Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has granted an operational licence to Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, located in Ologbo within the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The NMDPRA serves as the technical and commercial regulator overseeing midstream and downstream activities in the petroleum sector. The issuance of this operational licence represents the final approval stage from the regulatory body, signifying that the refinery is now authorized to commence full operations. During a ceremony held on Tuesday, the authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Farouk, presented the certificate to AIPCC, the parent organization of Edo Refinery…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday received the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), BoT members in a move to put to rest months of speculations that he had left the party. Senator Adolphus Wabara, the chairman of the Board of Trade, Abdul Ningi, former chairman Ahmed Makarfi, and senior statesman Olabode George were among the delegation members. Although there have been demands for Governor Fubara to defect to the APC, supporters maintain that there is little possibility the state’s most important citizen would be reelected if he stays in office. The governor has however remained mute on his next line…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, affirmed the lower court judgment that reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. The appellate Court while delivering judgment in the appeal brought before it by the Edo State House of Assembly, dismissed the appeal seeking to uphold Shaibu’s impeachment. Shaibu was impeached on April 8, 2024, following the adoption of the report of a seven-man committee set up by the chief judge of Edo State Justice Daniel Okungbowa to investigate allegations of misconduct against him. The House Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, had said that while the report…

The court of appeal in Abuja has ordered Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, to present himself for arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court overturned the decision of a Kogi state high court that restrained the EFCC from prosecuting Bello over the allegation of N80 billion money laundering. In a unanimous decision delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Ken Amadi also restrained the former governor from taking any further action regarding the charges against him until he has been formally arraigned. The appeal was filed by the EFCC…

The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Federal Government of harassing its leaders and has put its members and affiliates on red alert, threatening a nationwide strike should the Nigerian Police Force detain its president, Joe Ajaero. The resolution was announced by the deputy president of the union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju after an emergency meeting of the group’s National Executive Council on Tuesday. A crowd of unionists were seen gathered at the headquarters of the NLC in Abuja as the meeting was being held, singing solidarity songs. The unionists said the strike would begin on Tuesday…

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said its members do not get enough Premium Motor Spirit supply from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in the wake of scarcity of products sweeping across the country. The association currently has more than 3000 members controlling the largest share of filling stations across the country. Chairman Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ore Depot, Engr Shina Amoo who was a guest on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, said the NNPCL currently the sole importer of petroleum products, has failed to supply its members with adequate products capable of catering…

An emotional US President Joe Biden passed the torch to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris with a hug on Monday, saying he gave everything for his country in a bittersweet farewell speech at the party’s convention in Chicago. “America, America, I gave my best to you,” the 81-year-old Biden said, quoting a patriotic hymn during a nearly hour-long address that ran through his achievements while urging voters to back his vice president against Donald Trump in November. Harris joined him on stage after the speech and the pair embraced, as the crowd gave Biden a rapturous reception following his stunning decision…

The Nigerian Police Force has invited the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, for investigation over allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and other related offences.  The invitation is contained in a letter dated 19th August 2024, and signed by ACP Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team. The police warned that a warrant of arrest would be issued if Ajaero fails to comply. The letter reads: “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime in which you have been implicated. “You are…

Nigerian university lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government for a planned nationwide strike The notice is part of the resolutions reached at the national executive council meeting of the union, which was held at the University of Ibadan at the weekend. Although the union is yet to make its position public, a senior member of the union told our correspondent in Abuja that the lecturers agreed to put the Federal Government on a 21-day notice before embarking on the planned industrial action. ASUU in July…

 With the commencement of the rainy season, the Nigerian Army said it has deployed troops in several of the northern states, to protect farmers. A statement by the Director Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the deployment was made particularly in the North West and the North Central states. According to him, the move has since “enabled several farmers access to farmers for a hitch-free planting season towards a bumper harvest.” This is as the country battles food shortages which have worsened the food inflation put at over 40 per cent by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria’s inflation…