Author: Vardiafrica

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and their running mates for 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will be held, signalling that the party has largely resolved disputes arising from its primaries ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline. Party sources said only one Northeast state remains outstanding due to disagreement over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate, with a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja expected to conclude the process. The development comes as political parties race to meet the August 8 deadline set by INEC for the submission…

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of hazard allowances and other earned benefits for members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) working in federal universities, with the new package taking effect retrospectively from January 1, 2026. The approval was contained in a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) following an agreement reached with NASU on June 29, 2026. One of the major highlights is the increase in laboratory, workshop, studio, clinical and occupational hazard allowances. Staff on CONTISS 1–5 will now receive N243,000 annually, up from N180,000, while…

The South African authorities are investigating the death of a Nigerian man who collapsed while he was being arrested by police in Cape Town last week. The initial results from a post-mortem showed that Ibeh Chika Simon, 42, “sustained multiple bruises and abrasions on his back and chest”, according to the independent body that oversees police conduct. Nigerian diplomat Ninikanwa Okey-Uche said her country was “deeply appalled by reports of the egregious police tactics that led to his death” on Thursday. In its statement, Western Cape police said Simon died while he “was being placed under arrest [as] he allegedly…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded another major milestone in its ongoing fleet modernisation programme with the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the first batch of three M-346 Fighter Attack (FA) aircraft at the Leonardo Aircraft Division facility in Venegono, Italy. Conducted by a joint delegation comprising representatives of the NAF and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the exercise successfully concluded all contractual acceptance requirements ahead of the aircraft’s delivery to Nigeria. The achievement reinforces the Chief of the Air Staff’s command philosophy of building a highly motivated, professional and mission-ready force capable of delivering…

The jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has formally terminated the services of his longtime personal lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and directed him to stop representing him, his family, or IPOB in any capacity. In a letter dated July 22, 2026, and written from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, Kanu said Ejiofor’s engagement as his personal legal representative had earlier been terminated verbally, adding that the latest correspondence served as formal written confirmation of that decision. Kanu also withdrew what he described as any authority previously granted to Ejiofor to act for or represent IPOB, insisting…

A three-storey private hostel accommodating students of Federal Polytechnic Oko has collapsed in Amokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving a yet-to-be-identified number of occupants trapped beneath the rubble. The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, reportedly caved in late Sunday night. The collapse of the hostel located near Tonimas Filling Station in the Oko Polytechnic community sparked panic among residents and students as cries for help were reportedly heard from beneath the debris. Emergency responders launched rescue operations, with personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sends warm congratulations to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, on his election as the Chairman of the African Association of Accountant-Generals (AAAG). Ogunjimi emerged victorious after a keenly contested election involving candidates from Tanzania and The Gambia during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in the Kingdom of Eswatini recently. President Tinubu says Ogunjimi’s emergence as Chairman of the continental body is a source of immense pride for Nigeria and a testament to the country’s sustained efforts at promoting transparency, accountability, and excellence in public finance administration. The President expresses confidence that…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday urged Nigerian medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in the diaspora to return home and lend their expertise to the ongoing transformation of the nation’s healthcare sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda. President Tinubu stated this when he received a delegation of Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as part of the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration at the State House, Abuja. The event had in attendance the Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister…

Forty-five young Nigerian graduates on Wednesday in Port Harcourt underwent kick-off formalities for a 12-month Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Training Programme for technical competencies identified as critically important for value retention and increased indigenous participation across the oil and gas industry value chain. Organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Chevron Nigeria Limited and Tombas Resources Nigeria Limited, the programme is geared towards provision of Automated Crude Oil Storage Tanks Upgrade and Repair Services, and is designed to have the trainees adequately grounded in process control technologies, industrial instrumentation and maintenance practices,…

Nigeria was affected following a new wave of US tariffs targeting 60 trading partners that took effect on Friday, replacing an expiring global duty rolled out by President Donald Trump earlier this year. The levies, which range from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent and impact major economies like China, India and the European Union, sparked protests from Beijing and other targets. “The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. He…