Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with service chiefs and top defence officials to review the country’s security situation amid a recent surge in insurgent attacks. Following the meeting, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa briefed journalists on the discussions and the ongoing fight against terrorism. “The meeting is primarily for us to review ongoing events,” Musa said. “We came here to brief Mr. President on the current situation on the ground. There have been a series of attacks, and the security forces have risen to the occasion. Our goal is to give…

The Federal Government has inaugurated principal officers for newly established federal tertiary institutions and the leadership of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system. The Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, performed the inauguration at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The appointments include leadership for the Federal University of Science and Technology Epe in Epe and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic Abuja. Dr. Alausa said the development reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality tertiary education, strengthening teacher education, and positioning Nigerian…

Donald Trump has warned that Iran’s football team should not come to the World Cup “for their own life and safety”. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, the US president wrote: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.” Trump’s comment comes just days after telling Fifa President Giovanni Infantino that the team would be welcome, despite the ongoing war in the Middle East. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Infantino confirmed he had spoken to Trump…

NINE senators in Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly on Thursday dumped their political parties and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Their letters of defection were read during plenary by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The lawmakers include Ireti Kingibe who represents the Federal Capital Territory. She left the Labour Party for ADC. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo of Nasarawa South quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Similarly, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central) left the PDP. Others are Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) from the All Progressives Grand Alliance…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has urged Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to dismiss the rights enforcement suit filed by former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in compensation against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the IGP, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). He is challenging a recent search of his Asokoro home in Abuja by law enforcement agents, during which some items were allegedly recovered. In a counter-affidavit, the IGP justified the…

The Nigeria Police Force has officially pulled a former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, out of service, marking the official end of his time in the NPF. The former police chief was accompanied to the event held in Abuja on Thursday by his wife, Elizabeth Egbetokun. Speaking at the ceremony, the former IGP said that serving as IGP remains one of the highest privileges of his He said that under his leadership, the police expanded their operational capabilities. The former police chief disclosed that the cybercrime section had been upgraded. The former IGP also noted that the investigative capability of…

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to rescind its blanket invalidation of degree certificates obtained from universities in the Republic of Benin and Togo. The resolution follows the consideration and approval of reports from the House Committee on Public Petitions, which reviewed a petition challenging the government’s decision. The ban, initially imposed in January 2024 by the Federal Ministry of Education, suspended the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from these neighboring countries pending investigations into alleged certificate racketeering and fraud. The suspension stemmed from an undercover investigative report exposing instances where degrees were allegedly obtained in…

A group representing many of the world’s wealthiest countries agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects of the Iran war on energy markets and the halt of cargo shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members’ emergency reserves, which is more than double the 182.7 million barrels that the IEA’s 32 member countries released in 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts…

The Federal Government says Nigeria has received Long-Acting Injectable Lenacapavir for HIV prevention, marking a significant advancement in the country’s efforts to curb new infections. Dr Adebobola Bashorun, Director and National Coordinator, National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed this in a statement in Abuja. Bashorun said the injectable drug, known as Lenacapavir (LEN), arrived in the country on Tuesday for use as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). He said the development was approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate and supported through funding…

CBN directs Banks and fintechs to deploy anti-money laundering toolsanks and fintechs to deploy an anti-money laundering tool that detects suspicious transactions and financial fraud in real-time.  This is contained in a circular released on Tuesday by the Apex Bank titled Issuance of Baseline Standards for Automated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Solution for Financial Institutions in Nigeria. CBN explained that the framework forms part of the process to combat financial terrorism, fraudulent activities and the susceptibility of the ecosystem to financial crime. Also, the initiative is an opportunity for institutions to use emerging technologies in combating financial crime risk management. In addition, the…