Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled a $100 million Equity Investment Scheme among a raft of fresh initiatives to bolster indigenous capacity and participation in the oil and gas industry. The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe announced this in a keynote address he delivered at the opening day of the 14th Practical Nigerian Content Forum, which ended on Thursday. The capacity audience included three ministers of state, members of the Local Content Committees of the National Assembly, a representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, two…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has been conferred with the BusinessDay Excellence in Public Service Award alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, and seven other Ministers. The award was presented to Ogbuku by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during the 2025 BusinessDay Public Service Lecture and Excellence Awards in Abuja. Speaking during the ceremony, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer expressed joy over the award and remarked that it showed that Nigerians appreciated the work the NDDC was doing in Nigeria’s oil-rich region. Ogbuku stated:…

United States President Donald Trump received the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize before the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. The award has been introduced this year by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, designated for a person who has “taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and “united people across the world”. It was widely expected that Trump, who arrived at the ceremony with Infantino and has made several public appearances with him in recent months, would be the winner. That was confirmed at the ceremony in Washington DC on Friday. As well as receiving a large golden trophy, Trump was…

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out a suit filed by the Attorney General of Osun State, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, in relation to the dispute over the withheld allocations due to local governments in the state. In a split decision of six justices to one, the apex court held that the Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has no legal right to have instituted the case on behalf of the 30 local governments in the state. The court held that those who won the local government election and…

Aliko Dangote says the Dangote Refinery will continue to sell premium motor spirit, otherwise known as fuel, at a “reasonable” price. The Chairman of the Dangote Group spoke to reporters after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday. “Prices are going down. The reason why prices have to go down is that we also have to compete with imports. But you know, luckily for us, now smuggling has reduced, not totally. There is still quite a lot of smuggling, you know, because the price we have in Nigeria is about 55% of the…

President Donald Trump praised the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda for their courage as they signed onto a deal on Thursday aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo and opening the region’s critical mineral reserves to the U.S. government and American companies. The moment offered Trump — who has repeatedly and with a measure of exaggeration boasted of brokering peace in some of the world’s most entrenched conflicts — another chance to tout himself as a dealmaker extraordinaire on the global stage and make the case that he’s deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. The U.S. leader hasn’t been shy about his desire…

Burkina Faso’s military rulers will bring back the death penalty, which was abolished in 2018, the country’s Council of Ministers announced on Thursday. “This draft penal code reinstates the death penalty for a number of offences, including high treason, acts of terrorism, acts of espionage, among others,” stated the information service of the Burkinabe government. Burkina Faso last carried out an execution in 1988. The death penalty was then abolished 30 years later under the civilian government of Roch Marc Christian Kabore. ‘Broader reforms’ Burkina has been led by Captain Ibrahim Traore since a 2022 military coup. Since taking power, Traore has…

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Amaewhule defected along with 16 other members of the House on Friday. The defectors blamed their departure from the PDP on the crisis in the party. Others who dumped the PDP were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1). Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru…

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday in Abuja, assured the global community that Nigeria remains fully committed to promoting peace, harmony, and prosperity across borders by strengthening partnerships to resolve emerging challenges. The President gave the assurance after receiving Letters of Credence from 17 ambassadors and four high commissioners at the Council Chamber in the State House. President Tinubu urged the diplomats to engage meaningfully with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on all areas of shared interest and mutual benefits, noting that he maintains an open-door policy. “On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I warmly welcome you to…

The Federal Government has approved the payment of N185 billion in long-standing debts owed to natural gas producers, in a move aimed at revitalising the gas sector and improving electricity generation across the country. The intervention, authorised by President Bola Tinubu and endorsed on Wednesday by the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, is regarded as one of the most significant financial commitments to Nigeria’s energy sector in recent years. In a statement on Thursday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the settlement of the debts would deliver wide-ranging benefits, beginning…