Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, for a high-level working visit. He was received on arrival by Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Corinne Amori Brunet, and the Minister of Tourism and External Trade, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari. The visit, largely aimed at “strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme, seeks to draw inspiration from neighbouring countries and beyond.” Upon arrival, he went into a briefing session with the Governors and members of his team. The Vice President is being accompanied by Governors of Kwara, Imo, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina and Zamfara States.…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured citizens that ongoing reforms in the Nigerian power sector will deliver a more transparent, accountable, sustainable, and responsive electricity sector that meets the needs of every citizen. The President represented by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, gave the assurance at the flag-off of the training of 5,000 young Nigerians in the smart meter installation programme under the Presidential Metering Initiative, held at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Abuja. Highlighting that reforms in the nation’s power sector require consistency, partnership, technical excellence and commitment, President Tinubu said the Presidential Metering Initiative…

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned against people bearing arms illegally, stating that only the police were recognised to carry arms. The IG, who spoke at the security stakeholders’ meeting held at the old banquet hall of the Government House, Makurdi, yesterday, said the police were prepared to deal with people possessing illegal arms. He described the insecurity in Benue State as unacceptable and a source of “sleepless nights” for residents and security agencies. He stated that Benue was once known as a peaceful and hospitable state but regretted that the state had been overtaken by violence.…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will on Monday, July 27, 2026, officially launch the Nigerian Content Trainers’ Registration Certificate (NCTRC), marking a significant milestone in the Board’s efforts to strengthen quality assurance and standardisation in human capacity development across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The platform will be live on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC-JQS) portal. The NCTRC is a digital verification and certification platform developed by the NCDMB to assess, inspect, verify, and rate training service providers operating within the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The initiative gives effect to the Regulation for Training in the Nigerian Oil…

Google has introduced selfie video verification as a new sign-in option for Google Accounts. The feature helps users regain access to their accounts if they are locked out or do not have access to their usual phone or computer. Selfie video works as an alternative recovery method alongside options such as recovery email, recovery phone number, passkeys, and recovery contacts. Users must set up a selfie video in their Google Account before they can use it for account recovery. It cannot be added while an account is locked or during the recovery process. How to set up and use selfie video verification…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced the successful completion of a landmark private equity placement, raising approximately $2.5 billion to support the expansion of its refinery and petrochemical complex. The company disclosed this in a statement on its official X page on Wednesday, describing the transaction as Africa’s largest publicly disclosed primary equity private placement by value. According to the refinery, the offering was 3.7 times oversubscribed compared to the initial offer size, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company’s long-term growth strategy. The fundraising marks the first time Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised equity capital from external investors beyond…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. The approval was announced in a State House press release issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the Presidency, the expansion is aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army and enhancing the country’s ability to respond to security threats. “This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving…

An aircraft arriving from Enugu skidded off the runway after landing at the Benin Airport on Thursday amid torrential rainfall, but no injuries were recorded. The incident initially sparked concerns of a possible crash, but the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) clarified that the aircraft landed safely before veering off the runway due to the adverse weather conditions. The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, dismissed reports suggesting that the aircraft had crashed. According to him, the incident was not a crash but a runway excursion caused by the heavy rainfall. “The aircraft landed…

NAFDAC has commenced a nationwide enforcement operation to remove alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from circulation, in line with the Federal Government’s ban on the production, importation, distribution, sale, and use of such products. The exercise, being carried out across the six geopolitical zones, follows the closure of non-compliant manufacturing facilities and is part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to protect public health. NAFDAC enforcement teams are conducting coordinated operations in markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, and other distribution channels to identify, seize, and remove banned products from circulation. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, transporters,…

The United Kingdom has published an updated list of prohibited and restricted items for travellers entering the country in 2026, warning that customs officers will confiscate banned goods at the border. The revised guidance, issued under the UK’s border and customs regulations, outlines items that are completely prohibited as well as those that require special permits or licences before they can be imported. According to the authorities, the restrictions are designed to protect public safety, public health, the environment and wildlife. Items banned from entering the UK include controlled drugs, offensive weapons such as flick knives, and self-defence sprays like…