Author: Vardiafrica

David Umahi, minister of works, has ordered the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge on Victoria Island, Lagos. On Monday, Olukorede Kesha, federal controller of works in Lagos, announced the closure of the bridge for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works. Kesha said the bridge would remain closed until the end of May. The works controller said the closure will affect traffic from Ahmadu Bello way and Adeola Odeku towards Marina, Eko Bridge, and Onikan by Zone 2. However, the closure caused a gridlock which saw many motorists on the route stuck in traffic for over four hours. NAN reports that…

The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has affirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo as the Edo State Governor. A three-member panel headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election. ‎‎In its judgment, the panel ruled that the petitioners failed to call competent witnesses to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. ‎‎In the lead judgment read by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the Tribunal said non-compliance must be proven convincingly. It noted that the failure of the petitioners…

Russia has issued a chilling warning over US threats to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying such an attack could have ‘catastrophic’ consequences for the region. The Kremlin’s concerns come after Donald Trump vowed to bomb Iran unless it agrees to a new nuclear deal with Washington.  In an explosive interview with NBC News, Trump warned that Tehran would face military action and severe economic sanctions if it refused to negotiate. ‘If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,’ Trump declared. ‘It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.’ Moscow, which has been strengthening ties with Iran, condemned…

The Edo State Governorship Tribunal sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the petition instituted by the Action Alliance (AA) and one Adekunle Omoaje, against Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC), for lacking in merit and being frivolous. The Tribunal held that Adekunle Omoaje, who filed the joint petition, has no locus standi to institute the case. Among others, the Tribunal held that Omoaje did not participate in the governorship election and as such has no power to question the validity of the election. The Tribunal also held that Omoaje’s grouse against the election was that he was not…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit. During the visit, the President will appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones. He will also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary. This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year. Recent economic strides reinforce the President’s commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange…

Nigeria’s Net Foreign Exchange Reserve (NFER) as of the end of 2024 stood at $23.11 billion, the highest level in over three years, reflecting a substantial improvement in the country’s external liquidity, reduced short-term obligations, and renewed investor confidence. A statement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the increase marked an increase from $3.99 billion at year-end 2023, $8.19 billion in 2022, and $14.59 billion in 2021. NFER, which adjusts gross reserves to account for near-term liabilities such as FX swaps and forward contracts, is widely regarded as a more accurate indicator of the foreign exchange buffers available to…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group chief executive officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari. President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023. The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman. Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu. Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the…

Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo, visited Kano on Monday to commiserate with the families of the 16 hunters who were killed in his state. On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state. The Kano-bound travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilante members raised the alarm, suspecting that they were kidnappers. The Edo state government said 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation. During the visit to some of the families of the victims at Bankure LGA…

Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured residents that the ongoing political crisis in the state will ultimately strengthen the people rather than weaken them. Fubara made this statement when he received Muslim leaders from 20 Islamic-based groups, including the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, at his private residence in Port Harcourt during an Eid-El-Fitr Sallah visit. Addressing the delegation, Governor Fubara urged them and his supporters to trust in God’s process, saying: “This season is one of love, sharing, and sacrifice. You have come to share in our pain and have made a great sacrifice through your…

Migrants who overstay their visas will be removed from the UK, a minister has vowed after it was revealed they make up nearly 40% of all asylum claimants. The Home O¹ffice said about 40,000 people who came to Britain from abroad as students, workers or visitors last year have sought asylum. Around a quarter, 10,000 people, had lived in taxpayer-funded hotels or other Government-funded accommodation despite entering the country with a visa that suggested they would not need benefits or had enough money to cover living costs. It has raised fears that the visa system is being exploited as a backdoor route to permanent UK residency…