Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday hosted a high-level United States Congressional delegation in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism and regional security. The visit follows earlier engagements between Ribadu and U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., where both sides discussed shared security priorities. The Congressional team on the fact-finding mission comprised Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Riley M. Moore. Also present was the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, underscoring the strategic importance America places on its security partnership with Nigeria. According…

French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday pledged his country’s support for Nigeria in tackling terrorism and other security challenges especially in the country. This was sequel to a telephone discussion President Maron had with his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, on Sunday morning. In a tweet on his verified X handle, @Emmanuel Macron, the French President said he had conveyed France’s solidarity with Nigeria in the face of “various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the north”. Macron, in the tweet, stated inter alia: “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT. “I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of…

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has visited the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet pilots who ejected from their aircraft after experiencing an in-flight emergency near NAF Base Kainji. Aneke met with the aircrew to check on their wellbeing and to commend their professionalism and quick decision-making, which ensured they landed safely despite the aircraft’s failure. The jet crashed a few kilometres from the Karabonde town in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday. In a post on Facebook on Sunday, the Air Force said the Alpha Jet suffered a technical malfunction soon after take-off. The…

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has announced the launch of a new direct route between  Casablanca and Los Angeles, set to begin on June 7 of next year, a milestone that positions the airline, and Morocco, at the forefront of transcontinental connectivity.  The 12-hour flight will become the first-ever direct air connection between Africa and the US West Coast, significantly expanding long-haul options for travelers and strengthening Morocco’s role as a global aviation hub. Operating three times per week, the route responds to rapidly growing intercontinental travel demand ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. …

The President, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr. Wole Ogunsanya on Wednesday declared that the cost of providing services in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is relatively the cheapest on the African continent. He spoke at a Townhall Session at the 14th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Conference and Exhibition at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Yenagoa and provided a detailed analysis of project costs across Africa and elsewhere. Engr. Ogunsanya insisted that a distinction must be made between the capital expenditures (CAPEX) of the oil industry and operating expenditures (OPEX), stressing that Nigeria’s CAPEX rates were arguably the lowest…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to take legal action against the Rivers State House of Assembly Lawmakers, who defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday. The 16 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had on Friday defected to APC, citing “division” within the PDP as the reason for their defection. Reacting to this development on Saturday in Abuja, the PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said it will take legal steps to regain its mandate. Describing them as political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,…

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has threatened a fresh clampdown on unregistered Point of Sale (POS) operators in Nigeria from 1st January 2026. The Commission said it observed a rising number of POS operators running without registration, violating CAMA 2020 and CBN Agent Banking Regulations. In a statement on Saturday, the agency said all PoS must be duly registered with the commission or face immediate shutdown. It warned that no POS operator will be allowed to operate without CAC registration, adding that security agencies will enforce nationwide compliance. The statement further pointed out that this reckless practice, often enabled by…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled a $100 million Equity Investment Scheme among a raft of fresh initiatives to bolster indigenous capacity and participation in the oil and gas industry. The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe announced this in a keynote address he delivered at the opening day of the 14th Practical Nigerian Content Forum, which ended on Thursday. The capacity audience included three ministers of state, members of the Local Content Committees of the National Assembly, a representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, two…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has been conferred with the BusinessDay Excellence in Public Service Award alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, and seven other Ministers. The award was presented to Ogbuku by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during the 2025 BusinessDay Public Service Lecture and Excellence Awards in Abuja. Speaking during the ceremony, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer expressed joy over the award and remarked that it showed that Nigerians appreciated the work the NDDC was doing in Nigeria’s oil-rich region. Ogbuku stated:…

United States President Donald Trump received the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize before the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. The award has been introduced this year by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, designated for a person who has “taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and “united people across the world”. It was widely expected that Trump, who arrived at the ceremony with Infantino and has made several public appearances with him in recent months, would be the winner. That was confirmed at the ceremony in Washington DC on Friday. As well as receiving a large golden trophy, Trump was…