Author: Vardiafrica

The Trump administration on Friday announced a sweeping policy designed to make it harder for immigrants already in the U.S. to get permanent residency, or a green card, furthering its campaign to sharply limit legal immigration. Officials said they would eliminate the option for many immigrants seeking a green card to complete the process without having to leave the U.S. Instead, in most cases, those immigrants will be required to return to their home countries in order to apply for an immigrant visa overseas through an American consulate, officials said. Current and former U.S. immigration officials told CBS News the memo published…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), succeeding Professor Is-haq Oloyede Oloyede’s two-term tenure expires on July 31, 2026. Aina, who will be 40 in July, is, according to a statement by Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector institutional reform. “He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security, and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing, both…

The federal government has launched an artificial intelligence-powered platform to improve access to government information. Announcing this in a post on X on Thursday, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, said the platform, GovGuideNigeria, is available via WhatsApp and the web in English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. “Today, we launched #GovGuideNigeria, an AI-powered platform designed to make access to government information simpler, faster, and more inclusive for every Nigerian,” Tijani said. “Available via WhatsApp and web in English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, GovGuide provides citizens with easy access to information across more than 35 federal ministries and over 60…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a two-day Stakeholders’ Policy Review Workshop in Lagos to reassess the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000 and reposition Nigeria’s digital economy for emerging technological realities. The workshop drew regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, academics, development partners, and other telecommunications stakeholders to evaluate the impact of the policy introduced over two decades ago and chart a new direction for the sector. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, described the exercise as a strategic national conversation on the future of Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital ecosystem. He recalled that when…

The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of approved outstanding 2025 allowances to beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme studying in partner countries abroad. The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria has successfully remitted the approved funds to Nigerian Embassies and Missions for immediate disbursement to eligible scholars. The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, stated that the released funds represent 50 percent of the approved outstanding obligations for 2025, while efforts are ongoing to facilitate payment of the balance. According to the Minister, the funds have already reached…

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state. Fubara announced his withdrawal from the contest in a statement he personally issued on Wednesday night, noting that he stepped down out of conviction and sacrifice for the state to move forward in peace and unity. “After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries. I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of…

Femi Otedola, chairman of First HoldCo, has revealed he will invest $100 million in Dangote refinery. He announced his plans on Wednesday after leading top executives of First HoldCo to Dangote refinery. Otedola’s planned investment is part of the $2 billion private placement Dangote refinery is targeting from private investors ahead of the initial public offering (IPO), which has no date yet. “From on a personal note, I’ve appealed to him (Aliko Dangote). I’ve been here with him 25 times, so my compensation is he’s going to allocate to me shares worth $100 million in the private placement,” the billionaire…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has retained the country’s benchmark lending rate at 26.5 per cent as authorities intensified efforts to contain inflationary pressures and protect macroeconomic stability amid growing global economic uncertainties. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, announced the decision on Wednesday at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting attended by all 11 members, saying the committee resolved to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) following an assessment of domestic and global economic conditions. “The MPC recognises its transitory nature and remains confident that the current macroeconomic environment is sufficiently robust to…

In response to the recent Ebola Virus Disease situation in parts of Central Africa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has promised the travelling public and stakeholders that robust preventive measures have been put in place across all international airports. In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, FAAN, it said it was working in close collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies to intensify surveillance and monitoring of passengers, particularly those arriving from high-risk regions. “Passengers are being…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has emerged as the sole aspirant for the 2027 presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress following the close of nomination form sales by the party. The party confirmed that the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the presidential election has officially ended, with Obi reportedly being the only politician to purchase the forms before the deadline. Sources within the party told the media that “Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was the only aspirant who purchased the forms” for the presidential contest. The NDC, however, extended by one…