Author: Vardiafrica

The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State following a series of recent kidnapping incidents across the state. He assured residents that the military would sustain aggressive operations until those responsible are apprehended and security is fully restored in the affected areas. Speaking with journalists on Tuesday during a briefing on the Armed Forces’ operational activities for May, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the military recognised the growing security concerns in Oyo State and sympathised with affected families, the state government…

The U.S. military carried out strikes in southern Iran Monday against ​targets including boats attempting ​to lay mines and missile ​launch sites, in ⁠what it ⁠described ‌as defensive actions. U.S. Central Command said in ⁠a statement the strikes were designed “to protect ‌our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” “U.S. Central ​Command continues ⁠to defend our ⁠forces while using restraint ⁠during ⁠the ​ongoing ceasefire,” said Navy ​Captain Tim ⁠Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson. The strikes came hours after Iran and the United States played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war, and U.S. President Donald Trump called on…

Airtel and Globacom, two of Nigeria’s leading telcos, have resumed airtime lending after the country’s consumer protection regulator suspended enforcement of controversial digital lending rules that had temporarily disrupted the market. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said in a public notice on May 22 that it had suspended enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Regulations) 2025, following an interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos. The court order, issued by Justice A.L. Allagoa on April 15, restrained the FCCPC from implementing the rules after a lawsuit filed by Wireless Application Service Providers Association…

Speaking during the NDDC Procurement Policy Reform and Digitisation Stakeholders Sensitisation and Training Summit in Port Harcourt, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, described the initiative as a step in the right direction. Adedokun said the transition to paperless governance had become necessary as the government seeks to modernise its operations, reduce delays, cut waste and improve the speed of service delivery to citizens. He noted that public procurement was central to the implementation of government policies and must therefore adopt modern tools to improve productivity and public trust. According to the DG, “procurement…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, effectively clearing the way for him to participate in the polls if he chooses to run. Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered judgment in the matter, held that the suit instituted by Johnmary Jideobi lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of court process. The court further ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, noting that he failed to show how Jonathan’s possible participation in the election directly affected his interest. Justice Lifu…

Iran’s national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the US on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday. Sheinbaum said FIFA approached her government after US authorities said they did not want Iran staying in the country throughout the June 11-July 19 competition, even though Iran is scheduled to play three Group G matches there. “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum told her daily press conference. Iran is due to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June…

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi met with former Botswana President Ian Khama and former South African President Thabo Mbeki during his visit to South Africa. The development was disclosed in a statement posted on Obi’s official page. According to the statement, the meeting took place in Cape Town before Obi departed for Johannesburg, where he appreciated both former leaders for their comments on recent immigration issues in the region and their advocacy for peace and unity across Africa. The statement noted that the two former presidents continue to command respect across the continent due to their contributions during and…

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who stated this during an assessment visit to the venue of the Postgraduate Scholarship interviews in Port Harcourt, assured that the process was devoid of bias, prejudice and compromise. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Patience Ezugu, thanked the interview panel for doing a good job, noting that there were no complaints from candidates and that the exercise was carried out seamlessly. He explained that the process of selecting the scholarship recipients was transparent, noting: “The students who benefited from the scholarship scheme in…

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has temporarily suspended the enforcement of its “no-pay-no-service” directive against airlines with outstanding statutory remittances. In a statement on Sunday, Chris Najomo, director-general (DG) of the NCAA, said the decision followed a review of current operating realities in the sector, particularly the rising cost of aviation fuel and its impact on airline operations and overall industry stability. However, the DG clarified that the suspension does not represent a cancellation, waiver, or forgiveness of the affected airlines’ outstanding obligations. “It would be recalled that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, in his magnanimity, already…

The Nigerian Army has alerted residents of the North-east region to plans by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists to carry out suicide bombing and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks ahead of the Eid-Kabir celebrations. However, it says it has deployed troops and surveillance assets to forestall the threats. In a security advisory issued on Monday, the Headquarters, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint task force in the region, said credible intelligence indicated that insurgents could attempt isolated attacks on civilian targets, especially in crowded locations during the festive period. The Army assured residents that comprehensive security measures had…