Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has congratulated Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture, on the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well located in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta. The Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the Joint Venture’s ongoing efforts to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential within its asset portfolio. Drilling operations commenced in late November 2025 and were concluded in mid-December 2025, with all activities executed safely, efficiently, and in strict compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards. Following the completion of comprehensive testing, logging,…

The  US military is increasing materiel deliveries and intelligence sharing with Nigeria, Africom’s deputy commander told AFP, as part of a broader American push to work with African militaries to go after Islamic State-linked militants. The Pentagon has also kept open lines of communication with militaries in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, Lieutenant General John Brennan said.The increased cooperation with Abuja follows Washington’s diplomatic pressure on Nigeria over jihadist violence in the country, but also as the US military is becoming “more aggressive” in pursuing IS-linked targets on the continent.Under the Trump administration, “we’ve gotten…

A massive winter storm made for a brutal travel day Monday, with widespread cancellations and delays at some of the nation’s busiest airports. Widespread snow, sleet and freezing rain threatened nearly 180 million people — more than half the US population — in a path stretching from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, the National Weather Service said Saturday night. After sweeping through the South, the storm moved into the Northeast Monday and was expected to dump about 30 to 60 centimetres of snow from Washington through New York and Boston. More than 10,800 flights were cancelled on Sunday,…

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to fast-track legislation to ban social media for teens under the age of 15, with parliament slated to vote on a draft proposal on Monday. We take a closer look in this edition of Tech 24. “The brains of our children and teenagers are not for sale,” Macron said in a recorded video he provided to French broadcaster BFM. “Our teenagers’ emotions are not to be manipulated – either by American platforms or by Chinese algorithms.” Macron, in the video shared on Saturday, said he had asked the government to “activate the accelerated procedure” so the ban can be enforced…

Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye. The visit aims to strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two countries and explore further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that during President Tinubu’s visit, both countries will engage in strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values in finance, communication, trade, and investment. The agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations, as…

Speaking during a strategic retreat organised by the consultant for the 2nd Niger Delta Games, Dunamis Icon Limited, in Benin City, Edo State, Ebie endorsed the idea of holding sessions to review and project plans for successful games. He stated: “The Board of the NDDC wants to make the games our legacy project, such that there will come a time in the future when we can have athletes from the Niger Delta Games representing Nigeria at international events such as the Olympics.” Addressing members of the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee, the NDDC Chairman commended the leadership…

The Anambra State Government has announced the introduction of pro-rata salary payments for public servants as part of renewed efforts to end the long-running Monday sit-at-home across the state. Under the new policy, which takes effect from February 2026, civil servants will be paid according to attendance, with salaries calculated on a pro-rata basis. The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, disclosed this to journalists in Awka on Saturday, saying the decision was reached during the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC). According to Mefor, the retreat reviewed the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over…

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has set the tone for the 2026 operational goals with a high-level strategic meeting with directors, commanders and heads of formations during which he charged them to sustain the current momentum in the war against illicit substances by going all out to dismantle drug cartels and intensify sensitization efforts across the country. Marwa gave the charge at the annual review and planning meeting that brought together, at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja, the top echelon of the Agency, including: members of the…

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says he misses former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s leadership.Makinde spoke on Saturday at the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, president of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated (MIV) and overseer of the Redemption Faith Churches, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, where Osinbajo was also in attendance. “Sir, I personally miss you in that position (as vice president),” Makinde told Osinbajo. “A lot of people may not know why things are not really the same. It’s not a political talk because I’m not on that podium.”Makinde recalled how Osinbajo’s decision prevented him from locking Oyo state…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power Mr Adebayo Adelabu and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc., (NBET), Abuja “over the failure to account for the missing or diverted N128 billion of public funds from the Ministry of Power and NBET.” The grave allegations are documented in the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025. Corruption contributes significantly to the frequent grid collapses, as Nigerians last week witnessed the first grid collapse of 2026, plunging the country into darkness. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in…