Author: Vardiafrica

To fill existing vacancies in the Federal Civil Service, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adeladan Olarinre and Mukhtar Muhammed as new permanent secretaries. Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Eno Olotu revealed this in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday. Olarinre will represent Oyo State, while Muhammed will serve as the representative for the North-West geopolitical zone. Olotu emphasised that the appointments followed a rigorous and transparent selection process aligned with the administration’s commitment to meritocracy, excellence, and competence in the civil service. “The…

The senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Wednesday arrived at the Senate Chamber today with her husband as plenary resumed after a one-week recess. In a brief but affectionate moment, her husband gave her a kiss before she proceeded into the chamber to take her seat. The Kogi State senator took her place in her newly assigned seat, which has been at the center of an ongoing controversy. The dispute over the seat has sparked tensions within the Senate as she accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment. The Senate President has rejected the allegation and…

Nigeria has joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), becoming its 77th shareholder. Nigeria submitted a request to join the Bank in April 2024 and the Board of Governors approved its membership in May of the same year. At the EBRD’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Samarkand, the Board of Governors approved an amendment to the Agreement Establishing the EBRD to enable the limited and incremental expansion of its operations to sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. Once the amendment is in force, which requires formal acceptance by the majority of the EBRD’s shareholders, the Bank will be able to take forward Nigeria’s request to become a country of…

US President Donald Trump says he’s received a letter from Volodymyr Zelensky agreeing to “come to the negotiating table” to strike a peace deal in Ukraine. “I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said as he addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington. It came after Zelensky said in a social media post that he was ready to work under Trump’s “strong leadership” to achieve a lasting peace. The statements indicate a cooling of tensions between the leaders following their fiery meeting in the Oval Office last week. In his address to Congress, Trump said he received an…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the French government are set to strengthen their cooperation in tackling financial crimes. The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Lieutenant General Regis Colombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja. Colombet highlighted France’s extensive experience in establishing specialized academic and training centres, citing the Cyber School in Dakar, Senegal, and an Academy in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, dedicated to counterterrorism training. He said the collaboration will be particularly in the areas of asset tracking, cybercrime investigation,…

First Bank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, today marks a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new green-certified Iconic Head Office Building in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos. This ambitious project 40-story building project set to be the tallest building in Nigeria, will be an engineering and environmental delight due to its technologically advanced, eco-friendly and sophisticated construction which would set a new standard for the financial services sector in Africa. The groundbreaking ceremony signifies the beginning of a transformative journey that reinforces FirstBank’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, for alleged N700 billion Fraud. Emmanuel was arrested after he honoured an invitation of the EFCC on Tuesday to answer allegations of money laundering and diversion of funds preferred against him by the Network against Corruption and Trafficking. The petitioner alleged that Emmanuel received N3 trillion from the Federation Account in eight years but left a debt profile of N500bn and unpaid ongoing projects worth N300bn. He was also alleged to be unable to account for N700bn. The EFCC’s investigations…

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said he wanted to “make things right” with Donald Trump and to work under the US president’s “strong leadership” to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine. In his first public comments since Trump halted US military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky said his public bust-up with Trump last week was “regrettable” and pledged to sign a key minerals deal with Washington. He also called for a “truce” in the sea and sky as a first step to ending the three-year war. A dramatic collapse in the Kyiv-Washington wartime alliance has played out in the open since…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced bold strides toward launching a unified regional currency, the Eco, by 2027, marking a significant milestone in the bloc’s push for greater economic integration. The announcement was made through a statement issued on Monday by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, as financial leaders from across the region convened in Abuja for the 11th ECOWAS Convergence Council meeting. The gathering, which brought together Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors, focused on refining strategies to expedite the Eco currency’s launch—aimed at driving…

Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony Elumelu, has reiterated his dedication to supporting Gabon’s economic development following a high-level meeting with the country’s President, Brice Oligui Nguema. During an official visit to the Presidential Palace in Libreville, Gabon, Elumelu engaged in discussions with President Nguema on strategies to advance infrastructure development and promote entrepreneurship in the country. Both leaders acknowledged the vital role of infrastructure investments in driving economic growth and job creation. Elumelu, a strong proponent of Africapitalism, emphasised the need for private sector involvement in fostering sustainable…