Author: Vardiafrica

US President Donald Trump has said he wants Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza. Trump said he had made the request to Jordan’s King Abdullah and planned to ask Egypt’s president on Sunday, too. Describing Gaza as a “demolition site”, Trump said: “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing”. He added that the move “could be temporary” or “could be long-term”. Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority condemned the proposal. Jordan and Egypt have also rejected the idea. A ceasefire is being observed in Gaza after…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja, FCT, Sunday, January 26, 2025, for Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit slated for January 27-28 this year. The Summit, hosted by the government of Tanzania in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, aims to advance ‘‘Mission 300,’’ an initiative to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who disclosed this development at the weekend, said while in Dar es Salaam, President Tinubu…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced a temporary suspension of access gate fees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. In a statement released on Saturday, FAAN said the decision aims to ease traffic congestion for airport road users during ongoing construction work. The suspension will be effective from January 24, 2025, to February 7, 2025. “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the general public that all access gate fees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport are suspended to alleviate the traffic burden on our airport road users,” the statement read. FAAN…

The Federal Government has added 17 new trades and subjects, including hairstyling, plumbing, GSM repair, makeup, and more, as part of ongoing reforms aimed at equipping students with practical skills and enhancing their employability. According to a statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), these additions to the Basic Education curriculum are designed to promote hands-on learning and better prepare students for the job market. The new subjects, set to take effect in January 2025, will be taught at the primary and junior secondary levels nationwide. The newly introduced trades include: Additional subjects include: The federal government’s initiative has…

President Bola Tinubu Friday in Abuja welcomed the intervention of the Finish government, with the arrest and detention of Simon Ekpa, saying the government will not tolerate actions and statements that could lead to divisiveness among citizens. President Tinubu spoke when he received the Letters of Credence from the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Sanna Selin, at the State House. He commended the Finnish authorities for the timely intervention that safeguarded the nation’s integrity and mitigated an action that threatened peaceful coexistence. President Tinubu also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the European Union, Mr Gautier Mignot, and…

Kenya will now permit citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without requiring prior authorisation.   According to a BBC report, Kenya will now permit citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without requiring prior authorization, as per a new directive from the cabinet. A cabinet statement clarified that the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement will be abolished for all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns. Under the revised system, citizens of most African nations will be allowed to enter and stay visa-free for up to two months. Additionally, members of the East African Community—comprising…

US authorities arrested 538 illegal migrants and deported hundreds in a mass operation just days into President Donald Trump’s second administration, his press secretary said late Thursday. “The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” Karoline Leavitt said in a post on social platform X, adding “hundreds” were deported by military aircraft. “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” she said. Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the United States. He has…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined other world leaders to push for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with a target to boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050. He restated Nigeria’s readiness to spearhead the AfCFTA and take advantage of the market potential of the sector for digital transformation and economic integration of the African continent. This is just as the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, pointed out the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, projecting that its full implementation could boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050. Senator…

US President Donald Trump stepped up the pressure on Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to make a peace deal with Ukraine Wednesday, threatening tougher economic measures if Moscow does not agree to end the war. Trump’s warning in a Truth Social post came as the Republican seeks a quick solution to a grinding conflict that he had promised to end before even starting his second term. “If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various…

The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it has upgraded some medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree to doctoral status. The NUC disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo. According to the statement, the decision was driven by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively. The commission also noted that the upgrade aligns with global best practices for training professionals in these fields. As part of the changes, the duration of the affected programmes…