Author: Vardiafrica

The Senate has initiated an investigation into the operational inefficiencies and security concerns plaguing Nigeria’s railway system, amid rising concerns about declining service delivery. This decision follows a personal explanation presented during Thursday’s plenary by a lawmaker, who highlighted the deteriorating condition of key rail corridors across the country. As a result, Senate President Godswill Akpabio set up an ad hoc committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the state of the Nigerian railway system. The committee has been tasked with investigating the execution of rail projects, funding, operational efficiency, and service delivery. It is expected to submit its findings…

Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service is offering users an advanced security mode, joining a growing number of US tech firms that are letting users opt into stronger protections against hackers in exchange for a more restrictive experience. The new option, rolling out on Tuesday and called “Strict Account Settings,” is a one-click button in WhatsApp’s settings that activates a series of defenses. These include blocking media and attachments from unknown senders, disabling link previews — the ‌thumbnails that appear when a URL is entered ‌into a chat — and silencing calls from unknown contacts. All three have been identified as potential vectors for…

In a renewed effort to strengthen the education sector, the Rivers State Government has approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers into the state civil service. The initiative is aimed at addressing manpower gaps and improving efficiency and service delivery across public schools in the state. The Rivers State Executive Council granted the approval in its meeting yesterday at Government House, Port Harcourt, presided over by the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honor Sirawoo, disclosed that the recruitment exercise will be strictly merit-based. He emphasized that…

The Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to its personnel against the illegal sale of arms and ammunition, emphasizing that any officer found engaging in such acts will face severe disciplinary action. The warning was delivered by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs at Army Headquarters, Major General M.A. Etsu Ndagi, during a sensitization workshop on human rights and professional conduct for troops of the 17 Brigade and Sector 2 Joint Taskforce Northwest Operation. “Let me warn you against the sale of arms and ammunition. Such acts will only worsen the security situation in the country,” Major General Ndagi said.…

Meta plans to test new subscriptions that give people access to exclusive features on its apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities. In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that gives users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, noting that it will test a variety of subscription features and bundles, and…

Saudi Arabia and Nigeria have signed their first-ever bilateral agreement on the recruitment of general workers, creating a formal labour corridor between Africa’s largest economy and the Middle East’s biggest labour market. The deal signals a strategic shift in how Nigerian labour is absorbed into Gulf economies, moving from informal migration pipelines to a regulated, state-backed framework. Signed on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference 2026 in Riyadh, the agreement positions Nigeria as a priority labour partner for Saudi Arabia at a time when the kingdom is aggressively reshaping its workforce under Vision 2030. For Nigeria, it offers…

More than £2m was spent at Harrods on behalf of a then-Nigerian oil minister accused of accepting bribes from industry figures interested in government contracts, a court in London has heard. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is alleged to have been provided with “a life of luxury in the United Kingdom”, including the use of multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur driven car, travel by private jet, and £100,000 in cash. Other benefits she allegedly received included £4.6m spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, the trial at Southwark Crown Court was told. She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge…

Ogbuku announced this during the Mandatory Continuous Procurement Capacity Development Training Programme, organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, at the PTDF Centre for Skills Development in Port Harcourt. He stated: “We will soon automate our procurement processes to ensure compliance, transparency, and better service delivery. We have recently reformed our corporate governance structure and internal processes.” According to the Managing Director, the NDDC had commenced implementation of a new Governance Advisory Service to ensure accountability and transparency in service delivery. Ogbuku observed: “Holding this training in the Niger Delta demonstrates that there is peace in the region, which…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has struck out an ex-parte motion filed by the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility. At Tuesday’s proceedings, Kanu’s legal representative, Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer of the Legal Aid Council, informed the court that he wished to withdraw from the matter, citing irreconcilable issues. He explained that since the last adjourned date, he had been in constant phone communication with the relatives of the applicant. However, the relatives did not show up at the Legal Aid…

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the senate seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter containing Tinubu’s request at plenary on Tuesday. According to Tinubu, the proposed amendment is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the court of appeal in line with constitutional provisions and current realities in the justice sector. “The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and provide clarification of judicial structure and seniority,” the president…