Author: Vardiafrica

The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved the renaming of the University of Abuja as Yakubu Gowon University. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents following the council’s last meeting for 2024 at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The University of Abuja also known as UNIABUJA was established in January 1988 under Decree No. 110 of 1992 as amended, as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes. The university started academic work in 1990 with the matriculation of its pioneer students. Yakubu Gowon is Nigeria’s former military…

President Bola Tinubu has approved free transportation nationwide ahead of Christmas celebration. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced this while briefing State House correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President on Monday. He said the Federal Government will commence a nationwide free train services from the 20th of December to 5th of January 2025. He also announced that FG has renamed the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University. READ ALSO: President Tinubu Chairs Federal Executive Council Meeting Advertisement On the 2025 budget, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun…

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated Shell and its partners’ announcement of the $5bn Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Bonga North Deep Offshore Field, as a milestone achievement for Nigeria.  A statement by his Special Adviser to the President, (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga on Monday, said the development was a landmark achievement, being Nigeria’s first deepwater oil project in over a decade. The project underscores the transformative impact of the president’s policies and reforms in attracting investments in the oil and gas sector, the statement said. The Bonga North oilfield, located 130 kilometres offshore in Oil Mining Lease (OML)…

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