Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC. Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer…

Tinubu, on Wednesday, summoned Ahmed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following allegations of economic sabotage and corruption. Also caught in the web of resignation was the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, according to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy. Tinubu was said to have nominated successors to the senate for approval. “Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),”…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has staged a protest over rising insecurity in different parts of the country. The NLC was joined in the protest by several civil society organisations on Wednesday. In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the protesters marched from the NLC secretariat, under the watch of security agents from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). They later moved to the Federal Ministry of Finance. In Lagos, NLC members and civil society groups marched from Ikeja, the state capital, to the Government House in Alausa.…

The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for suspending its scheduled project inauguration as it joins other Nigerians in mourning the death of the state deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. Governor Diri gave the commendation during a condolence visit by a delegation from the NDDC, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Government House, Yenagoa. The NDDC delegation included the Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; the Bayelsa State Representative on the NDDC Board, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa, and other Directors of…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau says four persons have been hospitalised after an aircraft crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State. NSIB director of public affairs and family assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, said in a statement that the incident, involving a Cessna 172 operated by Skypower Express, occurred at about 8pm on Tuesday. Oladeji said the aircraft was en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Owerri. NSIB added that the aircraft crashed in the approach area while attempting to land on runway 17. All four occupants…

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night held a meeting with the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as part of last-minute efforts to stop the proposed nationwide protest by the union against the growing insecurity across the country. The meeting, which was held at the State House, Abuja, started at about 11:27pm and had Joe Ajaero, NLC president, Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo and chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Nasir Idris, governor of Kebbi, Monday Okpebholo, governor of Ed0, and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of labour and employment in attendance. Last week, the congress declared a nationwide protest for December 17 over…

President Donald Trump on Tuesday expanded a US travel ban by barring nationals of seven more countries including Syria, as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders, from entering the United States. Trump, who has long campaigned to restrict immigration and has spoken in increasingly strident terms, moved to ban foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans, the White House said. He also wants to prevent foreigners in the United States who would “undermine or destabilize its culture, government, institutions or founding principles,” a White House proclamation said. Trump’s move comes days after two US troops and a civilian were killed in…

The Senate has passed the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper, indicating President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2026 Appropriation bill of N54.4 trillion this week.  Senate President Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage on Tuesday following the consideration and debate on the report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa. Akpabio described the MTEF as a prerequisite for the presentation of the national budget, underpinning that the document does not represent a final position of the legislature. “The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is only a prerequisite before the presentation of the…

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has submitted a petition against Ahmed Farouk, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over “corruption and financial impropriety”. In the petition, dated December 16 and sent to the commission by Ogwu Onoja, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dangote’s lawyer, the entrepreneur called for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution, accusing him of “living beyond his means” as a public official. The petition, received by Musa Aliyu, head of the ICPC, alleges that the NMDPRA boss spent more than…

The senate has received and adopted the report of the committee on foreign affairs on the confirmation of three nominees for appointment as non-career ambassadors. The report was presented on Tuesday during plenary by Sani Bello, senator representing Niger north and chairman of the committee. The nominees are Lateef Kayode Are from Ogun state, Aminu Muhammad-Dalhatu from Jigawa state, and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke from Oyo state. Presenting the committee’s findings, Bello said the nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for diplomatic assignments. “The committee has carefully and thoroughly screened the three nominees and is satisfied with their qualification, exposure, conduct,…