Author: Vardiafrica

Bitcoin surged to an all-time high of $124,000 on Thursday, August 14 fueled by growing demand from U.S. retirement accounts, institutional investors, and treasury firms. The move coincided with a rally in American stocks, reflecting heightened global risk appetite. The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market value rose 0.9% from its July peak, while Ethereum hit $4,700 — its highest level since late 2021. Bitcoin is now trading near $121,500, having broken decisively above the $120K mark after a strong rally from $116K. Analysts say the breakout signals strong momentum, supported by President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto policies, increased certainty of Federal…

The defence headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed claims that Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, has surrendered to the military. Markus Kangye, director of defence media operations, spoke on the development on Thursday in Abuja, while providing updates on the activities of the armed forces. “Simple answer to the question about terrorist leader, Bello Turji… Turji has not surrendered. We are still on the look out for him,” Kangye said. Turji, who operates largely in Zamfara and Sokoto states, has been linked to several deadly raids on communities in the north-west. He also reportedly operates a strict, deadly tax regime in…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has urged youths of the region to explore opportunities in advanced technology, emphasising the role of technology in human capital development. Speaking during the 2025 International Youth Day in Akure, Ondo State, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, noted that the event, with the theme: “Youth Advancing Multilateral Corporation through Technology and Partnership.”, was timely and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He stated: “Advancements in Information Technology, particularly in novel areas like Artificial Intelligence, have paved the way for multiple career paths and cross-sector collaborations.…

Oil and gas service providers across Africa have formed a continental forum known as the African Local Content Organisation (ALCO), with the goal of collaborating among themselves to deliver complex projects, creating and retaining value in the multibillion dollar African energy sector and growing the economy. The organisation was unveiled on Wednesday, Day 2 of the 2025 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, at Windhoek, Namibia. Membership is open to national associations of service providers in the oil and gas and mining sectors across the African continent. Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and member of NCDMB Governing…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has charged youths in the Niger Delta region to leverage modern technology to foster collaborations and partnerships that will boost their human capacity development. Ogbuku stated this at the 2025 International Youth Day celebration organised by the NDDC in collaboration with Ganvic Empowerment Initiative in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. He explained that the programme was focused on collaboration and partnership for youth development. “We are in the age of technology and AI is taking over the place and therefore, we are using this platform to encourage the youth…

The U.S approved the sale of $346 million worth of munitions, bombs, and precision rockets to Nigeria to help its West African ally combat a surge in terrorist violence. The deal will support the foreign policy goals of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S State Department said in a press release, Wednesday. The Nigerian government requested a long list of weapons, according to the statement, including more than a thousand MK-82 500 lb bombs – a weapon which was most recently used by the Israeli military to bomb civilians in…

Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported. “In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),” communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies. The messenger apps have become “the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities,” the watchdog added. Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people…

The House of Representatives Committee on NG-CARES, on Wednesday, began an investigation into the implementation of the $696 million (₦1.06trillion) Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) social intervention programme of the Federal Government. The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Kusada, who disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja after the committee meeting on Wednesday said the investigation became inevitable since the masses were not feeling the impact of the palliatives and safety nets despite the government fulfilling its funding obligations and providing the guidelines, and the operational arrangements for the effective implementation of NG-CARES. “A total of…

The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) has condemned what it described as an “unlawful” and “malicious” invasion of its premises by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding accountability, restitution, and public apologies from the agency and the Nigeria Police Force. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the OOPL said the August 10 raid, which took place between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m., disrupted lawful activities, endangered visitors, and violated the institution’s dignity. It alleged the operation was “a direct assault on everything this institution stands for” and an attack on former President Olusegun…

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved a sweeping seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in a bid to halt the proliferation of under-utilised institutions and refocus resources on improving existing ones. The decision, taken at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, followed a memo presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa. Alausa told State House correspondents after the meeting that access to tertiary education in Nigeria was “no longer the problem.” Rather, he said, the unchecked duplication of…