Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria’s mining industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by targeted local content policies from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). These policies, showcased at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, are now being hailed as a blueprint for industrial growth across Africa. At the heart of the reforms is the Board’s strategic intervention in the barite value chain — a mineral critical to oil and gas drilling. Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, outlined how the agency has spent more than a decade building domestic capacity, from certifying reserves in six states to…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced plans to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, which on Wednesday acquitted and discharged former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of alleged ₦6.9 billion fraud. In a statement posted via its official X handle, the Commission said it is reviewing the ruling delivered by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke and is already briefing its legal team in preparation for an appeal. “Sequel to the judgement of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, acquitting and discharging a…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced the pump price of petrol at its retail stations, with prices dropping to ₦895 per litre in Abuja and ₦865 per litre in Lagos, signalling intensified competition in the deregulated downstream market This reduction follows a similar move by Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which lowered its ex-depot price of petrol from ₦840 to ₦820 per litre on July 8. The latest adjustment marks the second drop in two weeks by the privately owned refinery, which had initially brought its price down from ₦880 to ₦840 per litre. Retail stations operated by NNPC…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, a past presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday visited the home of former President Buhari in Daura to express their condolences to the family. Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari passed on in the most expensive private hospital in London, the United Kingdom. The Katsina-born politician served as a military Head of State and as a democratically elected Nigerian President from 2015 to 2023. During the time he was president, Buhari spent at least 225 days away from Nigeria on medical trips, and it remains unclear what ailment he was being…

In a major legal victory for former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday discharged and acquitted him of all charges in a protracted trial involving alleged theft and money laundering totalling N6.9 billion. Delivering a decisive ruling, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, stating that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant calling on the former governor to enter a defence. “The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses lacked probative value and were riddled with inconsistencies. The court cannot rely on such evidence to establish a…

Meta says it has made substantial headway in its fight against content theft and spam on Facebook, cracking down on unoriginal content while increasing visibility for genuine creators. This latest development, which began earlier this year, is part of what Meta calls a “long-term initiative” to improve user experience and give rightful visibility to genuine creators. In the first half of 2025 alone, the company penalised approximately 500,000 accounts linked to spam behaviour or fake engagement. Offenders faced reduced distribution of their content, demotion of their comments, and were barred from monetisation programmes. Meta also deactivated about 10 million fake profiles that were impersonating…

Russia’s military launched a fresh wave of air attacks on Ukraine between late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said, defying U.S. President Trump’s calls for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire deal. The attacks killed one woman and wounded more than two dozen people across multiple regions. A missile strike cut power and water supplies in Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, authorities said. The bombardment followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new sanctions unless Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a peace settlement within the next 50 days. Ukrainian and Russian officials last met for…

Manchester City have signed a blockbuster new kit deal with Puma worth a reported £1 billion ($1.34 billion) over the next 10 years. City’s extension of their contract with Puma ranks as the largest kit manufacturing partnership in Premier League history. Having agreed a £65 million per year deal with the German company in 2019, City’s new arrangement is believed to be worth a £100 million per year until 2035, according to British media reports. That figure shatters the £90 million per year deal signed by Manchester United with Adidas in 2023. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both…

The remains of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, have been buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.  The janaza (Islamic funeral prayer) was conducted at approximately 4:50 pm on Tuesday before his body was lowered into the grave in accordance with Islamic rites. Buhari’s body had earlier arrived in Katsina from London aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other top government officials. His corpse was received amid tight security, with armoured vehicles, DSS operatives, and heavily armed soldiers stationed along key roads leading to…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it has signed a $3.5 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Akwa Ibom state government and the Gas Aggregator Company of Nigeria (GACN). In a statement on Tuesday, the national oil company announced that the signing ceremony was held during the opening session of the South-South Gas Utilisation Forum 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. The firm said the agreement underscores the south-south geopolitical zone’s commitment to driving gas industrialisation for shared prosperity. According to the statement, the forum was attended by Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (gas),…