Author: Vardiafrica

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says the Commission’s 25 anniversary celebration will begin with a thanksgiving service in Akure, Ondo State, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. Ogbuku, who spoke during a reception in honour of the NDDC Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde, described him as a dependable ally and worthy son of Akure. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer thanked God for the life of the celebrant whom he said had made numerous plausible exploits. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding the celebrant worthy of being appointed…

Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, says the south-east reserves the right to review its membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the party does not sort itself out.  In a communique issued on May 14 at the end of a meeting held in Enugu, the PDP south-east zonal executive committee said it “unanimously” recommended Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s national secretary. The communique signed by Ali Odefa, the PDP zonal chairman in the south-east, said it will review its relationship with the party if it is sidelined from producing the national secretary. The south-east PDP also asked the national working committee…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY following an in-flight engine failure during a flight from Kano to Sokoto. In a statement released on Monday, the NCAA confirmed that the flight made an emergency air return after the crew reported the incident to the Air Traffic Control. Passengers and crew were thrown into panic after smoke was observed in both the cabin and the flight deck mid-air. According to the Directorate of Airworthiness, led by Victor Foyea, oxygen masks were deployed and standard safety procedures were immediately activated to facilitate a…

The Federal Government has arraigned Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, The government arraigned the female lawmaker on Monday on six counts bordering on alleged cybercrime against the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator pleaded not guilty and Justice Mohammed Umar granted her bail on self-recognition. The judge adjourned the case to September 22, 2025 for commencement of trial. Applying for bail, her counsel, Roland Otaru (SAN), had requested that she be granted bail on self-recognition as a Senator of the Federal Republic of…

Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, says he is willing to be a one-term president in 2027. Obi, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna; are putting together a coalition to possibly wrest federal power from President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election. Speaking during a Twitter Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Sunday, Obi said any candidate from the south elected president in 2027 must be prepared to leave office on May 28, 2031, in line with the…

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has been elected Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the highest decision-making body in global customs administration. The election took place during the concluding session of the 145th/146th WCO Council Meetings held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the WCO headquarters in Brussels. With this, Adeniyi becomes the first Nigerian to hold the position since the council was established in 1952, succeeding South Africa’s Edward Kieswetter. As chairperson, Adeniyi will lead the WCO’s Policy Commission, shape global customs discussions on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, security, cross-border cooperation,…

The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa has inaugurated the Students Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 1 and SAVE 2) task forces during a high-level multi-sector conference held in Maiduguri, Borno State. The conference focused on countering extremist ideology, insurgency, and terrorism in the North-East region. Organised by the Kaltum Foundation for Peace, in collaboration with the Network of Civil Society Organisations and the Borno State Youth Parliament, the one-day forum brought together students, traditional leaders, civil society actors, and key security stakeholders to foster dialogue and build grassroots resistance against radicalisation and violent extremism. In his keynote…

President Bola Tinubu landed in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, on Saturday to kick off a two-nation diplomatic tour of the Caribbean and South America. At Hewanorra International Airport, Tinubu was welcomed with full military honours by Cyril Charles, Saint Lucia’s governor-general, and Philip Pierre, the prime minister. The state visit officially begins on Sunday with courtesy calls on the governor-general and prime minister. On Monday, Tinubu will address a special joint session of Saint Lucia’s senate and house of assembly at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet. The event will host regional leaders, including the heads of…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has said the Commission is committed to the speedy completion of the Gbaregolor-Ogulaha Road project Phase I, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. Ogbuku who was accompanied by the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the Executive Director Project, Mr. Victor Antai and some members of the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, on an assessment tour of the 24-kilometre road project, said that with a bridge spanning 576m, the project was massive, stating that billions of naira had already…

France will ban smoking on beaches and in parks, public gardens and bus shelters from tomorrow. The decree, published in the official government gazette this morning, will also ban smoking outside libraries, swimming pools and schools, and is aimed at protecting children from passive smoking. The decree did not mention electronic cigarettes. Those breaching the ban will face a fine of €135. “Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children,” Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin had said in May, underscoring “the right of children to breathe pure air”. Café terraces are excluded from the ban. Some 75,000 people…