Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, from their cabinet positions. A statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, said the development was contained in a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. The memo announced Taiwo Oyedele as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the…

The Kaduna State High Court has fixed the first week of June for hearing on the bail application filed by a former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai. When the matter came up on Tuesday, Darius Khobo, the presiding judge, said the court will review the bail application and deliver ruling in the first week of June. The judge also added that the matter would be given accelerated hearing. El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a nine-count charge bordering on allegations of corruption and abuse of office. Speaking to journalists…

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has formally received and accredited Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the global body. Ibrahim presented his letter of credence on Monday at the UN headquarters, officially marking the start of his diplomatic assignment. His accreditation follows an earlier step on April 1, when the former senator received his letter of credence from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after being cleared to assume office. In a statement issued by Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim conveyed assurances to the United Nations and the international…

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja, against alleged plotters of a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu. Among the suspects are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector, and three others. The defendants include retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani Also listed in the charge, but said to be at large, is a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. The charge, filed on Monday by the Office of the Attorney-General…

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has arrived at the headquarters of the Northwest Joint Task Force, Operation Fansan Yamma, in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, for his maiden operational visit. The Defence Chief was received on arrival by the Theatre Commander, Major General Warrah Idris, alongside other senior officers of the operation. General Oluyede inspected a quarter guard before proceeding to the Theatre Command’s conference room for a closed-door operational briefing. During the visit, the Chief of Defence Staff is expected to address troops and later hold a meeting with the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.

Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and their families on Monday blocked a gate of the Presidential Villa in Abuja in protest against their continued inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The protesters, under the aegis of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), described the scheme as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane, and obnoxious,” calling on President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police Exit Bill. According to the retirees, the bill passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026, would remove police personnel from the CPS if…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is presiding over the first People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Monday, following the recent unsealing of the secretariat by the police. According to a video obtained on Monday, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and other stakeholders are present at the meeting. The video, shared by Saraki and the FCT minister’s aide, Lere Olayinka, shows the minister seated at the national secretariat alongside other party chieftains and state representatives. The PDP secretariat had been sealed in November last…

In a communique issued at the end of the three-day retreat organised by the Ministry of Regional Development in Benin, Edo State, they agreed to work in synergy with all stakeholders across their regions and the nation at large. The retreat, chaired by the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh was attended by top government officials, including heads of various development commissions, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and other members of the board. Presenting the communiqué, the Director of Planning and Research, Ministry of Regional Development, Mr Victor…

The federal government has debunked recent media reports and commentaries that purport to misrepresent the findings of the latest World Bank  Nigeria Development Update (NDU), particularly claims suggesting that a significant portion of federation earnings is being “diverted” or constitutes “hidden spending.”   The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Taiwo Oyedele, in a statement issued yesterday, said the interpretations misrepresented the World Bank’s analysis and reflected a misunderstanding of the fiscal system. In its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) which was launched ŕecently, the World Bank had raised concerns over Nigeria’s fiscal framework, noting that over N34.53 trillion was diverted…

Speaking during a three-day retreat organised by the Ministry of Regional Development for the Regional Development Commissions in Benin, Edo State, Ogbuku stressed the need for continuity in the leadership of the NDDC to ensure that development projects are completed rather than abandoned. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer observed that from 2015 to 2023, the NDDC management was led by nine Managing Directors, causing significant instability within the Commission. Ogbuku thanked President Tinubu for assuring that the current NDDC Board would serve out its four-year tenure. He also commended the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, for being a strong…