Author: Vardiafrica

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform the general public that the current nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will resume for its third and final phase on Monday, 11th May 2026. This disclosed to the public on the commission’s verified X handle by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna on the 5th of May 2026 in a signed statement. the statement reads, “It may be recalled that the second phase of the exercise was suspended on 17th April 2026 to allow the Commission clean up the register after its publication for claims and objections…

Seventeen members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday dumped the African Democratic Congress for the National Democratic Congress. The defections of the lawmakers were announced in separate letters, during plenary on Tuesday. They cited unresolved internal crises at all levels in the ADC for their decisions. The defectors are: Also announced, was the defection of Leke Abejide, representing Yagba Federal Constituency, from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress (APC

Airlines around the world have cut or adjusted scheduled flights, removing millions of seats from timetables, as fears of a jet fuel shortage grow amid the ongoing war in Iran. Around two million passenger seats have been removed from flights scheduled during May through cancellations and switches to smaller aircraft, according to the Financial Times. The outlet, citing data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, reported on Monday that the number of seats available to passengers on flights from all airlines during May has fallen from 132 million to 130 million in recent weeks, with about 12,000 flights canceled. The drop in services comes…

Governor Dapo Abiodun addressing Ogun State pilgrims shortly before their departure for Saudi Arabia at the Gateway International Airport on Sunday night Ogun State etched its name in Nigeria’s aviation history on Sunday night as the newly commissioned Gateway International Airport handled its first international flight, airlifting Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj exercise. The milestone not only marked the commencement of Hajj operations in the state but also positioned Ogun as a rising force in regional and international air transport—emerging as the first departure point for Nigerian pilgrims in this year’s exercise. The flight, operated by…

The Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States, has officially launched the ECOWAS LPG 20/20 Initiative in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, marking a major step toward expanding access to clean cooking energy in WestAfrica. The launch was held alongside a high-level policy dialogue focused on clean cooking, gender equality, and child protection. The dialogue brought together stakeholders to align on strategies for scaling household energy transition and protecting vulnerable groups affected by traditional cooking practices. The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of liquefied petroleum gas as a safer, cleaner household…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Monday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies for a potential Technical Equity Partnership (TEP) for the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries. The Chinese firms, a statement from the national oil company said, are Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd. The MoU was signed by the Group Chief Executive of the NNPC, Bayo Ojulari; Chairman, Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong, and Chairman of Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, Bill Bi,…

President Donald Trump said the U.S. will start guiding ships from foreign countries through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday and warned that if Iran tries to disrupt the process, the American military will use force. Trump announced on Sunday that he was launching the campaign – dubbed Project Freedom – at the request of countries whose vessels are stranded in the strait, whom he referred to as “neutral and innocent bystanders”. “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so…

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, have formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The two former governors joined the opposition party in Abuja on Sunday at its national secretariat. Earlier, Obi announced his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Kwankwaso also hinted that he was having “wide-ranging consultations” with the NDC. Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, NDC national chairman, presented the party’s membership card to Obi and Kwankwaso. Speaking after the event, Kwankwaso said he and Obi came to discuss with the NDC stakeholders about the party…

The federal government says it has commenced plans for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerians in South Africa following xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in the former apartheid country. In a statement on Sunday, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, said President Bola Tinubu has directed that evacuation flights be provided for those willing to return home. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said arrangements are underway to collate details of affected citizens, noting that 130 Nigerians have so far registered with the country’s mission in South Africa. She noted that the number is expected to rise as Nigerian associations in the country continue to support…

Speaking during the NDDC Procurement Policy Reform and Digitisation Stakeholders Sensitisation and Training Summit in Aba, Abia State, the NDDC Director, Procurement, Dr Chuks Osuji, said the initiative was meant to drive Institutional reforms, strengthen the system, enhance transparency and reposition public sector service delivery for development across the Niger Delta region. Osuji, who was represented by the NDDC Assistant Director, Procurement, Engr. Freeman Okwurakpo stated that the Commission was committed to driving impactful initiatives to improve the quality of life of the people. He stated, “The sensitisation workshop reflects our ongoing efforts to build capacity, Institutional knowledge, and adopt…