Author: Vardiafrica

Ukraine has restricted the use of Telegram for its government, military, and security officials, citing “threats” to national security on the app founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov. “The National Security and Defence Council decided to restrict the use of Telegram in government agencies, military formations, and critical infrastructure facilities,” the council said in a statement on Facebook, saying it was a “matter of national security.” During a recent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, Budanov provided “substantiated evidence” that Russian intelligence services have access to Telegram users’ personal correspondence, even deleted messages, and their personal data “I have…

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a firm directive to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), mandating them to resolve airline ticket refund issues within 24 hours. This comes in response to funds currently held by several airlines, especially those that have recently ceased flight operations. Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos during the unveiling of the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Portal, Keyamo expressed discontent with the difficulties passengers have faced in reclaiming funds from airlines that halted services. The minister emphasised that such behaviour from airlines would no longer be tolerated. Keyamo instructed…

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says Nigeria is “technically bankrupt” and that the federal government can no longer put a band-aid on the economy. Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Obaseki said the country still behaves like it has money. The Edo governor said Nigeria must “restructure” to meet its financial obligations. “Nigeria is technically bankrupt. When you’re bankrupt anywhere in the world like in the states (USA), you file for what we call chapter 11. You restructure your affairs so that you can reorganise and be able to meet obligations,” he said. “Nigeria is not restructuring…

Rwanda has become the first country in Africa to administer vaccines against the Mpox virus.  The African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on Thursday, September 19, that several hundred high-risk individuals in Rwanda received the mpox vaccine earlier this week. The initial batch of 300 doses was administered on Tuesday, September 17, near Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been the hardest-hit by the virus, reporting nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths between January and August. Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya confirmed that the DRC is set to…

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to deploy the 6G spectrum in Nigeria to enhance access to Wi-Fi technology. Speaking on Thursday at a consultative forum on emerging technologies in Lagos, Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman of the NCC, highlighted the need for efficient management and utilisation of spectrum resources. The event, tagged ‘The Use of 6GHz (5925-7125) MHz for WiFi and IMT Applications in Nigeria’, sought input from stakeholders on how the new frequency band can be optimally used. Maida, represented by Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner of technical services at the NCC, explained that existing spectrums, including 5G and…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has not reintroduced the cybersecurity levy that was previously suspended. On May 6, the apex bank directed all commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers to charge a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers. The CBN later withdrew the directive on May 20, essentially suspending the proposed cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers. However, reports had claimed that the apex bank reinstated the levy, quoting the CBN’s “Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for the Fiscal Years 2024-2025”. In a statement on Friday,…

The Presidential Committee on Livestock Sector Reforms Implementation has submitted its inception report to President Bola Tinubu. The committee submitted its report to the President at the State House Abuja on Thursday Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting with the President, the Chairman of the Committee and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, said the committee was able to identify measures on how the Nigerian government can judiciously utilize the livestock industry in Nigeria. He revealed that the 152 page document submitted to President Tinubu recommends measures that the government can use to mitigate…

This was revealed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a series of post he shared on X on Thursday to highlight the potential benefits of the E-CMR. Adejobi’s post underscored the ease and efficiency of the “e-policing” innovation. According to him, under the leadership of Inspector-General Olukayode Egbetokun, the Electronic Central Motor Registry system has been launched to make roads safer and the policing process smoother. He noted that this new system allows vehicle owners to register their vehicles digitally and provides a quick response for emergencies. “If your vehicle is registered with the NPF E-CMR and gets…

Ethiopian Airlines is poised to make history with the delivery of the Airbus A350-1000, scheduled for October. This landmark event will see Ethiopian Airlines become the first African carrier to operate this state-of-the-art aircraft, underscoring its leadership role in the continent’s aviation sector. The Airbus A350-1000 is a cutting-edge addition to the A350 family, designed to offer superior performance and efficiency. With a passenger capacity ranging from 350 to 410, depending on the configuration, the A350-1000 is ideal for accommodating both economy and premium passengers on long-haul routes. This increased capacity allows Ethiopian Airlines to better serve its expanding network…

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year. The President has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation. This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The statement noted that President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding in parts of the country. At UNGA 79, Vice…