Author: Vardiafrica

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday disclosed that a new security arrangement would be put in place to secure the state in view of the recent spike in banditry, terrorism and other crimes in parts of the country. The governor said the government would begin the documentation of all undocumented foreign nationals working with multinational companies operating in the state. He also said new non-indigenes entering the state for the first time would undergo proper screening by their community leaders to ensure they were not used to orchestrate violence, stressing that government must know their purpose and means of livelihood.…

The South-East caucus of the House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider a pardon for the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. They said releasing Kanu through pardon would open space for broader engagement between the Federal Government, elected leaders, and community stakeholders, leading to long-term peace. The lawmakers, in a statement on Monday after a meeting, said Nigeria has, in critical moments, relied on presidential magnanimity to heal divisions and consolidate peace. “Indeed, the authors of our constitution conceived of Section 175 in anticipation that the bare dictates of the law may…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has formally registered his membership with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Atiku registered and collected his membership card at Jada ward 1 in Jada LGA of Adamawa state on Monday. In July, he resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the party of straying from its founding ideals. Atiku described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party had strayed from the ideals on which it was founded. Atiku, who is 78 years old, was the PDP’s standard-bearer in the 2023 election. In May, the opposition leaders had agreed to adopt the ADC as the platform to…

Discussions and engagements held last week between a high-level Nigerian delegation and US officials will help strengthen security partnerships between the two countries and open new avenues for cooperation to protect Nigerian citizens. The delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with senior officials across the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War. In all engagements in Washington, DC, the Nigerian delegation refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria, emphasising that violent attacks affect families and communities across religious and ethnic lines. The delegation strongly…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country. Tinubu issued the directive on Sunday during a security meeting held at the State House with the inspector-general of police, the chiefs of army and air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS). A statement on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, said Tinubu ordered that the personnel be redeployed to core policing duties in communities. Under the new arrangement, VIPs who require security protection will now be expected to request armed personnel…

President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a closed-door meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Some of those in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyode; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kelvin Aneke; the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General EAP Undiendeye, and the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu. Also in attendance are the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as well as the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Ajayi. Although the details of…

Thirty-eight worshippers of Christ Apostolic Church(CAC) Oke Isegun in Eruku town in Ekiti local government area of Kwara who were recently abducted in an attack by suspected bandits have finally regained their freedom.  A statement issued in Ilorin on Sunday by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye stated that, “the governor is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara Kwara”. The Governor said that, this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, who…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P) recently launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), an engineering competition aimed at addressing at inspiring engineering students to develop innovative projects that will solve societal problems. The project is championed by Enactus Nigeria and has the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as key partner. Explaining the concept, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, stated that the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad will inspire final-year, and postgraduate engineering students to envision and build a self-reliant Nigeria…

Fifty of the more than 300 children abducted by bandits from the St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, have escaped their captors. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that they escaped between Friday and Saturday. “We have received some good news as fifty pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents,” said Daniel Atori, the media aide to CAN Chairman in Niger State, Most. Rev. Bulus Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese. “The pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday and have reunited with…

Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago has ordered the immediate closure of all schools across the state following the abduction of students and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. Bago announced the directive on Saturday, during a press briefing after an expanded security meeting in Minna, describing the attack as both “unfortunate and avoidable.” “This incident could have been avoided; however, it is not a time for a blame game,” the governor said. “Our mission today is to see how we can rescue these children and all those kidnapped alongside.” He called…