Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has returned to the country after a state visit to Turkey. The aircraft conveying the president arrived at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Abuja at 8:55pm on Saturday. The presidency confirmed Tinubu’s arrival in a brief notice issued to state house correspondents on Saturday evening. Tinubu began the state visit on Tuesday with bilateral engagements in Turkey. During the visit, the president held talks with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey across areas of mutual interest. Tinubu also oversaw the signing of nine agreements covering…

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has stated that the new tax laws require all employers of labour and individuals to file tax returns by January 31 and March 31, respectively, annually. This is as he clarified that the recently debated “power of substitution” in Nigeria’s tax laws was neither new nor unusual. He stressed that both employers and individuals must comply with the law. He made this known during a webinar organised for HR managers, payroll officers, Chief Finance Officers (CFOs), and tax managers in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board…

Speaking during the installation ceremony at the palace of the Amanyanabo of Ogu, the Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Egbelekpeke, said Ogbuku was being honoured for his exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to community development in the Niger Delta region. He declared: “By the authority vested in me as Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, and acting on behalf of the Amanyanabo-in-Council of Ogu Kingdom, I hereby install you as a Chief of Ogu Kingdom, and confer upon you the revered title of ‘Pere Se Bobo, ‘ meaning ‘He Who Comes with Abundance.’…

A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held in the city between November 15 and 16, 2025. The court also ruled that the Caretaker Committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu remained the only recognised National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, pending the conduct of a valid national convention. Recall that the Kabiru Turaki faction of the PDP had filed Suit Number FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, seeking recognition of the convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, 2025, and validation of the NWC that emerged at the…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approached the National Industrial Court to commit striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prison over alleged disobedience to court orders. The workers resumed their strike despite a January 27 court order stopping industrial action until the determination of a suit instituted against them by the FCT Minister. To demonstrate his opposition to the workers’ disregard for court orders, Wike obtained Form 48, a legal document detailing the consequences of violating the court order, to be served on the striking employees. The form 48 was obtained by Dr…

Burkina Faso’s junta announced Thursday that it plans to dissolve all political parties, whose activities have been suspended since the military rulers seized power in 2022. Captain Ibrahim Traore took over in a September 2022 coup after toppling another junta, and has sharply muzzled dissenting voices since then. Parties were previously banned from holding public gatherings but still allowed to operate internally. “The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to abuses, fuelled divisions among citizens and weakened the social fabric,” the presidency said in a readout of a cabinet meeting. A draft law dissolving political parties…

Afrobeats pioneer Fela Kuti is set to become the first African artist to receive a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY.  It comes almost 30 years after the Nigerian artist passed away, finally recognising his innovative and experimental work in the early sound of Afrobeats, where he combined traditional West African music with jazz and American funk. The Lifetime Achievement Award was first introduced in 1963 by the GRAMMYs, meaning it will be the first time in its 63 years that an African musician will be recognised for their work in the category. While long-term friend and manager of Fela Kuti, Rikki Stein, said it’s…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched 10 electric shuttle buses and 20 electric saloon cars into airport operations to support International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. According to the Chairman, FAAN, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje during the official launch in Abuja on Thursday said these vehicles will support airside and landside logistics, staff movement, and services, strengthening passenger coordination and efficiency across the airport. He said by embracing electric mobility, FAAN is positioning Nigerian airports to remain competitive, responsible and future-ready. He said the electric vehicles offer clear operational and…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed sanctions on the Senegalese and Moroccan football federations, as well as several players, following chaotic incidents that marred the 2025 African Cup of Nations final. CAF announced that Senegal’s head coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, has been suspended for five matches due to unsporting conduct. Additionally, player Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye received a two-match suspension for unsporting behaviour toward the referee. “Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined USD 100,000,” the statement read. CAF also decided to “suspend the Senegalese national team player, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye, for two (2) official CAF matches,…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2026 Lesser Hajj (Umrah). Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Thursday, ordering the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which had been deposited with the court as part of his bail conditions. The former governor is currently standing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on the alleged misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The request, filed on January 20 and supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit, was…