Author: Vardiafrica

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested Russia’s conflict with Ukraine could be drawing to a close. Speaking after Saturday’s scaled-back Victory Day military parade in Moscow, he said: “I think that the matter is coming to an end” – referring to the “special military operation” in Ukraine – while condemning Western support for Kyiv. The parade – marking the Soviet victory in World War Two – lacked the usual display of tanks and missiles, as authorities feared Ukraine might target Red Square. A US-brokered ceasefire reduced the danger of attacks and the parade passed off without incident. However Ukraine and…

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday formally collected his nomination form to contest the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat on the platform of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), in his first major outing with the party since defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor attended the inaugural National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APM in Abuja, chaired by the party’s National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle. The session brought together senior party officials and key stakeholders and served as an opportunity for Mohammed to formally engage with the APM leadership following his recent defection. Addressing the…

The US state department will begin revoking the US passports of thousands of parents who owe a significant amount of unpaid child support. The department told the Associated Press on Thursday that the revocations would begin on Friday and be focused on those who owe $100,000 or more. That would apply to about 2,700 American passport holders, according to figures supplied to the state department by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The revocation program, plans for which were first reported by the AP in February, soon will be greatly expanded to cover parents who owe more than…

The Senate has rescinded the amendment that barred first time senators from contesting presiding offices, reopening the 2027 race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The reversal was adopted on Thursday through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau. The earlier amendment required any senator seeking to contest for presiding or principal offices to have served in the Senate for two consecutive terms, totalling eight years. The provision effectively disqualified newly elected senators and those returning after a break, limiting eligibility to a small group of ranking lawmakers. Critics…

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo with the Airbus President for Africa and Middle East, Gabriel Semelas The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus, in a strategic move aimed at transforming the country’s aviation and aerospace sector. The agreement was formalised during an official working visit by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to Airbus’ global headquarters in Toulouse, France. The deal is widely regarded as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reposition its aviation industry and build a…

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa. Fani-Kayode disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, explaining that the decision followed his request to be reassigned after he was initially nominated for a diplomatic posting to Germany. According to him, he formally communicated his concerns about the Germany posting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requested consideration for deployment to South Africa instead. He stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, approved the request and forwarded it to President Tinubu, who later…

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the transfer of more than 1,300 personnel from the Delta State Command following public outrage over alleged misconduct and the extrajudicial killing of a civilian. Force Headquarters spokesperson, Tony Placid, disclosed the development yesterday, stating that the large-scale redeployment was approved by the police high command. The directive by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was reportedly triggered by the controversial killing of Oghenermine Mena, as well as allegations of unprofessional conduct against some officers in the command. The redeployment is being viewed as part of efforts to restore public confidence and ease tensions in affected communities. Sources familiar…

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has waived the 2027 elections screening requirements for President Bola Tinubu. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) reached the decision during its 188th meeting, held on Wednesday. APC spokesman Felix Morka, said the party’s NWC “deemed him as duly screened in accordance with the Constitution of the Party for the purpose of participation in the upcoming primary elections. “This decision was made pursuant to the powers conferred on the NWC under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the Constitution of APC to organise and supervise the party’s primaries and, in special circumstances, grant waivers, in the…

Chelsea’s players are facing significant wage reductions after the club’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League were dealt a major blow. Monday’s 3-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest made it six successive Premier League losses for Chelsea and ended their chances of qualifying for the Champions League by finishing in the top five. There remains a chance that sixth place could earn Champions League qualification if Aston Villa win the Europa League, but Chelsea are now four points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth with three Premier League games left to play. Failure to qualify for the Champions League will not…

Wike Nyesom Wike has dismissed claims that there is overwhelming public support for the re-election of Siminalayi Fubara in 2027. Speaking during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike described suggestions that Rivers residents are unanimously backing Fubara for a second term as misleading. The former Rivers governor also addressed the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, referencing the intervention of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the dispute between the governor and the State House of Assembly. According to Wike, the Assembly complied with the President’s peace effort by withdrawing impeachment proceedings against Fubara, but he alleged that the…