Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian government has proposed the extension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme from one year to two years, saying it will deepen skills acquisition and boost youth employment. The proposed extension includes an expansion of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to better equip corps members with practical skills for job creation and national development. This development was revealed during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, in Abuja. A statement signed by Caroline Embu, Acting Director of…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has released N10 billion to the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, to stimulate entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Niger Delta region. Announcing the release of the fund during the inauguration of the NDCCITMA board of directors in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, noted that the N10 billion was the first instalment of the N30 billion that the Commission had promised to invest in the Chamber of Commerce. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye,…

In a landmark move that sets a new benchmark for customer-focused banking in Nigeria, Sterling Bank has championed the cancellation of bank transfer fees by major banks, announcing it will no longer take any money for itself for any local online transactions by its customers. The announcement, made on April 1st, initially sparked widespread arguments, with many assuming it was a marketing prank tied to April Fools’ Day. However, Sterling has confirmed that this is no stunt: the zero-transfer-fee policy is real, and effective immediately. With this move, Sterling becomes the first major Nigerian bank to take a definitive stand against…

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the 2025 Free Medical Outreach of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, for the Niger Delta region. The wife of the President and the founder of RHI also inaugurated the renovated and upgraded Cottage Hospital and Community Secondary School, which the NDDC built to enhance healthcare and education in Bayelsa State. Speaking during the launching and commissioning ceremony at the Cottage Hospital, Otuasega in Ogbia Local Government Area, the First Lady said the health programme aligned with the position of President Bola Tinubu, who…

US President Donald Trump unveiled the first “gold card”, a residency permit sold for $5 million each, aboard Air Force One on Thursday. Holding a prototype that bore his face and an inscription “The Trump Card”, the Republican president told reporters that the special visa would probably be available “in less than two weeks”. “I’m the first buyer,” he said. “Pretty exciting, huh?” Trump previously said that sales of the new visa, a high-price version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the US national deficit. The billionaire former real estate…

The supreme court has set aside the judgment of the court of appeal in Abuja which recognised Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a verdict delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to have affirmed Abure as chairman of the LP, since the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership. It held that the issue of leadership is an internal affair of a party over which courts lack jurisdiction. The court allowed the appeal filed by Nenadi Usman, a former…

 Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred parties in the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others from granting press interviews on issues relating to her six months suspension. Nyako issued the order on Friday following a complaint by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), a lawyer to Akpabio, that the plaintiff was moving from one television house to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to her case, currently pending before the court. In a ruling, Justice Nyako said there shall be no press interviews by…

The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired) on Thursday said that an appropriation bill for 2025 is being articulated to provide for critical development concerns in healthcare delivery, education, agriculture and infrastructure. Ibas also said that the anticipated budget will cater to creating more employment opportunities for Rivers people and advance delivery of technology in critical facets of public life. The administrator gave the hint when he hosed the delegation of Rivers State caucus at the National Assembly, led by Senator Barinada Mpigi, representing Rivers South-East District, at Government House in Port Harcourt. Those on the delegation…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disowned a circular claiming it has introduced two new denominations—N5,000 and N10,000 notes. The apex bank described the circular as “fake” in a statement via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter). The alleged circular said the new notes were set for circulation from May 1. The viral circular widely shared on WhatsApp, falsely attributed to the CBN, stated, “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially announced the introduction of two new denominations – N5,000 and N10,000 banknotes; as part of ongoing efforts to streamline cash transactions and improve liquidity management.” The…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for organising the Niger Delta Sports Festival, describing it as the first of its kind and stating that it would harness the youth’s potential, promote unity and community development in the Niger Delta region. President Tinubu, who was represented by the Chairman of National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, spoke at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He said: “Let me commend the Niger Delta Development Commission for its initiative in organising this laudable event aimed at…