Author: Vardiafrica

The nation’s foreign reserve has risen to over $46 billion, according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso. Cardoso, who was represented by the Deputy Governor Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi, disclosed this at the opening of the Monetary Policy Department’s 20th anniversary colloquium at the CBN headquarters in Abuja He said it was the first time the country had reached such a level since 2018, adding that the number could cover over 10 months of imports. According to the deputy governor, lending rates may decline in the coming months as inflation continues to…

US President Donald Trump has announced that football fans traveling to the US for the World Cup next year will be able to get interviews for visas faster. Trump announced the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS, in a news conference in the Oval Office after a meeting between him, the White House Task Force, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success,” he said. Hr also “strongly” encourages World Cup travellers to the US to apply for their visas “right away”. The FIFA…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday received the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward, at the State House in Abuja. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on X on Monday. Edward is in Nigeria to host a series of events in Lagos from 17 – 23 November 2025 to champion the expansion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award across the world. The event is expected to convene almost 200 young people from more than 50 countries over the week, alongside hundreds of leaders delivering the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award…

The Federal Government has stated that the armed forces and intelligence agencies had been issued clear mandate to locate, rescue and safely return the female students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He also vowed that the federal government would ensure that the perpetrators faced justice, adding the authorities would not relent until this objective was achieved. The minister expressed deep concern and solidarity with the families of the female students, saying the administration shared…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday warned judicial officers across the country, insisting that justice must remain sacred and insulated from corruption, declaring bluntly that “justice must never be for sale.” Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, Tinubu said the Judiciary must purge itself of compromise, insisting that corruption within the Bench strikes at the very foundation of the Nigerian state. The event, attended by top judicial officers, senior government officials, and members of the legal community, provided yet another opportunity for the President to fault the slow pace of…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday apologised to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. Nigeria lost to DR Congo on penalties in a tightly contested African play-off final on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, shattering the Super Eagles’ hopes of featuring at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the NFF described the defeat as “a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football.” It noted that missing out on the World Cup…

The Federal Government has officially opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), a groundbreaking national initiative aimed at transforming student-driven ideas into commercially viable and high-impact ventures. The S-VCG forms a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to cultivate a new generation of Nigerian innovation entrepreneurs capable of redefining the nation’s economic future. In a statement on Monday by the Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, speaking at the announcement, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, underscored the national importance of the initiative. “The president has challenged us to look for the…

The UK government on Monday threatened visa bans on three African countries unless they accept the returns of irregular migrants, as the interior minister was set to announce sweeping changes to the asylum system. Britain said it would stop granting visas to nationals from Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless the countries accepted the returns of “their criminals and illegal immigrants”, the interior ministry said in a statement. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was expected later on Monday to announce what has”most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times”. been touted by the government as the…

Bandits have reportedly abducted 25 students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, Kebbi State. It was gathered that the girls were whisked away during an attack by the gunmen on Sunday night at the school located in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of the state. According to sources, the attackers killed the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, before abducting several schoolgirls. Witnesses said the bandits operated without resistance and caused widespread panic, throwing the entire region into deep fear and mourning. Makuku was reportedly shot while attempting to protect the students during the invasion.…

Eric Chelle, Super Eagles head coach, has accused the DR Congo team of “doing voodoo” during the penalty shootouts of the African World Cup playoffs final. The Super Eagles will miss the 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties. The match had ended 1-1 after extra time. Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all missed their penalties, and Chancel Mbemba scored the winning kick for the Congolese to send them into the intercontinental playoffs. After the winning penalty, Chelle was seen confronting the DR Congo bench, and he had to be held back before the…