Author: Vardiafrica

As the nation grapples with security challenges, the Federal Government has charged the Nigerian Police Force to up its game. Part of what the government wants is for the police authorities to take the fight to the doorsteps of the enemy by seeking out their hideouts, disrupting their operations, and dismantling their networks. Specifically, the current administration wants the police, under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to adopt a new strategy against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminals that wreak havoc across the country. The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, gave the charge on…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed separate appeals seeking an order, compelling the Code of Conduct Bureau to release the asset declaration forms of former presidents, their vice and National Assembly principal office Delivering the Lead Judgement, Justice Okon Abang equally dismissed the appeals, adding that the suits were immature. He said, as at the time the suit was filed at the trial court, the National Assembly did not make any written instrument prescribing the terms and conditions that will guide any members of the public to either apply for the inspection of the assets form or disclosure…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs. Zubaida Umar as the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). According to a statement by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Mrs. Umar’s appointment further underlines the President’s avowed commitment to gender inclusion. The new Director-General of NEMA has over 20 years of work experience in diverse fields, including human resources, finance and administration She is a member of the chartered institute of bankers and the institute of credit administration Ngelale said the president expects that the new director-general will bring the much-needed financial and…

The state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have asked President Bola Tinubu to “wield the big stick” on non-performing heads of security agencies. On Friday, thirty-three APC state chairmen visited Tinubu at the state house, Abuja. Speaking in an interview with journalists after the meeting, Alphonsus Eba, chairman of APC in Cross River state, who is the secretary of the forum, said the issue of insecurity was raised during the meeting. Eba said criminal activities are being perpetrated to put the party in bad light, adding that the president must always hold those in charge of security outfits…

President Bola Tinubu on Friday said as efforts are made to fight corruption, smugglers and those who benefited from the petrol subsidy will fight back. The President stated this during a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja. He assured Nigerians that his government is working around the clock to improve their living conditions, and asked leaders at the grassroots level to encourage citizens to get their National Identification Number (NIN) for planning, structuring interventions and achieving their full integration into various relief programmes. “As we are fighting…

Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua has said the Federal Government is working on recruiting more security personnel to battle the rising crime rates in the country.  “First of all, you have to understand that we have a problem with the strength of the police and the military and other security agencies that we have. “They cannot really police and secure this nation. You must understand that, and I know the president, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is working on that,” he said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. Nigeria is fighting banditry, kidnapping, oil bunkering, and a host of other crimes.…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Command, has intercepted some arms and ammunition allegedly being smuggled into the country by some criminals A source within the service told Channels Television that other items recovered were military camouflage, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs. He added that the arms recovered were automatic single-barrel rifles and pump action guns Though details of the interception are still sketchy, the recoveries were made during an inspection of consignments imported into the country. However, the source could not confirm if any arrests were made. This interception is coming barely eight months after the…

The Port Harcourt refinery will resume operations in April, according to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.  In a statement, the NNPCL chief explained that mechanical works have been completed on the facility which has received over 450,000 barrels of crude following delivery from active lines. He also said repair works at the Kaduna and Warri refineries are near completion. According to him, the Kaduna refinery is expected to commence operations in December Meanwhile, the Senate has dismissed an alleged report of fraud in the turnaround maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s refineries…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says service providers are working on restoring internet connectivity after it was disrupted on Thursday.  Thursday’s submarine cable cuts had left several African internet service providers with outages. Telecommunications subscribers and bank users were stranded for hours as the disruption paralysed digital transactions and internet communications. But early Friday, the NCC said the issue is being resolved. “Operators of these cables have commenced repairs already, and services are gradually being restored,” the NCC Director of Public Affairs Reuben Muoka Director said in a statement. “They have promised to work round the clock to ensure that…

Against the backdrop of the rising cases of kidnapping and abduction in the country, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has convened a meeting with the Northern Governors’ Forum and Service Chiefs, including the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The meeting which was held behind closed doors on Thursday in Abuja, lasted for over four hours and after the meeting, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya Of Gombe State, spoke on the outcome of the meeting. He announced plans by the forum to consider alternative options to…