Author: Vardiafrica

Shell Plc says its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), has announced a final investment decision (FID) on Bonga north, a deepwater project off the coast of Nigeria. In a statement on Monday, Shell said the Bonga North will be a subsea tie-back to its Bonga floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility which it operates with a 55 percent interest. “The Bonga North project involves drilling, completing, and starting up 16 wells (8 production and 8 water injection wells), modifications to the existing Bonga Main FPSO and the installation of new subsea hardware tied back to…

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has promised to share the Commission’s experience and make available relevant documents to help the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie, CENA of Benin Republic conduct their elections in 2026. Yakubu was addressing a visiting delegation from the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie, CENA of Benin Republic in Abuja on Monday. The President of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission of Benin Republic, Dr Sacca Lafia and officials of the Electoral Commission are in Nigeria to undertake a study visit to INEC as they prepare for what they described as their most complex election in 2026.…

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS has resolved that the trio of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali will cease to be members of the subregional body from the 29th of January, 2025. In a communique at the end of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, the leaders agreed that the mediation mission led by the President’s of Togo Faure Gnassingbé and his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye will continue to engage them in an effort to return them back to ECOWAS. President of the ECOWAS Commission Dr Omar…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a six-month ultimatum, from January 29 to July 29, 2025, to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to reconsider their decision to exit the regional bloc. A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga disclosed this on Sunday. According to the statement, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, announced the six-month grace on Sunday in Abuja after the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. The development follows the elapse of the one-year statutory period since the three…

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, says his administration has been delivering on key projects despite attempts by political opponents to undermine his efforts. Fubara made the remarks on Saturday, December 14, during the inauguration of a 14.1-kilometre road project in Omuma Local Government Area. While he did not directly name his opponents, tensions between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have created sharp divisions within the state, including a factionalized House of Assembly. Speaking on the importance of the newly commissioned road, Fubara emphasized his commitment to serving the people of Rivers State. “We are here, I don’t…

Nigeria has paid its accrued debt owed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the tune of ₦85 billion. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, disclosed this in his statement at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja. He said while the community had suffered slow response from member states in remitting their levies, Nigeria under the leadership of President Tinubu had cleared its levies from 2023 to date. According to Touray, this is the first time in 19 years that Nigeria will pay 100%…

Nigeria’s representative at the Mister International 2024 concert has beat every other contestant to win the crown. The 16th edition of the Mister International pageant, held at the Island Hall, Fashion Island, in Bangkok, Thailand on December 14, 2024. This edition featured 47 men from around the globe vying for the position of Mister International. Mr Nigeria, Nwajagu Samuel clinched the crown, making history. He was crowned by his predecessor, Kim Thitisan Goodburn of Thailand at the end of the event. Nwajagu is the first Nigerian, and the first African, to win the Mister International title

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has received former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke. The political figures met on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It is unclear what discussions they had, but it may not be unconnected with the 2027 general elections and the political permutations revolving around it. But Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate during the 2023 election, disclosed this in a post on his X account on Saturday night The NNPP chieftain stated that they were at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) residence in Ogun State…

In a major gain for President Bola Tinubu’s oil sector reforms, Nigeria’s Oriental Energy Resources Limited has unveiled a $315 million Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to boost Nigeria’s oil production capacity. The vessel, with a storage capacity of one million barrels, which will kick off with an initial production of 17,000 barrels per day before increasing its production capacity to 30,000 bpd is expected to depart for Nigeria in the first quarter of 2025 and commence production at the Okwok Oil Field in the first half of 2025. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration and naming ceremony…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has assured that the Commission will soon complete the 2-Kilometre double-lane Kaa-Ataba Road with two bridges in the Khana and Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Ogbuku gave assurance during an inspection of a 1.2-kilometer-long bridge on the road, accompanied by the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, and other Directors of the Commission. He stated, “The project is about 70 per cent done, and we are ready to complete it by the middle of next year. We have just finished discussing it with the…