Author: Vardiafrica

The Presidential Working Group on the proposed National Policing Bill has invited Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy proposals as part of efforts to establish a comprehensive legal and operational framework for state policing. Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, announced this on Monday after the Working Group’s meeting at the State House, Abuja. The Working Group is reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations, and other relevant laws to support the development of an effective, modern policing system. The proposed framework will set national minimum…

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has directed all cryptocurrency exchanges, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and peer-to-peer (P2P) escrow operators to make a valid Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) compulsory before activating new customer accounts, in a major move to strengthen tax compliance in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital asset market. The directive is contained in the Guidelines on the Taxation of Virtual Assets released on Monday as part of the Federal Government’s new framework for regulating and taxing cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, tokenised assets and other digital assets. The latest requirement is expected to tighten oversight of Nigeria’s crypto ecosystem by ensuring that…

The Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Butane Energy Limited, has commissioned a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in Bauchi State as part of its strategic efforts to deepen domestic gas utilization, expand access to cleaner cooking fuel, and strengthen indigenous participation across Nigeria’s energy sector. The Bauchi LPG plant is the third facility developed under the NCDMB–Butane Energy partnership, following the successful establishment of similar plants in Katsina and Kaduna States. This expansion directly supports the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative and aims to tackle energy poverty across Northern Nigeria. Speaking during the commissioning…

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has endorsed healthy competition among the 36 states of the federation, describing it as essential to achieving the nation’s aspirations for prosperity, economic growth, human dignity and job creation. This, he said, is evident in the quality and ambition of the investment summits organised by the states across the country. The Vice President stated this on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, during the state’s Economic and Investment Summit 2026. He emphasised that the nation’s strength lies in the proactive economic awakening of its sub-national governments rather than just the government at the centre.…

The Senate Public Accounts Committee on Monday threatened to invoke constitutional sanctions against the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative after the agencies failed to appear before an investigative hearing on audit queries relating to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo, described the agencies’ absence as a disregard for the authority of the National Assembly and warned that any further failure to honour its invitation would attract punitive measures under the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders.…

Air Peace has expanded intra-Africa connectivity with the launch of scheduled services on the Lagos-Conakry-Bamako route, opening two new destinations aimed at improving travel, trade and regional integration across West Africa. The inaugural flight departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2, Lagos, at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, marking another step in the carrier’s regional expansion strategy. The new operation links Nigeria with the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Mali, providing travellers with improved access for business, tourism and cultural exchange. Intra-Africa connectivity drives regional expansion The launch reinforces Air Peace’s ambition to connect more African cities…

FirstHoldCo Plc has become the first Nigerian banking group to cross the N6 trillion market capitalisation mark, a milestone reached during trading on Monday, August 3, 2026, and one that cements its place as the country’s most valuable listed bank. The company’s shares changed hands at N136.50 apiece during the session, and with roughly 45.48 billion shares outstanding, that pushed its total market value to about N6.21 trillion. The feat caps a blistering run for the stock in 2026: shares are up nearly 185 percent year-to-date and over 143 percent since the end of June alone. It comes barely two…

The National Youth Service Corps has warned prospective corps members that they will not be mobilised for national service without obtaining clearance from the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD). The warning comes as the scheme continues preparations for the mobilisation of a fresh batch of prospective corps members, while also intensifying efforts to ensure their safety during orientation camp journeys. In a public notice shared on its official X account on Monday, the NYSC declared that NERD clearance is now compulsory for all prospective corps members. The scheme urged prospective corps members to complete the process early to avoid delays…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says one of the biggest mistakes made by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was trying to build his own political structure too early after assuming office. Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said Fubara began distancing himself from the political structure that brought him to power within his first 100 days in office, adding that the governor also made the mistake of believing he could succeed without the support of those who backed him. Wike said he had expected Fubara to build on the foundation his…

The Nigerian Army has deployed troops to Guinea-Bissau for a peace mission under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission. In a statement on Saturday, the army said the deployment reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace, security and stability. The troops, comprising 86 personnel serving under Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5 ESSMGB), departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and arrived in Guinea-Bissau to begin their mission under the ECOWAS mandate. “Prior to the deployment from the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base, Abuja, the Chief of Operations (Army), Major General MLD Saraso, represented by…