quarterly turnover to the tax agency. Speaking on Friday during a media parley on the tax reform laws, Oyedele said the tax reforms increased the reporting threshold from N10 million to N25 million. “What this one has done is that it has raised the threshold for reporting your bank account. I think it was N10 million before, but it is now N25 million, which translates to N100 million,” he said. He said on…

Yakubu Gowon, the former head of state, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were among dignitaries present at the 2025 service of nine lessons and carols held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The annual Christmas service, held on Friday and hosted by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, was themed ‘Emmanuel: God With Us’. Obasanjo, who has not attended a state function in Aso Rock since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, read the second lesson from Genesis, which focused on obedience and divine blessing. Gowon had delivered the first lesson, setting the tone for the service with a reading centred on accountability…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all acquirers, processors, and Payment Terminal Service Providers (PTSPs) to implement dual connectivity for point of sale (PoS) transactions within one month, as part of efforts to strengthen transaction reliability and reduce service disruptions. In a circular dated December 11, 2025, signed by Rakiya Yusuf, the CBN’s director of the payments system supervision department, the apex bank stated: “Mandatory Dual Connectivity –All Acquirers, Processors, and Payment Terminal Service Providers (PTSPs) shall establish and maintain active connectivity with both licensed Payments Terminal Service Aggregators (PTSAs), namely the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Unified…

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, on Saturday arrived at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential Library home in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, for a meeting. Although the reason for the meeting is yet to be known, it may not be unconnected with the current happenings in the umbrella party. Others in his entourage include former governor of Niger state Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang, former deputy governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja, among others

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike on his birthday, describing him as “one of the shining stars in my cabinet” and an “exceptional performer” whose infrastructure drive is transforming Abuja like never before. In a State House press release issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu thanked God for Wike’s life of “purpose, service, and courage.” He praised the former Rivers State governor as an “audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results,” spotlighting his role in shattering a 14-year deadlock on the Apo-Karshi road project. The President highlighted Wike’s…

President Bola Tinubu again on Friday dismissed allegations of either Christian or Muslim genocide in Nigeria, insisting that the country’s security challenges are driven by criminality and extremism, not religion. Tinubu made the remarks while declaring open the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society’s (NASFAT) 8th Biennial Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja. The theme of the event was “Building Resilience in a Changing World: The Role of Faith and Community.” Represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the President said the Federal Government was working tirelessly to end terrorism across the country. Recall that…