Author: Vardiafrica

The Senate has completed the screening of the three ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the upper chamber by President Bola Tinubu for confirmation. They are Kayode Are (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State). The nominees, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), were screened by the panel. The committee’s report is expected to be presented at plenary for consideration and possible confirmation in due course. Speaking during the session, Senator Bello disclosed that Ayodele Oke had addressed and cleared all allegations previously raised against him. President…

Tech giant Meta has begun removing minors below 16 years of age in Australia from its platforms Instagram, Threads and Facebook ahead of the country’s world-first youth social media ban. “While we are working hard to remove all users who we understand to be under the age of 16 by 10 December, compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multilayered process,” a Meta spokesperson said on Thursday. Australia requires 10 major online platforms, also including TikTok and YouTube, to block underage users by December 10, when the new law comes into force. Companies face fines of 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32m) if…

The Senate on Wednesday intensified its probe into the collapse of the Safe School Initiative by summoning key government officials, including Finance Minister Wale Edun, Education Minister Tunji Alausa, and Defence Minister Lt-Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), to explain why the $30m scheme failed to protect Nigerian schoolchildren from relentless attacks. The summons was issued by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe School Initiative, chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), following the adoption of its work plan during its maiden sitting. Edun and the other officials are to appear before the committee next Tuesday. Conceived in 2014 at…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will confer the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Infrastructure Delivery and Sustainable Regional Growth on the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, on December 7, 2025. A letter signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, stated that Ogbuku would be honoured at the forthcoming Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) organized by The Best Strategic (TBS) Media in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). According to the Permanent Secretary, the…

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting Nigerians accused of undermining religious freedom. A post on X by Marco Rubio, secretary of state, said the restrictions will affect those who “knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom”. He said the visa policy applies to Nigeria and other governments or individuals that persecute people for their religious beliefs. According to the secretary of state, the move was part of the US’ decisive action in response to the “atrocities and violence against Christians” in Nigeria and around the world. Rubio’s comments come a day after…

The senate has confirmed Christopher Musa, the immediate past chief of defence staff, as the new defence minister. Musa’s nomination was approved on Wednesday after senators scrutinised his military background and responses to questions on key issues regarding security. Musa assured lawmakers of his commitment to serve Nigeria diligently if confirmed as a minister. “I believe that the challenges we are facing is a Nigerian challenge, not only for the armed forces or security forces, but for everyone working together,” Musa said. “I want to assure you, we will win working together as a team. Even when I was CDS,…

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Wednesday rose from its monthly meeting and approved the sum of N100 billion, subject to a final ratification by President Bola Tinubu, for rehabilitation of training institutions for police and other security agencies in Nigeria. This followed recommendations by the ad hoc committee earlier constituted to assess the state of police and security agencies’ training institution nationwide. At its 154th meeting held virtually, NEC also approved the sum of N2.6 billion for consultancy services for the project. President Tinubu had, at the 152nd meeting of NEC in October, proposed the overhaul and revamp of…

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to publish the identities of those allegedly financing terrorism and banditry in Nigeria. Lawmakers reached the resolution during Wednesday’s plenary, following the adoption of the report from last week’s security debate, emphasising that naming the financiers is crucial to weakening the networks driving rising insecurity. The demand follows comments from the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, who stated that the federal government is preparing to reveal those sponsoring terrorism in the country. Bwala explained during a TVC interview that the administration is taking “far-reaching decisions”…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has won the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Transparency and Efficiency Champion Award for the fourth consecutive year. The Board topped the Ease of Doing Business rankings in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.The award was presented on December 2, 2025, at the State House in Abuja. Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe was represented by Acting Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Omomehin Ajimijaye, who highlighted the Board’s alignment with policy reforms and commitment to management goals.. This recognition underscores the Board’s operational excellence, teamwork, and consistent engagement with partners and industry…

Tension rose in the Senate as lawmakers objected to attempts to conclude the screening of a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), as the new Minister of Defence, and allow him to take a bow. Senator Sani Musa of Niger East Senatorial District had urged the Senate to allow the former service chief to take a bow and leave after responding to a few questions. But those opposed to the idea insisted that the ministerial nominee must be subjected to more rigorous questioning. The chamber became rowdy as senators stood in defiance, demanding further engagement with the…