Author: Vardiafrica

For nearly two weeks, Niger Republic has been crippled by a severe fuel crisis, bringing vehicular movement and economic activity to a grinding halt. Long queues stretched across cities, with desperate motorists and businesses struggling to obtain a few liters of petrol. The situation was so dire that the military junta, which once prided itself on rejecting external influence, had no choice but to swallow its pride and turn to Nigeria for help. Despite months of hostile rhetoric and diplomatic friction, Niger’s rulers quietly dispatched their Minister of Petroleum and Renewable Energy, along with top officials from the Niger Petroleum…

The political tension in Rivers State continues to rise, with the latest being an indefinite adjournment of sitting at the Rivers State House of Assembly. Fubara had on Thursday written a fresh letter to the House, informing the lawmakers of his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill for consideration and approval. The letter addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Governor Fubara, recalled his earlier attempt to present the budget on March 12, which was unsuccessful due to being denied entry into the assembly premises. He stated that despite prior delivery of a soft copy…

In a move aligned with the Nigerian government’s strategic goal to enhance local defence industrialisation and bolster the operational autonomy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, recently inspected locally manufactured combat vehicles at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. During the inspection, Dr. Matawalle expressed his satisfaction with the design, build quality, and tactical applicability of the showcased vehicles. A statement from the Personal Assistant for Media in the Office of the Minister of State for Defence, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, highlighted the minister’s praise for Proforce Nigeria, noting the company’s cutting-edge…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has temporarily halted the enforcement of its ruling that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law. The court’s decision comes as the matter awaits resolution by the Supreme Court. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal set aside a June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano, which had nullified actions taken by the Kano State Government regarding the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. This included the controversial appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano. The Court…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has again written to the Rivers State House of Assembly, proposing March 19 at 11:00 a.m. or at any other time deemed convenient by the House for the presentation of the 2025 state budget. In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Governor Fubara recalled his earlier attempt to present the budget on March 12, which was unsuccessful due to being denied entry into the Assembly premises. Fubara stated that his attempt was in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment, which he noted had also mandated the Assembly to…

A fresh round of crisis has kicked off in Rivers State less than 24 hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara was denied entry into the State Assembly quarters. The State Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, has invited the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to investigate the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, over alleged age falsification. This was the subject matter at Thursday’s plenary following the presentation of some key documents to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, by the leader of the House, Mr. Major Jack. After an overwhelming voice vote, the House agreed to invite the DSS…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, filing a contempt charge following her six-month suspension from the Senate. Also named in the suit are the Clerk of the National Assembly and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct. The senator argues that her suspension directly violates an existing court order issued on March 4. The Federal High Court in Abuja has formally notified the defendants of their alleged disobedience to the court order. In a notice of disobedience signed by the court registrar, the defendants were warned…

Air Peace, the Nigerian flag carrier is in discussion with the Namibian Government over the possibility of direct flights between Nigeria and Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. This is as Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has asked the Namibian Government to ease visa issuance to Nigerians by introducing visa on arrival for the country’s citizens travelling to the Southern African country. A statement by Mr. Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Keyamo, said that these formed parts of the discussions between Amb. Humphrey Geiseb, the Namibian Ambassador to Nigeria and Keyamo, when…

In a bid to foster inclusive growth and sustainable impact in communities of operations, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has established a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Unit to drive its commitment to national development. This initiative underscores the Service’s recognition of its broader responsibility beyond trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security. The newly established CSR Unit will spearhead programs under the “Customs -Cares” initiative, designed to support national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These initiatives will include; school renovations, mobile clinic activation, food and medical aid, agricultural support, skills acquisition programs, and youth empowerment. Through these…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has revealed an online app with a database to verify registered medications. “Greenbook,” the online application, can be accessed through various platforms, including the web. Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the Director General, NAFDAC, said this on Wednesday during the launch at the NAFDAC office in the Isolo area of Lagos State. Adeyeye said, “It is a repository of NAFDAC-registered drugs. This momentous occasion symbolises a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering quality, efficacious, and easily verifiable products to the market.” “One of the things that we should be known…