Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has presented the 2026 federal budget of N58.18 trillion, with N5.41 trillion allocated to defence and security, which represents approximately 9.3 percent of the total expenditure. Presenting the budget themed ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity’ on Friday to the national assembly, Tinubu said that without security, investment cannot thrive. The president said the 2026 budget reflects the administration’s determination to lock in macroeconomic stability, deepen competitiveness, and ensure growth benefits all Nigerians. Tinubu said the 2026 budget is anchored on “realism, prudence, and growth orientation,” highlighting the key aggregates: expected total revenue of N34.33 trillion,…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, is holding a meeting with the leadership of the two groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The meeting, which is being held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, is at the instance of the INEC chairman ahead of the FCT area council elections and those of Osun and Ekiti states scheduled for next year. The meeting is attended by the Tanimu Turaki-led national working committee and that of Samuel Anyanwu. After the opening remarks of the Amupitan, who stated that the meeting was to try to understand why…

Senate has confirmed the appointment of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. It also confirmed Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Agency. The appointments confirmed at plenary was sequel to the recommendation of the Joint committees on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Gas. President Tinubu appointed the Eyesan and Aliyu on Wednesday this week, to fill the vacancy created following the resignation of the erstwhile heads of the two Regulators. The letter for the confirmation request from the President was transmitted to the senate on Thursday. The confirmation process was expedited…

President Donald Trump has ordered a halt to the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery program following a deadly shooting at Brown University last week that left two people dead, a move his administration says is tied to renewed concerns over immigration vetting and national security. Authorities said the suspect, a Portuguese national who was found dead on Thursday, had entered the United States in 2017 through the Diversity Visa lottery program and later obtained lawful permanent resident status or informally, a green card. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X that the visa program has been put on hold at President Trump’s…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has doubled down on his push for state police and full local government autonomy, telling All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders that both reforms are non-negotiable if Nigeria is to tackle insecurity and strengthen grassroots governance. Speaking on Thursday, December 19, at the 14th National Caucus meeting of the APC, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Tinubu disclosed that he had already assured the United States and European partners that Nigeria would establish state police. He said he was confident the ruling party would back the move. “I had a very long discussion with them.…

The Senate has confirmed all 64 nominees for career and non-career ambassadorial positions following consideration of a report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The confirmation came after the committee, chaired by Senator Sani Bello, presented its report, after which the recommendations were adopted. However, during the session, Senator Sahabi Yau raised an objection, drawing attention to the absence of any nominee from Zamfara State on the list. He urged that the President be notified of the omission. In response, the Senate President acknowledged the concern, explaining that the current list was not exhaustive. He assured lawmakers that he would…

Four lawmakers from Rivers State in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The members are Manuchim Umezuruike, representing Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency; Boniface Emerengwa, representing Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency; Awake-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency; and Boma Goodhead, representing Asari-Toru Federal Constituency. The federal lawmakers who defected are said to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who also moved to the APC last week. Announcing his defection earlier last week, Fubara said he decided to leave the PDP to support President Bola Tinubu of the APC, saying that…

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has granted bail to former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, pending the trial of charges against him. Justice Maryam Hassan, in a ruling on Thursday, adopted the administrative bail earlier granted to the former governor of Anambra State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on self-recognisance as part of the bail conditions. Justice Hassan further ordered Dr Ngige to produce a surety who must be a director in federal government employment. The director must have landed property in the FCT with a Certificate of Occupancy and must…

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has affirmed the detention of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Babangida Hassan on Thursday dismissed Malami’s application for bail from EFCC custody, affirming that his detention was lawful and backed by a valid court order. The ruling was disclosed in a statement issued by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale. According to the statement, Malami, through his counsel, Sulaiman Hassan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had approached the court to challenge his detention, arguing that it was illegal because it…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, received the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jnr, stressing the need to strengthen the relations between the two countries. The duo, who met at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, expressed their desire for a more robust diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and America. Akpabio said that Nigeria and America had a shared goal of operating a democratic system, as the country’s democracy was modelled after the US system, and therefore the need to nurture and preserve it. “I thank you for receiving me during the 249th Independence Anniversary of your country. I congratulate…