Author: Vardiafrica

Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called on West African countries to shift from working in silos to building stronger regional value chains that can attract investors, boost local production, and support job creation.Speaking at the West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja, she said small and medium enterprises (SMEs), manufacturers, and youth-led businesses would benefit from a more united ECOWAS approach to economic development.“Working individually won’t get us far,” she said. “But if we build cross-border value chains in key sectors like pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and digital services, we’ll unlock scale, investment, and more opportunities for…

The Nigerian Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered security agencies to double their efforts in routing remnants of the Boko Haram , condemning the insurgent group on recent resort to soft targets as diversionary tactic. The President gave the directive on Sunday in a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga on suicide bombing in konduga, Borno State, over the weekend. President Tinubu who expressed anguish over the Konduga suicide attack mourned those who lost their lives, describing the attack as cowardly. The President condoled with the Government and people of Borno State over the incident and directed…

The U.S. Department of State has begun evacuating residents from Israel following President Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s three main nuclear facilities. In anticipation of a potential Iranian counterattack, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged American citizens in the country to evacuate. “The Department of State has initiated assisted departure flights from Israel,” Huckabee said. “With airspace largely closed, the challenges are significant. If you have the option, TAKE IT.” Israeli airline El Al announced on Saturday that starting Monday, they would be offering 50 seats on flights departing from Tel Aviv to eight destinations, including New York and…

U.S. military leaders have reportedly told their troops to prepare for potential retaliatory attacks in the wake of America’s attack on Iranian nuclear sites. According to Mail Online, military leaders told troops that the attack ‘will likely result in counterstrikes on U.S. bases and facilities’ in the Middle East. In addition, it will ‘likely activate Iran and other foreign terrorist organisations’ cells abroad, including in the U.S., to conduct strikes against U.S. persons and facilities.’ The U.S. military joined forces with Israel to launch military strikes against Iran on Saturday, June 21, using B-2 ‘bunker bomber’ planes. Just before 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised President Donald Trump after the US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a “very successful attack”. “President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, Donald Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength,” Mr Netanyahu said in an early-morning video address after the US President joined Israel’s military campaign against its major rival Iran. His statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday night, June 21, confirmed that the United States carried out coordinated airstrikes on three major nuclear facilities in…

António Guterres: US attack on Iran gravely alarming — it’s a threat to world peace US President Donald Trump had said Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to get involved in Israel’s war with Tehran. In the end, it took just days. Washington hit three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday. A number of world leaders have condemned the strikes, with US allies also calling for a return to the negotiating table. While the amount of damage remained unclear, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had “crossed a very big red line”, the time for diplomacy was over and Iran had the right…

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has explained how the country secured a Heathrow slot for its domestic airline, Air Peace. Keyamo made this known on Saturday in a statement on his X account. He explained that slot allocation was the result of sustained diplomatic engagement by the Nigerian government to enforce the country’s rights under the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA. Keyamo described the development as a significant diplomatic milestone that reflects Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring fair and reciprocal treatment for its local carriers on international routes. According to him, the move aligns with President…

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday night, June 21, confirmed that the United States carried out coordinated airstrikes on three major nuclear facilities in Iran, marking one of the most significant escalations in U.S.-Iran tensions in recent years. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump announced the strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, which are considered critical to the country’s uranium enrichment and nuclear development programs. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A…

The Ondo State Government has approved death sentences for those convicted of kidnapping. According to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Kayode Ajulo, who spoke on behalf of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Saturday, after the monthly State Executive Council meeting, kidnappers will be sentenced to death after conviction. Ajulo emphasised that the move was part of efforts to strengthen security and ensure the safety of residents across the state. The state has recently battled incessant cases of kidnapping, with most of the victims killed and huge ransoms paid by the victims’ families. Ajulo also emphasised that kidnapping…

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, stated that the Commission’s mandate to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta was exemplified in Okirika. According to Ebie, the NDDC Board and Management were facilitating the development of the region in collaboration with other stakeholders. “We believe in support, collaboration and the prayers of everybody. We are an interventionist agency that collaborates with local, state, and federal governments,” he said. He stated that the NDDC was not in competition with any other entity. He advised that people should discard the notion that the…