Author: Vardiafrica

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has apologised to Nigerians over the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment and declared that he takes full responsibility for the incident. Opeifa, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, described the derailment as regrettable but assured that the matter would not be swept under the carpet. “Let me say, beyond apologising to Nigeria, I want to say as the managing director and chief executive, I take full responsibility. And in the case of safety, there is no indifference. “Once it happens, the chief executive must take responsibility. In this…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has commenced investigation to know the circumstances surrounding the derailment of a Kaduna bound train. The Bureau said a team has been deployed to the site to gather evidence, engage relevant stakeholders, and commence investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. It noted that available information indicates that six persons sustained injuries, and no recorded fatalities. A statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance of NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji reads, “The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is aware of the derailment involving a Kaduna-bound train service which occurred…

Briefing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, said the victims were freed during coordinated security operations carried out in two phases earlier in August. While presenting the victims to the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, Luka said the the first group of victims — 42 individuals comprising 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler — were rescued on August 14. According to him, the second group, comprising 88 individuals made up of 34 males and 54 females, was freed on August 19. “Unfortunately, among the second group, we lost one of…

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its immediate past Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, for three months over allegations that he plotted to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia. His suspension was triggered by a motion moved on Tuesday by Terna Shimawua, the member representing Kyan State Constituency, and seconded by James Umoru of Apa Constituency. Both lawmakers were among those Dajoh suspended last Friday before stepping down as Speaker. Presiding over the motion, the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, reduced Dajoh’s suspension from six months to three, breaking with the usual procedure of subjecting such disciplinary actions to a vote. Dajoh had…

Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, on Monday, met with Brazilian President Lula da Silva and presented a translated copy of his book. Temitope Ajayi, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, said in a statement on Tuesday that Soyinka met with Silva as the Nigerian leader engaged in other activities. “Yesterday, while President Tinubu was carrying on with other activities of his state visit to Brazil, President Lula da Silva received Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka,” the statement reads. “The global literary icon presented his translated book with the title: mito, literatura e o mundo africano (Myth,…

The Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Center has placed nine Northern states on red alert over possible flooding between August 25 and 29, 2025. The warning, contained in a circular signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, cautioned that certain Northern states are likely to experience heavy rainfall that could trigger flooding. The circular listed Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Borno among the states at risk, urging stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any emerging incidents. “Certain northern settlements are likely to experience heavy rainfall that…

Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace will soon begin a direct flight from Lagos to the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.The direct flight was one of the agreements reached between President Bola Tinubu and Brazilian leader, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during President Tinubu’s state visit. President Lula, at a joint conference with Tinubu, said an agreement has been reached. “Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos…

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has warned party leaders to beware of security agents who have infiltrated the party to cause division amongst members. Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, made this statement on behalf of his colleagues on Monday, shortly after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. Mohammed, who was also present at the PDP Governor’s Forum in Zamfara on Saturday, reiterated the forum’s plan to deepen unity amongst members and give no room for anti-party . “We learn from each other so that we can provide dividends of democracy away from the shenanigans pervading the political…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday welcomed Petrobras’s imminent return to Nigeria, five years after Brazil’s state-owned oil company halted its joint venture operations. At a joint press conference in Brasília during his State Visit to Brazil, President Tinubu said Petrobras’ return would reignite economic cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries. “We have the largest gas repository. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done as soon as possible,” he said. During the state visit, Nigeria and Brazil signed…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians over the growing consumption of fruits ripened with harmful chemicals, particularly calcium carbide, describing the practice as a serious threat to public health. The warning was delivered during a sensitisation programme on food quality standards held in Ado-Ekiti. The FCCPC’s Executive Chairman, represented by the Director of Quality Assurance, condemned the widespread sale of adulterated and contaminated foods in markets, stressing that the trend undermines both consumer safety and confidence in the nation’s food system. According to the agency, calcium carbide contains toxic substances, including…