Author: Vardiafrica

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reported a significant increase in foreign exchange inflow into the economy in February 2024. The increase is attributed to substantial remittance payments by Nigerians overseas and purchases of naira assets by foreign portfolio investors. The apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, made this known in a statement made available to the media. Sidi noted that the Bank’s data indicates that overseas remittances rose to US$1.3 billion in February 2024, more than four times the US$300 million received in January. She added that foreign investors purchased more than US$1…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on state governors and lawmakers to prescribe capital punishment for kidnapping. While lamenting the abduction of children and women whom she says are the future of the country, Remi Tinubu described the act as heart-rending. Her media aide Busola Kukoyi quoted Remi Tinubu as saying this during a meeting with the national women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja. “They are cowards. Our hearts bleed. I call on the state governments that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishment. Why can’t…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has condemned the recent attack on students of Government Secondary School Kuriga, in Chikun LGA, Kaduna state. On Thursday, over 200 students and pupils were kidnapped by bandits who attacked the school. In a statement on Friday, Christian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, said schools are learning sanctuaries and should not be places of fear and violence. She expressed concern over the recent abduction of over 200 women, boys and children from an IDP camp in Ngala area of Borno state. “I am deeply saddened and concerned by the reports of yet another abduction of students in Kaduna…

President Bola Tinubu has condemned the abduction of internally displaced persons, and students in Borno and Kaduna States, and has directed an immediate rescue of the victims. In a statement by Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale on Friday, the president described the victims as “very vulnerable”, directing security and intelligence agencies to rescue them and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of the abominable acts. “I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family…

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says no sacrifice is too big for him to make for the restoration of peace in the state. Fubara spoke on Thursday in an interview with AIT. The governor said he is willing to leave office if it will bring peace to the south-south state. “No sacrifice will be too big for me to pay for the success of this administration and the reason is very simple,” Fubara said. “It is not political love. It is not because I want to gain any favour from anybody. My interest and love for our dear state is genuine.…

President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad. Confirming the suspension in a statement on Thursday, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President also suspended three executive directors of the agency “In the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the Agency, from office,” the statement read. “Olaniyi Alaba Netufo — Executive Director,…

Bandits have reportedly attacked a government primary school at Kuriga community of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting scores of pupils. The community is located along the Kaduna Birnin-Gwari Road which has been terrorised by bandits for many years. The police authorities and the Kaduna State government are yet to confirm the incident but a local source told Channels Television that the bandits invaded the school at 8:30 am on Thursday, and took away many pupils including the head teacher. He said that many students sustained injuries as they attempted to flee the school on sighting the bandits. Bandit…

Sweden on Thursday became the 32nd member of NATO with the handover of documents at a ceremony in Washington, a historic move that Secretary of State Antony Blinken said marked a “strategic debacle” by Russia. “Good things come to those who wait,” Blinken said as he accepted the accession documents from Sweden’s prime minister, following ratification by the 31 other alliance members. “I think if you step back and think of where we were three years ago, none of this was foreordained,” Blinken said of Sweden joining NATO. There is “no clearer example than today of the strategic debacle that…

Oil and gas industry stakeholders and leading academics on Tuesday began a three-day Research and Development (R&D) Zonal Workshop at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, with special focus on needs-driven research and deepening of collaboration and linkages, sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The workshop provides a forum for discussions and demonstration of research breakthroughs on software and hardware as they relate to oil and gas industry needs, bioremediation and related oil field chemicals solutions, such as additives and drilling fluids, and renewable solutions to meet industry needs. Scheduled to be hosted in the six…

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Kubwa has struck out the N1 billion suit instituted against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation. Malami was sued in his official and personal capacities alongside Asabe Waziri, civil servant and founder of Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative. At the court session on Thursday, Oluyemisi Adelaja, presiding judge, struck out the case for lack of diligent prosecution. “The claimant is the one who filed the action and is required to be seen diligently prosecuting same but they are not in court and there is no reason for their absence before the court,” the…