Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has officially ruled out the sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-grade rehabilitation and retention of the plant The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, announced this during a town hall on Tuesday at the NNPCL Towers, Abuja. He stated that the position was not a shift, but rather informed by ongoing detailed technical and financial reviews of the Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri refineries. The ongoing review indicates that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt refinery before full completion of its rehabilitation was ill-informed…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Deputy Controller General of the the Federal Fire Service, (FFS) Olumode Samuel Adeyemi as the new substantive Controller-General of the Service. This was announced on Wednesday, July 30, by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Major Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril (rtd) on behalf of President Tinubu. The appointment of the new Controller-General is effective from August 14, 2025. The Board said the appointment followed the “imminent retirement of the outgoing Controller-General, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji Olola, on August 11 2025, upon attaining the age of 60.” “DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi brings a wealth…

The interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, has warned members that the party will not accept any anti-party activities or indiscipline. Mark said only committed ADC members would be carried along in the scheme of things under his leadership. The former Senate President disclosed this while addressing some ADC members in Abuja. According to Mark: “There will be zero tolerance for anti-party and any form of indiscipline; you are either in ADC or not in ADC. “No mid-way in this business and those not with us, we will not carry them along. “Those who are…

Italy said Wednesday it opened a probe into social media giant Meta for potentially breaking EU competition laws by installing its AI tool into WhatsApp. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Several months ago, its Meta AI tool appeared on the screens of the WhatsApp messaging service. “In March 2025, Meta, which holds a dominant position in the market for consumer communications apps, decided to pre-install its artificial intelligence service on the WhatsApp app,” Italy’s antitrust body said in a statement. “In doing so, Meta may be ‘imposing’ the use of its chatbot and AI assistance services on its users.”…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has conducted a public auction of forfeited houses acquired through proceeds of drug trafficking or used as instrumentality of committing the crime. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise, which took place in Abuja, had pre-qualified auctioneers, bidders, representatives of civil society organisations and the media as well as other government agencies in attendance. Speaking at the occasion, the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said that the agency would continue to combine incarceration with asset forfeiture. Marwa, represented by the NDLEA Secretary, Mr Shedrack Haruna, said it would also…

Nurses under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives – Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) have commenced a seven-day warning strike today, despite appeals by the Federal Government. The union said the action, which began at midnight, became necessary following the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued on 14 July, 2025, demanding improved welfare, fair allowances, and better working conditions for nurses across federal health institutions. National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, on Tuesday, stated that the Federal Government failed to engage meaningfully with the association during the window provided. “As far as we are concerned,…

YouTube will be included in Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16, after the government ditched a previous exemption for the platform. The video sharing site was set to be excluded from the ban – which will limit TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat and is due to start in December. Under the ban, teenagers will still be able to view YouTube videos but will not be permitted to have an account, which is required for uploading content or interacting on the platform. YouTube – owned by Google – had argued it shouldn’t be blocked for children as…

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Nigerian workers who were stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been rescued. The Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, announced this in a statement released on Tuesday, July 29. A video of the workers trended last week, in which the workers accused their Chinese boss of seizing their passports and keeping them in the Bambari region of the country which is about 850 kilometres from the country’s capital, Bangui. In the statement released, the Ministry said the workers have been located and recued and will be repatriated to Nigeria as soon as…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has withdrawn the proposed Indigeneship Bill from the National Assembly, citing the need for broader consultations and legislative engagements. In a statement issued Tuesday and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu said the decision followed “constructive feedback received from various stakeholders” as well as a critical analysis by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). “Though the Bill seeks to achieve some commendable objectives, however, this can be achieved through enactment of law. If this Bill is passed, it would pose challenges with time, especially on…

President Bola Tinubu has directed that 200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honorees be offered immediate employment into the federal civil service.  The President also announced on Tuesday, July 29, a cash reward of ₦250, 000 for the 200 honorees in recognition of their outstanding service during the 2020–2023 service years.  Tinubu further directed that 10 physically challenged former corps members, who sustained varying degrees of disability while serving, should be offered federal employment as he assured them that the government will never forget their sacrifice.  The President represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha,…