Author: Vardiafrica

The federal government has met with representatives of Dangote refinery over concerns raised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). According to a statement by Mohammed Manga, director, information and public relations for the ministry of finance, on Sunday, a meeting was held between Dangote refinery, the sub-committee on the crude and refined product sales in naira initiative, Wale Edun, minister of finance, and Zacch Adedeji, the chairman of the committee and the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The meeting also had in attendance Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and…

Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early on Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens, in one of the most sustained attacks on the capital since the full-scale war began. Neighbouring Poland closed its airspace near two southeastern cities and its air force scrambled jets in response until the danger had passed. Ukraine’s military said that Russia launched 595 drones and 48 missiles overnight and its air defences shot down 568 drones and 43 missiles. It noted that the main target of the strike was the capital Kyiv Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the…

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced a nationwide industrial action, directing its members to begin a total withdrawal of services in protest against what it described as the mass dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery In a circular released after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of serious labour violations, including breaching Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international labour standards. According to the NEC, the workers were dismissed…

 In line with its capacity building mandate, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is set to begin a comprehensive digitalization training programme targeting 3,700 youths across the country.   The initiative which is under the banner of the NCDMB Digitalization Initiative (NDI) is designed to equip young Nigerians with the essential skills needed to thrive in the current and emerging waves of industrial revolution. Giving insight into the programme, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe observed that the oil and gas industry and its linkages sectors have adopted advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Industrial Internet of…

The Federal Government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians. Such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive. Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful. It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands…

NLNG in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), on Friday achieved a major milestone in the Nigerian Content development commitment, with the close-out of Train 7 Project Human Capital Development (HCD) Advanced Training Programme, at the plant complex in Finima – Bonny Island. The training ends officially on 30th September 2025 with the departure of the trainees from its plant facility in Bonny Island.  The HCD programme, run under the guidance of the NCDMB, is a Federal Government Initiative to build capacity for the oil and gas industry and fulfil the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act’s requirement on…

Nigeria has achieved a significant diplomatic victory by being re-elected to Part II of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), during the ongoing 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada. Nigeria’s candidate, Engineer Mahmoud Ben-Tukur, emerged victorious after a keenly contested election involving eleven other African nations. The re-election announcement was contained in a Press Statement issued by the Special Adviser On Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood. Engineer, Ben-Tukur, who has been Nigeria’s Representative to ICAO, will continue to occupy Nigeria’s seat on the Council, further strengthening the nation’s role…

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train service will resume operations next week following the completion of repairs and safety checks on the affected track section. The service had been suspended after a train derailed on August 26, 2025. Confirming the development, NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, said the corporation had “worked tirelessly to ensure both the infrastructure and rolling stock are restored to the highest safety standards in line with global best practices.” He noted that 512 of the 583 passengers on board the affected train had been refunded, with efforts ongoing…

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to halt gas supply to Dangote Petroleum Refinery with immediate effect. A letter signed by the General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, on Friday, the union accused the refinery management of disengaging unionised workers and embarking on a “mission of misinformation and propaganda” instead of engaging meaningfully with the union. PENGASSAN instructed all its branch chairmen, particularly the NGIC branch, to ensure that gas supply to the refinery was cut off without delay. The directive also included shutting all crude oil supply valves to the refinery…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has announced the immediate dissolution of the State’s Pensions Board, directing the State Accountant General’s office to temporarily assume its functions until a new board is constituted. The directive was contained in a Government Special Announcement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday by the State Head of Service, Mrs. Inyingi Brown. The statement instructed members of the dissolved board to hand over all properties and assets of the agency to the Director of Administration of the Pensions Board. However, no reason was provided for the dissolution of the board. “The Executive…