Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the resumption of the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The train service was suspended on April 10, 2025, due to multiple engine failures and other technical and operational challenges. The management of the NRC, led by Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, apologised to passengers, stakeholders, other interest groups, and Nigerians whose livelihood is daily impacted by the services. In a statement signed by Acting Deputy Director, Public Relations, NRC, Callistus Unyimadu, the management informed the public that engineers were working to rectify the situation, hence the necessity…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Achimugu was arrested around 5 am on Tuesday shortly after her return from London. A top EFCC staff confirmed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Tuesday. The socialite had been declared wanted in March by the EFCC over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. Her lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), confirmed her arrest, saying, “Aisha Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested by the EFCC around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.” He criticised…

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the defection of Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, and the entire state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a “political tsunami unprecedented in Nigeria’s history”. On April 23, Oborevwori and other PDP bigwigs in Delta state defected to the APC. Speaking in Asaba, the state capital, on Monday at a rally organised to welcome the governor and other new members to the APC, Shettima lauded Oborevwori and Ifeanyi Okowa, the former Delta governor, for their cordial relationship and for making history with the defection. “What testimony can be greater than the…

The Nigerian Government is set to pay the outstanding five months arrears of ₦35,000 wage award to federal government workers, according to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF). In a statement issued on Monday, the OAGF explained that the Nigerian Government had earlier paid five months’ wage award to federal government employees in instalments, adding that the outstanding arrears would be paid in instalments of ₦35,000 per month for five months. The first instalment of the outstanding wage award arrears would be paid after the April 2025 salary. “The wage award arrears would not be paid…

Spain and Portugal experienced a widespread power outage on Monday, leaving millions without electricity in a snap blackout. In Portugal, official sources told domestic media that the outage, which hit around late morning local time, was nationwide, while similar reports emerged from Spain. Madrid’s Barajas International Airport and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado were closed after being left without power, and telecommunications have also been affected, with residents across the two countries saying they have no access to mobile networks. Meanwhile, other airports have come to a standstill throughout the Iberian Peninsula, and flights from Brussels and other European cities to Spain…

Catholic cardinals will meet on May 7 to start voting for a new pope, the Vatican announced on Monday, a week after the death of Pope Francis. So-called “Princes of the Church” under the age of 80 will meet in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new religious leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The date was decided at meeting of cardinals of all ages early Monday, two days after the funeral of Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88. The Church’s 252 cardinals were called back to Rome after the Argentine’s death, although only 135 are eligible to…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has said the ceasefire will run from the morning of 8 May until the 11 May – which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two. In a statement it said Putin declared the ceasefire “based on humanitarian considerations”. Ukraine has not yet responded A translation of the statement said: “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. “In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will…

The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Sunday night, sent a a sarcastic apology to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, via her social media platforms. In the post, Natasha who is in a running battle with Akpabio, whom she has accused of s3xual harassment, said in her letter that he should please forgive this ‘’stubborn woman’ who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was ‘’earned through elections, not erections”Her ‘’apology” which has left many Nigerians reeling with laughter online, read;‘’SATIRICAL APOLOGY LETTERFrom the Desk of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,It is with…

The United States government has fingered corruption as the major stumbling block to trade and investment in Nigeria. Speaking in the latest 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the Office of the United States Trade Representative said corruption and lack of transparency in tender processes are major concerns to U.S. companies. “U.S. firms experience difficulties in day-to-day operations as a result of inappropriate demands from officials for ‘facilitative’ payments. “Efforts to strengthen anticorruption measures have been hampered by inter-ministerial infighting and partisan politics. “Questions also remain regarding the Nigerian justice system’s capacity to achieve convictions and appropriate…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Asaba, the Delta State Capital. He is in the State for a grand reception for Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently defected to the All Progresses Congress (APC). The presidential jet that conveyed the Vice President touched down at Asaba international airport at 10:32 GMT. He was received by the Delta State Governor, Sherrif Oborevwori. National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma and some State Governors had arrived Asaba on Sunday evening for the historical event. The main opposition party in…