Author: Vardiafrica

President Donald Trump on Tuesday expanded a US travel ban by barring nationals of seven more countries including Syria, as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders, from entering the United States. Trump, who has long campaigned to restrict immigration and has spoken in increasingly strident terms, moved to ban foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans, the White House said. He also wants to prevent foreigners in the United States who would “undermine or destabilize its culture, government, institutions or founding principles,” a White House proclamation said. Trump’s move comes days after two US troops and a civilian were killed in…

The Senate has passed the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper, indicating President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2026 Appropriation bill of N54.4 trillion this week.  Senate President Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage on Tuesday following the consideration and debate on the report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa. Akpabio described the MTEF as a prerequisite for the presentation of the national budget, underpinning that the document does not represent a final position of the legislature. “The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is only a prerequisite before the presentation of the…

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has submitted a petition against Ahmed Farouk, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over “corruption and financial impropriety”. In the petition, dated December 16 and sent to the commission by Ogwu Onoja, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dangote’s lawyer, the entrepreneur called for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution, accusing him of “living beyond his means” as a public official. The petition, received by Musa Aliyu, head of the ICPC, alleges that the NMDPRA boss spent more than…

The senate has received and adopted the report of the committee on foreign affairs on the confirmation of three nominees for appointment as non-career ambassadors. The report was presented on Tuesday during plenary by Sani Bello, senator representing Niger north and chairman of the committee. The nominees are Lateef Kayode Are from Ogun state, Aminu Muhammad-Dalhatu from Jigawa state, and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke from Oyo state. Presenting the committee’s findings, Bello said the nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for diplomatic assignments. “The committee has carefully and thoroughly screened the three nominees and is satisfied with their qualification, exposure, conduct,…

The Senate has asked the Federal Government to introduce urgent measures to protect Nigerian farmers from the impact of falling agricultural produce prices and rising production costs. This was part of resolutions during plenary following a motion sponsored by Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), highlighting the growing challenges facing local farmers amid recent government policies aimed at reducing food prices nationwide. He commended the Federal Government for easing the burden on consumers through waivers and special approvals for large-scale food imports, a move that has helped lower food prices and provided relief to many Nigerians. He, however, noted that the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of two primary mortgage banks, Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, over what it described as persistent regulatory violations and severe financial distress. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the apex bank said the action was taken in line with Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and Section 7.3 of the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria. According to the CBN, the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to sanitise and reposition the mortgage banking…

Nigeria is advancing a major military modernisation initiative with a landmark procurement of 24 Italian-built M‑346FA fighter jets from Italian aerospace and defence firm Leonardo S.p.A., marking the largest single military aircraft acquisition in West African history, Business Insider Africa has reported. The report says that the deal, valued at approximately €1.2 billion, includes long-term maintenance and support provisions through Leonardo and represents a strategic deepening of defence ties between Nigeria and the Italian manufacturer. Business Inside Africa in an earlier publication had reported that Nigeria’s cabinet approved a borrowing plan of $618 million from a consortium of financiers to purchase six Italian-made…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has berated the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over its decision to reactivate enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy. On Monday, the NPF announced that enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy will resume on January 2, 2026, citing a surge in vehicle-related crimes. In a statement signed by Afam Osigwe, its president, the NBA said the announcement “has once again confirmed the sad reality that the Nigeria Police Force, despite being the foremost law enforcement agency in Nigeria, continues to exhibit a troubling disregard for the rule of law and the due process it is constitutionally mandated…

Elon Musk is now worth more than US$600bn, a new personal record after SpaceX’s surge, surpassing his previous half‑trillion peak from October Elon Musk has once again reset the limits of personal wealth, becoming the first individual in history to surpass a net worth of US$600bn. Elon’s fortune reached a new all-time high after SpaceX, his aerospace manufacturing company, secured a dramatically higher valuation through an insider share sale. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, the multi-CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and xAI is worth close to US$638bn on 15 December – the increase driven primarily by SpaceX being valued at approximately US$800bn. That deal…

President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a high-level, closed-door meeting with the nation’s Service Chiefs at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The crucial security meeting commenced at approximately 06:01pm (local time), shortly after the military high command arrived at the forecourt and were ushered into the President’s office. This marks a significant engagement as it is President Tinubu’s first meeting with the Service Chiefs since he swore in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence on December 4. Although the official agenda of Monday’s meeting was not immediately made public, the engagement is taking place…