Author: Vardiafrica

Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday, January 20, accused Donald Trump of wanting to “become an emperor of the world”, calling on the US president to respect other countries’ sovereignty. “Post-World War II democracy has been an example of the best governance of the last 70 years”, said Lula in an interview with a local radio station, “but the way (Trump) acts, he is trying to become an emperor of the world”. “He is trying to chime in on all countries and in all public policies,” he added Lula’s comments come after Trump blasted Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr…

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB),Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Monday visited the facilities of Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN), and Africoat Nigeria Limited, a pipe coating plant, located at Takwa Bay,Lagos. The visit is consistent with Ogbe’s determination to assess oil and gas facilities across the country as a prelude for their participation in ongoing and upcoming major oil industry projects. NCDMB played key roles in accelerating approvals for the new projects, which include Ubeta gas development project, currently being developed by Total Energies, and Bonga North deep water project, for which Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) had announced the final investment decision (FID) in December 2024. Similarly, Zabazaba deep-water project is being readied by ENI and Shell, just as preparations…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Dr Saviour Enyiekere’s appointment as Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for a five-year renewable term. Until his appointment, Enyiekere, an environmental specialist, was the deputy chief of staff to the Senate President. President Tinubu also approved the appointment of two commission members from each of the six geopolitical zones. The 12 members are: NORTH WEST: (a) Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (b) Hon. Yusuf A. Yusuf Tabuka NORTH EAST (c) Aminu Ibrahim Malle (d) Alhaji Lawan Maina Mahmud NORTH CENTRAL (e) Mark Hanmation Tersoo (f) Salihu Umar Agboola Balogun SOUTH WEST (g) Hon.…

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has dismissed allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist organisation, stating that there is no evidence to support such claims. Speaking after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday night, Mills stated that no country condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the United States. “If we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners,” Mills assured. His comments come in response to…

The Senate committee on finance says it will begin a two-day public hearing on the tax reform bills on February 24. Chairman of the committee, Sani Musa, who disclosed this, said the committee plans to take on two of the bills on each day of the session for the press to be fully abreast with what the committee intends to do. “It is our duty as legislators to do the needful for the good of this country. We are all representatives of different tribes, religions, geography and we are Nigerians. “What we will work towards giving Nigerians are laws that…

The Federal Government is seeking $81 billon as compensation from cryptocurrency company, Binance Holdings Limited over alleged economic losses linked to its operations in Nigeria. The Federal Government claimed that Binance deliberately operated in secrecy despite having a significant economic presence in Nigeria. The Federal Government is also alleging that the company violated several financial and tax regulations, including the Companies Income Tax Act, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Regulatory Framework for Mobile Money Services, and the Significant Economic Presence (SEP) Order, which applies to foreign companies earning at least N25 million…

Microsoft has announced a $1 million (N1.6 billion) investment in Nigeria over the next two years to strengthen the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Ola Williams, Microsoft’s Managing Director for Nigeria and Ghana, made the announcement at the AI Nigeria Tour in Lagos. Williams, who was joined by the President of Microsoft Africa, Lilian Bernard, said the investment was aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading AI hub in Africa. The initiative includes training one million Nigerians in AI and other emerging technologies while supporting job creation, with more than 70 million new jobs projected globally. The investment aligns with…

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced that large fuel tanker trucks carrying 60,000 litres and above will no longer be allowed to load fuel at depots across the country. The Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, disclosed this to Journalists on Wednesday. He said the decision is part of new measures to enhance road safety, regulate fuel quality, and ensure stable fuel supply across the country. Ukoha said the ban will take effect from March 1, 2025. This is coming on the heels of recent tanker accidents that resulted in…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Oluoyede has charged local government Chairmen across the country to take the issue of accountability seriously as they do not have immunity from investigation and prosecution for fraud. He gave the charge in Gombe, Gombe state on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 while speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit. He pointedly told the local council Chairs to be prudent in the management of huge resources at their disposal stressing that “Local government chairmen do not have immunity and we are not going to wait until you…

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has described the illegal dissolution and taking over of local government administration by state governors as a treasonable offence. Fagbemi stated this on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of an event organised by the Nigeria Bar Association in Abuja. Represented by the Director of Civil Appeals in the ministry, Tijani Gazali, the AGF noted that despite the judgment of the Supreme Court and the provision of the constitution guarding against the interference of state governors in the running of local government councils, some governors and their state assemblies continue dissolving elected…