Author: Vardiafrica

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Tuesday told electricity distribution companies in Nigeria not to charge their consumers for the replacement of prepaid meters. The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, gave the directive at a stakeholders’ meeting on electric meter issues held at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja. The meeting was convened to address pressing metering issues facing consumers in Nigeria’s electricity sector. Bello said the meeting highlights the FCCPC’s collective responsibility in safeguarding the rights and well-being of electricity consumers amidst critical challenges. According to him, while electricity should be reliable, accessible, and…

Equatorial Guinea has suspended all officials who had sexual relations in the offices of ministries. Announcing the decision on Monday via social media, Teodoro Nguema, Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president, said the government would take “severe measures” against such acts. “Today, we will proceed with the immediate suspension of all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries,” the statement reads. “The Government will take severe measures against these acts, since it constitutes a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law. “This action is a decisive step in our policy of zero…

The Federal government through the Ministry of Works has announced the termination of the N740 billion contract with Julius Berger for Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna, and Kano States. In a statement from the Ministry, it explained that the decision was based on non-compliance with reviewed cost, scope, and terms, stoppage of work, and refusal to remobilise to site. According to the Ministry, the decision was reached at a Management meeting after several months of ongoing discussions that yielded no meaningful progress. It noted that over the past 13 months, the Ministry has been…

Inspector-General Egbetokun Under Fire For Detaining Minors, Summons Top Police Officers, Heads Of Investigation Units Over Malnourishment Of Protesters The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has summoned some top senior officers, including all DCs, CID, and Heads of Investigation Units over bad welfare and poor state of minors detained since August for participating in #EndBadGovernance protests. SaharaReporters had reported that following their rejection at Kuje Prison, the malnourished minors were detained by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in a facility meant for adults at the Intelligence Response Team unit in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territort. The kids who…

A federal high court in Abuja has struck out the suit against 119 protesters charged over the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest. Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, struck out the case following an application by M.D Abubakar, counsel to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF). Abubakar had applied to take over and discontinue the suit. At the session on Tuesday, Abubakar prayed the court to allow the AGF take over the case. “We have an application to take over the matter and to discontinue same in accordance with section 174 of the constitution,” Abubakar said. Responding, Femi Falana, who represented the 1st to 50th…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023. An EFCC source confirmed the former governor’s arrest to Channels Television on Monday. Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC on the invitation of investigators handling his matter. The former governor was alleged to have failed to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he…

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the President swore in seven newly appointed ministers cleared by the Senate. The minister said the President ordered the immediate release of the minors without prejudice to whatever legal processes that are ongoing. The President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country. Tinubu also directed that a committee would be set up…

The monarch, elevated as the Obanobhan of Emeyal Clan, gave the commendation when the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, led a delegation from the Commission to pay him a courtesy visit at his palace in Oruma, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Ogbuku was accompanied on the visit by the Bayelsa State representative on the NDDC Board, Senator Denyanbofa Dimaro and other Directors of the Commission. King Amakiri acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC to the growth of the community, in particular and the local government area at large. He thanked the NDDC for the various interventions that had…

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will reportedly announce the price hike in a statement on Monday afternoon, as the government looks to bring tuition fees in line with inflation. The change, which will affect A-level students who are currently applying to universities, is expected to come into force in September 2025. Since 2017, tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250 per year with any increase expected to provoke an intense backlash, especially considering Sir Keir pledged to abolish fees when running to be Labour leader. He later u-turned on this promise, claiming the country was in a “different financial situation.” It…

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly-appointed ministers at the Council Chambers in Abuja.  Those sworn in include Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs. Others are Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing, and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as the Minister of State Education. Monday’s swearing-in came days after their appointments by President Tinubu and…