Author: Vardiafrica

Billionaire Elon Musk’s America PAC has been warned by the Justice Department that its $1 million daily giveaways to registered voters may violate federal law, US media reported Wednesday. Musk, the world’s richest man, announced the contest on Saturday in Pennsylvania, one of the seven “swing states” that will likely determine who will become the next US president — Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. Musk, a Trump supporter, announced plans to give $1 million to one registered voter in a swing state every day until the US election on November 5. CNN and 24sight News said the letter from the…

Tunisian President Kais Saied was inaugurated for a second term following a tumultuous first term in which he suspended parliament, jailed his critics and rewrote the country’s constitution. In his inaugural address Monday before parliament, Saied called for a “cultural revolution” designed to fight terrorism, reduce unemployment and erase corruption. “The aim is to build a country where everyone can live in dignity,” he said. Saied won a little more than 90% of the votes, but that triumph was spoiled by a reported low voter turnout of 28.8%. Out of 14 presidential hopefuls, only three ended up on the ballot:…

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and his Katsina State Counterpart, Dikko Radda met with Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Abubakar Badaru and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja. The meeting which held behind closed doors was aimed at finding lasting solution to the security challenges bedevilling the states and other states in the region Communities in Zamfara and Katsina states and the ever busy Gusau – Funtua highway which connects the two state through different routes have experienced upsurge of banditry activities in recent times including killings and abduction of commercial drivers and travellers in broad daylight. The two strategic…

Abdullahi Bello, the new chair of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has promised to deliver on the mandate of the agency. Bello was sworn in on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu during the federal executive council (FEC) meeting. Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony, Abdullahi said the CCB, under his leadership, will work to restore the integrity of the public service. Bello said he will ensure that public officials act with integrity and eschew corruption. “The Code of Conduct Bureau was the first anti-corruption agency in Nigeria and I intend to deliver on the mandate of the bureau,” he said.…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has identified hoarders of grains as a key factor driving food inflation in Nigeria The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, made the assertion during a town hall meeting with key industry players in Kano, the Kano State capital on Wednesday. Speaking to a packed audience at the Afficent Centre, Bello revealed that FCCPC investigators uncovered a disturbing trend where some merchants were stockpiling newly harvested grains to create artificial scarcity, thereby inflating food prices. “Without caring for the consequences of their actions on fellow countrymen and women, some of…

In a bid to disrupt criminal networks and mitigate the impact of internet fraud nationwide, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a 24-hour Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk on Tuesday, 22 October 2024. The launch, held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, was officiated by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. It aims to facilitate rapid digital information exchange on internet fraud and ensure an immediate response from the Commission. The service provides local and international phone numbers, enabling the public to reach the EFCC at any time with cybercrime-related concerns, both within Nigeria and globally.…

The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) will by December of this year launch a non-resident BVN platform to enable Nigerians in diaspora operate their local bank accounts, run their businesses and sort out KYC issues with financial institutions from anywhere in the world. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso announced this during a parley with members of the Nigerian community on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF meeting in Washington D.C United States. According to Mr. Cardoso, the initiative is part of efforts to ensure that Nigerians irrespective of their location anywhere in…

Months after growing calls for President Bola Tinubu to rejig his cabinet, the former Lagos State governor on Wednesday sacked five of his ministers. He also re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation. The President sacked Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development. “The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National SportsCommission. “The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special…

President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have scrapped the Niger Delta Ministry, and the Ministry of Sports Development. The decisions were taken on Wednesday at the meeting of the FEC in Abuja, as seen on the X handle of the Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga.There will now be a Ministry of Regional Development to oversee all the Regional Development Commissions, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and the North East Development Commission. The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the…

Oando Plc has pledged its commitment to the aspiration by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to raise crude oil production by an additional 1 million barrels per day. The company joined industry peers at the Nigerian NUPRC’s third anniversary celebration in Abuja, which also served as the launch of the commission’s ‘Project 1 Million Barrels of Oil Per Day’ increment. On October 14, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production dropped to 1.32 million bpd in September 2024, which is below the country’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million bpd. The NUPRC initiative is expected to…