Author: Vardiafrica

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have raised the alarm over the growing use of social media, cryptocurrencies and emerging technologies by terrorist groups to recruit members, finance operations and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel. They issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja at a three-day regional training conference focused on detecting and disrupting terrorists’ exploitation of information and communication technologies and emerging technologies. The Acting Director of the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre, Idriss Lalalli, said groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and Jama’at Nusrat…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has attributed the elevation of Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to the highest position in the Nigeria Police Force to his professionalism, impartiality and commitment to duty while serving as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. Fubara said Disu demonstrated professionalism and remained committed to his constitutional responsibilities at the peak of the political crisis in the state, adding that his conduct during the challenging period contributed to his emergence as the nation’s police chief. Governor Fubara stated this on Tuesday when Disu paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt,…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has constituted a 12-member specialist Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to investigate its aircraft crash at Ogbokoda in Ondo state This is contained in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Tuesday in Abuja. Ejodame said that the board was saddled with the responsibility of establishing the circumstances surrounding the Oct. 5, air crash at Ogbokoda in Ondo State as well as recommending measures to prevent recurrence. Blueprint reports that the ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed at Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Octiber 5. The Investigation and…

Formula 1 has announced a landmark 10-year agreement to bring the sport back to the African continent, with the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, set to join the calendar in the early 2030s. The agreement marks a defining moment in F1’s history and will see the sport return to Africa for the first time since 1993. Racing in Africa has been a long-standing ambition for F1, with Tuesday’s announcement following years of collaboration to ensure the right foundations, with the best partner, are in place to deliver a successful, sustainable and world-class Grand Prix for generations…

The Nigerian government and the African Development Bank have agreed to review projects the bank funds across the country to identify challenges slowing progress and speed up delivery. The agreement was reached on Monday during a meeting between finance minister Taiwo Oyedele and AfDB president Sidi Ould Tah in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. In a statement on Monday, the finance ministry said the joint review would focus on problems affecting project implementation and ways to improve delivery. The ministry did…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has introduced Quick Response (QR) codes to help registered voters in Lagos State locate centres where they can verify their details in the voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, announced the initiative on Tuesday during a briefing on the commission’s preparations for the elections. Salami said the display of the voters’ register began on October 9 across the state’s 245 Registration Areas and wards. The exercise, which ends on October 15, allows voters to confirm their personal details and identify errors that need…

The Senate has called for a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft, as well as a review of maintenance funding, following a reported crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, that claimed 32 lives. The call followed a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, senator representing Enugu West, on the reported crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on October 5, 2026. According to the motion, the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members on a…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, has launched a 12‑month training program at Nigeria Machine Tools Limited, Osogbo, Osun State. The initiative will equip 60 young Nigerians with specialized expertise in oil and gas engineering as well as other critical technical skills, fostering a new generation of industry-ready professionals. The programme is on the back of the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (NC HCD) Training Programme for Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited’s EPU Phase 2 Gas Development Project. It is designed to equip participants with advanced technical expertise. The curriculum…

The Federal Government has approved an increase in the feeding budget for members of the National Youth Service Corps during their orientation course, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has said. Nafiu disclosed this while interacting with members of the 2026 Batch C Stream One at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Obubra, Cross River State. He said the Budget Office had been informed of the upward adjustment, adding that implementation was expected to begin in 2027. The NYSC chief urged corps members to manage their finances responsibly, avoid extravagant spending and cultivate the habit of saving. He also commended…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed satisfaction that his administration’s investments in compressed natural gas, CNG, and electric-powered transportation are beginning to yield significant savings for Nigerians, with some commuters reporting fare reductions of up to 67 per cent. The President, who personally responded on Sunday to feedback from beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s transport interventions, said the emerging relief reflected his administration’s resolve to cushion the hardship arising from the removal of the petrol subsidy while expanding access to affordable transportation nationwide. In an extensive post on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, President Tinubu acknowledged testimonies from Nigerians who…