Author: Vardiafrica

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the Nigeria Air project remains suspended “indefinitely”. Keyamo stated this while reeling out the achievements of the aviation sector at the 3rd ministerial updates on Monday in Abuja. He also hinted at plans for the resumption of cargo flights between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Back in January, the minister said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had commenced investigation into the controversial Nigeria Air deal sealed by the Federal Government during the tenure of ex-Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika. He had said “there is a criminal investigation going on. I have called…

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday, affirmed Usman Ododo as the Governor of Kogi State. In upholding the election of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tribunal dismissed the petition of Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The three-member tribunal led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu held that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka failed to prove their allegations against the respondents. Birnin-Kudu said the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act . The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Ododo, the candidate of…

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the re-election of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State. The three-man panel led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye dismissed the petition brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Timipre Sylva. In its unanimous decision, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to adduce any credible evidence to substantiate any of the allegations they raised against the outcome of the Bayelsa state governorship poll. It struck out as incompetent, all the additional proof of evidence as well as statements on oath of some of the witnesses that testified for the…

Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, has retracted his statement accusing the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of interfering in the Kano emirate tussle. At a press conference late Sunday, the deputy governor apologised to the NSA, saying he was misguided to have made his initial statement. “The Office of the National Security Adviser has refuted the allegations and distanced themselves from what we have alleged. I have seen it, he has done it through three media, and today, I have seen the one about going to court,” Gwarzo said. “We have to acknowledge that we have been misled…

The Nigerian Army says it is not involved in the emirate tussle in Kano. The army also said soldiers are not in Kano to enforce any court order. Muhammadu Sanusi was reinstated as Emir on Friday by Abba Yusuf, Kano governor, at a colourful ceremony in government house. The Kano house of assembly had repealed the law which Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of the state, used to depose and exile Sanusi in 2020 The repeal paved the way for the reinstatement of Sanusi and the dethronement of Aminu Bayero. On May 23, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the…

President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal road. The event took place in the Victoria Area of Lagos State on Sunday and was attended by top government dignitaries including the Minister of Works Dave Umahi, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio among others. Others include Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; his Ogun counterpart Dapo Abiodun, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and the Kwara State governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. During the event, President Tinubu expressed optimism that the road will be completed, describing the flag-off as his “bragging day”. “It’s my bragging day,” he said. “We…

The Management of Bristow Helicopters recently visited the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and proposed to partner closely with the Board on initiatives such as the establishment of a centre of excellence in the aviation sector, commencement of a search and rescue service and the introduction of light-wing aircrafts into the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria, Mr. Oladapo Oyeleke led the company’s team that met with the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe at the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.He said the visit was an opportunity to…

The Federal Government has instituted a legal action against the governors of the 36 states of the federation at the Supreme Court over alleged misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas. The suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, is seeking full autonomy for all local government areas in the country. In suit, the Federal Government specifically prayed the court to issue an order, prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders. The governors of the 36 states were sued through…

Supporters of Aminu Bayero, the dethroned Emir of Kano, have taken to the streets of the five emirates in protest. The emirates are Bichi, Rano, Karaye, Kano and Gaya. Bayero was deposed on Thursday after Abba Yusuf, the Kano governor, signed a new law that repealed the Emirate Council Law 2019. The 2019 legislation balkanised the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and provided grounds for the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi in 2020 Sanusi was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano on Thursday at a colourful event in government house. He has since moved into the palace. Bayero returned to Kano in the early…

The military junta in Burkina Faso says it will extend its rule by another five years. BBC reports the state-owned broadcaster as stating that Ibrahim Traoré, a captain and the country’s military ruler, will be eligible to contest the next presidential election. Burkina Faso is one of the three countries in West Africa being ruled by juntas. Traoré seized power on September 30, 2022. The coup leaders had said their putsch would help fix the country’s political instability. However, there has been an attempt to wrest power from the junta at least twice. The decision to return to democratic rule after…