Author: Vardiafrica

The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution on Thursday that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader. The vote on a procedural measure to advance the war powers resolution was 52 to 47, as five of Trump’s Republicans voted with every Democrat in favor of moving ahead. One Republican senator did not vote. The vote took place days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic military raid in Caracas on Saturday. The rebuke for Trump, a day after senior cabinet members briefed every member of…

The federal government has unveiled a reusable textbook policy it says would slash the cost of education and improve learning outcomes across the country. The policy mandates that textbooks be standardised to last between four and six years. The education ministry, in a statement on Friday, also disclosed plans to introduce a uniform academic calendar for schools nationwide. Under the new guidelines, the government has prohibited the use of disposable workbooks, ensuring that textbooks can be reused across academic sessions or passed down among siblings. The ministry said this move is expected to significantly lower the recurring financial burden on Nigerian families. As…

President Bola Tinubu has praised corporate Nigeria, citizens, and other stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market for surpassing the N100 trillion milestone on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). President Tinubu described this record achievement as an inspiration for the investing public operating in the money and capital markets. He urged Nigerians to deepen their investments in the local economy, assuring that 2026 will yield even greater returns as his administration’s economic reforms continue to deliver stronger outcomes. “With the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) crossing the historic N100 trillion market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality…

Donald Trump has said that Venezuela will only buy US-made products with revenue from its oil sales. On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Trump said Venezuela would only buy US-made products with the profits it makes from any deal with Washington to sell oil. “I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal,” the US President said in a social media post.   Trump said the purchases will include agricultural products, medicine, medical devices and equipment to improve Venezuela’s grid and energy facilities. Trump said Tuesday, Jan. 6, that Venezuela would…

Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers house of assembly, has accused Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, and Ngozi Odu, his deputy, of posing a threat to democracy.  Earlier today, the assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against governor and his deputy over “gross misconduct”. Speaking shortly after, Amaewhule condemned the governor for “deliberately refusing” to present the state budget as required by law. “Nothing is holding the government from presenting the budget; he chose not to,” Amaewhule said. “And the governor has been boasting that he will always go and meet the president, for the president to call us and give us instructions. “He…

French President Emmanuel Macron warned the United States was “gradually turning away” from some of its allies and “breaking free from international rules”, offering some of his strongest criticism yet of Washington’s policies under Donald Trump. Mr Macron delivered his annual speech to French ambassadors as European powers were scrambling to come up with a coordinated response to Washington’s capture of Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro and the US president’s designs on Greenland. “The United States is an established power, but one that is gradually turning away from some of its allies and breaking free from international rules that it was…

The Rivers house of assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state. The legislature kicked off the process at plenary on Thursday. The lawmakers are accusing Fubara and his deputy of gross misconduct. Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the house, is presiding over the session. Major Jack, leader of the assembly, read the gross misconduct charges, signed by 26 members. Thereafter, Amaewhule said the notice of gross misconduct will be served on the governor in the next seven days. The day’s proceedings bear the imprimatur of renewed hostilities between Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, minister of the…

The Trump administration will withdraw the United States from dozens of international organizations, including the U.N.’s population agency and the U.N., as the U.S. further retreats from global cooperation. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions, following his administration’s review of participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House release. Many of the targets are U.N.-related agencies, commissions and advisory panels that focus on climate, labor, migration and other issues the Trump administration has categorized as catering to diversity and “woke”…

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says all political parties in Rivers have collapsed into a coalition backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Wike spoke on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ event in Asari-Toru LGA of Rivers state. According to the minister, all the political parties in the state are now part of the rainbow coalition, an initiative under the renewed hope family to support Tinubu. The former Rivers state governor said the arrangement marks a shift from party politics to a collective political movement focused on advancing the state’s interests. “In Rivers, we don’t have any party now.…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it will continue the probe of a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, despite the withdrawal of the petition by Aliko Dangote. It said it had received a “notice of withdrawal” of the petition against Ahmed, submitted by a legal counsel to Dangote. It, however, said that in line with the provisions of sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling law, it would continue to investigate the matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of…