Author: Vardiafrica

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has hailed the contributions of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to the Nigerian economy, describing them as the engine room of the nation. Shettima, who spoke on Saturday in Abuja during the 8th National MSME Awards Abuja, noted that the current administration was building an entire ecosystem that nurtures innovation, provides essential infrastructure, and removes barriers that have historically held back small businesses in Nigeria. According to him, “90 per cent of all Nigerian businesses are MSMEs. They are the largest employers of labour in this country, providing jobs for over 60 million of…

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major reshuffling of senior officers across the Nigerian Army, appointing new General Officers Commanding (GOCs), field commanders, commandants and principal staff officers as part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness and enhance the country’s response to evolving security threats. The development was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele. According to the statement, the redeployments affect key operational, command, training and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army and are aimed at consolidating the force’s capacity to…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the free formalization and corporate registration of 250,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria in a move aimed at supporting small businesses and expanding financial inclusion. The announcement was made on Saturday during the 8th National MSME Awards 2026 at the State House in Abuja. According to the Presidency, the initiative is designed to remove the financial burden associated with business registration for nano, micro, and small enterprises, allowing more entrepreneurs to become part of Nigeria’s formal business, banking, and regulatory system. Under the programme, selected beneficiaries will receive business name registration through…

Zimbabwe’s upper house of parliament has approved a bill to ​extend presidential terms from five to seven ‌years, which will allow current President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030. 75 senators voted in favour of ​the draft legislation while four voted against ​it, above a threshold needed for a two-thirds ⁠majority. The bill, which also includes a provision ​for the president to be elected by parliament rather ​than by direct popular vote, will become law when Mnangagwa signs it. Evidence that 83 years old Mnangagwa wanted to stay in power ​beyond the end of his second term ​in 2028…

President Bola Tinubu on Friday signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, strengthening Nigeria’s legal framework for digital identity management, cybersecurity and national security. The signing ceremony at the State House was attended by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, House Committee Chairman Julius Ihonvbere, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi and Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo . Others present included NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote, World Bank Country Representative Taimur Samad and other senior government officials. The new law repeals the NIMC Act of 2007 and establishes a modern legal framework aligned with global best practices,…

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, yesterday lamented the country’s inability to generate adequate revenue from taxation despite ongoing reforms, stressing that a significant number of eligible taxpayers are yet to fulfil their civic obligations. He said the challenge facing the country was not necessarily about raising tax rates but ensuring that individuals and businesses that ought to pay taxes do so in a fair and transparent system. Oyedele spoke in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), led by its President, Mr. Innocent Ohagwa, as part…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, held “constructive discussions” in Kano on Thursday. Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, confirmed this in a post on Friday, stating that the meeting occurred during Obasanjo’s official visit to the state. According to Hassan, Kwankwaso was accompanied by Aminu Gwarzo, former deputy governor of Kano and the NDC’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election. “His Excellency, Sen. @KwankwasoRM, PhD, FNSE, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the NDC, last night paid a courtesy visit to elder statesman and former President of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo,…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Dr Obi Adigwe as the pioneer National Coordinator. The agency will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. The NHTDAO will serve as a meta-level national platform for coordinating the country’s digital-health agenda. It will reinforce, not replace, the existing statutory functions of relevant departments and agencies. It will also harmonise and empower the public and private institutions across the health system, set the standards that connect them, and operationalise the National Digital Health…

President Bola Tinubu on Friday assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking through evidence-based, innovative interventions. ​The president noted that the consequences of the drug scourge extended far beyond individual users, severely disrupting families, schools, workplaces and overall national security. According to him, government is confronting these challenges through a well-coordinated, multi-faceted approach. His words: “My administration remains committed to creating an environment in which young Nigerians can thrive and succeed. Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are expanding access to education, promoting skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, creating…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Thursday directed banks and all financial institutions to freeze transactions, accounts, and assets linked to six individuals and four Bureau De Change (BDC) operators designated for terrorism financing. The directive was contained in a circular dated June 24, 2026 (Ref: CMD/FCS/PUB/CIR/002/011), obtained by Channels Television. According to the apex bank, the latest update to the Nigeria Sanctions List, effective June 18, 2026, is binding on all regulated institutions and requires immediate implementation. The CBN informed regulated entities of fresh sanctions issued by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) and the United States Department of the…