Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) recently marked the International Women’s Day 2025 and it witnessed a huge turnout of female staff and they held interactive sessions with top-flight professionals, learned all they need to overcome gender bias, break barriers, and achieve success in the oil and gas industry. In attendance as resource persons and guest speakers were Ms. Charlotte Essiet, an oil and gas industry professional and drone technology expert, Mrs. Chinwe Jack, a consultant with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company Limited, and Dr. Mrs Bassey Porbeni-Fumudoh, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Federal Medical…

Former governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney is now prime minister of Canada and has formed a leaner cabinet of 24 members, down from 37. Carney was elected leader of the Liberal Party last Sunday in Ottawa and has since tried to distance himself from his predecessor Justin Trudeau who held office for over nine years. The new prime minister will name familiar faces to his first cabinet that will only last a couple of days with an election looming. “We are a very focused government, focused on action and we will work immediately,” Carney said at Rideau…

Nigeria has made a significant stride towards sustainable energy with the official launch of the NEV T6 Electric Bus and its supporting charging infrastructure, marking a key milestone in the country’s shift to clean, technology-driven transportation. The event, held in Abuja, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to witness this breakthrough in green mobility and energy efficiency. Speaking at the launch, Chief Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, described the initiative as transformative for the nation’s transport sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He highlighted that the electric bus and infrastructure directly…

United Kingdom’s Home Office has asked some Nigerian nurses being probed for alleged examination fraud to leave the country. According to Nursing Times, the nurses, who are still awaiting the outcomes of their appeals, have had their visas revoked by the UK. The Home Office has reportedly sent them letters directing them to leave the country from next week. The deportation order follows an investigation by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) into suspected malpractice at Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Oyo state. The investigation was launched after the NMC was alerted of “anomalous data”. The probe, which began…

For nearly two weeks, Niger Republic has been crippled by a severe fuel crisis, bringing vehicular movement and economic activity to a grinding halt. Long queues stretched across cities, with desperate motorists and businesses struggling to obtain a few liters of petrol. The situation was so dire that the military junta, which once prided itself on rejecting external influence, had no choice but to swallow its pride and turn to Nigeria for help. Despite months of hostile rhetoric and diplomatic friction, Niger’s rulers quietly dispatched their Minister of Petroleum and Renewable Energy, along with top officials from the Niger Petroleum…

The political tension in Rivers State continues to rise, with the latest being an indefinite adjournment of sitting at the Rivers State House of Assembly. Fubara had on Thursday written a fresh letter to the House, informing the lawmakers of his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill for consideration and approval. The letter addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Governor Fubara, recalled his earlier attempt to present the budget on March 12, which was unsuccessful due to being denied entry into the assembly premises. He stated that despite prior delivery of a soft copy…

In a move aligned with the Nigerian government’s strategic goal to enhance local defence industrialisation and bolster the operational autonomy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, recently inspected locally manufactured combat vehicles at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. During the inspection, Dr. Matawalle expressed his satisfaction with the design, build quality, and tactical applicability of the showcased vehicles. A statement from the Personal Assistant for Media in the Office of the Minister of State for Defence, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, highlighted the minister’s praise for Proforce Nigeria, noting the company’s cutting-edge…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has temporarily halted the enforcement of its ruling that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law. The court’s decision comes as the matter awaits resolution by the Supreme Court. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal set aside a June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano, which had nullified actions taken by the Kano State Government regarding the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. This included the controversial appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano. The Court…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has again written to the Rivers State House of Assembly, proposing March 19 at 11:00 a.m. or at any other time deemed convenient by the House for the presentation of the 2025 state budget. In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Governor Fubara recalled his earlier attempt to present the budget on March 12, which was unsuccessful due to being denied entry into the Assembly premises. Fubara stated that his attempt was in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment, which he noted had also mandated the Assembly to…

A fresh round of crisis has kicked off in Rivers State less than 24 hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara was denied entry into the State Assembly quarters. The State Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, has invited the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to investigate the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, over alleged age falsification. This was the subject matter at Thursday’s plenary following the presentation of some key documents to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, by the leader of the House, Mr. Major Jack. After an overwhelming voice vote, the House agreed to invite the DSS…