Author: Vardiafrica

Poised for a 70 per cent mark in Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry by 2027, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Monday teamed up with Nigeria’s leading global brand in gas liquefaction, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, to broaden the scope for participation of community vendors in the industry value chain. At a workshop themed “NLNG Community Vendors Capacity Development Programme,” attended by no fewer than 90 contractors drawn from oil- and gas-producing communities, the full gamut of industry operations in the upstream, midstream and downstream as well as opportunities was spotlighted by…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, says the Commission will establish a sports institute to coinsolidate the gains of the Niger Delta Sports Festival and enhance sports development in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku announced this during the closing ceremony of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival organised by the NDDC at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State. He noted that the sports fiesta brought together thousands of young athletes from across the nine Niger Delta states to compete in a wide range of sporting activities, aimed at fostering regional unity and discovering the next generation of…

The Rivers State Government has announced the appointment of Administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state The decision, approved by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, also includes the reconstitution of some Boards of Agencies, Commissions, and Parastatals that had earlier been suspended. According to the statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, the appointments are to take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025. Mr Okroiyobi Animiete Abua/OdualMr Goodluck M. Ihenacho Ahoada EastMr Promise Jacob Ahoada WestDr Tamunotonye Peters. Akuku ToruSurveyor Atajit Francis AndoniBarrister Ibiapuve Charles Asari ToruMr…

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians, urging them to desist from paying ransom to terrorists, kidnappers, and criminal gangs. He said the Nigerian government is intensifying efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the country. Ribadu made the remarks on Tuesday in Kaduna State while receiving a fresh batch of over 60 kidnap victims, including a deputy director in the civil service and a relative of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. The victims, who had been held in captivity for over a month, were reportedly rescued following a series of coordinated military operations…

The Nigerian Communications Commission has proposed 12-month grace period for subscribers to reclaim unused airtime on deactivated lines. The proposal was disclosed during a virtual stakeholder engagement forum held in Abuja on Tuesday. The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the initiative is part of efforts to balance consumer rights with operational realities in the telecommunications sector. Maida said the telecommunications industry has played a significant role in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation in Nigeria. According to him, the prevalence of…

Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, is proud to announce the implementation of a new boarding arrangement aimed at delivering an even more seamless, convenient, and professional travel experience for all passengers. Under the new structure, boarding will now be prioritized in the following order: military personnel, passengers with wheelchairs or special needs, and business class passengers. This initiative reflects Air Peace’s ongoing commitment to elevating service standards and fostering a new culture of care, respect, professionalism and efficiency. “At Air Peace, we understand that time and comfort matter deeply to our passengers,” said Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO, Air Peace Limited.…

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday in Kaduna State performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Phase I of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ). The SAPZ is part of a larger national programme, with Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) among states in the first phase of the project. Aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agriculture through innovation, private-sector investment, and strategic public partnerships, the zones are designed to create agro-industrial hubs that integrate farmers with processors, reduce post-harvest losses, and expand rural economic opportunities. Addressing dignitaries and stakeholders at the vast…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, hosted suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to a luxurious dinner in the United Kingdom on Monday. It was gathered that Wike jetted out of Nigeria on Sunday night shortly after meeting with his loyalists and foot soldiers in Port-Harcourt. His Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, confirmed the gathering in a post on X.com (formerly Twitter), boasting about the event. “Yesterday, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, hosted Rivers State House of Assembly members who are in the United Kingdom for Legislative Capacity Building, to…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians, especially women to speak up and seek appropriate help whenever they have medical challenges. She spoke while receiving a delegation of the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako. A statement signed by SSA Media to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, Monday, uoted as saying that since no one chooses an ailment for themselves, there is no need to be ashamed to seek for help. “I am in support of what you are doing. We…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday gave some insight into the status of the Board’s 10-Year Strategic Road Map, noting that in-country capacity for fabrication is now in excess of national demand and that Nigerian companies now provide such services in the oil and gas sectors of the Middle East and elsewhere in Africa. Speaking at the kick-off of a 12-month Nigerian Content Non-Compliance (NC-NC) Remediation Training Programme in Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, explained that NCDMB is focused on fulfilling the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and that building the capacity of Nigerian companies to participate in the oil and gas industry has…