Author: Vardiafrica

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has established a dedicated Compliance Department to strengthen regulatory oversight and address emerging risks in the financial sector, including financial crimes, cybersecurity, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. The new department, created in the first quarter of 2025 and fully operational from the second quarter, was announced in a circular signed by Olubunmi Ayodele-Oni. The move forms part of the apex bank’s broader structural reforms designed to consolidate supervisory roles, improve efficiency, and ensure targeted regulation of non-prudential risks. Expanded Oversight Functions The Compliance Department will now oversee four key areas: Financial Crime…

The Federal Government has made Tax Identification, (Tax ID) compulsory for people getting involved in banking and allied services in the country. Consequently, all taxable Nigerians are to obtain a Taxpayer Identification when the new tax Acts come into force in January 2026. The Tax ID is contained in the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, Part II Section 4 of the legislation which was recently signed by President Bola Tinubu. It says, “Every Taxable person shall register with the relevant Tax Authority and obtain a Taxpayer Identification Card (Tax ID) for the purpose of compliance with tax…

Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has said the revenue of states has doubled since the removal of the petrol subsidy. Edun made the remarks during the National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja. “And over the past two years, the bold reforms have come at some cost as you repair and you fix some of the things that were broken in the economy,” he said. “So, the removal of subsidy was a tough decision but it has restored fiscal balance, not just at the federal level. The states have much more money, they have…

The Kaduna State Police Command has invited former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and six chieftains of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for questioning over allegations of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance of public peace, mischief, and causing grievous hurt. ‎The invitation was contained in a letter dated September 4, 2025, addressed to the state chairman of the ADC. It directed that the former governor and the six others be presented at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, in Kaduna. ‎Those listed alongside El-Rufai include Bashir Sa’idu, Jafaru Sani, Ubaidullah Mohammed, Nasiru Maikano, Aminu Abita, and Ahmed Rufa’i Hussaini. ‎According to the letter,…

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has said insecurity in the state would be history within two months if given total control of the security agencies. This is as he even claimed to know the location of a bandits’ leader, saying with his mobile phone he could show where the bandits are. In a viral video clip, the governor lamented that he could not do anything beyond his power as the state governor. Governor Lawal said most times he weeps for his people because he could see a problem but, since he does not have control over the security agencies,…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commenced a 10-day vacation, marking the start of his 2025 annual leave, the Presidency announced. A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the President will spend his 10-working-day vacation between France and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria. He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today, September 4, to commence a working vacation in Europe, as part of his 2025 annual leave. “The vacation will last 10 working days. “President Tinubu will spend the period between France and the UK and then return to…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has led a delegation of North East governors to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday. The meeting focused on key issues affecting the region. Top on the agenda were the completion of 17 major road projects and the resumption of oil exploration at the Kolmani and Lake Chad frontier wells. Those in attendance included Governors Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Muhammad of Bauchi, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Agbu Keffas of Taraba. Governor Zulum, who chairs the North East Governors’ Forum,…

With a vision to create a World-Class, Future-Ready Civil Service, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, has launched the ONCE-Knowledge System Steering Committee- a groundbreaking platform to harmonise and elevate capacity building, knowledge management, and talent development across the Federal Civil Service. Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Mrs. Walson-Jack, described the initiative as, “a bold new approach that ensures every Civil Servant, from the newest entrant to the most senior executive, is prepared, empowered, and supported throughout their career journey.” She explained that the system addresses long-standing fragmentation in…

The Federal Government has introduced journalism, computer programming, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and fact-checking into the new secondary school curriculum, marking a historic shift in Nigeria’s education system. This was disclosed by Dada Olusegun, Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Media, who shared excerpts of the yet-to-be-released curriculum document on Tuesday. According to the document, journalism will now be embedded into the English Language module at the senior secondary school level, while programming will span both junior and senior classes. Artificial intelligence and robotics will form part of Digital Literacy at the senior secondary level. The…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing healthcare access in the Niger Delta, pledging to support the Care365 Health Hub’s innovation in the health sector. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated this during the official launch of Care365 Health Hub’s groundbreaking product, an initiative set to redefine healthcare delivery in Nigeria, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. The event was chaired by Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and graced by dignitaries, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman of Care365 Health Hub, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), and Professor Muhammad Ali Pate,…