Author: Vardiafrica

Iran launched missiles at US military bases in Qatar and Iraq on Monday evening, official media reported, in what state TV called a “powerful” response to recent American strikes on key nuclear sites. “The operation of Iranian missiles against American bases located in Qatar and in Iraq has begun, and is called ‘Blessing of Victory’,” the official press agency IRNA said. AFP journalists reported hearing explosions in Doha, the capital of Qatar, home to the largest US base in the region. Iran’s National Security Council later confirmed it had attacked a major US military base in Qatar on Monday in…

Mali’s military strongman, General Assimi Goita, told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday that he wanted to “reinforce” ties with the Kremlin, a key supporter of the west African country’s battle against jihadism. Under the general — who came to power after coups in 2020 and 2021 — Mali has steered away from its former colonial master France, mainly in favour of closer ties with Moscow. Goita’s days-long visit comes as Mali struggles to contain the country’s long-running jihadist threat. “I am convinced this visit will be an occasion to reinforce our relations,” Goita told Putin in the…

The United States Mission in Nigeria has advised American citizens to avoid ‘unnecessary travel to Nigerian military and government facilities’ due to increased global security concerns. In a statement released on Monday, June 23, the American Embassy prohibited its employees and their families from visiting military sites or other government venues in the Nigerian capital unless for official purposes. This advisory came in the wake of unspecified global developments that have prompted heightened security measures and a reevaluation of movement around sensitive locations. American citizens residing in or visiting Nigeria are urged to remain vigilant in public places, particularly in…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly condemned Russia, Iran, and North Korea, labeling them a ‘coalition of murderers’ due to their alleged support for aggressive actions and destabilization.  Zelenskyy made this statement during a visit to London on Monday, where he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss defense cooperation and increased pressure on Moscow. Zelenskyy’s visit came just hours after Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Kyiv, involving 352 drones—half of them Iranian-made Shahed drones—and North Korean ballistic missiles. The Ukrainian president described the attack as “a completely cynical strike” and confirmed that at least 10…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the pump price of petrol to N945 per litre in Abuja and N915 per litre in Lagos, signalling a fresh round of price hikes across the downstream oil sector. The new rates, which took effect on Monday, represent a N35 and N45 increase from the previous prices of N910 and N870 per litre in Abuja and Lagos, respectively. This latest adjustment follows the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s recent hike in its ex-depot petrol price from N825 to N880 per litre, a move that has triggered broader market responses. Private fuel marketers have…

The Federal Government has recapitalised the Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion and invested over N200 billion in agricultural interventions to boost food security and empower farmers across Nigeria. This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during a high-level engagement at the weekend, which featured bilateral talks, technical briefings, and an inspection of Nigeria’s national mechanization fleet at the National Agricultural Seed Council in Sheda, Abuja. Kyari reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to lead the transformation of food systems across the West African region, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency on…

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reportedly rejected what it describes as unwarranted interference by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in its internal affairs, declaring the government agency lacks the constitutional power to regulate its meetings such as the National Executive Committee, NEC, sessions, unless such meetings involve the election of party officers or candidates. This position was made clear during a media interactive session held on Sunday, at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, where the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, addressed journalists on key developments ahead of its 100th NEC meeting scheduled for June 30, 2025.…

U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of regime change in Iran and defended his statement that U.S. airstrikes over the weekend “totally obliterated” Iranian nuclear enrichment sites — a claim he insists is accurate, even as damage assessments continue. In a social media post late Sunday night, June 22, Trump stated the sites — hit with GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles on Saturday night — suffered “monumental damage,” adding: “The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” Trump further stated that if Iranian leaders failed to “make Iran great again,” regime change could…

The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has emerged as the new Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government as Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s two-term leadership of the bloc comes to an end. President Tinubu handed over the mantle of leadership to President Bio at the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. This was contrary to earlier speculations that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal was elected during a private meeting held prior to the commencement of the session. President Bio, in his inaugural speech, promised to prioritise four key areas,…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says the Commission will organise a retreat and agricultural summit for the Niger Delta region in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s agrarian programme. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer, who announced this during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Multi-Purpose Training Centre in Otuokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, stated that the retreat would be put together in conjunction with the state governments in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku stated that the NDDC was determined to make the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal…