Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have signed an agreement for a Joint Work Programme to strengthen strategic partnership in the development of data for energy policy and investment across the value chain for economic growth and energy security. This is just as the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, said Nigeria’s formal admission into the IEA as an association country is a significant milestone for the country and another testament to the gains of the economic reforms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu on Thursday during the signing of the agreement for…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has signed the much-anticipated 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, describing the budget as a “breath of fresh air” The governor performed the exercise on Thursday at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital. He expressed optimism that the budget would usher in a new phase of development and cooperation in the state. Fubara said his administration’s commitment remains focused on the progress and development of Rivers State, while assuring the State Assembly of a cordial and cooperative relationship going forward. The Rivers governor thanked God for making the occasion possible,…

Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses, saying local traders and hawkers need to be protected. His announcement comes amid growing debate about the increasing number of African migrants involved in Kenya’s vast informal economy. “From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them,” he said, also promising to fast-track proposed legislation to preclude foreigners from certain areas of trade. Ruto said Kenya remained open to foreign investment, but argued that investors – including Chinese traders – should create jobs and expand production rather than compete with Kenyans in small…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the ₦1.84 trillion 2026 Appropriations Bill into law, following deliberations by the Committee on Supply, which recommended key adjustments before the bill’s final passage. According to the breakdown presented by the committee, the budget is to be funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦487.6 billion, Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) receipts of ₦936.052 billion, an opening and closing balance of ₦48 billion, proposed internal loans of ₦50 billion, and proceeds from the sale of assets amounting to ₦25 billion. Sectoral allocations under the budget include ₦262 billion for agriculture, ₦625.8 billion…

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the controversial “illegal” Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has uncovered 58 bank accounts linked to the embattled purported Director-General of the agency, Adeyemi Adeniyi, and uncovered 12 other agencies allegedly operating as fake government agencies. The committee, in its preliminary findings, also declared that the PFIPC was never lawfully established and described Adeniyi’s purported appointment letter as fake. The lawmakers further exonerated the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the controversy and commended him for raising the alarm about the activities of the purported agency. The committee said…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has announced plans to develop a high-speed rail line linking Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains expected to operate at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, disclosed the plan on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 19th National Council on Transportation. Adebiyi said the proposed rail project is part of wider efforts by the Federal Government to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on road transportation and expand the options available to commuters and businesses. “The objective is to give Nigerians the freedom to choose…

Global ride-hailing company Uber has announced its exit from the Nigerian market, effective September 2, 2026, ending 12 years of operations in the country. This was disclosed in a statement and memo shared with riders and customer, the company said it had made the “tough decision” to wind down its operations in the country. According to Uber, the decision followed a thorough review of its business operations in Nigeria. Uber said it had been a privilege to serve Nigerians since launching in Lagos in 2014, connecting customers with independent transportation providers for their daily journeys. “We are writing to share…

Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema has been sworn in for a second five-year term amid a disputed election, following allegations of irregularities and the arrest of his main challenger, Brian Mundubile, on treason charges. Hichilema, 64, was sworn in at the National Heroes Stadium in the capital, Lusaka, after official results showed he won the 13 August presidential election with 60 percent of the vote. Mundubile, who secured 38 percent, rejected the result, alleging that the vote had been manipulated. He was unable to challenge the outcome in court after the courts were sealed off last week on the final day…

The Federal Government has launched the “Hire From Nigeria” Campaign, a national initiative to connect qualified Nigerian professionals, skilled workers, digital experts, creatives and service providers with international employers and clients, enabling them to secure global jobs and service contracts while working from Nigeria. The initiative, aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on job creation, economic diversification and skills development, brings together the Federal Ministries of Education; Industry, Trade and Investment; Information and National Orientation; Labour and Employment; and Foreign Affairs, alongside the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Tech4Dev, universities, development partners and private-sector stakeholders. Speaking at…

Fourteen young graduates of engineering and geoscience backgrounds on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, completed an intensive 12-month Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Training Programme of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and TotalEnerges in respect of Provision of Trelleborg Export Hoses and Accessories for Egina Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel. Structured into classroom-based instruction and hands-on training in the facilities of Fairtex Integrated Services Limited, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, the programme covered database systems, data analysis, document control, supply chain, technical safety, and project management. The trainees received international certifications for each of the…