Author: Vardiafrica

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the approval for a pivotal financial accommodation to support the proposed merger between Unity Bank Plc and the Providus Bank Limited. The apex bank, in a statement by its acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, said the move is designed to bolster the stability of the nation’s financial system and avert potential systemic risks. “The merger is contingent upon the financial support from the CBN. The fund will be instrumental in addressing Unity Bank’s total obligations to the Central Bank and other stakeholders,” the statement read. “It is unequivocal to…

Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume has apologised to the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) for not consulting the party before publicly accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of maladministration. Ndume who represents Borno South in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, however, said that he stands by his words, insisting that whatever he said or did was out of patriotism. “Yesterday I was invited by the party and here I am to discuss family matters with what has happened which you are all aware, actually the national chairman is not just a…

Nigeria’s service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police have vowed to resist any unlawful change of government amid the #EndBadGovernance protests rocking the nation. Thousands of Nigerians had trooped into the streets owing to the rising cost of living. Days into the demonstrations, some of the protesters in the northern region were spotted waving the Russian flag, a development that has caused concern among stakeholders. “I want to, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, state unequivocally that the Nigerian Army stands assured in defense of our democracy, peace, and harmony and we are not…

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, has revealed that Nigerians in diaspora who are responsible for sponsoring the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests are being watched, and will be apprehended if they make any attempts to get into the country. Nandap said this in a press briefing forum set up by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to address the protests, as a spokesperson for the Department of State Services (DSS), Peter Afunanya, said that the service is beginning to arrest sponsors of the unrest which resulted from unruly protests in the Northern part of Nigeria. The NIS Boss…

Kamala Harris picked Tim Walz as her running mate Tuesday, opting for the Minnesota governor as the partner most likely to complement her in a historic — and bruising — bid for the White House. Walz had been on a shortlist with a string of other Democratic figures seen as broadening Harris’s appeal as she sprints into the contest against Donald Trump. Aiming to make history as the first woman president, Harris — already a trailblazer as the first female and first Black and South Asian vice president — has little time before Election Day on November 5. The choice…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities. Of late, many Nigerians have expressed frustration about how their airtime and data plans which lasted longer before now evaporate in days amid agitation by telcos seeking NCC’s approval to hike tariff plans. NCC spokesman Reuben Muoka in a statement on Monday said the regulator has mandated all telcos to release clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to all subscribers. “The guideline is the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including…

Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, a key demand of student protesters who led demonstrations that ousted longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina, a statement read. “The president has dissolved parliament,” Shiplu Zaman, press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, said in a statement. The statement also said that Hasina’s arch rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, had been freed from house arrest. Student protesters had threatened more demonstrations if parliament was not dissolved. The decision was taken following meetings with the heads of defence forces, leaders of political parties, student leaders and some civil society…

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was in tears after she stormed to the final of the 200m race in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ofili qualified for the final after picking up the second automatic spot in the race on Monday, reigniting Nigeria’s hopes for a medal at the Games. She finished with a season’s best of 22.05s, falling behind St Lucia’s Julien Alfred – the 100m champion – who crossed the line in a time of 21.98s. The United States Mary Long was in third, finishing in 22:30s. Ofili is the first Nigerian to reach the milestone since Mary Onyali raced to…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, on Monday announced that it has launched a new crude oil grade, Utapate, into the international market The company said the first cargo of Utapate crude oil blend, sourced from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, operated by NNPC E&P Limited, the company’s upstream subsidiary, has been exported to Spain According to a statement by NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the Utapate crude oil blend commenced production in July 2024, marking a significant milestone for the company. Soneye who explained that OML 13 is located offshore Akwa Ibom State…

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), says it is a treasonable offence for #EndBadGovernance protesters to fly foreign flags in the country. Musa spoke shortly after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Monday. The trend was first observed in Kano on the first day of the protest. Protesters waved Russian flags, calling on President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the country. On Sunday, a faction of protesters arrived in Jos, the Plateau capital, with Russian and Japanese flags, forcing local protest organisers to conclude the march early. The latest batch of flags were…