Author: Vardiafrica

 Amid renewed national security challenges, the Senate has announced a major shake-up of several standing committees, fulfilling its earlier pledge to reconstitute the committee on National Security and Intelligence. The announcement was made during plenary on Tuesday by the Senate Selection Committee chaired by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Under the new arrangement, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi State is now named Chairman of the Senate committee on National Security and Intelligence. He previously headed the committee on National Planning. The Senate also restructured the committee on Livestock and animal husbandry, appointing Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi…

Abia State Government has confirmed that its officials were attacked Tuesday by gunmen in Imo State, but no lives were lost. “The Governor’s convoy was not involved”, the media side to the governor of Abia State, Governor Alex Otti confirmed. In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, explained that an advance team from Governor Otti’s Office came under attack from unidentified gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday. The security incident occurred along the Umuowa–Ihite axis, a few kilometres before the Sam Mbakwe Airport junction in Imo State, where the team was heading for…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met with state chairmen of the African Democratic Congress on Monday in Abuja and urged immediate collective action to address what he described as a national rescue mission. Atiku disclosed the meeting in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, saying the delegation, which included chairmen from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was led by the Kogi State ADC Chairman, Ogga Kingsley. According to the former vice president, the visit was intended to formally welcome him after his recent registration as a member of the party. He quoted Kingsley as…

There will be a joint congressional briefing of the United States House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. The committee officials will discuss the spate of violence and alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. This was revealed in a notice shared on X by US Congressman Riley Moore . The session will be convened by the House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart, alongside fellow Appropriators as well as members of the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees. According to the notice, the purpose of the briefing is “to spotlight the escalating violence and targeted persecution of…

Governor of Osun state, Ademola Adeleke, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over persistent leadership crisis at the party’s national level. In a statement shared on his Instagram page on Monday night, December 1, Adeleke confirmed that he submitted his resignation to party officials in Sagba Abogunde, ward 2, Ede north local government, on November 4. “Due to the ongoing crisis within the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (#OfficialPDPNig) at the national level, I officially conveyed my resignation letter as a member to the party leadership in Sagba Abogunde, ward 2, Ede north local government on November 4,”…

The Federal Government has assured parents and authorities of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in the Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State that the abducted children “are doing fine and will be back soon.” National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, gave the assurance during a visit to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and proprietor of the school, Most Rev Bulus Yohanna, as well as the parents of the victims at St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora. Ribadu said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed him to visit the community and deliver…

Northern governors on Monday approved the creation of a regional security trust fund that will draw a combined N1 billion each month from the 19 northern states and their local governments as the region battles worsening violence. The Northern States Governors’ Forum announced the decision in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council. The fund, to be deducted at source, is intended to bolster efforts against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping that have plagued the region for years. “The forum resolved to set up a regional security trust fund to be funded with monthly contributions…

President Bola Tinubu has met with the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retired), behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa Abuja. The former CDS arrived at the Villa on Monday evening, wearing a traditional northern attire, and immediately proceeded to meet with the President in his office. The reason for his visit was not ascertained as of the time of the report. However, it was his first visit to the State State since he was relieved of the responsibility of the Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in October this year Although reasons were not…

Nigeria’s defence minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect. In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said he was quitting on health grounds, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Monday. “President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation,” the statement said. “President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.” Badaru Abubakar, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed as a…

Israel’s military will prohibit senior officers from using Android smartphones for official communications, permitting only iPhones for commanders ranked lieutenant colonel and above, according to a report by Army Radio on Wednesday. The directive aims to reduce intrusion risks on senior officers’ devices by standardizing operating systems at senior echelons, making security controls and updates easier to manage. The Israel Defense Forces has not publicly detailed timelines or exceptions for the policy, and officials did not immediately comment on whether the ban extends to personal devices used for work purposes. The move comes amid longstanding concerns about hostile actors using…