Author: Vardiafrica

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that his involvement in Nigeria’s sweeping tax reforms has exposed him to serious threats to his personal safety. Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at a governance colloquium organised to mark the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination. Addressing participants at the event, Oyedele underscored the complexity and risks associated with reforming entrenched systems, particularly those that challenge powerful interests. “Reforms are hard, and tax reforms are even harder. You need…

The impeachment move against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, has suffered another setback as two more members of the State House of Assembly have withdrawn their support for the process. They called for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis in the state. Barile Nwakoh, who represents Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made their positions known barely 48 hours after two other lawmakers announced a similar decision. Although the legislators maintained that the Governor and his deputy may have breached constitutional provisions, they said their change of stance followed interventions…

The Federal Government has conferred various honours on serving personnel and veterans of the Nigerian Army in recognition of gallantry, sacrifice, innovation, exemplary leadership and post-service contributions to national development. The awards were presented during the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day Gala Night held at the Banquet Hall State House on Tuesday, 13 January, 2026, in Abuja. Among the recipients was the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutrnant General Waidi Shaibu, who received the Service and Sacrifice Award for exemplifying selfless service and providing decisive leadership in counter-insurgency and internal security operations across multiple theatres. Other recipients of…

The Federal Government said it is relying on green finance to drive its energy transition, with President Bola Tinubu unveiling plans for a $2 billion climate fund on Tuesday. The President, while speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit, said the country’s Climate Investment Platform will mobilise $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure. According to him, the National Climate Change Fund targets a $2bn capitalisation to back projects that cut emissions and boost resilience. Tinubu also announced that Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates had signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost trade and investment across various sectors,…

Ugandan authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services across the country on Tuesday, two days before an election in which President Yoweri Maseveni will stand for a contentious seventh term after four decades in power. The Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile service providers to shut down public internet connections from 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) in order to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks”. Security forces have detained hundreds of opposition supporters in the run-up to the election and repeatedly fired live bullets and tear gas at campaign events in support of Museveni’s leading challenger, Pop star Wine. “The UCC…

The Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, led by Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has constituted a Project Verification and Payment Committee. This followed one of the resolutions reached at the 9th meeting of the 7th Governing Board of the Commission held on December 8, 2025. The Board approved the constitution of a Project Verification Committee by Management to verify all infrastructure, electrification, desilting, environmental, and water projects for the purpose of capturing them in the Commission’s Directorate of Finance and Accounts’ Digitised platform for payment purposes. The setting up of the Committee was sequel to the Federal Government’s directive…

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it will disburse N6.452 billion to tertiary institutions in its 2026 intervention cycle. The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ workshop with heads of beneficiary institutions on the 2026 disbursement guidelines. Echono explained with the planned 2026 intervention cycle, while each university would receive N2.525 billion; polytechnic, N1.871 billion, each college of education would get N2.056 billion respectively. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that allocation letters for the intervention were also distributed to beneficiary institutions. Echono said the total direct disbursement accounted…

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to open duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the Arab country. In a statement on Tuesday, the president said the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The Nigeria-UAE comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) was signed alongside Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president. “For Nigerians, this agreement is not abstract. It opens duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE, expands opportunities for our exporters, manufacturers, and service providers, and gives UAE investors clearer…

Veteran Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, moves to extend his rule into a seventh term. When Yoweri Museveni seized power in Uganda in 1986, he declared that “the problem of Africa in general and Uganda in particular is not the people but leaders who want to overstay in power.” Nearly four decades later, the 81-year-old president and former rebel is seeking a seventh term in office on Thursday, aiming to extend a rule under which most Ugandans have never known another leader. Museveni swept to power after leading insurgencies against autocratic governments, initially riding a wave of…

Nigerian security forces have received new military equipment from the United States as part of efforts to tackle insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges. The delivery, which took place in Abuja on Tuesday, January 13, was confirmed by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) via its official X account, @USAfricaCommand. The supplies are intended to support Nigeria’s security agencies in meeting ongoing operational needs amid persistent threats across parts of the country. “This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and highlights our shared security partnership”, the U.S. Mission said in the statement. The move comes against the backdrop of intensified U.S.–Nigeria…