Author: Vardiafrica

The Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the Rivers State Local Government Bill into Law, overriding Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto. The House had initially passed the Local Government Bill and sent it to Fubara for approval on March 13, 2024, which was denied. The bill was reintroduced by the Leader of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, Major Jack, (representing Akuku/Toru) constituency 1. A statement made available to newsmen said the bill was thoroughly debated by members. The Amaewhule-led lawmakers also screened and confirmed nominees for the positions of chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission. The confirmed nominees…

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Monday that the country’s first deportation flights to Rwanda could leave in 10-12 weeks as he promised to end the Parliamentary deadlock over a key policy promise before an election expected later this year. Sunak made the comments at a news conference, making his case directly to the public after vowing last week that Parliament would remain in session until the legislation is passed. The House of Commons will take up the bill later in the day, followed by consideration in the House of Lords. Sunak demanded that the unelected House of Lords to…

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the call for the strengthening of regional standby force, to serve as a rapid deployment tool in combating both existing and emerging threats, while also serving as a deterrence to large-scale weapon smuggling. While speaking at the opening ceremony of the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu listed the African region that must be strengthened to include existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU) in Abuja, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) in Algiers, and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun believes the country is not “mature” for state policing despite the myriad of security challenges facing it. He spoke on Monday during a national dialogue on state police held in Abuja with the theme ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’. “On the issue of state police, it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police,” the IGP, represented by AIG Ben Okolo, said at the event organised by the Speaker of the House…

Vice President Kashim Shettima; former President Goodluck Jonathan and elder statesman Abdulsalami Abubakar are among dignitaries attending a dialogue on state police The event held in Abuja was organised by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives with the theme Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria. While speaking at the event, the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said the country is not ripe for state police. The police chief represented by AIG Ben Okolo cited abuse by those who want to score political points. He argued that some governors may likely use state police against perceived…

The Presidency on Sunday said it was ready to launch about 2,700 CNG-powered buses and tricycles before May 29 when President Bola Tinubu turns one year in office. It said the Federal Government is set to deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites spread across 18 states before the end of 2024. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Sunday titled ‘Presidential CNG initiative set for rollout.’ “From the end of May, Nigeria will take some baby steps to join such nations that already have large…

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa wants his opponents in the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election to work with him. He is also thanking President Bola Tinubu for his “leadership” of the party.  Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner of the Ondo primary election, beating other aspirants including a lawmaker Jimoh Ibrahim. “Your participation has created so much awareness within and outside our party. You mobilized our members and removed apathy,” the Ondo governor said in his acceptance speech after the victory. “You have also brought in numerous new members into the party. All of these have enriched our democracy and…

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket for the November 16 election. Usman Ododo, Kogi state governor and chairman of the election organising committee, declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the party’s primary in the early hours of Monday. Ododo said Aiyedatiwa secured 48,569 votes to defeat his closest challengers — Mayowa Akinfolarin who had 15,343 votes and Olusola Oke who polled 14,915 votes. Aiyedatiwa won in 16 of the 18 LGAs in the state while Oke won in Ilaje The election was cancelled in Ifedore LGA due to issues of violence.…

Residents of Okuama community, Delta state, have instituted a suit against the Nigerian Army over an alleged breach of their fundamental human rights. In the suit marked FHC/WR/CS/41/2024 and filed before a federal high court in Warri on Thursday, the plaintiffs are seeking N200 billion as general and exemplary damages. On March 14, a group of army personnel comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers were killed in the community. Since then, there have been military operations in Okuama in a bid to find the perpetrators. In the suit, the applicants averred that they have been subjected…

The police have detained a female police officer who was the aide-de-camp to the embattled former Kogi State Governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, over allegations of being part of the security aides that obstructed the arrest of the former governor in Abuja. The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers attached to Mr Bello. They are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja. Sources within the Police say their arrests and detention followed an order by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, directing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor. The source who spoke to our correspondent…