Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) have recommitted their partnership towards establishing African centres of excellence in local content development. Both organisations also encouraged African petroleum producing countries to develop specialised capacities in core oil and gas services, and patronise one another in their respective areas of expertise. These discussions took place on Thursday when the Secretary General of APPO, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim visited the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, at the agency’s liaison office in Abuja. The APPO scribe reiterated the…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to halt its planned subscription price increase pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation. In a statement on Thursday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, confirmed the directive, emphasizing that the price freeze is to protect consumers from potential exploitation. The decision follows MultiChoice’s request for an extension regarding its scheduled appearance before the commission over concerns about recurring price hikes. While the FCCPC granted the extension, it has now rescheduled the hearing for March 6, 2025, mandating the company’s CEO…

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Tuesday in Abuja charged oil and gas industry stakeholders in Africa to institute an Africa-wide local content framework that harmonises policies and fosters cross-border partnerships. He said such a framework would allow African nations to leverage collective strengths for mutual prosperity, while emphasising that “local content is not just a policy – it is a strategy for sustainable economic growth.” In his words, it is “the foundation of economic transformation and energy security across Africa.” In a Keynote Address entitled “Unlocking Africa’s Potential…

Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City will be a Premier League force again in the future after Erling Haaland sealed a 1-0 win at Tottenham on Wednesday. Haaland’s clinical finish in the 12th minute bolstered City’s bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they moved into fourth place. Battling to finish in the top four is a significant letdown for City after they won the last four Premier League titles to make it six in seven seasons for Guardiola. Liverpool look almost certain to take the title this season, but City — beaten 2-0 by the Reds on Sunday…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has called for a live broadcast of her Senate probe proceedings, insisting that Nigerians have the right to witness the process transparently. The lawmaker, who was referred to the Senate’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee following her recent confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a seating arrangement, declared her readiness to face the panel but opposed any closed-door handling of the matter. In a statement on her Facebook page on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that she had refrained from speaking publicly on the issue and other Senate developments but had now decided to break her…

A total sum of ₦ 1.703 trillion, being January 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared with the Federal Government, states, and local government Councils. This is according to a statement on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa. Mokwa said that the revenue was shared at the February Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting on Thursday in Abuja. Meanwhile, a communiqué from the FAAC meeting said that the ₦1.703 trillion total revenue comprised statutory revenue of ₦749.727 billion, and Value Added Tax revenue of ₦718.781 billion. It also…

Security aides attached to Mojisola Meranda, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, have been withdrawn, sparking speculation about her possible resignation. A high-ranking official in the Assembly confirmed the development, saying, “Yes, it’s true. But let’s be clear—Meranda did not impose herself. She was elected by 33 out of 40 members, which is a clear majority.” Meranda became the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly after Mudashiru Obasa was impeached on January 13. However, tensions have continued to rise, with Obasa repeatedly challenging the legality of his removal, insisting that due process was not followed. On February…

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has said that the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States has significantly increased the security burden on Nigeria’s military. Speaking at the first-quarter meeting with branch chiefs, air officers commanding, and commanders on Wednesday in Abuja, Abubakar noted that the withdrawal had disrupted regional security frameworks, particularly affecting the Multinational Joint Task Force. “The recent withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States from ECOWAS has disrupted existing security frameworks. This development has direct implications for the MNJTF, which has played…

The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting that she direct the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to reassign his case to another judge with proper jurisdiction. In a letter addressed to the CJN, Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, argued that Justice Binta Nyako, the current judge presiding over the case, had recused herself following Kanu’s allegations of bias. Kanu is facing seven terrorism-related charges brought by the Federal Government. Ejimakor emphasized that…

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Adewale Adeniyi, says the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Bill in the National Assembly threatens the existence of his agency. He made his position known during the public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on Wednesday. The customs boss in his submission raised some jurisdictional conflicting issues on the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Bill. One of the recommendations in President Bola Tinubu’s controversial tax bills is the yet-to-be created Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS). He said, “The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill 2024 Section 1 provides a legal framework…