Author: Vardiafrica

The Oyo State Government on Tuesday bolstered its security architecture with the delivery of two surveillance aircraft, as Governor Seyi Makinde said the investment would significantly improve intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and rapid response to security threats across the state. The aircraft were received by the governor at the newly upgraded tarmac of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, about one year after the state announced plans to procure them as part of efforts to strengthen security operations. Speaking with journalists shortly after taking delivery of the aircraft, Makinde said the procurement was conceived long before the recent abduction of…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a Federal High Court judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the June 15 order issued by the Federal High Court was a nullity. ‎The court ruled that the trial court wrongly assumed jurisdiction over an incompetent suit filed by a non-juristic entity and that no valid case existed to justify the consequential orders against the parties.The appellate court further found that the high…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived Tuesday at the White House for his first in-person talks with President Donald Trump since the Iran war began, as the leaders seek to patch over public disagreements on the conflict. The meeting is expected to be dominated by the war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February but has seen a recent pause in the fighting as Washington says it wants to give negotiations a chance. Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities between the United States and Iran, which flared earlier this month…

Barely weeks after making history as the first woman to be directly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb, on Tuesday took one of her first official steps as President-Elect, leading a delegation of distinguished women lawyers on a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. The visit brought together prominent figures from Nigeria’s legal profession and academia, reflecting the growing influence of women in the administration of justice and legal leadership. Accompanying the NBA President-Elect were the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Caleb University, Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson; Global…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly condemned the recent barbaric and cowardly attack on innocent citizens in Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attack on innocent citizens in the early hours of Monday led to the killings of about 30 residents, including women and children and the burning down of their houses. Describing the assault as an unprovoked act of terror against defenceless people, the President stressed that those who seek to destabilise the hard-fought peace and security, which Kaduna State has enjoyed in recent times, will not go unpunished. President Tinubu extends…

The Government of Canada is committed to making life simpler and more convenient for Canadians. This includes a modern passport program that delivers secure, user‑friendly digital services that save time, reduce in‑person visits and make passport renewal easier. Today, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that online passport renewal is now available to all eligible adult Canadians in Canada. By removing the limit on how many people can renew their passports online, we’re providing more Canadians with a convenient and secure option. Online passport renewal makes it easier for Canadians to access the services…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged to fast-track the development of the state’s tourism and creative economy, assuring that visible results will be achieved within four months after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Cultural Project. Governor Fubara gave the assurance on Monday while receiving the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musa Musawa, who visited Rivers State for the formal signing of the partnership agreement aimed at boosting tourism, culture and the creative industry across selected states. The governor said his administration had already taken deliberate…

The Anambra State Government has sealed the site of the collapsed three-storey Elite Five Star Lodge in Amaokpala Community near Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area, pending the outcome of a full investigation into the incident that claimed lives and left several others injured. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that those rescued from the rubble were receiving medical attention while investigations continue. The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, said preliminary findings suggest that structural failure…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and their running mates for 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will be held, signalling that the party has largely resolved disputes arising from its primaries ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline. Party sources said only one Northeast state remains outstanding due to disagreement over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate, with a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja expected to conclude the process. The development comes as political parties race to meet the August 8 deadline set by INEC for the submission…

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of hazard allowances and other earned benefits for members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) working in federal universities, with the new package taking effect retrospectively from January 1, 2026. The approval was contained in a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) following an agreement reached with NASU on June 29, 2026. One of the major highlights is the increase in laboratory, workshop, studio, clinical and occupational hazard allowances. Staff on CONTISS 1–5 will now receive N243,000 annually, up from N180,000, while…