Author: Vardiafrica

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad Hoc Committee on National Electrification and NEC Ad Hoc Committee on Polio Eradication. Inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, he said there is no way Nigeria can dream of meaningful national economic development, without addressing the power sector crisis and ensuring Nigerians have access to electricity and other affordable energy. He urged leaders in the country to rise above differences to confront the power sector crisis and become part of the reincarnation of Nigeria as an industrialised nation. Shettima referred to countries with similar challenges…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has donated $1m (£786,000) to an inauguration fund for President-elect Donald Trump. The tech giant’s boss, Mark Zuckerberg, dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, having sought to repair his and his firm’s relationship with Trump following the election. Trump has previously been highly critical of Mr Zuckerberg and Facebook – calling the platform “anti-Trump” in 2017. Meta is not believed to have made similar donations to President Joe Biden’s inaugural fund in 2020 or to Trump’s previous inaugural fund in 2016. The company confirmed its million-dollar donation to the inaugural fund…

Leaders of the Labour Party (LP) have taken legal action to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of the defected Labour Party lawmakers vacant. The suit also seeks the return of all salaries, emoluments or privileges received from the date of defection. These were contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, yesterday, in Abuja. According to him, the party expresses its dismay at the betrayal of the people of Jos South/Jos East by Mr Akangbe Illiya, a man who the party and the people of Plateau State entrusted with their collective hopes…

The National Economic Council (NEC) has received position reports on the establishment of State police from the 36 state governors. The NEC meeting was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by state governors, deputy governors, ministers and some presidential aides. Briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting which lasted for over 4 hours, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the state governors indicated an overwhelming support for the establishment of state police because of the security challenges bedeviling their states. However, he said the NEC postponed deliberation on the matter to January 2024. “Virtually every state…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday executed the construction contract with Julius Berger PLC for the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC), Otuabagi, Bayelsa State.The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe executed the contract at the Board’s liaison office in Abuja. The Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) is being developed by the Petroleum Development Technology Fund (PTDF), NCDMB, Shell Petroleum Development Company/Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and the Bayelsa State Government, in the ratio of 40:30:20 and 10 respectively. The project is registered by guarantee, with the four organisations serving as partners. The contract…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has defended the demolition of properties in the nation’s seat of power, saying he won’t be swayed by blackmail. Wike said the structures being demolished by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) are properties illegally built on government lands. “Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, we are not afraid of blackmailing,” the minister said during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday. “In fact, you cannot be in this kind of position and say you…

As part of reforms to improve Nigeria’s electoral system, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recommended computer-generated voting slips for voter accreditation during elections. “With the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed. Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation. This will not only save cost, it will also…

The Senate on Thursday sought an investigation into the recent demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and has set up an investigative committee to look into the matter. The committee will also invite the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents without homes. The motion, which was moved by Senator Ireti Kingibe of the FCT Senatorial District, expressed concern over the illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions. The Senate resolved to set up an investigative…

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday held a valedictory session for Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo who represented Edo Central. Senator Okpebholo was a member of the 10th Senate (2023+2024) until his election as Governor in September 2024. He was victorious at the poll after winning 11 of the 18 local government areas of Edo state. Speaking at the valedictory session, the Senator representing Edo North, former governor Adams Oshiomhole, described Okpebholo as a humble, resourceful, committed and intelligent man. “We’re happy that in 30 days, Edo people are aware that there is a new governor in town: humble, resourceful,…

The Senate has summoned the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Peer Lubasch, over the company’s refusal to honour invitations to provide details on the Odukpani-Itu Highway project. The Odukpani-Itu Highway is located in Cross River State and Akwa Ibom states. It connects the town of Odukpani in Cross River State to Itu in Akwa Ibom State, serving as a critical link for transportation and economic activities in the South-South region. According to a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, Julius Berger has neglected and refused to honour invitations to provide details of their role in the project, despite…