Author: Vardiafrica

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday confirmed that 11,566 police personnel previously attached to VIPs, politicians, private individuals and special beats across Nigeria have been withdrawn and redeployed to regular policing duties. The action follows a direct presidential directive issued by President Bola Tinubu on 23 November 2025.Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Egbetokun described the move as a major step to address the long-standing manpower shortage on the streets and strengthen frontline operations at a time of rising insecurity. “The President has spoken and I will implement it to the letter. No governor, no friend, no…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has departed Guinea-Bissau, following the coup that led to the overtake of government in the West African country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that Jonathan left on a special flight with members of his delegation and is safe. “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Ibm Chambas,” the spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said. Jonathan, who chairs the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, was in the country monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections…

 President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday unveiled a new program meant to bolster France’s armed forces by training thousands of volunteers aged 18 and 19 starting next year, part of a broader response to concerns over Russia’s threat to European nations beyond the war in Ukraine. The young volunteers will serve in uniform for 10 months in France’s mainland and oversea territories only, not in military operations abroad, Macron said in a speech at the Varces military base, which is located in the French Alps. “A new national service is set to be gradually established, starting from this summer,” Macron said.…

President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency and ordered additional recruitment into the armed forces. In a statement on Wednesday, the president said the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel. “The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” Tinubu said. The president noted that while he had previously approved the nationwide upgrade of police training facilities, the police authorities are by his declaration authorised to use various National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training depots. He added that officers being withdrawn from the very important (VIP) guard duties…

The senate has begun efforts to classify kidnapping as a terrorism offence, proposing that perpetrators be executed without the option of a fine. Lawmakers said the measure would be reflected in the Terrorism (Prevention) Act due to the rising insecurity across the country. Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, was mandated to ensure the resolution is incorporated into the act. The move followed a motion by Lola Ashiru, the deputy senate leader, who highlighted recent attacks in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger state. During debate, senators expressed concerns at the rising frequency of abductions. Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, said kidnappers must face…

The Senate has dissolved its standing committees on Air Force, national security and intelligence with immediate effect. It also said that new committees would be reconstituted within one week. The decision came after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed dissatisfaction with the committees’ oversight performance so far. It further directed chairmen of its standing committees on army, navy, defence, interior and police affairs to brief the senate within one week, during a closed-door session, on their ongoing efforts to reduce insecurity across the country and to justify their continued existence. The upper chamber also began a probe into the…

Military officers in Guinea-Bissau have taken control of the government, suspended the country’s electoral process and declared they will be in control “until further notice”. On Monday, President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking to re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, both declared victory in the country’s election even though the electoral commission had not released official results. As the country awaited official results, both sides claimed that their contenders exceeded the 50 percent threshold needed to win outright, eliminating the need for a run-off. In a statement on Wednesday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) noted that…

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of three non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation The nominees are Kayode Aare (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State). The letter was read during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Akpabio has, therefore, directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to review the nominations and report back to the chamber within one week. This is the first list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate by Tinubu since he became the President on May 29, 2023. Ambassadorial Appointments, ‘Not Patronage’ There had been calls on…

Seventeen governors from the southern region of Nigeria are meeting in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, amid the rising insecurity across the country. The meeting is being held at the private residence of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who also chairs the Southern Governors’ Forum. Abiodun disclosed this in a post on his X handle. The governor said there will also be a combined engagement with the Southern Traditional Rulers Council to promote cooperation between traditional and political leadership and offer a chance to discuss issues of common regional interest. “As we prepare to host the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting today,…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo Tuesday disclosed that the federal government may go after the assets of Dana Air to refund trapped funds of passengers and airline travel agents. This is even as he said he would direct the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to probe why funds trapped by the airline are yet to be refunded. Keyamo, speaking on why the Authority suspended the operations of the airline, he revealed that the suspension was a choice between safety and disaster. The Minister, disclosed this in Abuja at the Ministry’s fourth quarter stakeholders’ engagement to enhance…