Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the establishment of a Presidential Petroleum Reform & Value Optimisation Taskforce to design and sequence the next phase of structural reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Mr Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank and founder and chairman of the Fate Foundation, is the Task Force’s chairman. As chairman, he will coordinate the group’s work and ensure the timely delivery of its mandate. Other members of the Taskforce are: Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Osagie Okunbor, Abubakar Suleiman, Adaeze Aguele, Farouk Gumel, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye and Seyi Bella. Mofoluwasho Fadayomi will serve as secretary. As constituted, the Taskforce…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the repositioning of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) from the supervision of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to report directly to the Presidency. The decision resolves a long-standing structural contradiction and places Nigeria, for the first time, closer to the governance architecture used by the world’s most credible transport safety systems, where accident investigation sits near the centre of national policy oversight. The Presidential approval, which was sighted by the Nigerian Tribune on Friday, and dated 5th of March 2026, was transmitted to the Minister of Aviation for immediate implementation on…

Pushing back on U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments, Iran’s national soccer team says “no one can exclude” it from playing in the men’s World Cup in the United States. Instead, a post on the team’s official Instagram account Thursday suggested maybe the U.S. team should be excluded after Trump indicated that the host country couldn’t guarantee the safety of the Iranian players. Trump wrote in a social media post Thursday that the Iranian team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war with Iran but that “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed commercial banks across Nigeria to prevent loan defaulters from obtaining new credit facilities. The directive was conveyed in a circular issued by the apex bank to banks, targeting borrowers who have failed to meet their loan repayment obligations. According to the circular, the restriction particularly applies to large-ticket obligors—individuals or companies with significant outstanding debts to financial institutions. Under the new measure, banks are required to block such defaulters from accessing further credit until their existing obligations are settled. The circular further clarifies that any large-ticket obligor with a non-performing facility recorded…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a public health advisory warning that several northern states face a heightened risk of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) as dry season conditions intensify across parts of Nigeria. In a notice posted on its X handle, the agency explained that the disease is a serious infection that affects the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and is commonly caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. NiMet also explained that CSM spreads through respiratory droplets, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated environments. NiMet identified Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, and…

The war in the Middle East ​is creating the biggest ‌oil supply disruption in the history of the global ​market, the International ​Energy Agency said on Thursday, ⁠a day after the ​agency agreed to release ​a record volume of oil from strategic stockpiles. Middle East Gulf ​countries have cut total ​oil production by at least 10 ‌million ⁠bpd – a volume equal to almost 10% of world demand – as a ​result ​of ⁠the conflict, the agency said in ​its latest monthly oil ​market ⁠report. Without a rapid restart of shipping flows, ⁠these ​losses are set ​to increase, IEA said.…

Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians not to lose faith in the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism despite recent attacks on security personnel and communities. Musa made the appeal on Thursday after briefing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The security briefing followed a closed-door meeting between the President and top security officials, including service chiefs and the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu. The meeting came in the wake of renewed attacks on military formations and security personnel across the country, including a deadly assault on the Ngoshe…

Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit 90pppppto the United Kingdom, King Charles III hosted members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK to a pre-visit reception. The reception, held on Wednesday evening, featured jollof rice and live music by Dele Sosimi and the Afrobeats Orchestra. The Royal Family described it on its official X handle on Thursday as “a wonderful evening,” thanking those who attended the event. “Last night, The King hosted a reception with members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK, ahead of the incoming State Visit of the President of Nigeria. “With jollof rice and music…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with service chiefs and top defence officials to review the country’s security situation amid a recent surge in insurgent attacks. Following the meeting, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa briefed journalists on the discussions and the ongoing fight against terrorism. “The meeting is primarily for us to review ongoing events,” Musa said. “We came here to brief Mr. President on the current situation on the ground. There have been a series of attacks, and the security forces have risen to the occasion. Our goal is to give…

The Federal Government has inaugurated principal officers for newly established federal tertiary institutions and the leadership of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system. The Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, performed the inauguration at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The appointments include leadership for the Federal University of Science and Technology Epe in Epe and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic Abuja. Dr. Alausa said the development reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality tertiary education, strengthening teacher education, and positioning Nigerian…