Author: Vardiafrica

The Second Africa Climate Summit opened Monday in Addis Ababa with a call from leaders to move from rhetoric to action, casting Africa not as a victim of climate change but as a driver of solutions and the next global climate economy. Opening the summit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged partners to replace aid with investment. “Too often, Africa’s story at climate summits begins with what we lack: finance, technology, (and) time. Let us begin instead with what we have,” Abiy said, pointing to Africa’s young population, vast arable land, and the fastest-growing solar belt on Earth. He highlighted…

‎The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has tied the prospect of lower lending rates to a continued decline in inflation, saying the Bank’s policy reforms are already restoring stability to the financial system. ‎Governor Olayemi Cardoso made this clear at the European Business Chamber (Eurocham Nigeria) C-Level Forum in Lagos on Saturday. Speaking during a fireside chat moderated by Andreas Voss, Chief Country Representative of Deutsche Bank Nigeria, he said inflation, though still high, is on a downward trend due to collective efforts. ‎In a statement on Sunday, he explained that as inflation continues to ease, interest rates are expected…

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has approved a de minimis threshold value for low-value consignment imported through express shipments or by passenger baggage. The decision, which takes effect on Monday, September 8, 2025, was reached at its 63rd regular meeting held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun. The board said that the approval aligns with the best global practices that aim to simplify clearance processes for low-value consignments, enhance trade facilitation, and provide clarity for e-commerce stakeholders and travellers. The de minimis threshold is the…

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that it will publicly name and shame airlines that consistently violate aviation regulations, especially in cases involving flight cancellations, prolonged delays, and neglect of passenger rights. The announcement was made on Monday via a statement posted on social media by the NCAA’s Head of Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, who said the move is part of a renewed enforcement strategy directed by the Federal Government and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Achimugu emphasized that airlines are legally required to provide hotel accommodation for passengers stranded between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated a lawsuit against the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) concerning its proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders. This includes the President, Vice President, Governors, their deputies, and members of the National Assembly. Last month, the RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, disclosed the commission’s proposal to increase, claiming that the salaries for these office holders are “paltry.” Shehu stated that President Bola Tinubu currently earns N1.5 million monthly, a figure he described as laughable for a nation of over 200 million people, adding that the amount…

Russia fired its biggest-ever aerial barrage at Ukraine early Sunday, killing four people and setting the seat of the Ukrainian government in Kyiv ablaze in an attack President Volodymyr Zelensky warned would prolong the war. The Sunday attack was the first to hit Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers, a sprawling government complex at the heart of Kyiv. An AFP reporter saw the roof of the building in flames and smoke billowing over the capital. Drone strikes also damaged several high-rise buildings in Kyiv, according to emergency services. Russia has shown no sign of halting its three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine, pushing hardline demands for ending the war…

Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup courtesy of a routine 5-0 win over 10-man Niger in Rabat. The Atlas Lions, who made history in reaching the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, knew that three points would be enough to progress from Group E with two games to spare after Tanzania could only draw 1-1 in Congo-Brazzaville earlier on Friday. Niger’s Abdoul-Latif Goumey was sent off for his second bookable offence in the 26th minute and Ismael Saibari converted Youssef Belammari’s cross to open the scoring three minutes later. Saibari doubled the lead before the break…

The Federal Government has stepped up monitoring and screening at all points of entry in response to the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Director of Port Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Akpan Nse, confirmed that additional staff had been deployed to strengthen border surveillance. Health authorities in the DRC declared an outbreak in Kasai Province, where 28 suspected cases and 16 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported as of September 5, 2025. The outbreak is the country’s 16th since Ebola was first identified in 1976. Dr…

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has declared a nationwide strike from Monday, September 8, 2025, over alleged anti-labour practices linked to the operations of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks recently imported by Dangote Refinery. ‎The announcement was made in a statement jointly signed by the Union’s National President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale. The Reason For the Dispute ‎According to NUPENG, the crisis began after Dangote Refinery announced plans in June to deploy 10,000 CNG-powered trucks for the distribution of petroleum and diesel products nationwide. The Union said while the initiative was initially…

The new President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Sidi Ould Tah, says he will focus on reforms, strengthening partnerships and empowering youths and women across Africa in his first 100 days in office. He made this known in his inaugural speech on Monday in Abidjan, pledging thatthe bank would move with urgency to reposition itself as a responsive institution capable of addressing Africa’s pressing development challenges. He listed his four urgent priorities as: listening with intent to stakeholders, launching fast-track reform agenda, deepening partnerships and accelerating real solutions for inclusive growth. According to him, listening to shareholders, partners, clients…