Author: Vardiafrica

Palestinian militants released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian inmates freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears the Gaza truce deal was near collapse. An AFP journalist saw masked Hamas gunmen parade the hostages onto a stage in front of a crowd in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis, where they were made to make statements into a microphone before being handed over to the Red Cross and taken back to Israeli territory. Clutching gift bags given by their captors and certificates to mark the end of their captivity, the three men, flanked…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the National Assembly to enact stricter laws prohibiting politicians from possessing large sums of money within polling areas in order to curb vote-buying and other electoral malpractices during elections. This is also as the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun announced plans for a 2025 Electoral Act to replace the current 2022 version, which he said had exposed gaps during the 2023 elections. This is also as the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun announced plans for a 2025 Electoral Act…

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has announced that the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program will significantly enhance trade facilitation both within Nigeria and across the globe. Adeniyi made this declaration during the official inauguration of the programme in Lagos on Friday night. According to Adeniyi, the AEO initiative reflects the evolving nature of customs-business relationships, driven by the dynamic demands of international trade and the increasing need for secure and efficient supply chains. He explained that the AEO program, as defined by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), certifies entities involved in the…

Saidu Abdulrahman, a 28-year-old photographer from Nigeria’s Yobe State, has officially been crowned the Guinness World Records (GWR) holder for the most head shot photographs taken in a single hour. Abdulrahman captured an astounding 897 head shots in just 60 minutes in September 2024, shattering the previous record of 500. “I am beyond thrilled to announce that I have officially been recognised as a Guinness World Records title holder for the most head shot photographs taken in one hour!” Abdulrahman exclaimed in a post on Facebook platform. Abdulrahaman attempted the record in an effort to create awareness of photography in…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has organised sensitisation programmes to promote the girl child education in the Niger Delta region, especially In STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education. Speaking at the “Help the Girl Child” programme in Umuaka Secondary School, Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, the Abia State Representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Eruba Dimgba, stressed the importance of educating the girl child. He noted that the NDDC was not only embarking on infrastructural development but was also on the path of human capital development, observing: “The NDDC is very eager to develop…

The African Union (AU) has launched the African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) to address the long-standing biases of global credit rating firms. The new agency, revealed by Kenya’s President William Ruto on Friday during an AU event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aims to challenge the systemic prejudices that have historically hindered Africa’s economic progress. President Ruto emphasised the need for change, stating that global credit rating agencies have not only treated Africa unfairly but have also failed to accurately reflect the continent’s economic realities. “Global credit rating agencies have not only dealt us a bad hand, they have also deliberately failed Africa,” Ruto…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun has requested that the Senate conduct its investigation into the disappearance of 3,907 firearms behind closed doors, citing national security concerns. In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Egbetokun expressed appreciation for the Legislature’s commitment to a thorough probe but stressed the need for confidentiality to prevent misinformation and security risks. He said; “We appreciate the Senate committee’s efforts in investigating the alleged missing firearms. However, we urge that future hearings on sensitive security matters be held in camera to avoid creating a wrong impression among Nigerians and the…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said posterity will judge the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) fairly for going beyond infrastructure development to investing in education and green technology through its Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP). The Vice President made the statement during a meeting with the management team of the NEDC, who came to brief him on the level of work on the ASSEP project at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He described ASSEP as the actual game changer in the age and time, pointing out that education is the greatest leveller through which even a son of a peasant could…

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government. The President, who arrived on Thursday night, was received at the airport by the Ethiopian deputy chief of protocol, Eshetu Legesse, the Nigerian minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the charge d’affaires of the Nigerian embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu. Ambassador Tuggar later briefed President Tinubu about the summit and some diplomatic wins for the country, a session that stretched until about 2a.m. on Friday. Among the wins was…

Nigeria has decided to set up a special security team to protect its power installations and infrastructure “We have decided now with the Minister of Power to have what we call the power rangers,” Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said on Friday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily. The ‘power rangers’ will be created with officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and will be responsible for stopping the vandalism of power infrastructure which has caused blackouts across the country. Amid growing reports of vandals damaging power installations and outcry over frequent blackouts sometimes caused by vandalism, the…