Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for their unanimous support of four Tax Reform Bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly. In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga on Thursday, Tinubu lauded the governors for demonstrating bold leadership and fostering national unity by setting aside regional, ethnic, and political differences to prioritize Nigeria’s development. He praised the outcome of the recent consultation between the NGF and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy as a model of effective cooperation between the Federal and State governments. The President highlighted that the Tax Reform Bills are…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Friday announced an upward adjustment in the prices of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) commonly known as petrol, to its bulk purchase customers, citing escalating global crude oil price which is now above $80 per barrel. But the bulk price increase by the 650,000 barrels per day Lagos-based refinery will be responded to by a consequential hike in the pump price of petrol in the major cities currently selling between N925 and a little above N1,000 per litre. In a statement obtained by THISDAY, the refinery announced that its refined petrol would now be priced at…

The US Supreme Court has upheld a law that bans TikTok in the US unless its China-based parent company ByteDance sells the platform by this Sunday. TikTok had challenged the law, arguing it would violate free speech protections for the more than 170 million users it says it has in the US. But that argument was rejected unanimously by the nation’s highest court, meaning TikTok must now find an approved buyer for the US version of the app or face removal from app stores and web hosting services. The White House said it would fall to incoming President Donald Trump’s…

Pep Guardiola said Friday that Erling Haaland’s new nine-and-a-half-year contract at Manchester City is “exceptional news” for the Premier League champions. The 24-year-old striker’s existing deal was due to expire in June 2027 but he has now committed his future to the club for the next decade. The Norwegian made an instant impact after arriving in Manchester from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and his overall tally for the club stands at a remarkable 111 goals in 126 games. Haaland’s decision to commit his long-term future to City is a major coup for the club during a season in which they…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has once again reported an attack on its transmission lines conveying bulk power to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, at its 132kv transmission line and underground cable transmitting bulk power to the 132kv Central Area transmission substation, Katampe, in the Central Area of Abuja. According to her, the vandalism of the power infrastructure which affected the supply of electricity to Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi and part of Presidential Villa, was suspected…

The court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a judgement delivered on Friday by Hamma Barka, the court ruled that its earlier decision in November 2024, recognising Abure as the party’s chairman, remains valid and has not been overturned by any court. The ruling came in response to two separate appeals filed by Nenadi Usman, the party’s caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Barka held that the appellate court, in the two separate appeals, did not address the leadership dispute within the party because such…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has expressed support for the ongoing legislative process aimed at passing President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills at the National Assembly. Following a meeting on Thursday, the governors issued a communique stating their agreement to maintain the current Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) to ensure economic stability. The Forum also endorsed a revised VAT sharing formula, which allocates resources as follows: 50% based on equality, 30% based on derivation, and 20% based on population. This revised formula aims to promote equitable distribution of resources. The communique SaharaReporters obtained partly read: “We,…

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have barricaded the entrance to secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state.  Armed officers positioned a patrol van at the entrance on Thursday, restricting access and movement around the complex. The PDP in the south-south state is enmeshed in a leadership crisis with two camps claiming to be the authentic state executive committee of the party. On Monday, the Rivers state high court nullified the congresses conducted by the PDP in the state in 2024. The court also restrained the state executive committee (SEC) of the PDP from overseeing the…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the allocation of 568 plots of land in Abuja’s Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, due to non-payment of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) fees. The minister explained in a public notice issued by the FCT Administration that the allottees failed to pay the required fees after the expiration of a grace period. The revocation is in line with Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which allows the withdrawal of land allocations when the terms of the grant are not met. The notice added that only those…

President Biden awarded nearly 400 scientists and engineers the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers. Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our…