Author: Vardiafrica

The embattled Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, has tendered his resignation as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum. He resigned after being suspended by the Upper House for three months over budget padding claims. Although the resignation letter was dated March 11, a copy was made public shortly after his suspension The letter sent to the forum, read, “I will like to resign my position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators forum. “This is of course necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North and the nation at large. “I will like to especially thank…

Popular Wuse Market in Abuja’s Central Area, located within the Federal Capital Territory, caught fire on Tuesday evening, triggering alarm and prompting people in the area to hastily evacuate. The source of the fire outbreak remained unknown at the time this report was made.    Meanwhile, all business activities in the market area have been suspended for the day. Chaos and confusion prevail, with traffic jams occurring on all roads leading to the market, and people running in various directions. The police, upon arriving at the market, cordoned off the entrance to stop individuals from entering the market premises. They engaged in sporadic…

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Monday applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for announcing three Presidential Executive Orders directed at incentivizing the Nigerian oil and gas industry, encouraging new investments in the sector, reducing contracting costs and timelines, and promoting cost efficiency in local content requirements. The Executive Orders are the Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, ETC) Order 2024; Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024 (EO 41); and Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines, 2024 (EO 42). Speaking…

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Jibrin Barau, the deputy president of the senate, and some other lawmakers. The meeting, which came hours after Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, was suspended from the senate, is taking place at the State House in Abuja. The upper legislative chamber suspended the Bauchi senator after he alleged that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. At the weekend, Ningi stirred a controversy when he made the allegation and said a “huge damage” has been done to the north and the entire country through the budget The national…

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, has officially declared his intention to contest the November 16 governorship election of the state. Speaking on Tuesday at the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade in Akure, Ondo capital, Aiyedatiwa said it was the wish of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, the former governor, that he succeeds him. He added that the late governor expressed his wish at different times, both in public and in private. “Just about this time three years ago, our late leader and former governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, and my humble self as deputy governor, mounted the soap box to seek your support…

The inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday, arrived at the government house in Kaduna State for a meeting with the State Governor, Uba Sani, in connection with the recent abduction of 287 primary and secondary school students at Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The IGP, on arrival, was received by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Sani Kila and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman. While speaking, the IGP said the Police High Command will adopt all available strategies, including kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, to rescue the victims.…

Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the senate, says some senators are planning to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio before July 2024. Bamidele spoke on Tuesday during the debate on the claim made by Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. At the weekend, Ningi stirred controversy when he made the allegation and said a “huge damage” has been done to the north and the entire country through the budget. During the plenary on Tuesday, Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west, moved a motion on privilege over the matter. Adeola argued that his privilege was…

Amid the controversy trailing the interview by Senator Abdul Ningi, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday said the integrity of the Senate has been totally damaged. Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, claimed in a recent interview with BBC Hausa that the National Assembly passed a budget of N25 trillion for 2024, which is in contrast to the N28.7 trillion being implemented by the federal government. Speaking during an open session he president on the floor of the Senate, Akpabio said the upper chamber has been subjected to ridicule as Nigerians are bashing the parliament Akpabio faulted Ningi’s earlier interview…

The senate has suspended Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. The matter was debated in line with the standing order of the senate during plenary on Tuesday which lasted more than three hours. The upper legislative chamber suspended the lawmaker after a motion on privilege moved by Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west. At the weekend, Ningi stirred a discourse when he made the allegation and said a “huge damage” has been done to the north and the entire country through the budget. The national assembly had passed a budget of…

The Senate was in a rowdy session on Tuesday as the lawmakers demanded answers from their colleague Abdul Ningi over his claims about the 2024 budget. Senator Ningi had accused the National Assembly of padding the 2024 budget, claiming the country was running two appropriation acts with one passed by the lawmakers. Senator Ningi had told the BBC Hausa service that the president was reportedly running two budgets with N3.7tn yet to be accounted for. Irked by the comment, the Senate during plenary on Tuesday, demanded answers from Senator Ningi over his remarks. Before the plenary, an angry Senator Olamileken…