Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu will on Saturday jet to Jos, capital of Plateau State, to attend a funeral. This is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday in Abuja. “President Tinubu will depart Lagos for Jos to attend the funeral prayers in honour of Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe,” he said. Onanuga pointed out that Mama Lydia was the mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe. He further stated that Tinubu would also address Church leaders across the North at the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, Church…

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says parliament is considering a constitutional amendment that would allow all elections to be conducted on the same day. Currently, the presidential and national assembly elections are held on the same day, while the governorship and state house of assembly polls are conducted on a different day. Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, when he received a delegation from the European Union, Abbas said holding all elections on the same day would enhance credibility and tackle lower voter turnout. Abbas said the house is committed to far-reaching electoral reforms, noting that the proposed constitutional amendments cover…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a phased operational overhaul of the Nigerian Fixed Income Market in a strategic move to deepen transparency and efficiency in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. According to a formal communication signed by Okey Umeano, Acting Director of the Financial Markets Department at the CBN, the first phase of the reform will see the apex bank take full control of both the settlement process and trading platform for fixed income transactions starting from November this year. The initiative, which forms part of broader financial market reforms, is designed to enhance regulatory oversight and strengthen the…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after a highly successful diplomatic mission representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and concluding strategic engagements in Germany. During the week-long international engagement, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s national statement calling for comprehensive UN reforms. He also championed Africa’s sovereignty over its $700 billion mineral resources and strengthened strategic partnerships with the United Kingdom, Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders. Later, VP Shettima met with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and secured his commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa, identified key skill areas it would focus capacity building efforts for optimal job creation opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe disclosed this in his keynote address at the on-going Africa Energy Week (AEW), as he shared Nigeria’s success story in local content development. The skill areas highlighted for special focus include underwater welding, subsea engineering, geosciences, project management, deepwater operations (drilling, production engineers), instrumentation and controls. Others are digitalization including Artificial Intelligence (AI),…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled the newly renovated National Theatre in Lagos, renaming it the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. Speaking at the event, Tinubu described Soyinka as one of Nigeria’s and Africa’s greatest assets, saying the decision to rename the theatre was deliberate and a tribute to his immense contributions to nation-building, freedom, and global culture. “It’s a wonderful evening. First Lady, my wife, a daughter of the freedom that we are enjoying, and my own jewel of inestimable value, I say happy birthday once again,” Tinubu…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday received a delegation from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) led by Chief Observer Mr. Barry Andrews at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The visit reviewed progress on recommendations made after Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. Mr. Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament, commended INEC’s cooperation, noting improvements since 2023 but stressing the need for further judicial and constitutional reforms. Prof. Yakubu said this is the third follow-up mission hosted by the Commission, after similar visits in 2017 and 2022. Of the 23 recommendations…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a nationwide enforcement operation targeting foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or breached entry conditions, following the end of a five-month amnesty period. In a statement issued Tuesday night, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi confirmed that the crackdown began after the amnesty window which allowed affected foreigners to regularise their status without penalties—officially closed on September 30. The grace period had been in effect since May 1. “With the expiration of the amnesty period, enforcement actions will commence nationwide against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visa or violated their entry conditions,” Akinlabi…

The US government has shut down for the first time in almost seven years after members of Congress failed to agree on a last-ditch funding deal. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers deemed not essential for protecting people or property, such as law enforcement personnel – could be furloughed or laid off after the shutdown began at midnight. Critical services, including social security payments and the postal service, will keep operating but may suffer from worker shortages, while national parks and museums could be among the sectors that close completely. It comes after rival Democrats and Republicans refused to budge…

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has become Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League after scoring for Turkish side Galatasaray against Liverpool on Tuesday night. Osimhen scored from the penalty spot in the 16th minute, taking his tally in the competition to 10 goals. The strike moved him past former Inter Milan and Newcastle United forward Obafemi Martins, who scored nine goals in the competition. Osimhen’s journey in the competition began with Lille, where he scored his first Champions League goal against Chelsea on 2 October 2019.He became the first African to win the Serie A Golden Boot…