Author: Vardiafrica

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has officially sworn in four new senators representing Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu, and Ondo following recent INEC bye-elections. The President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday officially administered the oath of office to four newly elected senators. The lawmakers secured their seats during the recent bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies across four senatorial districts. The newly inaugurated lawmakers are: Senator Olaka Nwogu (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) – Rivers South East Senator Envulu Anza (All Progressives Congress, APC) – Nasarawa North Senator Ikeje Asogwu (All Progressive Congress/APC) –…

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fashina, as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate. The request was conveyed in a letter read during Wednesday’s plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who subsequently referred the nomination to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening and further legislative action. In the correspondence, Tinubu said the nomination was made in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the request. The letter…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday launched the Naira Ambassadors Club, a new initiative aimed at promoting proper handling of the national currency and reducing the growing incidence of naira mutilation across the country. Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said the initiative would leverage the influence of young Nigerians to drive behavioural change and foster greater respect for the naira. Cardoso described the naira as more than a medium of exchange, noting that it represents Nigeria’s sovereignty, identity and economic stability. According to him, the apex bank continues to invest significant resources in…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday assured global investors that Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of the country’s greatest strengths, describing Nigerian youths as tech-savvy, eager to learn and capable of competing effectively in the global digital economy. The President gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from Mastercard led by its Global Chief Executive Officer, Michael Miebach, at the State House, Abuja. Tinubu also welcomed Mastercard’s proposal to train five million Nigerian businesses and equip them with digital skills, saying the initiative aligns with his administration’s drive to empower youths and small businesses through technology and innovation. According to a statement…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), through its Zonal Coordination Division (ZCD), has reiterated the importance of active community participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry as a catalyst for sustainable development, economic inclusion, and shared prosperity. This position was emphasized during a One-Day Sensitization/Enlightenment Workshop on Community Content Guideline organized by the Board on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Eden Hotel, Eket, Akwa Ibom State. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) and Co-Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, his representative, Lady Esitmbom Ekperikpe…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says that the shift from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources, particularly natural gas, creates economic opportunities for the Niger Delta region. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr Ed Ubong, at the NDDC’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku, said that the Commission was harnessing the Niger Delta region’s abundant natural resources to drive economic growth and sustainable development. The Managing Director stated that the Commission has consistently aligned its programmes with the Renewed Hope Agenda of…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with TotalEnergies and Geoplex Drillteq Limited, on Monday launched the Nigeria Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Training Programme for the Provision of Offshore Cased Hole Logging and Associated Services. The one-year specialised training programme, which kicked off in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is designed to develop indigenous capacity in critical oil and gas service areas and equip Nigerian youths with industry-relevant skills required to enhance local participation and competitiveness within the sector. The programme is being delivered by Arewa Innovative Solutions and will comprise six months of classroom-based learning and…

A day after Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo etched his own name into tournament history by becoming the first football player to score in six editions of the competition. The Portugal attacker struck in the sixth minute of his nation’s Group K clash with Uzbekistan, meeting João Cancelo’s cross at the near post to give his side the lead. It was Ronaldo’s ninth goal since making his tournament debut in 2006 and his 144th in total for his country. But he wasn’t done just yet. Capitalising on a fast-breaking counter-attack initiated by Bruno Fernandes, the 41-year-old icon made the most of a…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the process of establishing grounds for zero-rated access to educational platforms, an initiative aimed at enabling Nigerian students to access educational content online without data charges. According to a consultative document issued by the NCC on Friday, the move is a direct response to calls for socio-economic growth to address digital inclusion. It becomes imperative at a time when a significant percentage of Nigerian students are unable to afford digital access.  “The Project specifically responds to the call by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for telecommunications operators to provide unhindered connectivity access to educational institutions…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, in what could become one of the country’s most significant security reforms in recent years.The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to decentralise policing by allowing individual states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. If enacted, the bill would mark a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s internal security framework, which has remained under the exclusive control of the Federal Government since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999. Legislative sources said the bill…