Author: Vardiafrica

Airtel has announced that it has surpassed 650 million mobile subscribers globally, becoming the second-largest telecommunications operator in the world by customer base. Airtel made this known in a statement on Saturday, April 4, 2026. It said the milestone reflected a network of immense scale, with the capacity to serve diverse markets with consistent quality and deliver customer experience driven by sustained innovation. The company disclosed that in Nigeria, it had significantly expanded its network infrastructure over the past three years, increasing its site count from just above 13,000 to nearly 17,200. It added that more than 1,560 sites were…

Speaking during a three-day Performance Management System training for Directors and Change Champions in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Patterson Ogon, stated that the training marks the start of a series of sessions aimed at enhancing overall efficiency and accountability in the Commission. He explained: “This training serves as a foundational step in the transformative journey initiated by the federal government to introduce PMS across all ministries, departments, and agencies. It is essential for fostering accountability, transparency, and result-oriented governance in the public sector.” Ogon highlighted the crucial role of PMS in delivering improved…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and development finance giants Bank of Industry (BoI) and Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, on Tuesday in Warri, Delta State, engaged oil and gas industry stakeholders in a well-attended sensitisation workshop to raise awareness on available funding mechanisms and requirements as well as business opportunities in the sector. Themed “Deepening Local Content through Certificates, Compliance and Financial Support,” the Workshop had as highlight the unveiling of the Nigerian Content Fund Compliance Certificate (NCFCC) Portal. It addressed critical issues, such as the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) and the Revised Community Contractors Financing Scheme,…

Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, is set to get a vice president for the first time in his four-decade rule, following controversial constitutional changes backed by the parliament. In a ‌joint session of the ruling party-dominated National Assembly and Senate, lawmakers voted 200 to 18 in favour, with four abstentions, to pass the bill. The bill stipulates that the vice president will ​automatically assume the presidency if President Paul Biya dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated. Biya, ​93, has led the Central African country since 1982 and is the world’s oldest serving head of state. Public discussion about ​his health is banned.…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says there is a standing agreement within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to back whoever emerges as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, despite the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the party. Speaking in a viral DW Hausa interview, Atiku addressed tensions within the party following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognise factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe. The electoral body said it would not engage either group pending the resolution of a case before the federal high court. Amid the uncertainty, Atiku insisted that unity remains…

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk “hell reigning down” on the Arabian nation. Trump’s comments, contained in a Truth Social post on Saturday, are a resumption of his threats to Iran last month over the closure of the waterway. “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!” the US president wrote. Earlier in March, Tehran said the strait, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared an indefinite nationwide strike beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, citing what it described as the Federal Government’s plan to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a key component of agreements reached after its 2025 industrial action. The decision, which threatens to disrupt healthcare services across public hospitals in Nigeria, was reached at the end of the association’s virtual extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday. Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, NARD National President, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the development as “unfortunate,” blaming…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today embark on an official visit to Ogun State, as the Gateway State prepares to witness the inauguration and inspection of a sweeping array of landmark projects—an indication of its bold stride toward infrastructural transformation, economic expansion, and improved service delivery. According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the President’s itinerary reflects a comprehensive showcase of strategic investments cutting across critical sectors. At the forefront of the visit is the inauguration of the Gateway International Airport, Iperu—an ambitious project designed to position Ogun State as a major aviation and logistics hub…

US President Donald Trump is seeking $1.5 trillion in defense spending as part of the White House’s fiscal 2027 budget request, a roughly 40 percent increase from 2026 funding levels. The proposal released Friday, March 3, said a base of $1.1 trillion will be specifically for the Department of Defense, while $350 billion will be requested through Congress’s budget reconciliation process for “critical Administration priorities” like more munitions and defense industrial base expansions. It also mentions the president’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system. The funding request, prepared by White House budget chief Russell Vought, comes as the United States…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured the people of Plateau State that the federal government will deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras to help law enforcement agencies combat insecurity in the state. Tinubu made the promise in an address during his visit to Jos, the Plateau State capital, in the aftermath of the March 29 gun attacks that claimed the lives of innocent citizens in the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area. He commiserated with the government and people of the state, saying, “I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”…