Author: Vardiafrica

The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has given Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria Limited and two other oil companies a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before it and respond to queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). The committee, chaired by Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, warned that failure to honour the invitation could lead to the invocation of the National Assembly’s legislative powers against the affected companies. The decision followed concerns raised by members of the committee over the failure of the companies to appear before it to respond to…

The Nigeria Police Force has barred the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, vigilante groups and other non-state security outfits from participating in security operations for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election. The police said the groups had no role in securing the election and warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against engaging, arming or deploying them for election-related purposes. The warning was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. The election is scheduled to hold across the 30 Local…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new investment framework aimed at unlocking up to $50 billion in deep offshore investments and reviving major projects stalled for decades. The reform establishes a transparent, rules-based investment framework capable of supporting the next generation of deep offshore developments, beginning with the approximately US$10 billion Bonga South West project, while strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness for globally mobile investment capital. A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga , stated that the decision builds on President Tinubu’s engagement with the Chief Executive Officer of Shell plc,…

The Nigeria Football Federation has apologised to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians after the Super Falcons failed to secure one of the direct qualification tickets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau issued the apology on behalf of the federation’s Executive Committee, the Super Falcons and the wider Nigerian football community, acknowledging the disappointment caused by the team’s failure to qualify directly. The federation said it recognised the expectations of millions of Nigerians who support the nine-time African champions and identified with the team. The NFF also…

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, on Sunday received members of the reconciliation committee of the rainbow coalition at the government house in Port Harcourt. The committee, which is backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was led by Magnus Abe, chairman of the board of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The rainbow coalition is a cross-party political alliance in Rivers state, spearheaded by Wike to unite politicians across party lines in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. The reconciliation committee was established after Wike declared an end to the protracted political feud with Fubara. The…

The Nigeria Immigration Service is deploying a dedicated Passport Intervention Team to the United Kingdom to facilitate the processing and issuance of pending, new and renewal passport applications for Nigerians in the country. In a statement, the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, says the intervention, directed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is scheduled to commence on August 10, 2026, in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in the UK. The statement says the team will visit designated cities across the United Kingdom to conduct passport enrolment and processing. The exercise is open to applicants with pending applications,…

A series of military airstrikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) around the Lake Chad region has severely wounded a prominent commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and neutralised four terrorists, including one of the group’s long-serving fishing tax collectors. Field assessment showed that Ba Ari Hisbah, identified as a prominent head of the ISWAP Police Wing operating in the Lake Chad area, sustained severe injuries to both legs following an airstrike conducted by the Air Component near Arege on Wednesday, August 5. According to sources cited by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the…

Aliko Dangote met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at his office in Canada to discuss investment partnerships between Canada and Africa, in a meeting the Dangote Group described as focused on opportunities inside Canada. The stated agenda was the direction less commonly reported. According to the group, the discussions covered expanding investment opportunities in Canada and how the Dangote Group, alongside other African investors, might contribute to Canadian economic growth. The two also discussed Canada’s Africa Strategy and two-way trade flows. No investment figure, sector, agreement or timeline was disclosed. “Strategic partnerships between Africa and Canada have immense potential to…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 19 presidential candidates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 election to publicly declare their assets and liabilities ahead of the poll. SERAP also called on the candidates to disclose the assets and liabilities of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children under the age of 18, as well as the legitimate sources of their significant assets. The organisation urged all presidential candidates to publicly and unequivocally reject vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the elections, and to instruct their parties, campaign organisations, agents…

The NDDC Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has urged public and private organisations to invest in the Niger Delta Region as it is now conducive and safe. Speaking during the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, Delta State, Ogbuku described the oil-rich region as richly endowed and a haven for investors. The NDDC boss acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that the Renewed Hope Agenda has transformed the Niger Delta region into a peaceful and viable environment for investment. He commended the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon.…