Author: Vardiafrica

Federal Government has launched the Youth Credit Initiative, otherwise known as ‘YouthCred’, as a component of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) targeted at empowering youth-entrepreneurs particularly members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC). Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who launched the programme at the NYSC orientation camp in Abuja, pledged that the Ministry of Youth Development would expand the programme beyond NYSC members to reach the informal sector and underserved communities The Minister described the YouthCred programme as a veritable platform designed by the federal government to provide a single-digit interest loan for youths who desire to…

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved a further extension of the grace period for enforcing the Tinted Glass Permit requirement for vehicles with tinted windows, moving the new enforcement date to October 2, 2025. Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Muyiwa Adejobi, announced the extension in a statement, noting that the decision was prompted by a surge in applications on the official portal. “This decision follows a significant increase in applications via the official platform, showing heightened public compliance. The extra time will allow thorough scrutiny of each application to ensure permits go only to qualified…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday said that it intercepted 16 containers of hard drugs, arms, ammunition, expired pharmaceuticals, frozen poultry products, and counterfeit goods smuggled worth over N10 billion at Apapa port. The NCS said five suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures, three already charged and remanded at Ikoyi Prison, while two are on administrative bail pending trial. The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi stated this while displaying the seized containers and its contents to journalists at the APM Terminals Examination Bay in Apapa port. According to him, the interception followed a series of…

The World Bank has approved $300 million to fund a new project aimed at improving access to services and economic opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities in northern Nigeria. In a statement on Monday, the Washington-based organisation said the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID) was approved on August 7. World Bank said the project will adopt an integrated development strategy to help displaced persons and host communities transition from humanitarian aid to self-reliance and resilience. According to the World Bank, ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region have displaced more than…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on retaining its Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status from World Health Organisation (WHO) for regulation of medicines and vaccines.‎‎The commendation is in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Monday in Abuja.‎‎The WHO conducted a re-benchmarking exercise from May 28 to 30, assessing NAFDAC’s performance against global regulatory standards.‎‎NAFDAC first attained ML3 status in 2022, becoming the first African National Regulatory Authority to achieve this for medicines and vaccines (non-producing).‎‎In line with WHO protocols, the revalidation involved periodic reviews to confirm…

Five suspected masterminds of the 2022 bombing of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State have pleaded not guilty to nine counts of terrorism filed against them by the Federal Government. The suspects, Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdul Malik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Abubakar, who were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on Monday, August 11, 2025, are accused of being members of Al-Shabab terrorist group with a cell in Kogi State. The office of the Attorney-General is prosecuting the case on FG’s behalf. AGF, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/301/2025, preferred nine counts against…

US President Donald Trump has said homeless people must “move out” of Washington DC as he vowed to tackle crime in the city, but the mayor pushed back against the White House likening the American capital to Baghdad in Iraq. The Republican president has also trailed a news conference for Monday about his plan to make the city “safer and more beautiful than it ever was before”. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said: “We are not experiencing a crime spike.” Trump signed an order last month making it easier to arrest homeless people, and he last week ordered federal law…

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Act has introduced new penalties for the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information and documents by staff members. The NRS Act is among the four bills recently signed into by President Bola Tinubu. The others are the Nigeria tax (fair taxation) law, the Nigeria tax administration law, and the joint revenue board (establishment) law.The regulations are expected to take effect from January 1, 2026. In Part VI (miscellaneous provisions) of the NRS Act, the law states that all internal records including institutional information, memoranda, and communications are classified as confidential. “Without prejudice to the provisions of…

In a press release signed by its president, Christopher Piwuna, the union expressed growing frustration among its members, citing poor welfare, inadequate funding, and the government’s failure to honour signed agreements. The warning comes in response to a recent declaration by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who stated, “not again ever in this country will ASUU or tertiary institutions…go on strike.” While the minister hinged this optimism on a strategy of dialogue and meeting union demands, ASUU insists that action must follow words. “While ASUU share his optimism about dialogue and maintaining relationships, the government needs to go…

The Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for partnering with the State and citing key projects such as the ongoing Kaa-Ataba Bridge, linking Khana and Andoni Local Government Areas, and the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge in Okrika Local Government Area. The Administrator gave the commendation while receiving the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt. The Minister was accompanied by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, as well as Directors from the ministry and NDDC. Vice Admiral Ibas described the…