Author: Vardiafrica

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has returned to Nigeria after a brief vacation in London, putting to rest widespread speculation regarding his health. Akpabio arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at approximately 4a.m. on Monday, August 18. He was warmly received at the Presidential Wing by fellow senators, aides, and supporters from various sectors. His return comes after his attendance at the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29 to 31. Responding to questions from journalists upon arrival, Senator Akpabio dismissed reports that he had been critically ill and hospitalised in London. “There…

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has secured a N5 billion loan facility from the Bank of Industry (BOI) to strengthen key sectors of the Nigerian economy and support the growth of sustainable and viable businesses across the country. The fund is particularly aimed at boosting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with a strong emphasis on women-owned businesses. The loan, which is disbursed through the Federal Government’s MSME Fund, is structured to provide affordable financing that will stimulate the economy. According to UBA, the major sectors targeted for the facility include Green Energy, Education, Healthcare, and Women-Owned Enterprises. This…

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, is set to launch Investopedia, a comprehensive platform designed to spotlight investment opportunities across the country’s 36 states of the federation. NGF’s Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Abdullahi, who disclosed this said the event will be held on Tuesday, 19th August 2025, in Hilton Hotel Abuja, the Nation’s capital. According to Abdullahi, the event will create a high- profile affair that will underscore the initiative’s ambition. He stated that the governors from all 36 states will showcase priority projects, while a ceremonial MoU signing will formalise partnerships and lay the building block for the NGF…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the advancement of education in the Niger Delta region. He made this known while receiving the Vice Chancellor of Wigwe University, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, and his team during a courtesy visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku, while welcoming the delegation, emphasised that NDDC has a long-standing tradition of supporting educational institutions across the region through infrastructure development and scholarship programmes. “It is not new for NDDC to support universities; it is something we have been doing consistently. We…

President Bola Tinubu has commended members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their “confidence” in the party at the just-concluded by-elections across the country. On Saturday, by-elections were held in the 16 constituencies in 12 states. In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu said APC “won in 12 constituencies, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won in two, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in one, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won in one” of the elections. The president also praised Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC national chairman, for the party’s “emphatic first victory recorded under his leadership.” “Chairman…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Zamfara State House of Assembly by-election for Kaura-Namoda South Constituency inconclusive. Results announced at the Kasuwar Daji Collation Centre on Saturday, August 16, 2025, showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) leading with 6,999 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 5,339 votes, a margin of 1,660 votes. A breakdown of results from the six wards revealed APC’s dominance in four wards, while PDP won in two. In Kagara Ward, APC polled 783 votes against PDP’s 682, while in Saka Jiki Ward, APC secured 1,021 to PDP’s 359. Banga Ward saw PDP…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on anti-corruption agencies to probe the National Assembly over allegations that lawmakers pay up to ₦3 million to present bills, motions, and petitions. The call comes amid an allegation by a House of Representatives member, Ibrahim Auro, that federal lawmakers pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million each to present bills, motions, and petitions at the National Assembly. In a letter by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group wants the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to identify the…

The Federal Government has announced the arrest of two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja on Saturday, August 16, 2025, said the arrest was made following a months-long counter-terrorism operation. Ribadu said the intelligence-led operation was carried out between May and July 2025 in collaboration with security and intelligence agencies. Those arrested are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, identified as the self-styled Emir…

US President Donald Trump handed Vladimir Putin a special item at their Alaska summit: a letter written by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, pleading for the Russian leader to make peace in the name of children. The first lady’s office on Saturday reposted a Fox News article on X containing the short letter, a day after Trump and Putin failed to find a breakthrough at their high-stakes meeting. Putin read the “peace letter” immediately after Trump handed it to him, while delegations from both sides looked on, according to Fox News. “In today’s world, some children are forced to…

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have launched a $50 million Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, with Nigeria named as one of four pilot countries alongside Jordan, Mongolia, and the Dominican Republic. The programme, unveiled in Abuja by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, aims to help women entrepreneurs compete in the fast-growing digital economy through funding, training, and market access. The WTO DG said Nigeria is among four countries chosen as pilot nations, with 146 Nigerian women selected to receive grants for expanding their digital economy businesses “Nigeria is one of 4 countries…