Author: Vardiafrica

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has said that the ‘sit-at-home’ order enforced in the South-East by separatist groups is fast losing its grip, with security conditions in the region showing marked improvements. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit in Abuja on Thursday, where the Federal Government presented its two-year scorecard, Ribadu gave an account of progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration across key security flashpoints in the country. Ribadu noted that key figures of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), have either been captured or neutralised,…

The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, escalating tensions between the federal government and the Ivy League institution. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Harvard is now barred from enrolling foreign students, and existing international students must either transfer or risk losing their legal immigration status. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the termination of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. This decision follows the university’s refusal to submit conduct records of foreign students requested by DHS last month. In a letter addressed to Harvard, Noem accused the university of “perpetuating an…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division aimed at strengthening its capacity for data-driven decision-making, risk management, and the automation of voter services. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize Nigeria’s electoral system through technological innovation. Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed the development in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja. He said the decision was reached during the Commission’s regular weekly meeting, where members discussed the growing relevance of AI to electoral processes both in Nigeria and globally. According to Olumekun,…

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has announced that oil production will soon resume in Ogoniland, more than 30 years after drilling activities were halted in the region. Ribadu made the disclosure on Thursday during a presentation at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national summit held in Abuja. He noted that this development comes as part of the broader achievements under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that Nigeria’s oil production had climbed to an average of 1.8 million barrels per day in 2025. Ribadu highlighted significant progress in tackling oil theft and vandalism, reporting a 47 percent drop in infractions. He…

The Federal Government has instituted a suit against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over alleged defamatory remarks made on live television. The suit filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025, has Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant. The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”, citing Section 391 of the penal code, CAP 89, laws of the federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law. The list of witnesses shows that the Senate…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday transmitted a budget proposal of N1.48 trillion for the Rivers State Government to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. The President in a letter to the Senate read to the Lawmakers by the Senate, Senator Godswilll Akpabio, said the budget proposal became necessary because of the nullification of the 2025 budget of the state by the Supreme Court and the fact that the state is currently under emergency rule. The President said that ₦324bn of the amount will be expended on infrastructure, ₦166bn on health, ₦75.6bn on education and ₦31.4bn on agriculture. He added…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a fresh cut in the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) nationwide.  The new rates now range from ₦875 to ₦905 per litre, depending on location. A breakdown of the revised prices shows, Lagos:₦875, South-West ₦885, North-East: ₦905, North-West & Central: ₦895, and South-South & South-East: ₦905 Prices indicate a ₦15 reduction per litre across all regions and partner retail outlets, applying to all major fuel marketers in partnership with the refinery, including MRS, Ardova, Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde Energy. Before the new price template, Lagos residents paid ₦890 per…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has denied allegations linking him to a covert meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome and a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank. Obi was responding to a report suggesting that his May 9 trip to Rome was not ceremonial but rather a political manoeuvre intended to secure the financial future of Fidelity Bank. The report, published by Sahara Reporters, claimed Obi was in Rome to meet President Tinubu privately in a bid to address Fidelity Bank’s mounting liabilities, allegedly approaching ₦225 billion, as awarded in various court judgements. “Peter Obi’s visit…

North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, was left raging at a launch ceremony after a new North Korean naval destroyer capsized and sank in front of him. According to Mail Online, Kim watched on in horror as the 5,000-ton ship was severely damaged after failing to launch properly. He declared the mishap a ‘criminal act caused by absolute carelessness’ that ‘could not be tolerated’. Kim has ordered the destroyer to be restored before a June party meeting, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The outlet confirmed that during the ceremony on Wednesday, ‘a serious accident occurred’. In a…

Works Minister Umahi says 80% of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Section 1 is complete, with tolling set for December 2025. The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has announced that a key section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be tolled by December 2025, as part of a strategy to ensure returns on the multi-billion-naira infrastructure investment. Speaking in a feature interview for an upcoming State House documentary marking President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, Umahi disclosed that over 80 percent of Section 1 of the highway—stretching 47.47 kilometres from Ahmadu Bello Way to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and…