Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has endorsed healthy competition among the 36 states of the federation, describing it as essential to achieving the nation’s aspirations for prosperity, economic growth, human dignity and job creation. This, he said, is evident in the quality and ambition of the investment summits organised by the states across the country. The Vice President stated this on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, during the state’s Economic and Investment Summit 2026. He emphasised that the nation’s strength lies in the proactive economic awakening of its sub-national governments rather than just the government at the centre.…

The Senate Public Accounts Committee on Monday threatened to invoke constitutional sanctions against the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative after the agencies failed to appear before an investigative hearing on audit queries relating to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo, described the agencies’ absence as a disregard for the authority of the National Assembly and warned that any further failure to honour its invitation would attract punitive measures under the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders.…

Air Peace has expanded intra-Africa connectivity with the launch of scheduled services on the Lagos-Conakry-Bamako route, opening two new destinations aimed at improving travel, trade and regional integration across West Africa. The inaugural flight departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2, Lagos, at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, marking another step in the carrier’s regional expansion strategy. The new operation links Nigeria with the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Mali, providing travellers with improved access for business, tourism and cultural exchange. Intra-Africa connectivity drives regional expansion The launch reinforces Air Peace’s ambition to connect more African cities…

FirstHoldCo Plc has become the first Nigerian banking group to cross the N6 trillion market capitalisation mark, a milestone reached during trading on Monday, August 3, 2026, and one that cements its place as the country’s most valuable listed bank. The company’s shares changed hands at N136.50 apiece during the session, and with roughly 45.48 billion shares outstanding, that pushed its total market value to about N6.21 trillion. The feat caps a blistering run for the stock in 2026: shares are up nearly 185 percent year-to-date and over 143 percent since the end of June alone. It comes barely two…

The National Youth Service Corps has warned prospective corps members that they will not be mobilised for national service without obtaining clearance from the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD). The warning comes as the scheme continues preparations for the mobilisation of a fresh batch of prospective corps members, while also intensifying efforts to ensure their safety during orientation camp journeys. In a public notice shared on its official X account on Monday, the NYSC declared that NERD clearance is now compulsory for all prospective corps members. The scheme urged prospective corps members to complete the process early to avoid delays…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says one of the biggest mistakes made by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was trying to build his own political structure too early after assuming office. Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said Fubara began distancing himself from the political structure that brought him to power within his first 100 days in office, adding that the governor also made the mistake of believing he could succeed without the support of those who backed him. Wike said he had expected Fubara to build on the foundation his…

The Nigerian Army has deployed troops to Guinea-Bissau for a peace mission under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission. In a statement on Saturday, the army said the deployment reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace, security and stability. The troops, comprising 86 personnel serving under Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5 ESSMGB), departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and arrived in Guinea-Bissau to begin their mission under the ECOWAS mandate. “Prior to the deployment from the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base, Abuja, the Chief of Operations (Army), Major General MLD Saraso, represented by…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Zigma Limited, has boosted the nation’s skilled workforce with 50 crane operators who graduated from a training programme sponsored by the board in Port Harcourt Friday. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Felix Ogbe, said the training was aimed at increasing the technical skills of the trainees in crane operations to make them employable and reduce dependence on foreign expatriates. Represented by an officer of the board, Mr. Halvin Okonmah, Ogbe said the programme was another step towards achieving NCDMB’s vision of developing indigenous…

The federal government has announced plans to phase out subsidy payments in the power sector from 2027. Joseph Tegbe, the minister of power, announced the plan during a media interactive session on Friday, while speaking on the power sector debt. He said the subsidy will be gradually removed, but noted that Nigerians will not be deprived of any benefits. The minister also reiterated that there is no plan to increase tariffs in the immediate term. “We have the mandate of Mr. president to clear the legacy debt and come up with sustainale structures to make sure this doesn’t pile up…

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to equipping Nigerian teachers with future-ready digital skills through the nationwide rollout of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Teacher Capacity Development Programme across all Federal Unity Colleges. The initiative, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education through its Education Support Services Department in partnership with ICEDT Consult Limited, follows the successful completion of a pilot phase in six Federal Unity Colleges representing the six geopolitical zones. The programme is designed to strengthen teachers’ digital competencies, improve lesson planning, enhance classroom instruction and promote the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in education. Speaking at the…