Author: Vardiafrica

US authorities arrested 538 illegal migrants and deported hundreds in a mass operation just days into President Donald Trump’s second administration, his press secretary said late Thursday. “The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” Karoline Leavitt said in a post on social platform X, adding “hundreds” were deported by military aircraft. “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” she said. Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the United States. He has…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined other world leaders to push for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with a target to boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050. He restated Nigeria’s readiness to spearhead the AfCFTA and take advantage of the market potential of the sector for digital transformation and economic integration of the African continent. This is just as the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, pointed out the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, projecting that its full implementation could boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050. Senator…

US President Donald Trump stepped up the pressure on Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to make a peace deal with Ukraine Wednesday, threatening tougher economic measures if Moscow does not agree to end the war. Trump’s warning in a Truth Social post came as the Republican seeks a quick solution to a grinding conflict that he had promised to end before even starting his second term. “If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various…

The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it has upgraded some medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree to doctoral status. The NUC disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo. According to the statement, the decision was driven by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively. The commission also noted that the upgrade aligns with global best practices for training professionals in these fields. As part of the changes, the duration of the affected programmes…

Dr. Kayode Opeifa, a renowned transport management expert from Agege, Lagos, and former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State, has been appointed by the Presidency as the new Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation. According to his friends and family, the appointment is a testament to his dedication and expertise in transportation management. Dr. Opeifa, a former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State, played a pivotal role in transforming the city’s transport sector, leading to a paradigm shift in the way Lagos operates as a mega city. His forward-thinking initiatives in public transportation were instrumental in improving the city’s mobility…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled a state-of-the-art maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility spearheaded by XEJet. Keyamo also announced plans to launch an aircraft manufacturing company soon. He said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of XEJet’s flight support and engineering hub launch in Abuja on Monday. “Very soon, we are going to return here for the groundbreaking ceremony of an aircraft manufacturing company.” The announcement aligns with the Federal Government’s aviation development agenda, as emphasized by Keyamo. He said, “This aligns with our administration’s vision to support local operators. We have been seeking to attract…

The emergency reconstruction of the Irrua-Ewu-Agbede Road in Uhunwonde/Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, being undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is nearing completion. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who inspected the road with the Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, expressed delight at the level of work on the road. He said that NDDC, as an interventionist agency, took up the challenge of reconstructing the road, which had become almost impassable for motorists over a long period. Ogbuku said: “This part of the busy Benin-Auchi road has not been motorable for a…

President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting with a delegation of Ogoni leaders led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. Also present at the meeting was the Chief of staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and other ministers and aides. The meeting came after a coalition of civil society organisations demanded an allocation of $1 trillion…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Monday, swore in the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), six new Commissioners, Chairmen and members ofEdo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC), Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), and State Secondary Education Board (SSEB). Addressing the newly sworn in executives at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Edo State, Governor Okpebholo charged them to help him drive development and progress in the State, stressing that his administration is in a hurry to bring development. Harping on the unique qualities and capacity of the newly sworn in…

The first AI-focused university in the country, Wini University, is set to open in Epe, Lagos! The goal? To turn Africa into a major player in the global AI market while equipping Nigerian youths with cutting-edge skills in artificial intelligence. Inspired by Qatar’s AI university, which pulled in top talent from across the globe, this Nigerian project has been years in the making. It all started back in 2016 when a group of visionaries from Boston and Nigeria began laying the groundwork. Now, after rallying support and getting the green light from the National University Commission (NUC), the dream is…