Author: Vardiafrica

The United States and Iran have failed to reach an agreement after 21 hours of high-stakes discussions in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. JD Vance, US vice-president, said Tehran refused to accept Washington’s terms during negotiations. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” Vance said. Vance said Iran chose “not to accept our terms”, adding that the US needs to see a “fundamental commitment” from Tehran not to develop nuclear weapons. “We need to see an affirmative commitment…

Giving the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Bayelsa State Government House Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, President Tinubu stated that much more would be achieved when the different levels of government work in synergy. The President had earlier inaugurated four projects executed by the Bayelsa State Government. The projects included the 60MW Bayelsa Gas Turbine, the dualised New Yenagoa City Road, the 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, and the Sagbama–Ekeremor Road, a project started by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, accompanied by the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, and the Bayelsa…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has successfully concluded a digital skills training programme for 60 youths from the North Central and Southwest zone respectively aimed at bridging critical skill gaps and enhancing their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. Speaking separately at the closing ceremony held in Abuja and Lagos, NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, stated that the initiative aligns with the Board’s core mandate to develop local capacity, particularly within the oil and gas sector and its related industries. He pointed that the skill enhancement programme for Nigerian youths seeks to prepare them for the challenges…

The Federal Government on Saturday released a list of 48 individuals and groups it said were involved in financing terrorist activities in the country. The list, published by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), came barely 24 hours after the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice concluded the ninth phase of the mass trial of over 500 persons linked to the Boko Haram terrorist sect. The four-day trial sessions were conducted by 10 judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where a total of 386 convictions were secured by the FG. While the AGF,…

The federal government has ordered the withdrawal of passports from Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, issued the directive to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a statement signed by Alao Babatunde, his media aide. Tunji-Ojo said the move applies to individuals whose renunciation requests have been approved by the president, adding that such persons are no longer entitled to hold Nigerian passports. The minister cited provisions of the 1999 constitution to justify the directive. “(1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in…

The federal government has approved the implementation of its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM), introducing sweeping tariff adjustments aimed at stimulating growth across key sectors of the economy. A circular from the Federal Ministry of Finance indicated that the 2026 measures will supersede the 2023 FPM and introduce a revised tariff regime, including a national list of 127 tariff lines with reduced import duty rates designed to promote economic activity in critical sectors. Under the new structure, import duties have been adjusted downward on several key commodities. The import adjustment tax on crude palm oil, for instance, has been reduced…

Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday to commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the state government over the recent attack on military personnel in Benisheikh. The attack had left several senior officers and soldiers dead. Shettima was received by the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, among other top government functionaries in the state. He said that the heart of President Bola Tinubu bleeds with the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. “On behalf of the President, I wish to convey our deep, heartfelt condolences to the officers and men of the…

The Federal Government has approved the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, known as VPASS, across Nigeria’s domestic airports as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security, enhance data integrity, and improve revenue generation. The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), disclosed this during the signing of the concession agreement today 9th April, 2026 at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja. He explained that the initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data arising from inconsistent airline records, while also addressing unauthorized boarding practices. Keyamo said the system will ensure…

Iran’s negotiating team arrived in Islamabad yesterday for peace talks with the United States, even as Tehran insisted on measures it said needed to be addressed first, throwing last-minute doubt over the meetings scheduled in Pakistan.This comes as US President Donald Trump warned that American warships were being prepared for a potential strike on Iran if ongoing talks fail to deliver a deal. Emphasising military readiness, Trump said the ships are also being equipped with advanced weapons. Trump had announced a two-week ceasefire in the six-week war on Tuesday, just hours before a deadline after which Trump ‌had threatened to…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) today, Friday, 10th April 2026, during which, among other issues, the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise was considered. Following deliberations, the Commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election. The voter revalidation exercise is a critical component of the Commission’s mandate to maintain a credible and up-to-date National Register of Voters. It is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter register.…