Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have restated their shared commitment to human capital development and technological inclusion through the completion of two key capacity-building projects in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The events featured the commissioning of a remodelled and fully equipped ICT Centre at Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, and the close-out ceremony of the Human Capital Development (HCD) Basic Training Programme, a year-long initiative designed to enhance employability and industry skills among young Nigerians. Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Mr. Olugbenga Sheba Esq., General Manager, Institutional…

European leaders aim to endorse controversial plans to use Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. The unprecedented proposal for what the EU has dubbed a “reparations loan” would see Kyiv receive €140bn (£121bn) worth of frozen Russian state assets currently held by Euroclear, a Belgium-based financial institution. The plan has been months in the making, partly due to the legal complexities surrounding it, as well as concerns from member states about upsetting global financial stability. Belgium in particular has been reluctant to back using the frozen assets, as it is nervous about having…

King Charles III met on Thursday with Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican, where he made history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pontiff in a service broadcast live on Vatican media. The 76-year-old monarch, who holds the title of supreme governor of the mother church of Anglicanism, flew to Rome on Wednesday evening with his wife, Queen Camilla, for what Buckingham Palace described as a “historic” trip. The royals were greeted at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday morning by a ceremonial guard of honour by the Swiss Guard, the pope’s colourful private…

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan SAN as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking the commencement of his tenure as head of the nation’s electoral body. President Tinubu on Thursday administered the oath of office to the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during an expanded meeting of the National Economic Council at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja. The president, during the constitutional exercise, charged the new INEC boss to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system and strengthen the institutional capacity of the nation’s electoral…

The Nigerian police on Thursday arrested human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore just outside the Federal High Court in Abuja. A team of police officers arrested Mr Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja where detained leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu also appeared for his terrorism trial on Thursday. In a live video streamed by Mr Sowore, the activist was seen questioning the officers about the reason for his arrest. “Do you want to bundle me? No invitation letter,” he asked, before voluntarily entering the police vehicle as his lawyers followed behind.…

Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has opted to defend himself in court after his entire legal team withdrew from his ongoing trial on treason and terrorism charges. At Thursday’s court session, senior lawyer Kanu Agabi, who had been leading Kanu’s defence team, announced his withdrawal, stating that the defendant had chosen to handle his own representation. All the senior advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on the defence team also withdrew from the case, a decision Kanu confirmed in court. Kanu told the court that he would be representing himself for now but might consider engaging…

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has vowed never to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom for kidnapped victims, saying instead residents must be prepared to defend themselves against attacks.The governor made the disclosure, when he visited the people of Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas of the state, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora. The governor said: “The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business. “I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we…

The detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), made a dramatic turn on Tuesday by agreeing to enter his own defence. This development comes hours after Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, led protests in parts of Abuja demanding Kanu’s release. The detained IPOB leader had last Thursday filed a motion of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue with his trial. He filed the objection the same day a team of medical experts enpanelled by the court to determine his health status, turned in a…

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has directed all Nigerian airlines to give serving military personnel priority boarding on all flights ahead of first and business class passengers. Keyamo announced the policy on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholder meeting on preparations for Nigeria’s aviation centenary celebration and the inaugural Nigerian international air show, scheduled to take place from December 2 to 4, 2025. Explaining the rationale behind the directive, the minister said the decision was aimed at recognising the sacrifices and dedication of members of the Nigerian armed forces. “This is what is done in other countries, and it is not a bad thing to…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike. Chris Piwuna, president of ASUU, addressed the press on Wednesday after an overnight national executive council (NEC) meeting that ended at 4:00 am. ASUU had embarked on a warning strike on October 13 over its dissatisfaction with the federal government’s response to its demands. The demands were listed as including the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, and sustainable funding for the revitalisation of public universities. Others are the payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of over four years of promotion arrears, and the…