Author: Vardiafrica

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal seeking a probe of military spending despite growing concerns over the worsening security situation across the country. Instead, the upper chamber focused on condemning recent bandit attacks in Oyo and Kwara States, urging security agencies to ensure the immediate rescue of those still in captivity and calling for the expansion of the Safe School Initiative to protect vulnerable learning institutions nationwide. The debate began with a solemn moment of reflection as senators mourned the death of a teacher and other victims killed during attacks in Oyo State. This follows a motion sponsored by…

The Federal Government said it has tightened health screening and surveillance at land borders, airports, and seaports nationwide following the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease. The development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday, scaled back the number of suspected Ebola cases in central Africa to 116, down from more than 900 previously, with 330 cases now confirmed. In a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare noted that although there was currently no confirmed Ebola case in…

Members of the NDDC Board, led by the Chairman, Mr Chiedu Ebie, made the commendation during a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at his Lagos residence at the weekend. The NDDC delegation, which included the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, thanked the President for his “visionary leadership, steadfast commitment to national development, and unwavering support for the Niger Delta region.” According to the NDDC Managing Director, the meeting with President Tinubu afforded the Commission the opportunity to highlight the Commission’s progress in delivering its mandate, particularly in executing strategic projects across…

The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to immediately discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, clarifying that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules, PSR. The directive was contained in a circular dated May 13, 2026, and signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack. The circular was addressed to top government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of agencies, service chiefs, and other key public sector institutions. According to the circular, some MDAs have been wrongly interpreting…

The United States Department of State is set to significantly restructure its visa processing operations across Africa, reducing the number of embassies and consulates handling applications from nearly 50 to 20 centres. According to an internal memo and U.S. officials cited by The Associated Press, the changes are expected to take effect in June, although no specific implementation date has been announced. Under the new arrangement, visa processing for both immigrant and non-immigrant categories will be centralised in 20 designated regional hubs across the continent. The move is part of a broader U.S. immigration policy aimed at tightening visa issuance…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday read a letter announcing the defection of Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection letter was, however, dated April 23, 2026. Following the announcement of his defection, Chinda subsequently resigned his position as Minority Leader of the House. Chinda, a political ally of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, recently secured the APC governorship ticket for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections. He emerged as the party’s candidate following the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole and…

The President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, on Monday, made his first official visit to Nigeria. Wadagni’s visit was on the invitation of President Bola Tinubu, who received him at the State House in Abuja. Both presidents held discussions covering all dimensions of their strategic partnership: economic and industrial integration; energy cooperation; maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea; as well as the regional situation and preserving the cohesion of the Economic Community of West African States. As the first bilateral visit by the President of the Republic since his inauguration on May 24, 2026, the Benin Government…

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, vowed to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture with the inauguration of three new naval vessels – NNS Oloibiri, NNS Mambila, and NNS Gurara. Tinubu also inaugurated a Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea. Speaking at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos to mark the commencement of activities for the Platinum Jubilee of the Nigerian Navy, the president, who flagged off the 2026 Navy International Fleet Review, described the Navy’s 70th anniversary as a historic milestone. He said the event reflected the transformation of a modest maritime service into one of Africa’s most formidable…

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omotsola Ogbe on Monday attended the 46th extraordinary ministerial meeting of African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO).  At the meeting which held virtually, the Nigerian delegation reiterated the country’s commitment to the African Energy Bank’s formal commencement of operations. The meeting was chaired by President of APPO, who is also Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, with the Secretary General of APPO, Mr. Farid Ghezali in attendance. Engr. Ogbe serves as…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has unveiled the Nigeria Payments Systems Vision 2028, noting that the vision aims to deepen infrastructure, expand inclusion, accelerate innovation, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance Nigeria’s integration with regional and global payment systems. “Today, we don’t just unveil a payments strategy; we unveil a vision for how Nigerians will transact, trade, save, invest, and fully participate in a digital economy.” Describing PSV 2028 as “a Nigerian project” rather than a government initiative, Governor Cardoso reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to providing the leadership and enabling environment needed to transform the…