Author: Vardiafrica

The National Economic Council (NEC) has given all states until September 9, 2024, to make their positions known on the establishment of State Police NEC gave the deadline on Wednesday at its meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting held at the Council Chamber of the State House Abuja, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, said out of the 36 states, 4 states were yet to make submissions to NEC on their stands. According to Lawal, NEC directed that the four states must make their stance on the issue known…

Vice-President Kashim Shettima is currently presiding over the national economic council (NEC) meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja. Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited; and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, are attending the meeting. The vice-president, by the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution, is the chairman of NEC. The NEC meeting, held monthly, deliberates on the coordination of the economic planning efforts and programmes of the various levels of government. The council comprises the 36 state governors, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the minister of finance, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF),…

Esther Nworgu has won Nigeria’s second medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The 21-year-old won a silver medal in the women’s up to 41kg para-powerlifting event at the La Chapelle Arena on Wednesday. She was narrowly beaten by China’s Zhe Cui, who lifted 119kg to set a new Paralympic Games record and take the gold. Nworgu had set two new Paralympic Games records in her last two attempts, lifting 112kg and 118kg, respectively, but the Chinese powerlifter surpassed her feat at every turn. Nworgu’s victory earned Team Nigeria’s second medal at the Paralympics after Eniola Bolaji won the country’s first laurel on…

Victor Osimhen will receive €6 million net seasonal salary at Galatasaray following his season-long loan to the Turkish Super League club from Napoli. The Turkish club disclosed this on Wednesday in an official statement announcing the deal for the current reigning African Footballer of the year. This means that the Super Eagles of Nigeria striker will be earning around €115,000 a week after tax during his one year stay in Turkey. “An agreement has been reached with professional footballer Victor James Osimhen and his club SSCN Napoli SPA for the temporary transfer of the player free of charge. “The football…

Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, says the price of petrol from his refinery would be determined by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Dangote disclosed this at a briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, noting that fuel from the refinery would hit filling stations any moment. “On pricing, it is an arrangement which is designed and approved by the Federal Executive Council, led by His President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said. “As soon as it is finalised, which he (Tinubu) is pushing, once we finish with NNPC, it can be today, it can be tomorrow, we are ready to roll…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday demanded an immediate reversal of the hike in fuel price announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saying the hike has worsened the misery of Nigerians. Amid the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, the NNPCL increased the pump price of petrol from ₦568 to ₦855, ₦897 (depending on the location per litre). Condemning the move in a statement, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused the Federal Government of betraying labour movement. Ajaero said, “We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump of PMS across the country, release…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has denied plans to regulate prices in the Nigerian market, stating that its directives aim to curb exploitative practices and maintain a competitive marketplace. The agency clarified that prices in a competitive marketplace are determined solely by supply and demand forces and that price control is outside its responsibilities. FCCPC cited a recent example in the cement industry, where dealers inflated prices to as much as N7,000 to N8,000 per bag, despite efforts to sell cement at a fair price of N3,500 per bag. They reassured the business community that its actions are…

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing, China. Disclosing this in a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said both leaders announced the elevation of Nigeria-China ties to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership. According to the statement, the duo agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future “This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded to us,” Tinubu…

President Bola Tinubu has officially confirmed that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun will remain in office until 2027. Contrary to recent reports suggesting an extension of his tenure, a senior police source clarified that this decision is a confirmation of the original terms of Egbetokun’s four-year appointment, as outlined in his letter of appointment. “The tenure of the IGP was not extended but rather a clarification on his letter of appointment that stipulated four years in office,” the source stated. Egbetokun was appointed as IGP in June 2023, alongside four new service chiefs, with his appointment slated for…

The chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that the committee has proposed to the federal government the removal of taxes on food, public transportation, house rents, and other basic necessities critical to the well-being of Nigerians. Oyedele shared this information on Monday during an interview with Channels TV in Abuja. The head of the committee stated that the proposal also includes the exemption of value-added tax (VAT) on these essential necessities. Accordingly, Oyedele said the proposal will soon be signed by President Tinubu before being sent to the National Assembly to become part of…