Author: Vardiafrica

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his ongoing retreat in France and urgently return to Nigeria to address the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Plateau and Benue states In a post shared via his official X handle on Wednesday, the 63-year-old criticised the President’s absence amid worsening violence and insecurity across the country. “Mr President, domestic problems beckon,” Obi wrote. “I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entail that he immediately suspend…

The governor of Plateau state, Caleb Mutfwang, has apologized to residents of Zikke and Kimakpa communities in Bassa local government area after recent bandit attacks claimed over 50 lives. The attack comes barely two weeks after gunmen invaded and killed many residents in five communities in Bokkos and Mangu LGAs, on April 2. Speaking on Tuesday during his visit to Ronku Aka, the paramount ruler of Irigwe land, Mutfwang said the government has failed in its duty of protecting the lives of its citizens. “I will tell you the truth — I have been crying since yesterday because I had…

The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru has held an operational briefing with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) alongside the Service Chiefs at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Tuesday 15th April 2025. The high-level meeting was convened to provide the Minister with a comprehensive appraisal of the prevailing security landscape across the country. The briefing focused on the operational engagements, challenges, and strategic efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in combating insecurity and restoring peace to troubled regions. In particular, the Minister was briefed on the current security situation in the North East, Plateau State, North West,…

The House of Representatives has inaugurated an Ad-Hoc Committee to oversee the administration of Rivers State during the ongoing State of Emergency. The inauguration reaffirms the National Assembly’s commitment to constitutional governance, transparency, and national unity. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, inaugurated the committee which has the Leader of the House, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, as chairman. Mr. Abbas said that the members of the Committee have been selected with meticulous care by the House leadership based on their integrity, experience, and steadfast dedication to the national interest. ” You have been entrusted with the heavy…

IGP Kayode Egbetokun visits Plateau State on Tuesday after 51 persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the Bassa LGA. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has disclosed that those responsible for the heinous killings in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State will be surprised. Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.During his third official visit to the State on Tuesday,…

The United Nations’ emergency and disaster response agency will reduce its global workforce by 20% and scale back operations in nine countries, as it confronts a severe funding crisis and escalating global needs, it announced on Friday. In a letter to staff shared on the agency’s website, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) head Tom Fletcher outlined “brutal cuts” driven by a nearly $60 million funding shortfall for 2025, compounded by rising humanitarian demands. OCHA will withdraw from or adjust operations in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Zimbabwe, and aim to prioritize “dynamic and full…

Nigeria has signed a bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to allow both countries to commence direct flight operations. The agreement was signed on Monday by Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, and Rohan Sinanan, Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of works and transport, at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago. In a statement, Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to Keyamo, said the development marks the official commencement of direct air links between the two nations. Moshood noted that the agreement is the outcome of diplomatic and technical…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described the N300 million received from the Rivers State government as a gift, not payment for hosting rights for its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC). This clarification was made in a statement on Monday, April 14, by Emeka Obegolu, chairman of the AGC planning committee, amid rising controversy following the NBA’s decision to move the conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.  The Rivers State government, under the leadership of Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, had demanded a refund of the money, alleging that it was paid for the rights to host the conference. The government…

President Bola Tinubu expresses profound sorrow over the recent bloodshed in Plateau State, a tragedy that has claimed the lives of over 40 individuals. He strongly condemns the violence and extends his sympathies to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the state government, and the people of Plateau while urging him to summon the necessary political will to resolve the crisis and establish enduring peace. In his call for harmony among the people of Plateau State, President Tinubu emphasises the importance of love and unity beyond religious and ethnic lines. He encourages community, spiritual, and political leaders within and beyond the state to…

Amidst ongoing controversy trailing talks of mergers and coalitions ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum says the party is not prepared to join any coalition or merger. The resolution was made in a communique issued at the end of the Forum’s meeting held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Monday. After the meeting which lasted about six hours behind closed doors, the Chairman of the Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who read the communique clarified that rather, the PDP remains open to welcoming individuals, parties, and groups committed to rescuing Nigeria and…