Author: Vardiafrica

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT, and 136 individuals have filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its failure to withdraw the cybersecurity levy. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday. The CBN had last week directed banks to implement a levy of 0.5 per cent (0.005) equivalent to half per cent of all electronic transactions and to remit the levy to the National Cybersecurity Fund. The CBN relied on the Cybercrime Act 2015 [as amended]. The directive is to be implemented by…

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan have arrived in Lagos to continue a three-day visit to Nigeria. The British Royal couple were guests of the Giant of Africa Foundation at the Dream Big Basketball clinic held at the Ilupeju Grammar School in Lagos. The President of the Giant of Africa Foundation, Masai Ujiri, commended the royal couple for inspiring young kids in Africa through sports. The Duke and Duchess said they are delighted to be involved in programmes aimed at empowering young people in Africa. Prince Harry and Meghan have now arrived at the…

President Bola Tinubu extends his warm congratulations to the President-Elect of the Republic of Chad, Mahamat Déby, on his election victory. President Tinubu affirms that the successful conduct of elections in the nation underlines the commitment of the government and the people of Chad to democracy and orderly transitions in the region. The President assures President-elect Déby that Nigeria will continue to work closely with the Republic of Chad, as both countries seek to enhance peace, security, and shared prosperity for the mutual benefit of their peoples. The President also calls for sustained, friendly cooperation between both nations, while wishing…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has told the people of Rivers State that he made a mistake and he is ready to correct the mistake at the appropriate time. The former governor of Rivers State who spoke while addressing a grand civic reception on Saturday in Ogu-Bolo, Rivers State, honouring Chief George Thompson Sekibo’s 20 years of public service, however, did not disclose the mistake he said he made. Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have been engaging in a face-off that has polarised the state House of Assembly into two camps. The minister…

Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s tax reforms under the administration of President Bola Tinubu is targeted at improving the system for the overall benefit of all Nigerians. He said contrary to speculations in some quarters, “we are not here to frustrate any sector of our economy but to create an administrative system that ensures the benefits of a thriving tax system for all our citizens.” The Vice President, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of The Vice President), Aliyu Moddibo Umar, spoke on Saturday at the close-out retreat of the Presidential Fiscal Policy…

More facts are emerging in the political crisis rocking Rivers State, with Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, giving more insight on the reason behind the frosty relationship between his principal and the former Governor, Nyesom Wike. Ehie said the problem in Rivers State began when a few political leaders sought exclusive control of the resources of the state. Ehie spoke on Saturday at a thanksgiving service for the Supreme Court victory of the governor in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state, where he warned that the governor is capable of teaching his opponents…

An aircraft belonging to XeJet Airline skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos State on Saturday morning.  But there were no casualties, according to a terse statement by the airline. “XE Jet Limited has confirmed that one of their aircraft, an Embraer 145 with registration 5N-BZZ operating on behalf of NG Eagle Airlines suffered a runway excursion whilst landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport’s 18L runway this afternoon at approximately 12.29hrs,” the airline said. “No casualties were reported. We are currently liaising with NCAA, AIB and NISB, and associated agencies and will issue a…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stopped dollar transations at foreign embassies in Nigeria. The anti-graft agency said that the Nigerian local currency should be the only legal tender for transactions at foreign embassies. A source in the EFCC confirmed the development to Channels Television. According to the source, the commission sent an advisory to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that all transactions at foreign missions should be conducted in Naira. The Commission explained that the directive is part of efforts to strengthen the Naira. The value of the Naira dipped from around N700/$1 to around N1,400/$1…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned compliance officers of banks in Nigeria to stop disclosing the anti-graft agency’s investigative activities to their customers. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the call on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, through the Acting Zonal Director of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC, ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim, during a stakeholders’ meeting with Compliance Officers of Banks in Oyo State. In a statement released by the agency on Saturday, the EFCC said it is aware of the fact that Compliance Officers give information to their clients regarding ‘letters of investigation activities’ written…

On a three-day visit to Nigeria to promote his Invictus Games, Prince Harry on Saturday played a seated volleyball match with army veterans, most wounded in battle against the country’s Islamist insurgency. ADVERTISEMENT The Duke of Sussex arrived with his wife Meghan on Friday in the capital Abuja where they visited a school for an event on mental health in a trip that also saw the prince meet wounded Nigerian soldiers in the northwest. At an officer’s mess complex in Abuja, Harry’s team dressed in yellow played off in an exhibition against a team led by Nigeria’s chief of defence…