Author: Vardiafrica

The state claims they mismanaged the statutory allocations remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account. The allegations further state that they criminally diverted ₦57.4 billion through several personal accounts of Local Government cashiers and other personal and corporate accounts. “The state government also accused them of transferring the funds into dollars for their personal benefits,” the charge sheet reveals. “They acquired a service apartment on the Murtala Muhammad Way, a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen – x20868 Dubai in Tigerwood, and plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Height, Marsa Dubai Marina, a multi-billion naira hotel in…

The Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West Africa States on Friday called for the return of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to the regional bloc. Speaking in Abuja while on a visit to the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said their return is necessary to defeat the increasing insecurity ravaging the region, especially insurgency. General Musa disclosed that efforts are ongoing on the part of the Ecowas Chiefs of Defence Staff to ensure the three countries are…

Nigeria has been disqualified for 4x400m men’s relay team for the final at the Paris Olympic Games. The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie finished heat 2 with a Season’s Best time of 2 minutes 59.81 seconds France won the race in 2 minutes 59.53 seconds with Belgium taking the 3rd automatic spot in 2 minutes 59.84 seconds. It was, however, adjudged that one of the Nigerian runners crossed lanes and that led to the tripping of a South African runner. The spot won by Nigeria has been given to South Africa. The Nigeria athletes…

President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal miners in the country. He gave the order while receiving a presentation titled, ‘Harnessing the Mining Industry for Enhanced National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria by 2035,’ by Course 32 participants of the National Defence College (NDC) on Thursday in Abuja. He also said his administration will ensure that companies engaged in mineral exploration prioritise the health and safety of Nigerians and the host communities. The course 32 participants were tasked by Tinubu, to use their findings during their 11-month study focused on…

The Federal Government has taken delivery of 60 locally assembled Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) hybrid buses. Revealed in a post through its official X handle on Thursday, the buses were delivered by Jet Motor Company under the Presidential CNG Initiative. According to the statement, the development is in continuation of efforts to provide affordable and comfortable transport solutions for Nigerians. The vehicles were handed over to a team comprising the Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Presidential Initiative on CNG (Pi-CNG) at the company’s car manufacturing plant in Ajah, Lagos State. President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast during the #EndBadGovernance…

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has denied taking part in the ₦570bn hardship grant claimed to have been given to the state governments by the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu while addressing Nigerians in a broadcast during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests against hunger and hardship, said the government has disbursed ₦570bn to the 36 states. Tunubu also said that Nigeria spends ₦2tn monthly to import Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel. He disclosed that ₦9.1tn was accumulated as total fiscal revenue to the Federal Government’s coffers during the first half…

A Mobil fuel station located near the Airport Hotel on Obaferni Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos had exploded on Thursday, leaving two people critically injured, six vehicles burnt, and segments of a nearby building destroyed. It was believed that the fire incident was caused by the explosion of a 12-tonne gas truck at the filling station. However, reacting to the incident, NNPCL said, “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the reported explosion at a filling station in Ikeja, Lagos, has nothing to do with the recently commissioned NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd (NGML)/NIPCO Compressed Natural Gas Stations, which are currently functioning…

The federal government has halted the plan to the sell subsidized 50-kilogram (kg) bags of rice to public servants priced at N40,000. This is contained in a circular titled, “Withdrawal of internal circular on sale of subsidized rice to public servants”, and signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Human Resources Management Department. The circular which was directed to the Directors and Heads of Departments, said the initial circular ordering the sales of the N40,000 bag of rice is hereby withdrawn. There was no reason given in the circular for halting the plan. “I…

The Department of States Service (DSS) has refuted reports claiming that its officers had raided the headquarters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja. The denial comes following Wednesday’s allegations by NLC, that the Service had sent armed men to its office, and that they had carted away some documents. According to the union, the operatives stormed the Labour House around 8:30 pm. “They broke in and ransacked the bookshop on the 2nd floor carting away hundreds of books and other publications,” said a statement by the NLC’s head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah. “The invading troop…

Chidimma, the model of Nigerian heritage, was recently subject to controversies over her eligibility to contest for this year’s Miss South Africa. The 23-year-old was born in Soweto, South Africa. She is believed to be of Nigerian (dad) and Mozambican (mum) heritage. On Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for South Africa alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft. The Home Affairs, however, said Chidimma, a minor at the time of the alleged actions in 2001, was not involved in the fraudulent activities. In a statement via her Instagram page on Thursday, Chidimma said she was pulling out from…