Author: Vardiafrica

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers narrowly escaped tragedy when a Max Air flight experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Maiduguri International Airport. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Wednesday when the aircraft, en route to Abuja, reportedly struck a bird mid-flight, causing one of its engines to catch fire. Amid the ensuing chaos, the pilot and crew successfully executed an emergency landing back at Maiduguri Airport. A Max Air staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident on Thursday morning. “Soon after takeoff, the Max Aircraft…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to executing impactful projects and fast-tracking development for the benefit of all the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku gave the assurance when he hosted a delegation led by the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Eze (Dr) Godspower Onuekwa, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated that the Commission was open to all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, noting that its mandate was to serve the people…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has called on the mass media to join the Commission in publishing and broadcasting its achievements to the world. Ogbuku made the call when he received a delegation from the SUN Publishing Company, led by the SUN newspaper’s Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Onouha Ukeh, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer thanked SUN Publishing Limited for nominating him for the SUN Public Service Award 2024, noting that the award has come of age. He said that many distinguished Nigerians have been…

Some members of the Nigerian Armed Forces retirees under the umbrella of the Coalition of Military Pensioners in Abuja shut down the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday morning over the non-payment of their 20% to 28% salary increment from January to November 2024. The retired military officers who came from different chapters lamented the failure of the Federal Government to pay them their entitlements. Their demands are payment of palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, payment of N32,000 added to pension, payment of Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) in bulk and refund of deductions made from the pensions of…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has insisted that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing. The Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, gave the confirmation at the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos on Wednesday. In a goodwill message at the event, Kyari extended invitation to human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, and all those in doubt, to join the NNPC Ltd on a tour of the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to verify their status. He also shed light on the controversy around products blending,…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that its Early Exit Package for staff of the apex bank is entirely voluntary and that participation is not mandatory. The CBN In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, assured staff and the public that no employee would be forced into early retirement under the scheme. She stressed that the programme provides an opportunity for eligible staff members who wish to exit the bank voluntarily, which is in alignment with CBN’s ongoing strategy to promote career development. The statement read, “The Central Bank of Nigeria…

The Senate on Wednesday set up a committee to to review the controversial Tax Reform Bills that are before the National Assembly. The Committee which is headed by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) will meet with the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to address grey areas in the bills and revert to Senate before public hearing. The Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin disclosed this during plenary on Wednesday. Barau, who presided over the session, said that the executive arm of the government agreed with the Senate that there is need to resolve all the issues…

Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was declared winner Tuesday of last week’s disputed elections, ushering in the southern African country’s first woman president after a disputed vote that the main opposition has already said it does not recognise. Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took just over 57 percent of ballots followed by the candidate for the main opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) with 25.5 percent, the election authority announced. Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, becomes the first woman to rule the mineral-rich southern African country that has been governed by the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) since independence in 1990. The November 27 election…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly to address complaints about the tax bills. Tinubu’s transfer of the Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly has been met with criticism. The action has set the president against some governors, with the northern region issuing the most strident protest. Some critics believe the legislation is biased against the north, while others contend that it would further impoverish Nigerians. To address these issues, President Tinubu has directed the Justice Ministry to investigate the complaints and collaborate with the National Assembly leadership to smooth out the rough edges of the bills.…

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for appointment as Chief of Army Staff. The confirmation today followed the consideration of reports by the Chairman of the sense committee on Army, Sen. Yar’ adua, Abdulaziz Musa (Katsina Central). The committee’s recommendations were unanimously adopted by the upper chamber. Lieutenant General Oluyede was appointed to act as the Chief of Army Staff following the illness and subsequent death of Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja