Author: Vardiafrica

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Sunday attended a special church service to commemorate the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt. The governor was accompanied by his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, alongside other senior government officials. The service marked the first public outing of Governor Fubara and his Deputy since the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated fresh impeachment proceedings against the governor on Thursday. This latest development represents the third impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara in less than three years, further heightening political tension in the state. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day service…

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Super Eagles following their emphatic 2–0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. Nigeria booked a place in the semi-finals with a commanding performance at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, ending Algeria’s impressive defensive run in the tournament. The Desert Foxes had conceded just one goal prior to the encounter, but were undone by Nigeria’s intensity and clinical finishing in the second half. Reacting shortly after the final whistle, President Tinubu took to X to commend the team’s display. “Brilliant performance… inspiring. Go, Super Eagles! You have the…

Billionaire industrialist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has announced a massive financial incentive package for the Super Eagles following their emphatic victory over Algeria, which secured Nigeria a place in the semi-finals of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Super Eagles on Saturday, January 10, 2026, sealed a smooth passage to the final four with a dominant 2–0 win over the Desert Foxes at the Stade de Marrakech. Second-half goals from talisman Victor Osimhen and striker Akor Adams ensured Nigeria’s flawless run in the tournament continues. In a congratulatory message shared shortly after the…

Benin Republic will on Sunday hold parliamentary and local elections expected to shape the country’s political landscape ahead of the presidential election scheduled for April. The polls are coming barely one month after a failed coup attempt unsettled the West African nation. On December 7, army mutineers attempted to overthrow the government, but the uprising was swiftly crushed with support from Nigeria and France. President Patrice Talon’s ruling coalition is widely expected to strengthen its grip on power. The main opposition party, the Democrats, has been barred from participating in the local elections and from contesting the April presidential race…

 President Donald Trump said there could be more strikes by the U.S. in Nigeria if Christians are killed in the African nation, even as Nigeria has previously denied Christians there are subjected to systematic persecution. Trump’s comments in an interview with the New York Times were published on the newspaper’s website on Thursday. Trump made the remarks when asked about Washington’s Christmas Day military strike in Nigeria. The U.S. military said at the time it carried out a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria’s government. Nigeria said then that the strike was a “joint operation” targeting “terrorists,” and had…

The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has filed a formal petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, alleging abuse of office and corrupt enrichment. The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal representative and Lead Counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, followed the withdrawal of an earlier complaint filed before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The shift to the EFCC, according to the petition, was a strategic decision aimed at expediting investigation and possible prosecution. In the…

Authorities in Jersey have agreed to repatriate more than $9.5 million (£7 million) in funds linked to corruption to the Nigerian government, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s long-running effort to recover assets looted during the military era. The funds, described as proceeds of “tainted property”, are believed to have been stolen by the late former military head of state, Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria between 1993 and 1998. The money was held in a bank account on the island of Jersey and had been the subject of prolonged legal proceedings. Although the assets were recovered during the administration of former…

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has condemned the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly, demanding the removal of Nyesom Wike from his position as FCT Minister. IYC President, Alaye Theophilus announced this during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday, hours after lawmakers initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu. The Ijaw group described the move as entirely contrary to the wishes of the people of Rivers State. It urged President Bola Tinubu to sack FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of instigating unrest in the oil-rich state. “Recent…

The Rivers house of assembly says no political solution will halt the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, and Ngozi Odu, his deputy. The assembly had on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and Odu over allegations of “gross misconduct”. Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the assembly, had accused the governor and his deputy of posing a threat to democracy in the state. Amaewhule also faulted the governor for “deliberately refusing” to present the state budget in line with constitutional provisions. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Enemi George, spokesperson of the assembly, said lawmakers are determined to see the process through.…

The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution on Thursday that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader. The vote on a procedural measure to advance the war powers resolution was 52 to 47, as five of Trump’s Republicans voted with every Democrat in favor of moving ahead. One Republican senator did not vote. The vote took place days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic military raid in Caracas on Saturday. The rebuke for Trump, a day after senior cabinet members briefed every member of…