Author: Vardiafrica

Britain’s Heathrow airport, Europe’s busiest, was shut down early Friday after a major fire at neighbourhood electrical substation supplying power to the sprawling facility west of London, officials said Several flights were already being diverted, according to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, while airport authorities said they “expect significant disruption over the coming days”. “Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage,” the airport operator said in a statement on its website, adding it would be closed until just before midnight Friday (2359 GMT). “Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens.” London Fire Brigade said there has…

Sudan’s army said it recaptured the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Friday after a fierce battle. “Our forces completely destroyed the enemy’s fighters and equipment, and seized large quantities of equipment and weapons,” army spokesman Nabil Abdallah said in a statement broadcast on state television. Abdallah vowed the army would “continue to progress on all fronts until victory is complete and every inch of our country is purged of the militia and its supporters”. On social media, soldiers shared videos appearing to be inside the presidential palace, exchanging congratulations. AFP could not…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with the Asagba of Asaba, Delta State, Obi Professor Epiphany Azinge at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The monarch came alongside some royal fathers believed to be members of the Obi-in-Council. The delegation did not immediately meet with the President. It was gathered that the traditional rulers were directed to meet with the President at his private residence, also in the State House, Abuja. The visit is coming on the heels of tension in some parts of the South-South geopolitical zone as a result of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers…

NNPC Retail Limited (NRL) marked another milestone with the successful hosting of She-Fix 2025, a landmark event dedicated to empowering women in automotive, technical, and energy sectors and commemorating International Women’s Day. Mr Olufemi O. Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) in a statement on Thursday, said the event, which took place recently at The Stable Center, Surulere, Lagos, attracted over 300 active participants as part of global celebrations marking this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD). It has as its theme “Driving Diversity and Powering Progress.” The event emphasized the critical role women…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to introduce electronic visas (e-Visas) soon, aiming to reduce inefficiency and curb corruption across the country. NIS Comptroller General, Mrs Kemi Nandap, said this during the opening of the 3rd nationwide sensitisation campaign on ensuring efficient service delivery and zero tolerance for corruption on Thursday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is “Increased Digitalisation and Consolidated Innovations for Efficient and Transparent Services.” The anti-corruption campaign will also take place across all NIS commands and formations. According to Nandap, the introduction of e-Visas will…

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has launched a special intervention programme, Project Guaranteed Loans for Women (GLOW), valued at ₦10 billion to support female entrepreneurs across the country. The bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, announced the initiative on Thursday in Lagos, stating that the funding “aims to bridge the financial inclusion gap for women in Nigeria.” According to him, Nigeria leads the world in women’s entrepreneurial activity, with 23 million female entrepreneurs accounting for 41 per cent of the country’s micro-businesses. Olusi decried that access to finance remained a major challenge for women looking to scale their businesses. He,…

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has dissociated himself from the South-South Governors Forum’s stance on the State of Emergency in Rivers. Okpebholo disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Thursday. He said that he was neither consulted nor informed about the position taken by the forum. Recall that South-South Governors’ Forum had reacted to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, describing it as “condemnable”. Okpebholo stated that he recognised the right of other South-South governors to take a position on the matter. However, he dissociated himself from…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday lauded the National Assembly for its decisive and patriotic ratification of the State of Emergency proclamation in Rivers State, a critical step to restoring stability after a protracted political crisis that paralysed governance in the state and endangered national economic security for over 15 months. The President specifically commended the National Assembly’s leadership—Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, other principal officers and members—for prioritising the security and welfare of Rivers State people above partisan interests and other considerations. He further acknowledged the lawmakers’ diligent review of classified security briefings, underscoring…

Vice Admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas, the Newly Appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has officially taken up his duties. Ibas, a former Naval Chief, arrived at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday, following a formal reception at the airport. Upon arrival, Ibas met with Permanent Secretaries and held a closed-door meeting with security heads, including the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS). Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ibas said discussions with security heads were ongoing. “I may be able to speak further later in the day,” he added. Despite the challenges,…

The House of Representatives has voted in support of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. In a move that has split Nigerians and has continued to attract severe criticism, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months following the political crisis that had rocked the state. But two days after Tinubu’s declaration, the House of Representatives in a voice vote backed the President, giving a seal of approval to his decision.…