Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Content Academy Lecture Series organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) got off to a thought-provoking start on Friday with a panoramic overview of local content strategy and implementation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and a word of caution to industry players to not trifle with the initiative. In a presentation on the topic “Staying the Nigerian Content Course in the Midst of Delivery Challenges,” the pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, addressed several industry issues, dismissing the notion that the absence of final investment decisions (FIDs) in the country’s…

The House of Representatives has announced plans to intervene in the ongoing dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This followed a motion on Tuesday by Hon. Sesi Whingan (APC, Badagry), aimed at finding a lasting resolution to the impasse. ASUU began a two-week warning strike on Monday, citing the government’s failure to meet demands after a 14-day ultimatum expired. This marks the union’s first nationwide strike in nearly three years. Key demands include: ASUU also accused the government of delaying the report from the Yayale Ahmed committee, submitted in December 2024. In response, the Minister of Education ordered a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, directing vice-chancellors to monitor absentee…

Cameroon’s opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma, declared victory late Monday in the country’s October 12 presidential election, calling on President Paul Biya to accept defeat and “honour the truth of the ballot box.” “Our victory is clear. It must be respected,” Tchiroma said in a speech posted on his Facebook page from his hometown of Garoua in northern Cameroon. “The people have chosen. And this choice must be respected.” The 76-year-old former government spokesperson and employment minister broke ranks with Biya earlier this year, launching a campaign that drew large crowds and secured endorsements from a coalition of opposition parties and…

Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), May Agbamuche-Mbu, on Tuesday met with leaders of political parties at the quarterly consultative meeting of the electoral umpire in Abuja. The first two quarterly meetings for the year were held on January 22 and June 26, respectively. Today’s meeting, the first since Agbamuche-Mbu took charge on October 7, comes as preparations for the Anambra gubernatorial election scheduled for November 8 intensify. Speaking at the meeting, the Agbamuche-Mbu appreciated the efforts of the immediate-past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whom she said left behind a legacy of innovation, institutional strength and…

President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the senate to confirm Joash Amupitan, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The request was conveyed in a letter read by Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, during plenary on Tuesday. “In accordance with the provisions of section 154 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the letter reads. “Attached is his…

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), a subsidiary of Shell plc, together with Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited, have taken a final investment decision (FID) on the HI gas project offshore Nigeria. When completed, the project will supply 350 million standard cubic feet (approximately 60 thousand barrels of oil equivalent) of gas per day at peak production to Nigeria LNG (NLNG; Shell interest 25.6%), which produces and exports liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets. Production is expected to begin before the end of this decade. “Following recent investment decisions related to the Bonga deep-water development, today’s announcement…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2025, due to “recent developments” within the party. In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the postponement, citing Section 29 (2)(b) of the party’s constitution. “All NEC members should please note the postponement and be guided accordingly,” the statement read. The decision comes amidst a wave of defections from the party, including the expected defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday. …

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Governor Mbah made his defection public in a televised broadcast on Tuesday. He said, “Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress.” Mbah said he joined the PDP to help transform Enugu and restructure the state’s political landscape. “Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. “This concerns our values,…

The European Union (EU) has allocated N320.5 billion (€190 million) credit line to Nigerian banks to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector. In a statement on Monday, Bolaji Adebiyi, special adviser on media to Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, said the European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing the credit line, which will be channelled through Nigerian commercial banks and financial institutions to increase lending for agribusinesses. According to the minister’s aide, the EIB announced the facility at a meeting between the bank’s senior executives and the federal ministry of budget and economic planning, on the sidelines of the Global…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has welcomed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) draft guidelines requiring all banks to refund customers for failed Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions within 48 hours. To make the policy effective, the FCCPC said it would work with the CBN to establish systems for monitoring compliance and ensuring timely redress when banks fail to meet the 48-hour deadline. Director, Corporate Affairs of the commission, Ondaje Ijagwu, stated in Abuja yesterday that the draft guidelines follow the FCCPC’s Consumer Complaints Data Report published in September 2025. According to him, the report, which covered…