Author: Vardiafrica

Gabon’s media regulator has announced the suspension of social media platforms “until further notice”, saying online content has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions in the country. In a televised statement on Tuesday evening, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) cited the “spread of false information”, “cyberbullying” and the “unauthorised disclosure of personal data” as reasons for the decision. Its spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome did not specify which platforms would be affected, but WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok are popular in the country. Gabon is currently transitioning from a military coup led in 2023 by General Brice Oligui Nguema, who won last year’s…

The Senate has officially amended Clause 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, providing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the necessary legal flexibility to adjust the 2027 general election timetable. The legislative adjustment follows widespread concerns that the previously announced election dates would clash with the Ramadan fasting period, a conflict highlighted by various stakeholders and civic leaders. The amendment reduces the mandatory notice period for elections, allowing INEC to shift the polling dates forward to avoid religious and logistical overlaps: Previous Requirement: INEC was mandated to publish a notice of election no…

Former Kaduna State Governor and chieftain of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, has been detained by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, contrary to insinuations by some of his associates that he has been released. El-Rufai “has a lot to answer for” and would most likely remain and spend some time with interrogators. According to sources close to the interrogation, the scale of interrogation may require a court ordered remand of the former governor to give the agency more time to build a water-tight case against him. El-Rufai turned himself in for interrogation yesterday following a…

The United States mission in Nigeria has warned Nigerians against engaging in visa fraud, saying such actions would attract stricter scrutiny for all applicants. In an X post shared on Monday, the US said it remains committed to protecting the integrity of its visa system through rigorous screening processes. “Those who seek to commit fraud bring increased scrutiny on all visa applicants. We protect the U.S. visa system with rigorous screening, and our officers take fraud very seriously,” the post reads. “Nigerians continue to engage legally with the United States as temporary workers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors.“ The mission urged members…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of 100 US military personnel and equipment in Nigeria, saying they arrived at Bauchi airfield. Defence spokesman, Samaila Uba, in a statement on Monday, said the deployment follows a recent security agreement between Nigeria and the US. Uba noted that the Federal Government had made a formal request to the US for assistance in terms of military training, technical support, and intelligence sharing with the members of the Nigerian Armed Forces. “The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists’ threats and enhance the…

The United States government has imposed sanctions on eight Nigerians over alleged ties to the extremist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as well as cyber-related offences, blocking any property or financial interests they hold within American jurisdiction. The measures were contained in a February 10 publication by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a sanctions unit of the United States Department of the Treasury, which updated its ‘Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List’. According to the document, the listing serves as a formal notice to the global financial system that the individuals’…

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has assured his supporters of his readiness to contest in the 2027 elections. He spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at the OBIDIENT Conference and official declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with the theme, “Activating the PO Effect in ADC”. Obi urged Nigerians to join hands with him to rescue Nigeria for the future generations, who, according to him, will suffer the consequences of bad governance going on in the country for decades. He alleged that he had in good authority that the Federal…

Social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, suffered an outage globally on Monday as millions of users could not use the service. The widespread outages have been reported by thousands of users across several countries, including Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and India, among others. According to data from Downdetector, a website that tracks service disruptions based on user reports, complaints about access to X started to pick up around 1:00 p.m. local time in Nigeria. The cause of the outage was not immediately clear, and X has not put out any comment, the platform is…

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has unveiled a diaspora banking and investment platform designed to serve Africans living and working worldwide and across the continent. The platform, launched in collaboration with leading ecosystem partners including United Capital, Africa Prudential, UBA Pensions, Afriland Properties, Heirs Insurance Group, and Avon Healthcare Limited, represents a major step in redefining diaspora banking beyond remittances toward structured wealth creation and long-term investment. At the unveiling, which took place at UBA’s global headquarters in Lagos under the theme: “Beyond Banking: Powering the Global African Lifestyle, all the company representatives were on hand to showcase…

The Federal Government has filed charges against former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the phone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The charge, marked C2/99/2026 and dated February 16, 2026, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai, aged 65, as defendant. According to court documents, the prosecution alleges that on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. In count one, the Federal Government alleges that…