Author: Vardiafrica

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced plans to commence interest-free loans for traders in the state starting January 2025. He disclosed this on Thursday at the New Festival Hall of Government House in Benin during a congratulatory visit from the Edo State Association of Commodity Market Women and Men. The governor emphasised his administration’s commitment to boosting economic growth and improving the livelihoods of traders. According to him, the free-loan initiative is aimed at providing much-needed financial support to Edo traders, ensuring that they have the resources to expand their businesses without the burden of daunting interest rates.…

For failing to pay their Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate revocation of 762 plots of land owned by top politicians and corporate organizations. The FCT Minister also issued a two-week ultimatum to 614 other individuals and companies to pay their outstanding bills for their plots or risk withdrawal of the Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) of their properties. The two public notices issued on Thursday by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) revealed that the plots are located in the Maitama II District of the FCT. Muhammadu Buhari Trust…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery says it has reduced the price of its petrol to N899.50K per litre to provide relief for Nigerians ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday season. In a statement, the company’s spokesman Anthony Chiejina said the price reduction is designed to ease transport costs during the festive period. The refinery also said consumers can purchase an additional litre of fuel on credit for every litre bought on a cash basis. The private-owned refinery had in November lowered the price of its petrol to N970 per litre. “To alleviate transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery…

The website of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has been taken over by hackers.  The NBS announced the takeover of its website in a post on X on Wednesday night. The Bureau in its post on X said it was working to recover the website where it publishes crucial statistics concerning key sectors in the country. The post read, “This is to inform the public that the NBS Website has been hacked and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored. Thank you.” It seems the attempts to…

Multiple lives have been lost in a stampede that occurred at a carnival in Ibadan, Oyo state capital. Although the exact number of people is yet to be ascertained, viral videos showed some children affected by the incident that occurred in the Bashorun area of Ibadan on Wednesday. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirmed the incident in a statement issued hours after the tragic event. He described the incident as a sad day for the Oyo State Government and commiserated with the parents that have lost their children. “Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School Basorun, the venue…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Monday in Yenagoa held the 8th Award and Prize-giving Ceremony of its Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition 2024, with a reiteration of the objectives that underlie signature events of the Board, such as competitive essaying and its twin programme the Science Quiz Competition for High School students. In a keynote address at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Essay Competition is “one of NCDMB’s multiple interventions to lift the standard of education in Nigeria” and “to promote proficiency in writing, awareness of local…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Lagos for his Christmas and New Year celebration. The President arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at exactly 3:23 pm on Wednesday, December 18. Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday. On arrival in Lagos, President Tinubu was received at the airport by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat; members of Lagos State Cabinet as well as leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. Before departing Abuja, the president presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to a joint session…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday told lawmakers they were “all re-elected” during his presentation of the 2025 budget at the National Assembly, after mistakenly referring to the 10th Senate as the 11th. The President’s light-hearted remarks, made after the correction, drew laughter and applause from legislators, easing the formal tone of the event. “In fulfilment of one of my constitutional duties and with an unyielding commitment to rebuilding Nigeria towards ensuring that we remain steadfast on a journey to a prosperous future, I hereby present the 2025 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly,” Tinubu said. After being…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the implementation of the 2024 Appropriation Act will be extended to June 2025. Akpabio spoke on Wednesday at the joint sitting of the senate and house of representatives. President Bola Tinubu is attending the session to present the 2025 budget. Akpabio said the bill extending the 2024 budget will soon be transmitted to the president for approval. In December 2023, the national assembly passed the 2024 appropriation bill, increasing its size from the N27.5 trillion proposed by Tinubu to N28.7 trillion. In July, the national assembly increased the 2024 budget by N6.2 trillion to N35 trillion — from…

President Bola Tinubu has presented the sum of N49.7 trillion as the proposed budget for 2025 to the national assembly. Tinubu walked into the green chamber at exactly 12:14pm to present the budget titled “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity”. The president presented the 2025 appropriation bill before the joint sitting of the senate and house of representatives. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives; and members of both chambers were seated before the president entered the chamber. The legislators all rose to welcome the president and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president, into the chamber. Tinubu…