Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria’s head coach Rena Wakama has been honoured as the Best Coach at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite the D’Tigress not advancing to the final four. Wakama’s leadership was instrumental in guiding Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, known as the D’Tigress, to a historic performance at the tournament. Under his guidance, the team achieved several milestones, making a significant impact on the competition. Wakama, who is 32 years old, led the D’Tigress to notable victories, including their opening-day win over Australia. This victory marked Nigeria’s first-ever success in a Group phase match at the Olympics. The team continued to…

Rwanda’s all-powerful President Paul Kagame was sworn in Sunday for a fourth term, saying regional peace was a “priority” in the face of ongoing conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Kagame swept to victory in elections last month with a staggering 99.18 percent of the vote, giving him another five years in office. Several dozen heads of state and other dignitaries from African nations joined the inauguration ceremony at a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, where many were dressed in the green, yellow and blue colours of the Rwandan national flag. The outcome of the July 15 poll…

President Joe Biden, in his first TV interview since dropping out of the White House race, warned that Republican candidate Donald Trump was “a genuine danger to American security.” “Mark my words, if he wins… this election, watch what happens,” Biden told CBS News in a pre-taped interview broadcast on Sunday. “He’s a genuine danger to American security. Look, we’re at an inflection point in world history… and democracy is the key.” Biden, 81, has kept a low profile since withdrawing after his flailing debate performance against Trump underlined fears about his age and mental abilities. In the short TV…

Poland says seven of its nationals did not fly Russian flags in Kano, a city in North-West Nigeria. Andrzej Szejna, Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, told private radio station RMF FM that the six students and the teacher “were in the wrong place at the wrong time”. The seven Polish nationals were accused of playing a “suspicious role” in protests against government policies and economic hardship, the Department of State Services said upon their arrest on Thursday. The Polish foreign ministry, however, said they were students and a teacher. Africa’s most populous country is struggling with its worst cost-of-living…

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has apologised to Nigerians for Team Nigeria’s dismal performance during the 2024 Paris Olympics when the country did not secure any medals. Daily Sun reports that Nigeria has officially concluded its participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, without winning a single medal. Hannah Reuben was Nigeria’s final hope for a medal on Saturday, but she was defeated 5-2 (by points) in the second round of the women’s freestyle wrestling 76kg by Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh. In a statement he signed on Saturday, Enoh said: “The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, have ended,…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu, to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and appropriate anti-corruption agencies, to promptly and thoroughly investigate the spending of $1.5bn World Bank loan obtained by the 36 states and Abuja for poverty reduction and social protection across the states. SERAP said, “Suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.” SERAP also urged him to direct Fagbemi and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate…

The state claims they mismanaged the statutory allocations remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account. The allegations further state that they criminally diverted ₦57.4 billion through several personal accounts of Local Government cashiers and other personal and corporate accounts. “The state government also accused them of transferring the funds into dollars for their personal benefits,” the charge sheet reveals. “They acquired a service apartment on the Murtala Muhammad Way, a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen – x20868 Dubai in Tigerwood, and plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Height, Marsa Dubai Marina, a multi-billion naira hotel in…

The Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West Africa States on Friday called for the return of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to the regional bloc. Speaking in Abuja while on a visit to the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said their return is necessary to defeat the increasing insecurity ravaging the region, especially insurgency. General Musa disclosed that efforts are ongoing on the part of the Ecowas Chiefs of Defence Staff to ensure the three countries are…

Nigeria has been disqualified for 4x400m men’s relay team for the final at the Paris Olympic Games. The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie finished heat 2 with a Season’s Best time of 2 minutes 59.81 seconds France won the race in 2 minutes 59.53 seconds with Belgium taking the 3rd automatic spot in 2 minutes 59.84 seconds. It was, however, adjudged that one of the Nigerian runners crossed lanes and that led to the tripping of a South African runner. The spot won by Nigeria has been given to South Africa. The Nigeria athletes…

President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal miners in the country. He gave the order while receiving a presentation titled, ‘Harnessing the Mining Industry for Enhanced National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria by 2035,’ by Course 32 participants of the National Defence College (NDC) on Thursday in Abuja. He also said his administration will ensure that companies engaged in mineral exploration prioritise the health and safety of Nigerians and the host communities. The course 32 participants were tasked by Tinubu, to use their findings during their 11-month study focused on…