Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his recent diplomatic missions to Japan and Brazil were anchored on one goal — securing opportunities that will drive economic growth, generate jobs, and promote long-term prosperity for the nation. In a message on his X handle on Thursday after focused from the trips, President Tinubu emphasised that he remained fully committed to the mandate Nigerians gave him in 2023, which is to restore Nigeria’s pride and dignity on the global stage. He noted that in Japan, at the TICAD9 summit, his delegation deepened strategic relationships aimed at attracting new investments in…

Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has revealed that the Company is under attack from people who don’t mean well for Nigeria and who are against the ongoing transformation efforts in the Company. Ojulari disclosed this while playing host to a delegation from the national body of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Thursday. He said because change always comes with a price, the NNPC Management will not succumb to such attacks. Instead, it will work for the larger interest of Nigerians. “We are under…

The Ebonyi Government has announced an increment in the minimum wage of civil servants from N70,000 to N90,000. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe, made the disclosure on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council Meeting. Omebe said that the increment was to enhance workers’ welfare, adding that the implementation was with immediate effect and covered all categories of the workforce. “We want to state categorically that this is not a political statement as this government does not toy with workers’ welfare. “The government has offset the pension and gratuities of state…

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is considering former President Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi for its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. Mohammed made this known on Thursday while responding to questions in an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television. The chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum said the party is open to celebrated politicians who can make an impact on its presidential ambition. When asked if the PDP had approached Obi, the Bauchi governor said, “Of course, he’s one of the most celebrated politicians too.…

Federal Government has assured Nigerians that passports will now be delivered within one week of enrolment, following sweeping reforms in the issuance process. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the ministry’s mid tenure performance retreat. He said, “Our target is very clear: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand. “Not just delivering quickly, but delivering quality passports that reflect our integrity as a nation.” He noted that the new system was designed to eliminate long delays and extortion that once forced citizens to wait six to…

Foreign students and journalists may soon face shorter stays in the United States under a proposed law by the Donald Trump administration. According to a Wednesday statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the law seeks to curb “visa abuse” and increase the agency’s ability to “properly vet” visitors. If finalised, international students would have a four-year cap on their visas, replacing the current “duration of status” system, which allows indefinite stays as long as the student remains enrolled. Justifying the move, the DHS said foreign students have taken advantage of US generosity to become “forever” students, perpetually enrolled…

The Ethiopian government says it has signed a $2.5 billion fertiliser complex shareholder investment agreement with Dangote Group. In a statement on Thursday, Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Ethiopian prime minister, said the mega project will produce about three million metric tons of fertiliser every year. “Congratulations to all Ethiopians on another milestone in our journey toward food security and agricultural transformation. Today, we signed the Fertilizer Complex Shareholder Investment Agreement between Ethiopian Investment Holdings and Dangote Group,” he said. “With an investment of $2.5 billion, this mega project will produce up to 3 million metric tons of fertilizer annually, placing…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an upward review of fees for the Nigerian standard passport. In a statement issued on Thursday, ACI AS Akinlabi, service public relations officer of the NIS, said the new fees apply only to passport applications made within Nigeria — and will take effect from September 1. “The review which only affect Passport Application fees made in Nigeria, now set a new fee thresholds for 32-page with 5-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page with 10-year validity at N200,000,” the statement reads. The statement added that passport application fees for Nigerians in the diaspora will…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, after a two-week official trip to Japan and Brazil. The president’s jet landed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, at 01:20 am. Upon his return, Tinubu was received by top government officials, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; ministers and special advisers. The president left Abuja on Friday, August 15, 2025, and stopped over in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to…

Seven migrants were transferred from the United States to Rwanda in August under a deportation agreement with the U.S., authorities in the East African country said Thursday. Rwanda said earlier in August it would accept up to 250 deportees from the U.S.Yolande Makolo, a spokeswoman for the Rwandan government, said in a statement that the “first group of seven vetted migrants arrived in Rwanda in mid-August.” READ MORE: Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after a previous migrant deal with the UK collapsed Rwanda is one of four African countries that have reached deportation agreements with Washington, The others…