Author: Vardiafrica

Umar Damagum, the acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election to fill “vacant” seats in the Rivers state house of assembly. Damagum’s demand is contained in a letter dated December 12, 2023, addressed to Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman. In the letter seen by TheCable, the electoral umpire acknowledged receipt of the document on November 13, 2024. BACKGROUND In October 2023, Ehie Edison, a member loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, was elected speaker of the factional assembly after his removal as house leader by lawmakers led by Martin…

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, announced on Monday that the country plans to launch four satellites as part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. President Tinubu said this on Monday at the opening ceremony of the 25th Anniversary of Nigeria in Space in Abuja. The anniversary celebration was organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) and the Defence Space Administration (DSA). President Tinubu, represented by Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, stated that space was previously exclusive to developed countries, but the foresight of Nigerian…

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has stated that the Nigerian government requires additional borrowing to finance its budget, despite some ministries, departments, and agencies exceeding their revenue targets. Edun made this remark during an interactive session with the Senate Joint Committees on Finance, National Planning, and Economic Affairs regarding the 2025-2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper. He emphasised that borrowing should be executed productively and efficiently, contingent upon the Senate’s approval for adequate budget funding. Similarly, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, pointed out that the borrowing plans outlined in the…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed excitement over the third quarter (Q3) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), assuring Nigerians of better economic output as the economy continues to expand. According to the NBS, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.46 percent, compared to the 3.19 percent growth recorded in the second quarter. The top contributing sectors to GDP in Q3 2024 were Agriculture (28.65 percent), ICT (16.35 percent), Trade (14.78 percent), Manufacturing (8.21 percent), Crude Oil (5.57 percent), Finance and insurance (5.51 percent), and Real Estate (5.43 percent). Year-on-year, the economy grew by…

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, has said the probe instituted by the Federal Government to identify civil servants receiving salaries after relocating abroad is still ongoing. She said this on Monday in Abuja at a briefing to celebrate her 100 days in office and stock-taking of her stewardship in the civil service. She said that the process had not been swept under the carpet and that government had sustained the momentum to ensure workers who left the country in search of greener pastures abroad are no longer drawing salaries from the system.…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, on Monday led the leadership and members of the House in a remarkable action to commemorate this year’s celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu; Majority Leader of the House, Hon. (Prof) Julius Ihonvbere; Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, and several other members of House and senior aides, Speaker Abbas led a walk against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Prominent participants in the exercise include Minister…

Esther Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), has celebrated her 100 days in office with a series of ground-breaking initiatives aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s civil service. Appointed by President Bola Tinubu in July and inaugurated in August, her tenure has been marked by bold steps to actualize the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking at a Recognition Dinner in Abuja for the 332 newly-promoted directors, Mrs Walson-Jack emphasized their pivotal role in driving reforms and setting new benchmarks for governance. “Your promotion heralds the beginning of a more challenging yet fulfilling phase where your influence and…

Namibia’s Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, stands on the brink of making history as she vies to become the country’s first female president in Wednesday’s presidential election. Approximately 1.4 million Namibians, representing nearly half the population, have registered to vote. The elections feature 15 political parties competing for the presidency and seats in the National Assembly. Early results from special polls for Namibia’s foreign missions, seamen, and security services, announced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia, indicate that Nandi-Ndaitwah and her party, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), are leading the race. SWAPO has governed Namibia since its independence from…

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has voiced her strong support against gender-based violence, marking the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against this pervasive issue as a welcomed initiative. In a statement, the First Lady underscored the importance of formal education for the girl child, which she believes remains the key to empowering girls, helping them make informed decisions, and ultimately breaking the cycle of violence and inequality. November 25th is recognized globally as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Remi Tinubu highlighted that gender-based violence continues to be one of the most widespread human…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have announced plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening their collaboration in addressing climate change. A statement from NiMet on Monday highlighted that this partnership is crucial for Nigeria’s continued socio-economic development. Speaking during a meeting at the NGF’s office in Abuja over the weekend, Professor Charles Anosike, Director General and CEO of NiMet, emphasized that a formal partnership between NiMet and the NGF would benefit the country and its citizens. He noted that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events is significantly affecting communities…