Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu assented to two bills establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji, Osun, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti. The President said these specialised institutions would address the educational needs of the populace while driving research and innovation and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth and development. Tinubu said the institutions would serve as training grounds for developing agriculture, science and technology professionals and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement. “According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has revealed that none of the 31 submitted requests for state creation met the constitutional requirements. Kalu made this disclosure on Friday, February 21, during a two-day retreat for committee members in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where lawmakers gathered to review pending constitutional amendment bills and strategize the way forward. The retreat, held from February 20 to 23, 2025, was organized by the 10th House of Representatives in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has reiterated the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) determination to tame inflation through conventional methods. Mr. Cardoso stated this in an interview with Bloomberg in London on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, while sharing key insights on the current state of the market, mainly focusing on the stability of the Naira and inflation rates. He noted a deceleration in the M-o-M inflation rates, highlighting it as a positive development. He assured that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members remained vigilant in monitoring inflation trends and ensuring a moderation of inflation numbers. He…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has decorated 19 Senior Police Officers with new ranks amidst cheers from families, friends, and well-wishers. Decorating them at the Goodluck Jonathan International Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the beneficiaries include three Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and 16 Commissioners of Police. The AIGs were AIG Garba Ahmed, AIG Nemi Edwin Osigoboka Iwo, and AIG Salman Garba Dogo. Similarly, the 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to the substantive rank of CPs include Cyriacus Enechukwu, Gombit Bangs, Rosemary Akpan, Ayodele Adeyemi, among others. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a…

The Osun State High Court in Osogbo has instructed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to go ahead with the local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025. The ruling came after a case was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its Chairman, Hashim Abioye. Justice A. Aderigbigbe declared that there are vacancies in all 30 local government areas of the state and that the election held on October 15, 2022, was nullified. The court, further mandated that all security agencies in the state, including the Nigeria Police, the Army, the Department of State Security…

Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday, January 20, accused Donald Trump of wanting to “become an emperor of the world”, calling on the US president to respect other countries’ sovereignty. “Post-World War II democracy has been an example of the best governance of the last 70 years”, said Lula in an interview with a local radio station, “but the way (Trump) acts, he is trying to become an emperor of the world”. “He is trying to chime in on all countries and in all public policies,” he added Lula’s comments come after Trump blasted Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr…

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB),Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Monday visited the facilities of Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN), and Africoat Nigeria Limited, a pipe coating plant, located at Takwa Bay,Lagos. The visit is consistent with Ogbe’s determination to assess oil and gas facilities across the country as a prelude for their participation in ongoing and upcoming major oil industry projects. NCDMB played key roles in accelerating approvals for the new projects, which include Ubeta gas development project, currently being developed by Total Energies, and Bonga North deep water project, for which Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) had announced the final investment decision (FID) in December 2024. Similarly, Zabazaba deep-water project is being readied by ENI and Shell, just as preparations…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Dr Saviour Enyiekere’s appointment as Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for a five-year renewable term. Until his appointment, Enyiekere, an environmental specialist, was the deputy chief of staff to the Senate President. President Tinubu also approved the appointment of two commission members from each of the six geopolitical zones. The 12 members are: NORTH WEST: (a) Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (b) Hon. Yusuf A. Yusuf Tabuka NORTH EAST (c) Aminu Ibrahim Malle (d) Alhaji Lawan Maina Mahmud NORTH CENTRAL (e) Mark Hanmation Tersoo (f) Salihu Umar Agboola Balogun SOUTH WEST (g) Hon.…

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has dismissed allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist organisation, stating that there is no evidence to support such claims. Speaking after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday night, Mills stated that no country condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the United States. “If we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners,” Mills assured. His comments come in response to…

The Senate committee on finance says it will begin a two-day public hearing on the tax reform bills on February 24. Chairman of the committee, Sani Musa, who disclosed this, said the committee plans to take on two of the bills on each day of the session for the press to be fully abreast with what the committee intends to do. “It is our duty as legislators to do the needful for the good of this country. We are all representatives of different tribes, religions, geography and we are Nigerians. “What we will work towards giving Nigerians are laws that…