Author: Vardiafrica

Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium to win the first edition of FIFA’s new competition. PSG were the favourites for a game attended by Donald Trump after coming to the United States fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals. But having been three goals ahead midway through the first half in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down…

Barely a few hours after the death of Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Kashim Shettima and President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will head to the United Kingdom to accompany the late former president’s body back to Nigeria. The ex-president, who had battled a prolonged illness, died in London at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the age of 81. Buhari’s former special adviser, Garba Shehu, confirmed the news of his passing in a statement. In a separate release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu confirmed the death of his predecessor…

Julius Abure, the factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has met with Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT). The meeting took place at Wike’s residence in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The purpose or agenda of the meeting is not known, but it is coming days after the Abure-led faction asked Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, to quit the party for joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition. Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and minister under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is blamed by his party members for being the…

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has died at the age of 82. President Bola Tinubu, while confirming the development in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Buhari died in London at about 4:30 pm on Sunday. Tinubu also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany the former president’s body back to Nigeria. According to the statement, Tinubu has spoken with the former President’s widow, Mrs Aishat Buhari, and offered his deep condolences. He also ordered flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the departed leader. The statement read in part, “President Bola…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that his administration will empower the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to deliver on its mandate of facilitating the development of the Niger Delta region through the Renewed Hope Agenda. President Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Goerge Akume, spoke at the plenary of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the NDDC at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt. He affirmed the central role of the NDDC in the country’s development architecture, stating: “The NDDC remains pivotal to the development of the Niger Delta region,…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in the July 12 local government elections held across Lagos State, clinching all 20 chairmanship positions and 375 out of 376 councillorship seats. The Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Mobolanle Abidemi Okikiolu-Ighile (Rtd.), disclosed this during a press conference in the state today July 13. “The All Progressives Congress won all the chairmanship seats in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state. They also secured 375 out of the 376 councillorship seats in the Lagos LG polls. The only councillorship…

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday said that the Niger Delta Development Commission must steer youths in the region away from violent behaviours towards entrepreneurship through constructive engagements. He stated this at the grand finale of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday. Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the NDDC remained central to the economic growth of the region. “Beyond infrastructural development, the NDDC must continue to prioritise human capital development as it remains the primary index of progress.…

An Air Peace aircraft veered off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, on Sunday after landing.   Air Peace spokesman, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday but said all passengers disembarked safely. “Air Peace confirms that its Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport,” the statement read. “The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported.” The airline reassured the public of its “unflinching commitment to maintaining…

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday morning returned to the nation’s capital, Abuja, after two weeks official visits to Saint Lucia and Brazil. The president’s official aircraft, Nigeria Air Force (NAF) 1, touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 1.30am and was received by top government officials. Those on ground to welcome President Tinubu included the Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; his Defence counterpart, Bello Matawalle; National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Aliyu Wamakko and Alhaji Ibrahim Masari. The president left Nigeria on June 28, 2025 first on…

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, challenging a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which found her guilty of contempt and imposed a fine of N5 million on her. The senator is asking the appellate court to set aside the entire judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, on grounds that it was legally flawed, procedurally defective, and amounted to a miscarriage of justice. The dispute arose from a motion brought by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired…