Author: Vardiafrica

The US presidential jet is getting a new paint design that will include one of President Donald Trump’s preferred colour choices for the White House and his hotels, gold. Air Force One and other planes used by high level US officials, including First Lady Melania Trump, are being repainted gold, deep red and navy blue as they undergo scheduled repairs and maintenance, according to the US Air Force. The colours will also feature on a new luxury 747-8i Boeing plane donated to the presidential fleet by Qatar, an Air Force spokesperson told CBS. The white, blue and robin’s egg blue…

President Bola Tinubu has issued an executive order to safeguard and enhance oil and gas revenues for the Federation, curb wasteful spending, eliminate duplicative structures in this critical sector of the national economy, and redirect resources for the benefit of the Nigerian people. The President signed the EO in pursuance of Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The Executive Order is anchored on Section 44(3) of the Constitution, which vests ownership, control, and derivative rights in all minerals, mineral oils, and natural gas in, under, and upon any land in Nigeria, including its…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act, 2026  into law, declaring that the reforms are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral processes and deepening public confidence in elections. The signing, which took place at the State House, came less than 24 hours after the National Assembly passed the final versions of the bill through third reading, paving the way for its immediate transmission to the President by the Clerk of the National Assembly. In a statement released by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on X, President Tinubu said periodic review of electoral laws after every election cycle was a…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday reminded operators, contractors, and service companies in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry of their mandatory obligation to remit one percent (1%) Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy into the bank accounts officially designated by the Board. In a statement at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe explained that the NCDF is established under Section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010 as a dedicated fund for the development of…

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to use the 2026 Lenten and Ramadan fasts to promote unity and stability, and also pray for the security of Nigeria. Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed. With profound reverence to God Almighty, I greet the Christian and Muslim faithful on the solemn occasions of Lent and Ramadan. This year, Lent and Ramadan begin on the same day. This is not a common occurrence, and it reminds us that as a people of faith, we share a lot in common and are one people under God. For Christians, the Lenten season is…

 The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has reinforced Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s local content development, calling for deeper competitiveness, stronger supply chains and structured continental collaboration as key drivers of sustainable industrialization across the energy sector. The call was made at the African Content Forum during the 10th edition of the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2026, where the Board featured prominently across keynote sessions, policy panels and technical engagements focused on translating local content legislation into measurable economic impact. Delivering the keynote on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Acting Director, Project Certification and Authorization Dorectorate, and Special Technical…

Gabon’s media regulator has announced the suspension of social media platforms “until further notice”, saying online content has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions in the country. In a televised statement on Tuesday evening, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) cited the “spread of false information”, “cyberbullying” and the “unauthorised disclosure of personal data” as reasons for the decision. Its spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome did not specify which platforms would be affected, but WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok are popular in the country. Gabon is currently transitioning from a military coup led in 2023 by General Brice Oligui Nguema, who won last year’s…

The Senate has officially amended Clause 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, providing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the necessary legal flexibility to adjust the 2027 general election timetable. The legislative adjustment follows widespread concerns that the previously announced election dates would clash with the Ramadan fasting period, a conflict highlighted by various stakeholders and civic leaders. The amendment reduces the mandatory notice period for elections, allowing INEC to shift the polling dates forward to avoid religious and logistical overlaps: Previous Requirement: INEC was mandated to publish a notice of election no…

Former Kaduna State Governor and chieftain of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, has been detained by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, contrary to insinuations by some of his associates that he has been released. El-Rufai “has a lot to answer for” and would most likely remain and spend some time with interrogators. According to sources close to the interrogation, the scale of interrogation may require a court ordered remand of the former governor to give the agency more time to build a water-tight case against him. El-Rufai turned himself in for interrogation yesterday following a…

The United States mission in Nigeria has warned Nigerians against engaging in visa fraud, saying such actions would attract stricter scrutiny for all applicants. In an X post shared on Monday, the US said it remains committed to protecting the integrity of its visa system through rigorous screening processes. “Those who seek to commit fraud bring increased scrutiny on all visa applicants. We protect the U.S. visa system with rigorous screening, and our officers take fraud very seriously,” the post reads. “Nigerians continue to engage legally with the United States as temporary workers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors.“ The mission urged members…