Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Ahmed Abubakar Audi as the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for a fresh five-year term. The renewal, which took effect from Friday, February 27, ensures that Audi continues in office following the expiration of his initial tenure. He was first appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The announcement of his reappointment was conveyed in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday. Audi’s first five-year term concluded last Friday, coinciding with activities marking the 2026 World Civil…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has enjoined operators in the midstream segment of the oil and gas industry to comply with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, or risk attracting sanctions, including project withdrawal, suspension and criminal prosecution. The Board also reaffirmed that obtaining the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCEC) attracts zero processing fees, and it had banned the use of middlemen in all its transactions and confirmed that expired or misapplied NCECs will lead to automatic disqualification from tenders.These positions anchored the NCDMB Sensitisation Workshop for Midstream Companies and Stakeholders, held…

President Bola Tinubu yesterday charged members of the House of Representatives to as a matter of urgency consider constitutional amendments that would pave the way for the establishment of state police.Also yesterday, the President issued fresh directives to the nation’s security agencies to intensify and reinforce operations in Alkaleri Local Government Area and other affected parts of Bauchi State. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay, described the move to create state police as a “very good idea” that could significantly improve security in Nigeria, stressing that states willing to establish their own police forces should be allowed to…

In a dramatic escalation of regional conflict, Iran launched a broad retaliatory missile offensive early on Saturday, targeting United States military bases across the Middle East, striking the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet facility in Bahrain and prompting a wave of defensive actions and airspace closures across the Gulf. Bahrain’s national communications authority confirmed that a missile impacted the service centre of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Juffair, a critical hub for America’s naval command in the region. Sirens wailed and smoke was seen rising over the area as authorities urged residents to take shelter. Across the Gulf, several states…

A state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory, fully equipped by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), was on Friday commissioned at the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, with the goal of positioning the institution to align with global best practices in medical education, and “strengthening local capacity in Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large.” Equipment provided include high-fidelity adult and pediatric patient simulators, laparoscopic training systems, obstetric trainers, advanced life support mannequins, consultation cubicles, and audio-visual learning systems, all of which the university authorities claimed would enable students to “learn, make mistakes, and perfect their life-saving skills in…

Israel and the United States have launched pre-emptive strikes against Iran, targeting radar installations and command and control centres associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The strikes, which began around 8 am local time, have reportedly caused explosions over the capital, Tehran. The US has confirmed its participation in the attacks, with F-22 stealth fighters and aerial refuelling tankers deployed to the region. The strikes come amid heightened tensions and failed negotiations between Iran and the West over Iran’s nuclear program. Israel has gone into lockdown, bracing for potential Iranian retaliation. The extent of the damage and the…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will implement a fully cashless and contactless payment system across all airport payment points nationwide from March 1, 2026. In a post on X on Friday, FAAN said the initiative is aimed at improving transaction speed, enhancing safety, and delivering a more seamless payment experience for airport users. “Effective Date: March 1, 2026. Pick up your Go-Cashless card at all commercial offices and Access Gates nationwide,” the authority said. On September 26, 2025, FAAN announced the launch of ‘operation go cashless,’ a contactless and cashless payment system — an initiative deployed in partnership with Paystack.…

Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statewide broadcast on Friday, Fintiri said his cabinet and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have moved with him to the APC. The announcement lays to rest speculation on the governor’s plan to defect to the ruling party. Earlier in the week, 15 lawmakers of the Adamawa state house of assembly, including Bathiya Wesley, speaker of the house, and Buba Jijiwa, his deputy, resigned from the PDP. The lawmakers attributed their defections to the “lingering crisis” in the PDP. With Fintiri’s defection, the PDP…

The Defence Headquarters has said that military training, intelligence and operational support provided to Nigeria by the United States come at no financial cost to the country. Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this while briefing journalists on operations conducted against terrorists and other criminal elements in February 2026. He said the assistance is delivered through the United States Africa Command as part of Washington’s global counterterrorism policy. According to him, the presence of US troops in Nigeria is strictly a partnership arrangement focused on training and intelligence sharing. “It is the policy of the United…

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will not resign after Labour suffered a shock defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election, describing the result as “very disappointing” but vowing to “keep fighting” for voters. The Green Party’s Hannah Spencer made history by taking the Manchester seat with 14,980 votes, pushing Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin into second place with 10,578 votes and relegating Labour’s Angeliki Stogia to third with 9,364. Speaking after visiting local party members in London, the Prime Minister acknowledged the setback and said he understood why voters were “frustrated” and “impatient for change,” but dismissed suggestions he should…