Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has expressed support for the ongoing legislative process aimed at passing President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills at the National Assembly. Following a meeting on Thursday, the governors issued a communique stating their agreement to maintain the current Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) to ensure economic stability. The Forum also endorsed a revised VAT sharing formula, which allocates resources as follows: 50% based on equality, 30% based on derivation, and 20% based on population. This revised formula aims to promote equitable distribution of resources. The communique SaharaReporters obtained partly read: “We,…

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have barricaded the entrance to secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state.  Armed officers positioned a patrol van at the entrance on Thursday, restricting access and movement around the complex. The PDP in the south-south state is enmeshed in a leadership crisis with two camps claiming to be the authentic state executive committee of the party. On Monday, the Rivers state high court nullified the congresses conducted by the PDP in the state in 2024. The court also restrained the state executive committee (SEC) of the PDP from overseeing the…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the allocation of 568 plots of land in Abuja’s Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, due to non-payment of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) fees. The minister explained in a public notice issued by the FCT Administration that the allottees failed to pay the required fees after the expiration of a grace period. The revocation is in line with Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which allows the withdrawal of land allocations when the terms of the grant are not met. The notice added that only those…

President Biden awarded nearly 400 scientists and engineers the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers. Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our…

President-elect Donald Trump’s official inauguration portrait has been unveiled, setting the stage for his swearing-in ceremony as the 47th president of the United States on January 20. The portrait, alongside that of Vice President-elect JD Vance, was revealed on X by Daniel Torok, the chief photographer for the transition team.  The release comes just days before Trump and Vance officially take the reins of leadership in Washington. A video showcasing the inauguration invitation and the portraits has continued to generate admiration from social media users. Supporters of Trump hailed the portrait as a symbolic glimpse into what they anticipate will be a defining second…

Mozambique’s new president Daniel Chapo took the oath of office Wednesday in front of a heavily guarded audience of dignitaries in the capital Maputo following weeks of violent demonstrations over the fiercely disputed election results. Chapo, 48, extends his Frelimo party’s 50-year rule of the gas-rich African nation amid claims by opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane that the vote was rigged, which sparked unrest that an NGO says has left more than 300 dead. Taking the oath, Chapo vowed “to devote all my energies to defending, promoting and consolidating national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people”.…

Following a backlog of unpaid debts, the Nigerian Communications Commission has authorised telecommunications companies to disconnect the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes assigned to nine financial institutions. The directive signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka on Tuesday and obtained by Channels Television, noted that the affected banks are to pay the outstanding debts by January 27, 2025, or risk losing access to their USSD codes. The regulator did not, however, state the amount of the debt owed by the nine banks. According to the NCC public notice, nine out of 18 financial institutions had not complied with…

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested, six weeks after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law. A motorcade of black SUVs was seen leaving the gates of his hillside residence where he had been holed up for weeks behind barbed wire and a small army of personal security. Mr Yoon said the “rule of law has completely collapsed” in a video message recorded before he was escorted to the headquarters of an anti-corruption agency. He said he was complying with the detention warrant to prevent clashes between police and the presidential security service. However his compliance has…

In a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines (ATMs), during the yuletide season. Each bank was fined ₦150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand. The affected banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc,…

A high-powered delegation from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters, led by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet, has arrived in Zamfara State to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the recent airstrike tragedy. During a courtesy visit to Governor Dauda Lawal at the Government House, AVM Gabkwet expressed the NAF’s condolences and reiterated its commitment to combating banditry and restoring peace to the region. He assured the governor that a thorough investigation into the incident would be conducted. Governor Lawal commended the NAF for its efforts in addressing the state’s security challenges and reaffirmed his administration’s support for security agencies to ensure…