Author: Vardiafrica

US President Donald Trump is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Monday for high-stakes talks as the U.S. president pushes for a possible deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. A host of NATO and European leaders are also now gathering in Washington to demonstrate united support for Kyiv. The summit comes just days after Trump’s controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and six months after an explosive Oval Office encounter between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance. This new round of negotiations will test whether international pressure can shift…

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Japan to participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), scheduled to hold from August 20 to 22 in the City of Yokohama. The President’s aircraft touched down at the Presidential Wing of Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, at 00:50 am on Tuesday, which was still Monday in Nigeria owing to the eight-hour time difference. He was received by Ambassador Hideo Matsubara, the Ambassador in charge of Haneda Airport for TICAD, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and officials of the Nigerian Embassy. President Tinubu departed Abuja on Friday, August 15,…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has stressed the importance of functional training workshops for its directors as part of efforts to strengthen leadership capacity and enhance institutional performance. Speaking at a two-day training workshop for directors in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Patrick Ekade, said the programme aligns with the vision of the Managing Director and the NDDC Board, who have consistently championed human capital development. “The Managing Director, being a man of vision, saw the need to build the capacity of staff for improved professional delivery. This training is a major step…

President Bola Tinubu has Inaugurated a 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, christened “MT Iyaloja (Lagos),” in Ulsan, South Korea. The new vessel, MT Iyaloja (Lagos), was officially unveiled by President Tinubu’s daughter, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria. The ship was named in honour of her late grandmother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, MFR. The vessel, owned by WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group, marks a significant milestone in Africa’s clean energy landscape. Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, commended WAGL Energy…

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday urged Nigerians to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration, saying the Permanent Voter Card is the most powerful tool for building a new Nigeria. In a post via X, Obi said eligible voters should not underestimate the power of their PVC, which he described as “the voice of the voiceless, the shield of the weak, and the weapon of the poor against injustice and bad leadership.” “The future of our dear nation is in your hands. The greatest strength of democracy is in the voter’s card,” Obi said.…

The United States has commended the federal government and security agencies for the arrest of two leaders of Ansaru, a terror group linked to al-Qaeda. In an X post on Monday, the US mission in Nigeria described the arrest as “a significant step forward in the country’s fight against terrorism and extremism”. “We commend the Nigerian government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda),” the post reads.“This is a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.” Last week, Nuhu Ribadu, the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced its Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the commission, the exercise began with online pre-registration on Monday, August 18, 2025, through its official portal, cvr.inecnigeria.org. Physical registration will follow on Monday, August 25, and run concurrently with the online process until August 30, 2026. INEC said registration will take place across 811 centres nationwide, including all 774 local government offices, 36 state offices, and the Federal Capital Territory. Centres will open on weekdays from 9am to 3pm. The exercise is open to Nigerians who…

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has returned to Nigeria after a brief vacation in London, putting to rest widespread speculation regarding his health. Akpabio arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at approximately 4a.m. on Monday, August 18. He was warmly received at the Presidential Wing by fellow senators, aides, and supporters from various sectors. His return comes after his attendance at the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29 to 31. Responding to questions from journalists upon arrival, Senator Akpabio dismissed reports that he had been critically ill and hospitalised in London. “There…

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has secured a N5 billion loan facility from the Bank of Industry (BOI) to strengthen key sectors of the Nigerian economy and support the growth of sustainable and viable businesses across the country. The fund is particularly aimed at boosting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with a strong emphasis on women-owned businesses. The loan, which is disbursed through the Federal Government’s MSME Fund, is structured to provide affordable financing that will stimulate the economy. According to UBA, the major sectors targeted for the facility include Green Energy, Education, Healthcare, and Women-Owned Enterprises. This…

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, is set to launch Investopedia, a comprehensive platform designed to spotlight investment opportunities across the country’s 36 states of the federation. NGF’s Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Abdullahi, who disclosed this said the event will be held on Tuesday, 19th August 2025, in Hilton Hotel Abuja, the Nation’s capital. According to Abdullahi, the event will create a high- profile affair that will underscore the initiative’s ambition. He stated that the governors from all 36 states will showcase priority projects, while a ceremonial MoU signing will formalise partnerships and lay the building block for the NGF…