Author: Vardiafrica

Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and their families on Monday blocked a gate of the Presidential Villa in Abuja in protest against their continued inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The protesters, under the aegis of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), described the scheme as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane, and obnoxious,” calling on President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police Exit Bill. According to the retirees, the bill passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026, would remove police personnel from the CPS if…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is presiding over the first People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Monday, following the recent unsealing of the secretariat by the police. According to a video obtained on Monday, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and other stakeholders are present at the meeting. The video, shared by Saraki and the FCT minister’s aide, Lere Olayinka, shows the minister seated at the national secretariat alongside other party chieftains and state representatives. The PDP secretariat had been sealed in November last…

In a communique issued at the end of the three-day retreat organised by the Ministry of Regional Development in Benin, Edo State, they agreed to work in synergy with all stakeholders across their regions and the nation at large. The retreat, chaired by the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh was attended by top government officials, including heads of various development commissions, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and other members of the board. Presenting the communiqué, the Director of Planning and Research, Ministry of Regional Development, Mr Victor…

The federal government has debunked recent media reports and commentaries that purport to misrepresent the findings of the latest World Bank  Nigeria Development Update (NDU), particularly claims suggesting that a significant portion of federation earnings is being “diverted” or constitutes “hidden spending.”   The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Taiwo Oyedele, in a statement issued yesterday, said the interpretations misrepresented the World Bank’s analysis and reflected a misunderstanding of the fiscal system. In its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) which was launched ŕecently, the World Bank had raised concerns over Nigeria’s fiscal framework, noting that over N34.53 trillion was diverted…

Speaking during a three-day retreat organised by the Ministry of Regional Development for the Regional Development Commissions in Benin, Edo State, Ogbuku stressed the need for continuity in the leadership of the NDDC to ensure that development projects are completed rather than abandoned. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer observed that from 2015 to 2023, the NDDC management was led by nine Managing Directors, causing significant instability within the Commission. Ogbuku thanked President Tinubu for assuring that the current NDDC Board would serve out its four-year tenure. He also commended the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, for being a strong…

Huawei has stepped into the next phase of foldable smartphone design with a new approach that moves away from the tall, narrow formats commonly seen in the category. The company has introduced a new foldable device called the Pura X Max, which brings a noticeably wider screen layout compared to existing models in the market. Unlike conventional foldables that typically open into near-square tablet-like displays, Huawei’s new concept leans toward a broader, more horizontal form factor. Early visuals shared by the company on Chinese social media platform Weibo suggest a device that resembles a compact tablet, similar in feel to an iPad…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that the recently abducted travellers along Otukpo-Markudi Road in Benue State were not candidates of the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as erroneously reported in the media. JAMB, in a statement on Saturday, by its Public Communications Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were apparently returning to their base in Otukpo. Fabian faulted the speed with which it was reported that the victims were UTME candidates. “It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily…

Governor Otu made the commendation during a courtesy visit by members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC at the Government House in Calabar. The lawmakers were in the state for an oversight inspection of the emergency repairs on the Calabar-Odukpani-Akamkpa-Ogoja road. The National Assembly members were led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu. Addressing the delegation, which included the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Governor Otu remarked that the existing synergy between the state government…

Bauchi State chapter of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced severance of talks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over planned defection of its members and supporters led by the state governor, Sen Bala Abdulkador Mohammed. The announcement of the decision was made on Saturday by the state chairman of the PDP, Pharmacist Sama’ila Adamu Burga, while addressing journalists at the party’s Secretariat. Sama’ila Burga explained that the APC initiated the talks and extended invitations to Governor Bala Mohammed, PDP members, and elected officials in the State, including National Assembly, State House of Assembly members, and local government…

The Governor stated this when members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC, led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba. Members of the National Assembly, accompanied by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku and the Director of the Commission’s Delta State Office, Engr. Joseph Onoriode, were kicking off a two-day inspection of NDDC Projects in Delta and Cross River States. Governor Oborevwori expressed satisfaction with the ongoing discussions between the state Government, NDDC, and Chevron on the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road, which is expected to…