Author: Vardiafrica

US President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders intended to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States, after the Supreme Court ruled in June that his previous efforts were unconstitutional. The president signed two executive orders on Thursday, August 6, including one that expands the existing definitions of non-citizens whose children are not eligible for birthright citizenship. The second order bans so-called birth tourism, the practice of pregnant mothers coming to the US to give birth so that their babies will be citizens. “This should have happened years ago, but we’re taking care of it now,” Trump said from…

Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement that will, for the first time, permit direct scheduled air services between the two countries. The landmark agreement, aimed at strengthening bilateral aviation relations and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries, was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who was represented by the Director of Air Transport Management in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani. He joined Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs Canada, Ms Shendra Melia, at the Canadian High Commission…

NDDC to kickstart campaign to reduce maternal, newborn mortality The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged its commitment to implementing the Federal Government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, MAMII. According to a statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, the Commission said the move is part of efforts to curb preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Speaking during the Traditional Birth Attendant Workshop organised by the NDDC in Delta and Bayelsa States, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, advised women to embrace orthodox medicine to limit maternal and newborn deaths. Ogbuku, who was represented…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, launched the Technology Innovation Challenge (TIC) 2026, with 30 innovation teams from tertiary institutions and leading technology firms in the country set to begin a five-day “Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialisation Bootcamp.” Themed “Physical Boot Camp: Bridging Research to Commercialisation,” the TIC, an initiative of the Board aimed at identifying and selecting indigenous technologies to address key oil and gas industry pen points – operational problems and hazards (both to humans and the environment) – is for appraisal of ‘Technology Readiness Level’…

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has filed a ₦2 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), challenging the agency’s decision to freeze the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account. The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, names the EFCC, its Chairman and First Bank Nigeria Limited as defendants. Also listed as co-plaintiffs are the Attorney General of Osun State and the state’s Accountant General. In the suit, the Osun State Government contends that the EFCC acted outside its legal powers by directing First Bank to place a restriction on the state’s statutory allocation account without…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recommended the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, also known as Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, promoter of the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), after concluding an interim investigation ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that also uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by the suspect. The Commission identified the agencies as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP), saying they were established using forged legislative instruments purportedly serving as enabling laws to give legitimacy to their operations. ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has strengthened its position as a global supplier of premium aviation fuel after emerging as Europe’s largest jet fuel supplier for the second consecutive month, overtaking the United States and underscoring the refinery’s growing influence on international energy markets. Latest European import data compiled by global commodities intelligence firm Kpler show that more than 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel produced by the 700,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery were delivered into Europe in July, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the continent’s total jet fuel imports during the month. The performance follows a…

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate the court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun state government. In a personally signed statement on Thursday, Tinubu said he was embarrassed by the development because actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the presidency, even when he has no prior knowledge of them. He said although the anti-graft agency acted within its statutory powers by obtaining a court order, the timing of the action, days before the August 15 governorship election in Osun, was inappropriate. “It has come to my notice that the Economic…

The Nigerian Army has declared the governor of Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa-Wali, and his deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, wanted. The terrorists were declared wanted following their identification from technical devices obtained during a recent offensive against the terrorist group in the Lake Chad region. Captain Muhammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer for Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday. According to him, their identities were discovered through forensic analysis of the retrieved gadgets, which included high-value intelligence materials and a camcorder. The statement reads, “Operation Hadin…

Fifteen years after the Employees’ Compensation Act was signed into law, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) on Tuesday presented the first compensation cheques worth N31,720,570.5 million directly to five beneficiaries from treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The maiden presentation held in Abuja brought together families who lost loved ones or suffered workplace injuries in the course of public service. Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, said the event was not ceremonial but the fulfilment of a legal promise. “We are not here for a ceremony. We are here to keep a promise,” Faleye told beneficiaries,…