Author: Vardiafrica

Benue state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, says he does not support calls for residents of his state to arm themselves with weapons.  Following the incessant k!llings in some parts of the state, there have been calls for residents of the state to arm themselves with weapons so as to fight off the insurgents whenever they come attacking their communities. However, in a chat with AIT today June 17, the governor said he doesn’t support the calls for self defence but rather for an effective state police to be implemented. ‘’I think we would be rendering ourselves even more vulnerable.…

US President, Donald Trump was gifted a signed Cristiano Ronaldo jersey with a “special message.”  António Costa, president of the European Council, presented the president of the United States with the gift on Monday in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. “To President Donald J. Trump,” the Portuguese soccer star signed the jersey, adding, “Playing for Peace.” On X, António shared photos of President Trump and the jersey, along with a closeup of Cristiano’s message. Alongside the images, he wrote: “To President @realdonaldtrump. Playing for peace. As a team.” Margo Martin, special assistant and communications advisor to President Trump, posted a video of the moment the…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the Nigerian government to implement urgent policy changes and offer better incentives to healthcare workers as a solution to the growing migration of doctors and other medical professionals. Speaking on Tuesday at the commissioning of the Yeriman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Zamfara State, Obasanjo warned that infrastructure upgrades alone are not enough to stop the “Japa syndrome” — the wave of skilled professionals leaving Nigeria for better opportunities abroad. “Many Nigerians trained as medical personnel are leaving the country in search of better conditions,” he said. “If we want them to stay, we…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have condemned the brutal attack on Yelewata community in Benue State on Friday which claimed several lives and left hundreds displaced The opposition parties in separate statements released on Monday want President Bola Tinubu to take a decisive action that will see the perpetrators of the dastardly act apprehended and prosecuted. The parties commiserated with the families of the victims of the senseless killings in Benue State and other parts of our country and urged them not to relent in their effort to ensure the security of lives and property…

As deadly hostilities between Iran and Israel entered a fifth straight day on Tuesday, United States president, Donald Trump, issued a stark warning to Iranian civilians: “evacuate the capital city, Tehran, immediately.”  Trump’s message came amid growing global alarm over what many now describe as the worst direct confrontation between the long-time regional adversaries. Using his Truth Social platform late Monday, Trump blamed Tehran’s leadership for escalating tensions, insisting that Iran’s refusal to sign a nuclear disarmament deal had led the country down a destructive path “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame,…

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has declared that the state is now firmly under siege by terrorists, warning that the violence has escalated far beyond the traditional farmer-herder conflict that has plagued the region for years. Speaking in an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Governor Alia recounted the recent massacre in Yelwata community, where at least 151 people were confirmed dead, many burnt beyond recognition, and thousands displaced. Reflecting on the roots of the conflict, Alia explained that while the region had experienced farmer-herder clashes for over two decades, the scale and nature of recent attacks have…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Niger Delta region. Speaking during the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop to commemorate International Women’s Day in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said the Commission was taking significant steps toward promoting inclusivity and development for women across the region. Antai, represented by the Akwa Ibom State Director, Engr. Evong Evong commended the resilience and hard work of the women in the region. He emphasised NDDC’s dedication to gender inclusivity, stating, “In our sustainable…

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, on Monday, signed a new law allowing civilians to be tried in military courts that critics said could be used against opposition leaders ahead of next year’s election. The new law comes despite a ruling by the Supreme Court in late January that it was unconstitutional for civilians to be tried in military courts as was the case for opposition leader, Kizza Besigye. Besigye, 69, was abducted by armed men in Nairobi in November and re-emerged a few days later at a military court in Uganda, where he was charged with treason, which carries a potential…

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has formally announced the commencement of registration and the unveiling of the official website for the National Youth Conference 2025, tagged Youth Confab 2025. Speaking during a press address in Abuja Nigeria’s capital, Olawande described the event as a historic journey and a generational turning point with the theme: “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future.” He said the conference would serve as a national movement and participatory platform to harness the voices, creativity, and leadership of Nigerian youth. He stated that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Youth Confab…

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, rejected an application by the Federal Government to issue a bench warrant against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an alleged defamation case against her. The government is prosecuting Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello. When the matter was called on Monday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr D.D. Kasue, told the court that the matter was for arraignment but that the defendant was not in court. Kasue told the court that he served the charge on the defendant’s counsel which meant that the defendant was…