Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said that its 10-year strategic roadmap was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base by retaining 70 per cent of oil and gas industry spending within the country by 2027, while creating employment opportunities for about 300,000 Nigerians across the oil and gas value chain and its linkage sectors. This position was made known during a high-level panel session at the maiden West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade Summit and Exhibition, held in Lagos under the theme “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity”. The session focused on maximising human…

The United States asked Ukraine for help to fend off Iranian drone attacks in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, adding that he had ordered expert support to be given. During Russia’s four-year offensive, Kiev has developed a range of cheap and effective drone interceptors, aerial craft designed to hit incoming attack drones mid-air, that it says are world-leading. Zelenskyy on Tuesday offered US allies in the Middle East a swap of some of their air defence missiles in exchange for those interceptors, which he said would better protect them from Iranian drone attacks. “We received…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday rallied wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa to take bold, independent action in tackling social and economic hardships, likening the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to a child maturing to walk unaided. Speaking at the inaugural quarterly meeting of state first ladies for 2026, she dismissed excuses amid challenges like banditry and kidnapping, urging them to prioritise youth empowerment, women’s skills and grassroots interventions tailored to their regions. Drawing from her tenure as Lagos First Lady, Mrs Tinubu shared how initiatives like Spelling Bee competitions kept children in public schools…

Amid the Middle East turmoil sparked by U.S. airstrikes on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump met with ‘the god of football,’ Lionel Messi. On the 5th, local time, foreign media including The New York Times reported, “President Trump hosted a championship celebration in the East Room of the White House, inviting players from Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions of the last season.” The event was attended by Inter Miami players including Messi and club owner Jorge Mas, but co-owner David Beckham was absent. The New York Times and others reported, “At the event, President Trump delivered a…

(Reuters) – More tankers came under attack in Gulf waters on Thursday as the U.S.–Iran war escalated, and Iranian drones entered Azerbaijan, threatening to spread the crisis to more oil producers in the region. A Bahamas-flagged crude oil tanker was targeted by an Iranian remote-controlled boat laden with explosives while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, according to initial assessments. A second tanker at anchor off Kuwait was taking on water and spilling oil after a large explosion on its port side. Nine vessels have come under attack since the conflict broke out between the U.S., Israel and Iran on Saturday. Iran launched a wave of missiles at Israel early…

UK’s Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood has announced a new pilot scheme that will offer some migrant families up to £40,000 to voluntarily leave United Kingdom, as part of a broader overhaul of the country’s migration system. Under the proposal, up to 150 migrants will be eligible to receive £10,000 per person, including children, with a maximum payment of £40,000 per family if they agree to leave Britain within seven days. Mahmood said the increased incentive would be offered to failed asylum seekers and argued the policy could reduce the cost of supporting migrants who remain in the country. “Failed asylum…

The Federal Government has made compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) compulsory for participation in or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), tightening efforts to end certificate fra¥d. Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, announced the directive at a national programme on academic records integrity, describing NERD as a digital platform created to standardise and authenticate credentials across tertiary institutions. “It is important to clarify that while NERD compliance is now a prerequisite for participation in, or exemption from, the National Youth Service Corps, enforcement extends far beyond NYSC,” he said. He added that agencies…

President Bola Tinubu announced today the successful conclusion of a historic settlement agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria, ENI, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL). The announcement was made at the meeting in his office attended by the Chief Executive Officer of Eni, Claudio Descalzi; the Chief Operating Officer, Guido Brusco; the Head of Sub-Saharan Region, Mario Bello; the Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Exploration, Fabrizio Bolondi; and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Arowolo-Verheijen. The agreement brought to a close the long-standing dispute over Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, paving the way for the development…

Senate Committee on Public Accounts has summoned former Mele Kyari to explain an alleged ₦210 trillion flagged as not properly accounted for in audit reports of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) between 2017 and 2023. Kyari was invited alongside former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia Isa and former Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti. Chairman of the committee, Aliyu Wadada, issued the summons on Thursday after lawmakers reviewed financial audit reports concerning the national oil company. He warned that the panel may issue warrants of arrest against the former officials if they fail to…

Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa west, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria  Democratic Congress (NDC). The former Bayelsa governor announced his decision to join the NDC during a press conference on Thursday in Abuja. The NDC was registered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February. Dickson criticised opposition politicians defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he would not have left the PDP if not for the party’s protracted internal divisions. “Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state,” he said Dickson said Nigeria is a…