Author: Vardiafrica

Aliko Dangote has said that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has enough Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, in storage to meet Nigeria’s demand. Speaking over the weekend after a tour of the refinery by Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, Dangote revealed that the facility has over half a billion litres of refined petroleum products and more than N600 billion worth of fuel in its tanks. Dangote said, “As we speak right now we have more than half a billion litres. The refinery is producing enough refined products, like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, to meet 100 per cent of…

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have dismantled 18 illegal refining sites, arrested 17 suspected oil thieves, demobilized 10 boats, and recovered over 25,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the Niger Delta Region. It further noted that at Ogale Junction along the Eket–Port Harcourt expressway, troops impounded a truck loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude. The statement added that at Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering dump containing over 2,100 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) stored in sacks. It explained that the suspected oil…

The Nigerian military has once again assured Nigerians that notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji, is being tracked and will be eliminated very soon. The Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Monday. Major General Onumajuru said that the military is aware of Turji’s current location but said he will not discuss that further. “First, I need to let you know that there is absolutely no forth and back between Bello Turji and the armed forces. “As I speak Bello Turji is hiding, completely in hiding and…

Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday — the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion — that he was ready to quit as Ukraine’s president if it meant Kyiv would be admitted to the NATO military alliance. He spoke as Russia’s TASS news agency reported that U.S. and Russian diplomats would meet in the next week, a follow-up to Riyadh talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Zelensky has faced fierce criticism from the new U.S. administration and said he wants to meet Donald Trump before the U.S. president meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir…

Palestinian militants have released two Israeli hostages, among the last to be freed under the first phase of a fragile truce, which also includes the release of Palestinian prisoners. The release brought an emotional end to a tense two days in Israel, where the family of another hostage, Shiri Bibas, confirmed receiving her remains. Bibas and her two young sons became symbols of the suffering endured by Israeli hostages since the Gaza war began. Palestinian militants seized numerous hostages during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking over 15 months of conflict in Gaza. The freed hostages, Tal…

The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue its visa-on-arrival policy. As part of the reforms, visitors would be required to complete landing and exit cards before entering or leaving Nigeria. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known in Abuja at the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel on the application of Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data in national security and law enforcement. The visa-on-arrival policy, introduced in 2020, allowed eligible travelers, including high-net-worth investors and visitors from countries without Nigerian embassies, to obtain visas at entry points. However,…

The African Development Bank Group has taken a significant step forward in its fight against corruption and financial crime by signing a Letter of Intent with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) today. The Bank Group is the first multilateral development bank to establish such a collaboration with Interpol. The Letter of Intent was signed on Wednesday by African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, who visited the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan. The partnership will enhance collaboration between the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption and Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. It will focus…

The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday paid a visit of condolence to the family of late Pa Edwin Clark. During the visit to Pa Clark’s residence at Asokoro District, Abuja, Governor Oborevwori’s delegation led by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, sympathized with Pa Clark’s family describing the passage of the elder statesman as a great loss to the country and humanity. He said, “we have lost a father whose voice was the conscience of our nation. “He lived a life of service to our country and humanity. “He was a gift from Delta to…

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has implored state governors, ministers, local government chairmen and other stakeholders, including the private sector, to take urgent and decisive action against the scourge of malnutrition in the country. According to him, the consequences of malnutrition transcend the health sector, forming the foundation of the calamities that limit productivity, learning and the nation’s growth. Senator Shettima stated this on Thursday when he officially launched the Nutrition 774 Initiative at the 148th Meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Beyond just numbers, the Vice President said the stark statistics indicating…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned a total of $120,548.43 and N70,602,841.46 to American, Spanish, and Swiss nationals who fell victim to fraud schemes perpetrated by Nigerian fraudsters. The funds recovered from convicted fraudsters were returned to the victims as part of the EFCC’s commitment to justice and financial restitution. In a statement posted on its official X account, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced: “As a gesture of its commitment to tackling economic and financial crimes and offering restitution to victims of fraudulent practices, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has handed over…