Author: Vardiafrica

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike over dissatisfaction with the federal government’s response to its demands. Chris Piwuna, ASUU president, addressed the press on Sunday at the union’s headquarters at the University of Abuja. Piwuna said the strike would begin on October 13 and would be observed across all branches of the union nationwide. He said the strike became necessary after several failed attempts to get the government to address long-standing issues affecting public universities. On October 8, Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, had appealed to the union to shelve its planned…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigerian content, deepening indigenous participation, and sustaining future-ready investments across the nation’s energy landscape. The declaration came as the Board was honoured for its sustained efforts in building indigenous capacity within the Nigerian oil and gas sector. It bagged the Local Content Champion of the Year Award at the 2025 Annual Energy Conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday. Representing the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr.…

Voting began Sunday as Cameroon holds presidential elections, which 92-year-old Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, is expected to win, extending his already 43-year grip on power. Biya faces 11 opponents, including former employment minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 79, who has generated unexpected enthusiasm among voters in the central African nation, where half the population is under 20. Polling stations opened at 8:00 am and will close at 6:00 pm (0700 to 1700 GMT). The eight million Cameroonians who are eligible to vote in the one-round election have, for the most part, only known one ruler in…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, brought together chief executives of indigenous oil and gas companies, host community contractors and vendors, alongside key personnel of three financial institutions, for appraisal of funding and regulatory mechanisms instituted by the Board. Christened “NCDMB Stakeholders Sensitization and Engagement Forum,” the event was designed to clarify processes for Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) 1% Compliance Certification issuance, demonstrate new features of the upgraded 1% NCDF payment portal, provide guidance on the revised Community Contractors Scheme, and also serve as customers’ engagement forum with participation by…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says that stakeholders’ engagement is fundamental to the development of the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku stated this in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Rivers State Public Relations Week in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Seledi Thompson-Wakama, highlighted the importance of reputation management and the critical role NIPR plays in maintaining a positive national image. He emphasised the importance of stakeholder collaboration to ensure projects meet people’s needs and…

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have finally arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after their flight from South Africa was forced to make an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola, on Saturday due to a cracked window, SaharaReporters has learnt. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the team’s safe arrival in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday morning, writing, “Update: The @NGSuperEagles have finally arrived Uyo after a delay in Luanda, Angola due to issues with the aircraft conveying them back home after the win over Lesotho. Now to get one over Benin! Yes. We can.” This was…

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Rome, the capital of Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process heads of state and government level meeting. The Aqaba Process meeting is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. It is co–chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian government. A statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the meeting focuses on security crisis in West Africa. The meeting, which will begin on October 14, will bring together heads of state and government, senior intelligence and military…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced new draft guidelines compelling banks to provide instant refunds for failed Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions. The rules, released on October 9, 2025, are designed to strengthen consumer protection, improve service reliability, and ensure greater accountability in Nigeria’s financial system. The circular, signed by Musa I. Jimoh, Director of the Payments System Policy Department, was addressed to banks, payment service providers, card schemes, and independent ATM deployers. Stakeholders have until October 31, 2025, to provide feedback before the guidelines are finalised. Strict timelines for failed transaction refunds Under the draft framework, all…

The Federal Government and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) on Friday began a nationwide distribution of Interactive Smart Board to public schools in the country. The launch of the digitalization of public schools initiative was performed at Queen’s College, Yaba, by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa supported by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba and other senior management of the commission. In his address, Dr. Alausa, said that over 1,000 interactive smart boards will be distributed nationwide, with accompanying teacher training of primary and junior secondary school tutors. His words: Today’s event is more than a technological…

Nigeria’s total domestic debt service reached ₦1.707 trillion in the second quarter of 2025 (April–June). The Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed the latest figures on its official website on Friday. The data showed that the country spent ₦1.686 trillion on interest payments across multiple debt instruments and ₦20.14 billion on principal repayments, bringing the total to ₦1,707,087,151,475.90 for the three months. Nigeria’s domestic debt service peaked in April 2025 at ₦805.31 billion, before dropping to ₦423.10 billion in May and slightly rising to ₦478.67 billion in June. A breakdown of the figures indicates that Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds…