Author: Vardiafrica

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has vowed never to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom for kidnapped victims, saying instead residents must be prepared to defend themselves against attacks.The governor made the disclosure, when he visited the people of Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas of the state, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora. The governor said: “The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business. “I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we…

The detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), made a dramatic turn on Tuesday by agreeing to enter his own defence. This development comes hours after Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, led protests in parts of Abuja demanding Kanu’s release. The detained IPOB leader had last Thursday filed a motion of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue with his trial. He filed the objection the same day a team of medical experts enpanelled by the court to determine his health status, turned in a…

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has directed all Nigerian airlines to give serving military personnel priority boarding on all flights ahead of first and business class passengers. Keyamo announced the policy on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholder meeting on preparations for Nigeria’s aviation centenary celebration and the inaugural Nigerian international air show, scheduled to take place from December 2 to 4, 2025. Explaining the rationale behind the directive, the minister said the decision was aimed at recognising the sacrifices and dedication of members of the Nigerian armed forces. “This is what is done in other countries, and it is not a bad thing to…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike. Chris Piwuna, president of ASUU, addressed the press on Wednesday after an overnight national executive council (NEC) meeting that ended at 4:00 am. ASUU had embarked on a warning strike on October 13 over its dissatisfaction with the federal government’s response to its demands. The demands were listed as including the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, and sustainable funding for the revitalisation of public universities. Others are the payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of over four years of promotion arrears, and the…

The Federal Government has introduced the Federal Treasury Receipt (FTR) – a landmark digital initiative designed to close revenue leakages and enhance fiscal transparency across all ministries and agencies. According to the Ministry of Finance, the FTR provides a single, verifiable digital proof for all payments into federal accounts, ensuring every government-issued receipt matches actual funds received by the Treasury. The system is part of a broader reform that includes the Central Billing System (CBS) and the Revenue Optimisation and Assurance Platform (RevOp), which went live on August 1, 2025. Together, they aim to automate revenue reconciliation, unify billing standards,…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has been honoured with the London Political Summit and Awards, LPSA, Nigeria Regional Government Development Champion of the Year 2025. The award ceremony, which took place at the UK House of Commons in London, was bestowed on Ogbuku for his outstanding contributions to regional development, innovation, and governance in the Niger Delta region. Presenting the certificate during a special Parliamentary Session hosted by Hon. Oliver Ryan MP, for Burnley and chaired by Prof. Kishan Devani BEM, Ogbuku was applauded for his outstanding contributions to regional development, innovation,…

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Bernard Mohammed Doro from Plateau state as the humanitarian minister. The nomination was contained in a letter forwarded to the senate for confirmation and announced on Tuesday by the State House. “President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a letter to the Senate seeking the confirmation of Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro from Plateau State as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on Information and strategy, said. Doro’s nomination follows the election of Nentawe Yilwatda, former minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in July. Born…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured stakeholders and development partners of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promoting girl-child education across Nigeria. He said among other government interventions in girl-child education, the school feeding programme remains essential. Speaking during a meeting with a PLAN International delegation led by its Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Mfonobong Idiong on Monday, Senator Shettima invited a teenager, Joy Ogah, to take over the seat of the Vice President for a day and address the nation. He noted that studies have shown that well-nourished children are well-formed. “We will continue the…

Over a month after the expiration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State and the re-instatent of the democratically elected governor of the state, Similar Fubara, the Supreme Court has reserved judgement in a suit challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in the sate by President Bola Tinubu. A seven-man panel of the court led by Justice Inyang Okoro reserved ruling on the matter for judgement after parties in the suit adopted their briefs. The plaintiff in the suit are the Attorneys-General of 10 States, while the defendants in the suit are the Federal Government and the National Assembly.…

A magistrate court sitting in Kuje, FCT Abuja, has remanded the brother of Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in Kuje prison. The remand followed their participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday in Abuja. Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Kanuta Kanu, disclosed this in a post on X, shortly after the court session on Tuesday. “The magistrate seating in Kuje remanded Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his youngest brother. This is a conspiracy from the executive, legislature and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial on Thursday,” Kanuta…