Author: Vardiafrica

Foreign students and journalists may soon face shorter stays in the United States under a proposed law by the Donald Trump administration. According to a Wednesday statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the law seeks to curb “visa abuse” and increase the agency’s ability to “properly vet” visitors. If finalised, international students would have a four-year cap on their visas, replacing the current “duration of status” system, which allows indefinite stays as long as the student remains enrolled. Justifying the move, the DHS said foreign students have taken advantage of US generosity to become “forever” students, perpetually enrolled…

The Ethiopian government says it has signed a $2.5 billion fertiliser complex shareholder investment agreement with Dangote Group. In a statement on Thursday, Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Ethiopian prime minister, said the mega project will produce about three million metric tons of fertiliser every year. “Congratulations to all Ethiopians on another milestone in our journey toward food security and agricultural transformation. Today, we signed the Fertilizer Complex Shareholder Investment Agreement between Ethiopian Investment Holdings and Dangote Group,” he said. “With an investment of $2.5 billion, this mega project will produce up to 3 million metric tons of fertilizer annually, placing…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an upward review of fees for the Nigerian standard passport. In a statement issued on Thursday, ACI AS Akinlabi, service public relations officer of the NIS, said the new fees apply only to passport applications made within Nigeria — and will take effect from September 1. “The review which only affect Passport Application fees made in Nigeria, now set a new fee thresholds for 32-page with 5-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page with 10-year validity at N200,000,” the statement reads. The statement added that passport application fees for Nigerians in the diaspora will…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, after a two-week official trip to Japan and Brazil. The president’s jet landed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, at 01:20 am. Upon his return, Tinubu was received by top government officials, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; ministers and special advisers. The president left Abuja on Friday, August 15, 2025, and stopped over in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to…

Seven migrants were transferred from the United States to Rwanda in August under a deportation agreement with the U.S., authorities in the East African country said Thursday. Rwanda said earlier in August it would accept up to 250 deportees from the U.S.Yolande Makolo, a spokeswoman for the Rwandan government, said in a statement that the “first group of seven vetted migrants arrived in Rwanda in mid-August.” READ MORE: Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after a previous migrant deal with the UK collapsed Rwanda is one of four African countries that have reached deportation agreements with Washington, The others…

South Korea has approved a nationwide ban on mobile phones in school classrooms, joining other nations in efforts to reduce social media use among minors. Officials announced Thursday, August 28 that the bill, passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, will take effect in March next year. The law prohibits smartphones and other smart devices in classrooms, except when used for educational purposes or as assistive tools for students with disabilities or special learning needs. The Education Ministry stated that the measure aims to protect students’ right to learn and support teachers in maintaining focus during lessons. Lawmakers highlighted that…

Former Rivers State Governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed reports claiming he plans to forgo his presidential ambition in 2027 under the platform of the ADC. Amaechi, who also served as Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2022, stated this during an interaction with journalists in Kano after a meeting with a coalition of traders in the state. He insisted that the ADC primary election must be open, stressing that he would not step aside for any aspirant. In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Amaechi said “I will contest the…

China has donated one million dollars to Nigeria in support of people affected by the recent devastating floods across the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the support was provided at a ceremony for the signing of exchange of notes with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to formalise the cash assistance grant in Abuja on Wednesday. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai, expressed China’s solidarity with Nigeria “during this difficult time”, noting that both countries have recently faced natural disasters. “We would like to express our deep condolences for the people who lost their lives…

Equatorial Guinea has jailed two senior officials this week, including Ruslan Obiang Nsue, one of the sons of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. On Tuesday, a court in Bioko convicted Ruslan Obiang Nsue of illegally selling a plane owned by the national carrier, Ceiba Intercontinental, during his tenure as the company’s director. Authorities opened an investigation in November 2022 after discovering the disappearance the ATR 72-500 aircraft, which had been undergoing routine maintenance in Spain since 2018. It then established that 50-year-old Obiang Nsue sold the aircraft to a Spanish maintenance company and pocketed the money. On Wednesday, the same…

A group of Niger Delta Youth leaders, on Wednesday, staged a protest at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Towers in Abuja. The youths were said to have arrived at the towers in their numbers from around 6 am, blocking the entrance and exit gates of the NNPCL Towers. As they marched on the streets, they carried banners with inscriptions, disrupting vehicular traffic on the Herbert Macaulay Way in the Central Business District. On one of the displayed banners, the group called for the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Engr. Bashir Ojulari over alleged…