Author: Vardiafrica

Governors elected under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) visited former president Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence on Monday, The governors under the umbrella of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) were led by its chairman and the Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma. While addressing the press after the visit, Uzodimma said the group came to extend warm Sallah greetings to Buhari and also to congratulate him on the completion of the Ramadan fast. “This visit is symbolic and deeply rooted in respect, loyalty, and continued appreciation for the statesmanship, leadership, and legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Uzodimma noted,…

Nigeria and Sweden have declared their firm resolve to deepen bilateral relations through trade, sustainable development, gender equality, and cultural exchange. This was the outcome of a meeting between the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. To this effect, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria will continue to be a dependable ally of Sweden in all seasons, noting that both countries are poised for a partnership “anchored in innovation, powered by people, and guided by our shared determination to uplift communities and secure prosperity for generations to come.” Crown Princess Victoria…

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, and India, as part of preparations for the upcoming Hajj season. Officials speaking to ARY News said, “The suspension of Umrah, business, and family visit visas is aimed at preventing unregistered individuals from attempting to perform the pilgrimage.” The move comes amid concerns over the rising number of pilgrims attempting to join Hajj without official permits. In recent years, many visitors have overstayed their visas, contributing to overcrowding and serious safety risks, News Arab reports Authorities also expressed concern over the…

MTN Group, Africa’s leading mobile network operator, has entered a strategic partnership with Synamedia, a leading video software provider, to develop a new streaming platform tailored for mobile and fixed broadband subscribers across Africa. This collaboration aims to enhance digital content accessibility and provide a diverse range of viewing options to meet the evolving preferences of audiences throughout the continent. The service will leverage Synamedia’s advanced, cloud-based technologies to deliver both linear television and video-on-demand content. The platform will offer diverse monetisation models, including subscriptions, ad-supported content, and free streaming channels with targeted advertising. Each market will benefit from a…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted cocaine hidden inside the walls of several suitcases. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a post on Sunday, attaching the videos of the seized contraband on X. He decried a situation whereby the smugglers went to extreme lengths, factory-fitting the hard drugs within the luggage with surgical precision. “Narco-trend update: Strewing the walls of suitcases, in factory fitting precision, with cocaine, must have taken lot of efforts and resources but at the end #ndlea_nigeria officers still uncovered all as revealed in these videos…

Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of major US cities on Saturday to oppose the divisive policies of President Donald Trump, in the largest demonstrations since his return to the White House. Opponents of the Republican president’s policies — from government staffing cuts to trade tariffs and eroding civil liberties — rallied in Washington, New York, Houston, Florida, Colorado and Los Angeles, among other locations. “I am so angry, I’m so mad, all the time, yes. A bunch of privileged, white alleged rapists are controlling our country. It’s not great,” said New York painter Shaina Kesner, 43, joining…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of over 8,800 new Primary Healthcare Centres across the country and the upgrade of existing tertiary institutions to handle trauma, oncology, and infectious disease control.This was disclosed on Saturday by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, when he commissioned the Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre in Sagamu, Ogun State. The Vice President at the occasion, called for increased private sector participation in the ongoing reforms in the health sector and healthcare development across Nigeria. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing critical deficits in the health sector through strategic partnerships and investments,…

The Nigerian government has proposed the extension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme from one year to two years, saying it will deepen skills acquisition and boost youth employment. The proposed extension includes an expansion of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to better equip corps members with practical skills for job creation and national development. This development was revealed during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, in Abuja. A statement signed by Caroline Embu, Acting Director of…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has released N10 billion to the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, to stimulate entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Niger Delta region. Announcing the release of the fund during the inauguration of the NDCCITMA board of directors in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, noted that the N10 billion was the first instalment of the N30 billion that the Commission had promised to invest in the Chamber of Commerce. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye,…

In a landmark move that sets a new benchmark for customer-focused banking in Nigeria, Sterling Bank has championed the cancellation of bank transfer fees by major banks, announcing it will no longer take any money for itself for any local online transactions by its customers. The announcement, made on April 1st, initially sparked widespread arguments, with many assuming it was a marketing prank tied to April Fools’ Day. However, Sterling has confirmed that this is no stunt: the zero-transfer-fee policy is real, and effective immediately. With this move, Sterling becomes the first major Nigerian bank to take a definitive stand against…