Author: Vardiafrica

The U.S approved the sale of $346 million worth of munitions, bombs, and precision rockets to Nigeria to help its West African ally combat a surge in terrorist violence. The deal will support the foreign policy goals of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S State Department said in a press release, Wednesday. The Nigerian government requested a long list of weapons, according to the statement, including more than a thousand MK-82 500 lb bombs – a weapon which was most recently used by the Israeli military to bomb civilians in…

Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported. “In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),” communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies. The messenger apps have become “the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities,” the watchdog added. Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people…

The House of Representatives Committee on NG-CARES, on Wednesday, began an investigation into the implementation of the $696 million (₦1.06trillion) Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) social intervention programme of the Federal Government. The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Kusada, who disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja after the committee meeting on Wednesday said the investigation became inevitable since the masses were not feeling the impact of the palliatives and safety nets despite the government fulfilling its funding obligations and providing the guidelines, and the operational arrangements for the effective implementation of NG-CARES. “A total of…

The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) has condemned what it described as an “unlawful” and “malicious” invasion of its premises by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding accountability, restitution, and public apologies from the agency and the Nigeria Police Force. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the OOPL said the August 10 raid, which took place between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m., disrupted lawful activities, endangered visitors, and violated the institution’s dignity. It alleged the operation was “a direct assault on everything this institution stands for” and an attack on former President Olusegun…

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved a sweeping seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in a bid to halt the proliferation of under-utilised institutions and refocus resources on improving existing ones. The decision, taken at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, followed a memo presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa. Alausa told State House correspondents after the meeting that access to tertiary education in Nigeria was “no longer the problem.” Rather, he said, the unchecked duplication of…

US President Donald Trump has promised “very severe consequences” for Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to end the war in Ukraine. Both leaders are set to have a meeting on Friday. It is the first direct talk between both leaders since Trump’s return to the White House in January. While it is unclear what the demands or negotiations would be, Trump said the meeting would be a moment to feel out Putin’s parameters for ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking on Wednesday in Washington, Trump warned “there will be consequences” if expectations were not met. Asked if that…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive review of all deductions and revenue retention practices by major revenue-generating agencies. These agencies include the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The directive, given at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, is aimed at optimising public savings, enhancing spending efficiency, and freeing up more resources to finance growth. Tinubu specifically called for a reassessment of NNPC’s 30% management fee and 30% frontier exploration deduction provided…

A magistrate court in Ikeja has struck out the charges filed against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who was accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos. Olanrenwaju Salami, the presiding magistrate, discharged Emmanson on Wednesday after the police withdrew the five-count charge. During the court proceedings, Olubunmi Adeitan, the police prosecutor, said the police decided to withdraw the charges following the discovery of new facts. Adams Otakpe, counsel to Emmanson, did not object to the withdrawal of the charges. After the position of the counsel, Salami struck out the five-count charge against Emmanson. On Monday,…

Google, in collaboration with GOMYCODE, has unveiled the “Build with AI” initiative, a transformative program aimed at equipping 1,000 Nigerian developers with advanced generative AI skills to drive innovation across Africa. Google’s Head of Developer Ecosystem for Sub-Saharan Africa, John Kimani, emphasized the initiative’s role in positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global AI landscape. “This program is designed to nurture a new wave of tech talent capable of creating solutions that are both locally impactful and globally competitive,” Kimani stated. The initiative targets critical sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and agritech, addressing pressing challenges while fostering economic growth.…

President Bola Tinubu says his administration will always partner with states committed to human, social, and economic development. He spoke on Wednesday through a post on X, a day after hosting Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, at the presidential villa in Abuja. Tinubu said he agrees with Soludo that those who profess progressive ideals must work together to deepen democracy, strengthen security, and transform the economy. “We discussed the bold reforms underway, the need to stay the course, and the importance of tackling insecurity through both decisive action and inclusive opportunities for our teeming youth,” the president said. “Our administration will continue…