Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the fire incident caused by an articulated vehicle conveying petroleum product at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. No fewer than five persons died in the Saturday disaster which also destroyed more than dozens of vehicles and scourged goods worth estimated billions. Commiserating with the government and people of Rivers State on this tragedy, President Tinubu prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. Tinubu’s condolence message was contained in a statement signed by his media…

Nigerian anti-corruption watchdog Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for allegedly failing to account for over $2 billion and N164 billion in oil revenues. SERAP’s lawsuit stems from findings documented in the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation. The report alleges that the NNPC failed to remit the aforementioned funds into the Federation Account, raising concerns that the money may have been diverted. According to the legal action designated FHC/ABJ/CS/549/2024, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the human rights group is seeking “an order…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to remain upright, and never to govern the state on bended knees no matter how much he is pushed politically. “I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear State on my knees (bending). If that was the purpose, I will not do that. I will stand to govern our dear State and stand continually on the side of right,” the governor emphasised. He said there is a fierce battle to destroy the soul of the state, but expressed optimism that he will win the battle with the support of well-meaning…

The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has visited Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State over the tanker fire incident in the area. About five persons died in the inferno along the East-West road on Friday night with many cars burnt to ashes. Days after the incident, Governor Abdulrazaq of Kwara State visited his Rivers State counterpart on Sunday to commiserate with him over the tanker explosion in the Eleme Local Government Area of the oil-rich state. The Kwara governor says the Rivers State incident and the gas explosion in Ogun State on Saturday, make it imperative…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, appointed Mr. Michael Nzekwe as his Chief of Staff. He has also appointed Zonal Directors for each of the 14 Zonal Commands of the Commission as part of the restructuring of the EFCC. According to Olukayode, the ongoing restructuring is meant to reposition and strengthen the EFCC so that it can deliver optimally on its assigned mandate. The anti-graft agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, announced the new appointments and changes in a statement on Saturday. Nzekwe, who he described as a top-notch investigator, lawyer…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara visited the site of the tanker explosion that killed an unconfirmed number of persons in Eleme Local Government Area. The Governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu,and the Commissioner for Energy, Maximus Nwafor The inferno engulfed over 50 vehicles, with some bodies found burnt beyond recognition in cars, along the road, and in a nearby drainage. Governor Fubara, after inspecting the devastating site, directed security agencies to conduct a thorough assessment of the accidents to facilitate the provision of aid to victims’ families. He said, “Yesterday around 7-8pm, we go information about…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed renowned banker and businessman, Mr. Jim Ovia, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The appointment was disclosed in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday.Ngelale noted that the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds. According to the Special Adviser, Ovia…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says logistics issues were responsible for the resurfacing of fuel queues in some parts of the country. But it says the issues have been resolved, according to a statement by its spokesperson Olufemi Soneye. “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved,” the Thursday evening statement read. “It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum…

Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), says organised labour’s expectation that the federal government will announce a new minimum wage on May 1 is unrealistic. In January, the government set up a 37-member tripartite committee on the minimum wage.  Subsequently, organised labour submitted a demand of N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers, and urged the government to announce the new minimum wage on Workers’ Day.  Speaking with NAN on Friday, Osifo said negotiations with the federal government on a new minimum wage are ongoing. “The negotiation by the tripartite committee is still ongoing. If you remember, the TUC earlier submitted N447,000…

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, says Dana Airline has been flying with an unhealthy status for a while now. Speaking during an interview on Channels television on Thursday, Keyamo said an audit report carried out under his predecessor confirmed the airline’s unhealthy status. He said the internal reports, which were done two years ago, showed that Dana Air was unfit to fly, adding that the consistent incidents experienced by the airline made him call for a suspension. Replying to the criticisms that trailed the suspension, Keyamo said he never wrote to the airline but instructed the Nigeria…