Author: Vardiafrica

President Tinubu sacks Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and appoints Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement. Before his appointment, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar served as the Group Sales and Marketing Director of Dangote Cement Plc He has over 20 years of experience in senior and executive functions within the downstream Petroleum and Cement manufacturing sectors with a focus on transformational leadership. Rabiu started his career in Oando Plc and rapidly rose to hold different management roles within the marketing business and led the Sales and Marketing Transformation plan successfully. In…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation. “Until his nomination, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. “Enikanolaiye is a distinguished diplomat and…

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has approved the dismissal and prosecution of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nuhu Usman over the killing of a suspect in Effurun, Delta State. The action follows the outcome of a review by the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), which examined the incident alongside other internal disciplinary procedures. Addressing an emergency press conference in Abuja, the IGP said the officer involved, along with members of his team, have been recommended for dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force. The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, in a statement after the IGP address, said the panel found…

President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the 2027 governorship aspiration of Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos. In a post on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, said Tinubu gave the endorsement during a meeting with members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the State House, Abuja. “President Tinubu formally endorses the Lagos APC consensus governorship candidate Obafemi Hamzat at a meeting with members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council, led by Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” Onanuga wrote. In one of the photographs shared by Onanuga, Tinubu and Hamzat are seen…

Nigerian Senate on Wednesday approved a $516 million syndicated loan requested by President Bola Tinubu to fund the construction of Section 1, Phases 1A and 1B of the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway. This came after the consideration of a report during plenary presented by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Aliyu Wamakko. The committee recommended that the financing arranged through Deutsche Bank AG be incorporated into the Federal Government’s borrowing plan. The committee’s report stated that the loan comes with a partial guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, ICIEC, and…

At a special session at the ongoing IATA Focus Africa Conference holding in Addis Ababa, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) unveiled Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, as one of Africa’s top four most prominent aviators. The announcement which was made by IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi underscored the continental recognition of the Minister’s leadership and reforms. Alawadhi, in his remarks, cited Keyamo’s cutting-edge policy direction, strategic reforms, and unwavering commitment to global aviation standards as the basis for the recognition. He specifically highlighted Nigeria’s effective administration…

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says President Bola Tinubu has approved the allocation of land to ambassadors and high commissioners-designate in Abuja. Wike spoke on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by ambassadors-designate led by Dunoma Umar Ahmed, the permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja. Addressing the envoys, the minister said the president’s decision stemmed from a desire to ensure that Nigeria’s representatives have a permanent stake and a residence in Abuja for when they return for periodic briefings. ​”The President believes that most of you do not have…

Nigeria may be heading into another round of fuel crisis as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by N75, raising fresh fears of nationwide pump price hikes and supply disruptions. Industry data obtained from Petroleumprice.ng and confirmed by a senior official at the refinery on Wednesday showed that the new petrol loading price has jumped from N1200 to N1275 per litre, while coastal supply prices rose to N1,215 per litre. The official, who confirmed the development to PUNCH, said, “Yes, the increase of PMS to N1,275 per litre is true. Coastal price…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any congress organised by a disputed caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, also restrained former Senate President David Mark and other party figures from interfering in the functions and tenure of elected state executives. The decision came on Wednesday as a crucial pSupreme Court judgement on the lingering leadership crisis of the party is being awaited. On 22 April, the Supreme Court reserved judgement on an appeal brought by the Mr Mark-led faction of the party. Ms Abdulmalik…

World Cup players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will face a red card as part of a new initiative aimed at combating racism, world governing body FIFA said on Tuesday. In a statement following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver, FIFA confirmed that the rule was one of two law changes that would be introduced at this year’s World Cup.“At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card,” FIFA said in a statement.The new rule…