Author: Vardiafrica

The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue its visa-on-arrival policy. As part of the reforms, visitors would be required to complete landing and exit cards before entering or leaving Nigeria. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known in Abuja at the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel on the application of Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data in national security and law enforcement. The visa-on-arrival policy, introduced in 2020, allowed eligible travelers, including high-net-worth investors and visitors from countries without Nigerian embassies, to obtain visas at entry points. However,…

The African Development Bank Group has taken a significant step forward in its fight against corruption and financial crime by signing a Letter of Intent with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) today. The Bank Group is the first multilateral development bank to establish such a collaboration with Interpol. The Letter of Intent was signed on Wednesday by African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, who visited the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan. The partnership will enhance collaboration between the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption and Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. It will focus…

The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday paid a visit of condolence to the family of late Pa Edwin Clark. During the visit to Pa Clark’s residence at Asokoro District, Abuja, Governor Oborevwori’s delegation led by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, sympathized with Pa Clark’s family describing the passage of the elder statesman as a great loss to the country and humanity. He said, “we have lost a father whose voice was the conscience of our nation. “He lived a life of service to our country and humanity. “He was a gift from Delta to…

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has implored state governors, ministers, local government chairmen and other stakeholders, including the private sector, to take urgent and decisive action against the scourge of malnutrition in the country. According to him, the consequences of malnutrition transcend the health sector, forming the foundation of the calamities that limit productivity, learning and the nation’s growth. Senator Shettima stated this on Thursday when he officially launched the Nutrition 774 Initiative at the 148th Meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Beyond just numbers, the Vice President said the stark statistics indicating…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned a total of $120,548.43 and N70,602,841.46 to American, Spanish, and Swiss nationals who fell victim to fraud schemes perpetrated by Nigerian fraudsters. The funds recovered from convicted fraudsters were returned to the victims as part of the EFCC’s commitment to justice and financial restitution. In a statement posted on its official X account, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced: “As a gesture of its commitment to tackling economic and financial crimes and offering restitution to victims of fraudulent practices, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has handed over…

President Bola Tinubu assented to two bills establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji, Osun, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti. The President said these specialised institutions would address the educational needs of the populace while driving research and innovation and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth and development. Tinubu said the institutions would serve as training grounds for developing agriculture, science and technology professionals and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement. “According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has revealed that none of the 31 submitted requests for state creation met the constitutional requirements. Kalu made this disclosure on Friday, February 21, during a two-day retreat for committee members in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where lawmakers gathered to review pending constitutional amendment bills and strategize the way forward. The retreat, held from February 20 to 23, 2025, was organized by the 10th House of Representatives in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has reiterated the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) determination to tame inflation through conventional methods. Mr. Cardoso stated this in an interview with Bloomberg in London on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, while sharing key insights on the current state of the market, mainly focusing on the stability of the Naira and inflation rates. He noted a deceleration in the M-o-M inflation rates, highlighting it as a positive development. He assured that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members remained vigilant in monitoring inflation trends and ensuring a moderation of inflation numbers. He…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has decorated 19 Senior Police Officers with new ranks amidst cheers from families, friends, and well-wishers. Decorating them at the Goodluck Jonathan International Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the beneficiaries include three Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and 16 Commissioners of Police. The AIGs were AIG Garba Ahmed, AIG Nemi Edwin Osigoboka Iwo, and AIG Salman Garba Dogo. Similarly, the 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to the substantive rank of CPs include Cyriacus Enechukwu, Gombit Bangs, Rosemary Akpan, Ayodele Adeyemi, among others. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a…

The Osun State High Court in Osogbo has instructed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to go ahead with the local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025. The ruling came after a case was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its Chairman, Hashim Abioye. Justice A. Aderigbigbe declared that there are vacancies in all 30 local government areas of the state and that the election held on October 15, 2022, was nullified. The court, further mandated that all security agencies in the state, including the Nigeria Police, the Army, the Department of State Security…