Author: Vardiafrica

Kamala Harris picked Tim Walz as her running mate Tuesday, opting for the Minnesota governor as the partner most likely to complement her in a historic — and bruising — bid for the White House. Walz had been on a shortlist with a string of other Democratic figures seen as broadening Harris’s appeal as she sprints into the contest against Donald Trump. Aiming to make history as the first woman president, Harris — already a trailblazer as the first female and first Black and South Asian vice president — has little time before Election Day on November 5. The choice…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities. Of late, many Nigerians have expressed frustration about how their airtime and data plans which lasted longer before now evaporate in days amid agitation by telcos seeking NCC’s approval to hike tariff plans. NCC spokesman Reuben Muoka in a statement on Monday said the regulator has mandated all telcos to release clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to all subscribers. “The guideline is the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including…

Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, a key demand of student protesters who led demonstrations that ousted longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina, a statement read. “The president has dissolved parliament,” Shiplu Zaman, press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, said in a statement. The statement also said that Hasina’s arch rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, had been freed from house arrest. Student protesters had threatened more demonstrations if parliament was not dissolved. The decision was taken following meetings with the heads of defence forces, leaders of political parties, student leaders and some civil society…

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was in tears after she stormed to the final of the 200m race in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ofili qualified for the final after picking up the second automatic spot in the race on Monday, reigniting Nigeria’s hopes for a medal at the Games. She finished with a season’s best of 22.05s, falling behind St Lucia’s Julien Alfred – the 100m champion – who crossed the line in a time of 21.98s. The United States Mary Long was in third, finishing in 22:30s. Ofili is the first Nigerian to reach the milestone since Mary Onyali raced to…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, on Monday announced that it has launched a new crude oil grade, Utapate, into the international market The company said the first cargo of Utapate crude oil blend, sourced from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, operated by NNPC E&P Limited, the company’s upstream subsidiary, has been exported to Spain According to a statement by NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the Utapate crude oil blend commenced production in July 2024, marking a significant milestone for the company. Soneye who explained that OML 13 is located offshore Akwa Ibom State…

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), says it is a treasonable offence for #EndBadGovernance protesters to fly foreign flags in the country. Musa spoke shortly after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Monday. The trend was first observed in Kano on the first day of the protest. Protesters waved Russian flags, calling on President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the country. On Sunday, a faction of protesters arrived in Jos, the Plateau capital, with Russian and Japanese flags, forcing local protest organisers to conclude the march early. The latest batch of flags were…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday signed Executive Order Number 2, 2024, to establish the Rivers State Investment Promotion Council. The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogi Iboroma, presented the draft order to Governor Fubara for his assent at the executive council chamber in Government House, Port Harcourt. In his remarks, Governor Fubara said that this action aligns with the recommendations of the committee that organized the State Economic and Investment Summit in May. He emphasised the importance of having a one-stop shop for investors to make inquiries and receive advice on investments. Governor Fubara said the…

President Bola Tinubu is currently hosting a Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa. At the meeting, the service chiefs and Inspector General of Police, among others, will brief the President on the security situation in the country. The meeting which started at 2:00 pm has in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser to the President, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, the Comptroller Generals of Custom and Immigration, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President. Earlier, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was…

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared null and void the sale of Nigerian Air Ltd to Ethiopian Airlines Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa in his judgment stopping the sale ordered that the proposed establishment of a national carrier-Nigeria Air, by the Federal Government, should not be carried out. The judge made the order while granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, and five others in the aviation industry. Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that all the reliefs sought are granted except for the relief asking for N2bn as damages for the injury…

Uba Sani, Kaduna governor, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolis. In a statement on Monday, Samuel Aruwan, commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said the curfew was imposed over reported cases of looting during the protest. The nationwide protest against economic hardship, which commenced on August 1, has continued in many parts of the country. Aruwan said the protest has been hijacked by hoodlums. “The Kaduna state security council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, following a review of the security situation in the state, hereby notifies citizens of the following,” the statement reads.…