Author: Vardiafrica

In a significant move, Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of Guinea’s military junta, has promoted himself to the rank of army general as the country marks the establishment of its all-powerful armed forces. This promotion follows his earlier elevation to lieutenant general in January, which he granted himself shortly after taking power in a coup in September 2021, overthrowing President Alpha Conde. Doumbouya’s self-promotion comes as he faces increasing pressure from supporters who encourage him to run for president once the junta eventually transitions power back to civilians, a promise the military leader has already indicated may not be fulfilled by…

The federal government has released the withheld salaries of striking non-academic staff in federal universities. Bawa Mokwa, the director of press at the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OSGF), spoke to TheCable on Saturday. He said disbursement covers the benefits payable to retirees under the contributory pension scheme of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners. On October 28, non-teaching staff unions in federal universities began an indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries from 2022. The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are key stakeholders. Mokwa said the payment of withheld salaries has…

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), says the fainting by some minors at the Abuja federal high court was “scripted”. On Friday, the police arraigned 76 suspects – who are mostly minors – for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August. They are facing 10 counts bordering on mutiny, treason, and destruction of public property. Before they could take a plea, at least four of them collapsed. The court later l the defendants – who looked ill and malnourished – N10 million bail each. In a statement, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the police, quoted Egbetokun as saying that the police have worked…

The newly appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, has formally assumed duty in a handover ceremony held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Friday. This was disclosed by the Defence Headquarters, sharing photos from the ceremony on its X handle. The caption read, “Formal Taking Over Ceremony of the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General OO Oluyede.” President Bola Tinubu appointed Major General Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff pending the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is said to be indisposed and is receiving treatment abroad. Until his appointment,…

The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR is set to be honoured at the 4th edition of the Africa Value Awards which is scheduled to hold on the 12th November 2024 at the prestigious Abuja Continental Hotel. The Chief of Defense Staff has displayed profound professionalism in handling the affairs of security in Nigeria. His commitment to strengthen the capacity of the Armed Forces in tackling insecurity in the Nation is highly commendable as the scourge of insecurity has seen a rapid decline since he assumed office. At a press briefing, Mr. Kingsley J Dakorubo, the Executive…

Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements. He will join until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November. Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football. Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP; the first of which was the club’s…

Mauritius’s communications regulator ordered all internet service providers to suspend access to social media platforms on Friday to Nov. 11, a day after the upcoming general election, as the country reels from a wiretapping scandal. Some 20 conversations involving politicians, police, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society have been leaked on social media since mid-October, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority said the temporary social media ban was in response to “illegal postings”. The Prime Minister’s office said the restriction was necessary to preserve the national security and integrity of the country, following…

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Friday he would “step aside” after his party suffered a resounding defeat in general elections, according to preliminary tallies “I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi told reporters at a press conference, adding it had been “a good journey”. His party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has ruled the diamond-rich country since independence from Britain in 1966. Results from Wednesday’s vote are expected to be confirmed by the electoral commission later Friday, but early counts showed that three opposition parties had together won at least 31 of 61…

Chad’s military has been accused of killing “scores” of fishermen in Nigeria while targeting jihadists, days after 40 died in a Boko Haram attack on a military base in Chad, fishermen and anti-jihadist militia told AFP on Thursday. The Chadian army launched an airstrike pummelling Tilma island in Kukawa district on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad on Wednesday while fishermen were tending to their catch, the sources said. Two anti-jihadist militia assisting Nigerian soldiers in fighting the militant groups in the region told AFP that several fishermen were killed in the bombardment. “There was an attack on fishermen by…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery says it has not received authorisation from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to supply Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria. It announced this on Thursday as oil dealers under the aegis of the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria demanded the refinery to release its PMS price, stressing that its silence on this matter had dragged on for so long. On Wednesday, IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Maigandi, said his members had gone to the Lekki-based refinery but could not lift petrol for almost four…