Author: Vardiafrica

Ethiopia, Djibouti and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote plan to build a $660 million refined petroleum pipeline ‌that will connect Ethiopia and Djibouti, a spokesperson in Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office said this Thursday. The project will include a 120-km (75-mile) pipeline, as well as approximately 375,000 cubic metres of storage capacity ⁠at Damerjog in Djibouti and 800 000 cubic metres at Dewele in Ethiopia, the spokesperson told Reuters, adding it should become operational within 18 months. Abiy said on his X account the project will be developed through a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings and the Dangote Group, which…

The federal government says it is engaging China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) to explore the most practical approach to delivering the Mambilla hydropower project, including the possibility of implementing it in phases. According to TheCable, Joseph Tegbe, minister of power, spoke during a recent media parley in Abuja to mark his first 100 days in office. The development follows Nigeria’s recent victory in the arbitration of the Mambilla hydropower project case. Tegbe said the ministry had engaged the company, also known as Energy China, on the project and directed the contractor to explore options for its delivery. He said larger…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has emphasised the need for stronger collaboration and sustainable partnerships among stakeholders to accelerate human capital and infrastructural development across the Niger Delta region. Speaking during a pre-conference briefing ahead of the 2026 Partnership for Sustainable Development Conference in Port Harcourt, NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku said the conference would give the NDDC an opportunity to account to the people of the Niger Delta for its stewardship. Ogbuku urged stakeholders to actively participate in the discussions, contribute constructive ideas, and critically appraise the Commission’s activities to achieve collective progress in the region. The…

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals who knowingly engage in or facilitate “birth tourism” to the country. Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, announced the policy on Wednesday, saying the restrictions would apply to people involved in commercial birth tourism networks, visa “fixers” who coach applicants to commit fraud and foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate such travel. Rubio said the policy was being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act. According to him, commercial birth tourism networks had exploited the US immigration system by facilitating travel for foreign nationals seeking to…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following the latest update on the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Centre said Nigeria had been placed on “high alert” as it continued to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response measures against any potential threat from the outbreak. The advisory was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris. The Centre said all preparatory activities were ongoing and that the measures would continue to be reviewed in line with the evolving…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members nationwide to inspect their fuel dispensing meters following a warning from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over alleged under-dispensing at filling stations. PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He said the association held an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Tuesday after the NMDPRA raised concerns about the accuracy of fuel dispensers at retail outlets. According to him, the meeting, which lasted until about 10pm, resulted in a directive…

Construction of the East Africa Refinery at Lamu begins on Wednesday, Sept. 30, with President William Ruto leading the ceremony. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki confirmed the date on Tuesday after a final planning meeting, saying heads of state from East Africa and beyond had been invited alongside members of the local community, and that the government was completing arrangements for protocol, security and logistics. The refinery is backed by Aliko Dangote’s Dangote Industries and the Africa Finance Corporation, and the Kenyan government puts its cost at 2.2 trillion shillings, about $17 billion. Estimates have moved considerably, with figures between $15…

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says Nigeria’s gross foreign exchange (FX) reserves has crossed $55 billion, describing the milestone as the highest in more than 18 years. Cardoso spoke on Tuesday after the monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja. “..we know that today, and it was mentioned in my communique, that we are in excess of 55 billion US, the highest number in over 18 years,” he said. The disclosure comes after the reserves hit to $54.8 billion as of September 22, according to recent data from the CBN. Cardoso attributed the strengthening external position…

President Bola Tinubu has announced an $800 million Final Investment Decision (FID) by AMNI International and TotalEnergies to finally develop the Ima Gas Field, a resource discovered in 1973 but left undeveloped for more than five decades. The President, in a post on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, on Wednesday, said the investment marked an early outcome of reforms introduced by his administration to make Nigeria’s oil and gas sector more attractive to investors and accelerate the development of stranded assets. According to him, the Ima Gas Project is expected to produce about 350 million cubic feet of gas per…

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd, has proposed that every Nigerian citizen should undergo military training. Musa made the call while speaking on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, stating that the experience of hunger, exhaustion and physical strain that comes with military training gives people a perspective on life they cannot get anywhere else. He was explaining why he believes ordinary citizens should have a better understanding of the work carried out by members of the Armed Forces. According to him, the experience would give Nigerians a different perspective about life and the responsibilities associated with protecting the…