Author: Vardiafrica

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, obtaining salaries under false pretences and money laundering before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently granted the former minister bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum and adjourned the matter for commencement of trial Nnaji was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations that he forged a degree certificate purportedly obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a…

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that every Nigerian is enrolled in the national identity database before the end of 2026, the agency’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has said. Coker-Odusote, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said the directive forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to establish a comprehensive national identity system capable of supporting effective governance, planning, and service delivery. “The President has given us till the end of this year to make sure that we capture every single Nigerian,” she said. According to her, NIMC is working…

Tensions escalated in Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, as protesters forced their way into homes in search of suspected undocumented immigran Anti-immigration South Africa on Thursday intensified their campaign against undocumented migrants by conducting door-to-door raids in Johannesburg, forcibly removing foreign nationals from their homes and handing them over to police, in a move that has heightened fear among migrant communities and strained relations with neighbouring countries. In Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, protesters broke down doors and searched homes where they believed undocumented immigrants were living. Those they apprehended were escorted to waiting police vans, including a woman and…

The schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued after about 56 days in captivity. According to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the victims were freed through the efforts of security agencies. “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga said. He disclosed that eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the rescue operation and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Onanuga said the rescue operation did not involve…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has presented a proposed ₦1.854 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly, marking his first appearance before the Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, since the political crisis that split the legislature in 2023. The session opened with Amaewhule walking into the chambers in full speaker regalia ahead of the governor’s arrival. A motion to receive the governor was moved by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo, before Governor Fubara entered to formally present the bill. Presenting the estimates tagged “Budget of Resilience for Growth…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the statutory authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, to investigate consumer complaints relating to airline ticket pricing, affirming that such investigations do not amount to price regulation. In a judgment delivered on June 29, 2026, Justice B.F.M. Nyako dismissed a suit filed by Air Peace Limited, which challenged the Commission’s authority to investigate allegations of exploitative airfare pricing. The court ruled that the FCCPC’s investigative powers under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA, 2018, are separate from its powers to regulate prices. According to the judgment,…

A report by Bloomberg showed that Nigeria’s benchmark stock index has returned 67 per cent in dollar terms since the start of the year, outperforming the South Korean KOSPI index, which gained 66 per cent. Bloomberg tracked 92 stock exchanges globally to arrive at the figures. South Korea lost its lead following the slipping of the KOSPI into a technical bear market this week, slumping by 22 per cent from its June 19 peak. This downturn was driven by weakened investor sentiment as market participants re-evaluate the outlook for artificial intelligence (AI)-related and technology stocks, dragging the Asian market into…

The Senate has approved a total of ₦403.1 billion for the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and boost efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other security threats across the country over the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years. The upper legislative chamber approved ₦170.1 billion for the Police Trust Fund’s 2025 budget and ₦233 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. The 2026 appropriation will fund personnel costs, capital projects and overhead expenditures aimed at improving the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and enhancing its ability to respond to security challenges nationwide.…

President Bola Tinubu has met with heads of security agencies to appraise situation across the country. Minister of defense, Christopher Musa and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu led other security heads to the Presidential Villa for the strategic meeting. The heads of the agencies briefed the Commander-in-chief, respectively on what their individual agencies are doing to curtail insecurity in parts of the country. They acknowledged improvement in security situation across the nation with commitment to build on current achievement. While they agreed that Intelligence will continue to play critical role in the security arena of the nation, they also…

Broadcasters in France and Spain have lodged a complaint with FIFA concerning its decision to designate ExpressVPN as an official sponsor of the World Cup. ExpressVPN, a virtual private network service that safeguards users’ online privacy, was announced as an official partner of the World Cup prior to the tournament’s commencement and has been prominently displayed on advertising boards during matches. However, Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, who has spearheaded efforts against illegal football streaming in Spain, has expressed his discontent with the promotion of a VPN service at the World Cup, as its usage can hinder authorities’…