Author: Vardiafrica

Rapper Nicki Minaj brought her star power to the United Nations to draw global attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, teamed up with President Donald Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz to speak at an event hosted by the United States Mission to the United Nations that spotlighted religious violence and the killings of Christians in the most populous African nation. The rap mogul said she wanted to speak out against injustice and stand up for people who are persecuted for their beliefs. “In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from…

Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have sealed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja. The closure followed a violent face-off between two factions of the party on Tuesday. Videos on Wednesday showed barbed wire stretched across the main entrance to stop movement in and out of Wadata Plaza. Officers were stationed around the complex to enforce the shutdown, while a group of men mounted barricades around the building with reinforced metal fencing and wire mesh. None of the principal actors from the two feuding blocs was seen near the premises, as only security personnel were on duty. Chaotic…

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify efforts to secure the release of students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. According to a statement on Tuesday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YANMA, Captain David Adewusi, the COAS gave the directive on Monday during an operational tour of Kebbi State. Addressing frontline commanders and troops, Gen. Shaibu charged them to conduct intelligence-driven operations and maintain relentless, day-and-night pursuit of the abductors. “We must find…

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), on Tuesday officially assumed control of the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja. Turaki, accompanied by key party stakeholders including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, regained the secretariat from a faction led by the former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. The takeover followed heightened tensions arising from the party’s National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Turaki was elected Chairman on November 15, 2025. At the convention, the party expelled Anyanwu, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State…

In a new development in the growing call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, 44 serving federal lawmakers from both northern and southern regions of Nigeria have written a two-page letter and resolution to President Bola Tinubu. In the letter, the lawmakers urged the President to invoke his constitutional powers to release Kanu from detention and to convene an all-inclusive political roundtable involving all stakeholders to address the country’s challenges and find a lasting solution through a political process. The lawmakers, under the aegis of “Concerned Federal Lawmakers,” further called on President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, as soon…

A crisis erupted on Tuesday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat, as the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and that of factional acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, clashed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the factional acting chairman, Mohammed, is backed by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike. NAN also reports that the situation degenerated when Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo arrived at the party secretariat. Mohammed and Makinde had arrived at the party secretariat at about 10:45 am, but the main gates of…

The nation’s foreign reserve has risen to over $46 billion, according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso. Cardoso, who was represented by the Deputy Governor Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi, disclosed this at the opening of the Monetary Policy Department’s 20th anniversary colloquium at the CBN headquarters in Abuja He said it was the first time the country had reached such a level since 2018, adding that the number could cover over 10 months of imports. According to the deputy governor, lending rates may decline in the coming months as inflation continues to…

US President Donald Trump has announced that football fans traveling to the US for the World Cup next year will be able to get interviews for visas faster. Trump announced the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS, in a news conference in the Oval Office after a meeting between him, the White House Task Force, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success,” he said. Hr also “strongly” encourages World Cup travellers to the US to apply for their visas “right away”. The FIFA…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday received the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward, at the State House in Abuja. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on X on Monday. Edward is in Nigeria to host a series of events in Lagos from 17 – 23 November 2025 to champion the expansion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award across the world. The event is expected to convene almost 200 young people from more than 50 countries over the week, alongside hundreds of leaders delivering the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award…

The Federal Government has stated that the armed forces and intelligence agencies had been issued clear mandate to locate, rescue and safely return the female students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He also vowed that the federal government would ensure that the perpetrators faced justice, adding the authorities would not relent until this objective was achieved. The minister expressed deep concern and solidarity with the families of the female students, saying the administration shared…