Author: Vardiafrica

On Friday, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside Nasir El-Rufa’i, former Governor of Kaduna State, and Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State and current Senator, paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna. Also accompanying the delegation were Achike Udenwa, former Governor of Imo State, Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Benue State, Jubirila Bindow, former Governor of Adamawa State, and Isa Pantami, former Minister of Communications. Despite their political affiliations with El-Rufa’i now a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Atiku, Tambuwal, Udenwa, Suswam, Bindow, and Pantami being members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the group gathered together for the visit. The group also observed Friday…

A crowd of women on Friday flooded the Aba road area of Port Harcourt, demanding the reinstatement of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The protest, which began along the major road, and advanced to the Rivers State Government House, featured placards with bold inscriptions such as “Bring back Fubara”, “Save our democracy”, “Is the law different for Rivers State?”, and “God of justice, arise for Rivers State.” Chanting songs of solidarity, the women, who described themselves as mothers and wives, appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to lift the suspension on Governor…

Liverpool FC can announce Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract that will keep him with the club beyond the 2024-25 season. The forward, who is enjoying another stellar campaign for the Reds, has committed his future by putting pen to paper on the deal. So far this term, Salah has scored 32 goals in just 45 appearances in all competitions – 27 of which have come in the Premier League, making him the division’s leading marksman. These strikes have been supplemented by 22 assists for his teammates. And today’s news means Salah will extend an eight-year stay at Anfield…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has moved its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt in Rivers to Enugu. The association premised its decision on “constitutional violations” in Rivers following the emergency rule in the oil-rich state. The move comes weeks after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing a protracted political crisis and the vandalisation of oil facilities. The president suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; Ngozi Odu, his deputy; and all house of assembly members for six months. Tinubu also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers. The senate…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over what he described as a “criminally defamatory and inciting” allegation made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused him of plotting her assassination. In the petition dated April 3 and copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Akpabio described the claims as “heinous lies” intended to damage his reputation, incite public unrest, and endanger his life. The controversy stems from a public speech by Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 1 in Kogi State, where she alleged that Akpabio had directed…

Multilateral Bank African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially commissioned its first Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) today in Abuja, Nigeria, ushering in a transformative era for trade and investment in Africa. During the grand commissioning ceremony, speakers, including Hon. Dr. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of Federation, Nigeria representing H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, highlighted the AATC’s strategic importance, its pivotal role in shaping Africa’s economic future and the significant impact it is poised to make on Africa’s trade and investment landscape. Speaking at the Ceremony, Dr. Akume stated, “Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) is a…

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), in partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI), has unveiled a N1 Billion expanded Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Scheme to provide financial support and capacity-building for local vendors and businesses within its host communities and Gas Transmission System (GTS) areas. The initiative it was learnt was designed to alleviate poverty, stimulate economic growth, and enhance sustainability by offering accessible loans at competitive interest rates. Under the partnership model, NLNG provides a seed fund, which BOI matches, creating a robust funding pool to support small-scale enterprises. The loans will target community entrepreneurs and vendors…

ECONEC has played a significant role in improving the electoral landscape in West Africa by promoting best practices and encouraging mutual support among EMBs, which has helped to build trust in electoral systems across the region. Photo: INEC The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is seeking stronger cooperation and deeper collaboration among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) within the West African sub-region. Professor Yakubu made the appeal in Banjul, the capital of the Republic of The Gambia, while attending the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC). In his remarks, Professor…

The Federal Government has predicted heavy rains and floods in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The high-flood risk states are: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, on Thursday, said coastal and riverine flooding would be experienced in some parts of the South-South geopolitical zone of the country due to a rise in sea level. Among these states…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has sanctioned eight power distribution companies (DisCos) for noncompliance with the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers. According to a statement on Thursday, the affected DisCos are Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola. NERC said the companies overbilled customers in violation of energy caps set by the regulator for the third quarter of 2024 (July to September). The commission said the sanctions were issued pursuant to Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act of 2023. “The public may recall that in 2020, the Commission issued the Order on Capping of Estimated…