Author: Vardiafrica

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday converged on Kebbi State for the Progressive First-Term Governors’ Meeting. The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, is expected to focus on matters of national importance and issues affecting the ruling APC. First-term governors are state governors who are serving their first four-year tenure in office Among the governors in attendance are those of Kaduna, Plateau, Ekiti, Delta, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, Kogi, Sokoto and Benue states, among others. The governors were received by the host governor, Nasir Idris, alongside…

The International Energy Agency has admitted Nigeria as its newest associate country, it said July 2, calling the move a step toward deepening its African ties and global energy governance. “As Nigeria works to strengthen energy security, support economic growth and expand energy access, deeper cooperation with the IEA will bring important benefits for both sides,” said a statement from the organization’s executive Director, Fatih Birol. Nigeria will be the IEA’s 14th association country and the first OPEC member to partner with the organization. The oil producer’s alliance has often clashed with the Paris-based IEA over its long-term oil outlook,…

.The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), through its Zonal Coordination Division, recently reaffirmed its commitment to deepening local participation and sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry with the successful hosting of a one-day Sensitization/Enlightenment Workshop on the Community Content Guideline in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The workshop, held at Landmark Hotel last week, brought together community leaders, youth groups, contractors, technocrats, industry stakeholders and representatives from oil-producing communities across Rivers State to enhance awareness of the Community Content Guideline and the opportunities available under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. Delivering the…

As part of its humanitarian intervention to cushion the effects of the prevailing economic hardship on inmates across custodial centres, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has donated relief materials to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Rivers State Command. Presenting the relief materials on behalf of the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Director of Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Oritsejolone stated that the intervention was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the transformational leadership of the NDDC management. Oritsejolone noted that the donation reflected the Commission’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and institutions across the…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday in Warri and Sapele, Delta State, launched its Cradle-to-Career Academic Excellence Recognition and Educational Advancement Programme, a flagship of educational intervention under the Board’s Back-to-School Initiative, with 500 outstanding secondary school students from underserved communities of the State honoured and rewarded in the first batch of beneficiaries. The Back-to-School Initiative was conceived as a strategic intervention to improve educational outcomes and expand opportunities by recognising and celebrating secondary students from oil-producing communities who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance in key national examinations and educational transition stages, such as Junior Secondary…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudiness and thunderstorms from Monday to Wednesday across the country.  ‎NiMet’s weather outlook released in Abuja envisages sunny skies with patches of clouds on Monday over the northern region with chances of thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Kebbi and Kaduna States during the morning hours. ‎”By the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba States. ‎”For North-central region, thunderstorms accompanied by light rains are expected over…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and AOS Orwell, has successfully concluded a 12-month Human Capacity Development Programme that equipped nine (9) young Nigerians with industry relevant technical skills and practical experience for careers in the oil and gas sector. The closeout ceremony took place at Oak Haven Hotel, Woji Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, marking the successful completion of the intensive training program. Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mrs. Tarilate Biribena, described the programme as a strategic investment…

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful exploitation of Nigerian news content, and other potentially unfair market conduct against media organisations. The directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), an umbrella body comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The development was disclosed…

NELFUND says 34 tertiary institutions are under investigation following multiple petitions over delayed student loan refund payments. Managing Director, The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr says the agency is investigating about 34 tertiary institutions over allegations that they failed to refund students whose tuition fees were paid twice under the federal government’s student loan scheme, following a surge in complaints and petitions from affected beneficiaries. Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Sawyerr said the agency had intensified investigations in collaboration with anti-corruption agencies, the National Association of Nigerian Students, internal auditors and other stakeholders to…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s firm resolve to deploy emerging technologies to crush contemporary security threats and protect the lives all Nigerians. The administration, he noted, is fervently driving the modernization of the nation’s Armed Forces by investing in modern hardware and building the capacity of military personnel to improve their operational planning and combat readiness. The President stated this on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during the Grand Finale of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2026/African Land Forces Forum (ALFF), with the theme, “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward…