Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday called for reforms at the United Nations (UN) to give Africa permanent representation on the security council. Speaking at the plenary session on peace and stability during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, Tinubu argued that Africa deserves two permanent seats with full privileges. The President said the continent also deserves additional non-permanent seats in line with the Ezulwini consensus and Sirte declaration. “It is the view of Nigeria that Africa’s quest for fair and equitable representation in the UN Security Council is a just and fair demand,” Tinubu…

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered a temporary freezing of four accounts in Jaiz Bank linked to the former Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged fraud. Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its lawyer, Ogechi Ujam. Although the EFCC had urged the court to freeze the accounts for 60 days to enable it to conclude the ongoing investigation, Justice Nwite limited the tenure of the order to 30 days, which…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said that the 2027 presidential ambition of former Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, is de@d on arrival as Amaechi would be the last person considered for the party’s ticket. Speaking in an interview on Channels Television monitored in Abuja on Tuesday night, August 19, Wike also claimed that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal, is angry with President Bola Tinubu because he was not chosen as vice president. Wike said Lawal visited him in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, alongside a former Speaker of the House of…

China is on the verge of unveiling a groundbreaking humanoid robot designed to achieve pregnancy by hosting a fully functioning artificial womb. This pioneering work by Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou is slated for a 2026 debut. Dr. Zhang Qifeng, the project lead, announced at the World Robot Conference in Beijing that the scientific foundation is already robust, with the next phase focusing on integrating the technology into a robot for interactive pregnancy. This project builds upon existing advancements in ex-utero gestation. The concept of an artificial womb itself is not entirely novel; it is a sophisticated machine that replicates the uterus’s…

In a historic step toward regional integration, Burundi and Tanzania have officially launched the construction of a cross-border standard gauge railway line. The project, which will stretch 282 kilometers from Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi, is valued at $2.154 billion and represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in East Africa. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi and Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, marked more than just the start of a railway line. It signaled a shared vision for economic growth, stronger trade ties, and improved connectivity between the two neighbors. For landlocked…

 Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has donated a 300kV transformer and ancillary electrification facilities to the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State. At the presentation ceremony, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who was represented by the Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, said following a request to assist in strengthening security infrastructure in the region, the NDDC decided to carry out the project given its significance. He explained: “NDDC being an interventionist agency received a request from the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army established here in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State to assist in strengthening the security…

The State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas because of violations of US law and overstays, the department told the BBC. The agency said the “vast majority” of the violations were assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary and “support for terrorism”. The move comes as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration and international students. While the State Department did not specify what they meant by “support for terrorism”, the Trump administration has targeted some students who have protested in support of Palestine, arguing they had expressed antisemitic behaviour. Of the 6,000 student visas that…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has mandated that all mobile phones be switched off during flight take-off and landing. The development was announced on Tuesday by the Director General of Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo, while addressing stakeholders in a meeting themed “National Civil Aviation Security Committee Meeting” in Abuja. Najomo stated that all passengers must now completely switch off electronic devices during flights, ending the long-standing “flight mode” practice. According to him, the regulation concerning phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has now been unified, stressing that the widely accepted “flight mode” option will no longer be permitted.…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a landmark subsidy to ease the cost of kidney dialysis for Nigerians.  A statement from presidential aide, Sunday Dare, said with this intervention, the price of each dialysis session has been reduced from N50,000 to just N12,000, bringing relief to thousands of citizens battling kidney-related diseases. Dare mentioned that this subsidy is already being implemented in major federal hospitals across the six geopolitical zones, including: 1. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Metta, Lagos 2. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja 3. University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan 4. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri 5. University of…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed new deadlines for Nigeria’s 2025 university admissions. Public universities must conclude admissions by October 31, 2025, private universities by November 30, 2025, and all other tertiary institutions by December 31, 2025. In a statement after the 2025 Policy Meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, JAMB emphasized that institutions must act within the stipulated timelines. Even if schools are not ready to commence a new academic session, they are required to complete admissions and archive them for record purposes. Why JAMB Introduced the New Schedule JAMB explained that the move is aimed at…