Author: Vardiafrica

The Senate has rescinded the amendment that barred first time senators from contesting presiding offices, reopening the 2027 race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The reversal was adopted on Thursday through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau. The earlier amendment required any senator seeking to contest for presiding or principal offices to have served in the Senate for two consecutive terms, totalling eight years. The provision effectively disqualified newly elected senators and those returning after a break, limiting eligibility to a small group of ranking lawmakers. Critics…

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo with the Airbus President for Africa and Middle East, Gabriel Semelas The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus, in a strategic move aimed at transforming the country’s aviation and aerospace sector. The agreement was formalised during an official working visit by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to Airbus’ global headquarters in Toulouse, France. The deal is widely regarded as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reposition its aviation industry and build a…

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa. Fani-Kayode disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, explaining that the decision followed his request to be reassigned after he was initially nominated for a diplomatic posting to Germany. According to him, he formally communicated his concerns about the Germany posting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requested consideration for deployment to South Africa instead. He stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, approved the request and forwarded it to President Tinubu, who later…

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the transfer of more than 1,300 personnel from the Delta State Command following public outrage over alleged misconduct and the extrajudicial killing of a civilian. Force Headquarters spokesperson, Tony Placid, disclosed the development yesterday, stating that the large-scale redeployment was approved by the police high command. The directive by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was reportedly triggered by the controversial killing of Oghenermine Mena, as well as allegations of unprofessional conduct against some officers in the command. The redeployment is being viewed as part of efforts to restore public confidence and ease tensions in affected communities. Sources familiar…

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has waived the 2027 elections screening requirements for President Bola Tinubu. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) reached the decision during its 188th meeting, held on Wednesday. APC spokesman Felix Morka, said the party’s NWC “deemed him as duly screened in accordance with the Constitution of the Party for the purpose of participation in the upcoming primary elections. “This decision was made pursuant to the powers conferred on the NWC under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the Constitution of APC to organise and supervise the party’s primaries and, in special circumstances, grant waivers, in the…

Chelsea’s players are facing significant wage reductions after the club’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League were dealt a major blow. Monday’s 3-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest made it six successive Premier League losses for Chelsea and ended their chances of qualifying for the Champions League by finishing in the top five. There remains a chance that sixth place could earn Champions League qualification if Aston Villa win the Europa League, but Chelsea are now four points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth with three Premier League games left to play. Failure to qualify for the Champions League will not…

Wike Nyesom Wike has dismissed claims that there is overwhelming public support for the re-election of Siminalayi Fubara in 2027. Speaking during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike described suggestions that Rivers residents are unanimously backing Fubara for a second term as misleading. The former Rivers governor also addressed the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, referencing the intervention of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the dispute between the governor and the State House of Assembly. According to Wike, the Assembly complied with the President’s peace effort by withdrawing impeachment proceedings against Fubara, but he alleged that the…

The federal government has approved a policy prohibiting recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr” title. The decision, approved by the federal executive council (FEC), introduces a new regulatory framework to guide the award and use of honorary degrees by tertiary institutions, with sanctions for defaulters. Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, said the policy became necessary following concerns over the increasing misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorates. Alausa said the reform is aimed at safeguarding academic integrity, restoring public confidence in university awards, and addressing the growing abuse and commercialisation of honorary degrees.…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylvia, to the Federal Government. Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though Justice Egwuatu delivered the ruling on April 24, the enrolled order was sighted on Wednesday. The judge said: “It is hereby ordered as follows: “An interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting the properties listed in…

Speaking during a Stakeholders and Service Providers Sensitisation and Training Workshop in Warri, Delta State, the Director, Procurement Department, NDDC, Dr Chuks Osuji, said the initiative was meant to educate key stakeholders, including government officials, procurement officers, consultants and contractors, private-sector vendors, and civil society organisations, on recent reforms and the transition to a fully digitised procurement framework.   Osuji, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Procurement, Mr Tumi Grant, stated that the NDDC was determined to adopt global best practices and improve service delivery. He underscored the importance of equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to engage…