Author: Vardiafrica

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar joins the Recording Academy as a voting member, strengthening African representation in the world’s most prestigious music awards Afrobeats global superstar Davido has achieved yet another career milestone, officially becoming a voting member of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards. This recognition grants the Nigerian music heavyweight a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, where he will participate in both the nomination and final-ballot voting stages. The Recording Academy confirmed Davido’s induction in a video shared via Instagram on Tuesday, showcasing him alongside other new members of the 2026…

Excessive speeding, human error, and misapplication of emergency braking system were the major causes of the derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna train, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has revealed. The accident happened on August 26, 2025, leaving 22 passengers wounded. This was revealed by the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, in a statement issued on Monday. He said the revelation is following the conclusion of an internal investigation into the derailment that occurred near Asham. The accident saw several coaches of the Kaduna-bound passenger train overturn, causing panic among the 618 passengers onboard. Dr. Opeifa said the derailment was not linked…

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said fourteen financial banks in Nigeria have already met their 2026 recapitalisation requirement. Cardoso disclosed this on Tuesday in a briefing after the 302nd Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja. He said the Nigerian banking sector remained strong and resilient. Cardoso, however, did not mention the names of the banks that have met its recapitalisation requirements. “About 14 banks have met the regulatory capital requirements.” During the 301st MPC meeting in July 2025, Cardoso had said eight banks have met CBN’s minimum capital requirements. There are reports that banks like Zenith Bank, Access…

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced they will immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labelling it an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression”. The three military-led countries issued a joint statement, saying they would not recognise the authority of the UN-backed court, based in The Hague. “The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression,” the three leaders said. The court has not yet responded to the decision by the three countries, all of which with close ties to Russia whose leader Vladimir Putin has…

Embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central in the Senate will soon be resuming legislative function as the Sergeant at Arms of the National Assembly, along with combined personnel of security organisations, have unsealed her office of the Senate wing. The office was unsealed this morning September 23 ahead of the resumption of the Senate plenary on October 7. Recall that Senator Natasha was suspended for six months from the Senate on March 7 following her clash with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seat allocation. Earlier this month, the Senate clerk had written to Senator Natasha informing her…

The National Assembly has announced that the resumption date of plenary activities has been moved from Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to Tuesday, October 7, 2025.  This was made known in a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, and made available to journalists on Tuesday, September 23, in Abuja. According to the statement, the adjustment was made at the directive of the presiding officers of both chambers of the federal legislature. “I am directed by the presiding officers of both Chambers of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to inform all members of…

Ousmane Dembele won the Ballon d’Or for leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title and Aitana Bonmati received the women’s award for a third successive year on Monday. Dembele succeeded Manchester City midfielder Rodri to become the sixth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema. Bonmati won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. She’s only the third player in the award’s history to win three in a row after Michel Platini (1983—85) and Lionel Messi (2009-12). It has been a remarkable turn of fortune for Dembele, who at…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the political crisis in the state was over after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. Fubara, who resumed office on September 19 following the lifting of his suspension, said he visited the President to first brief him and express gratitude before settling fully into his duties. Speaking with State House correspondents on Monday evening after the closed-door meeting, the governor described his meeting with the President as a “father-son discussion.” “Ideally, it’s proper for me to see Mr. President and to tell him that I’m back, and I’ve…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has arrived at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for a visit to President Bola Tinubu. This is Fubara’s first official visit to the State House since his reinstatement as the governor of Rivers, after a six-month emergency rule in the state. He arrived the villa alone at about 6:20 p.m. on Monday and made his way towards the office of the President. Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended from office on March 18, 2025, by the President, following the political unrest in the state. Tinubu announced the end…

The Multichoice group (MCG) has crossed the threshold, with the Canal+ merger becoming unconditional and the French media giant is now effectively in control of the company. Canal+ and MCG announced that, as of Friday, 19 September 2025, all the suspensive conditions to the takeover have been fulfilled or waived, and as a result, the Canal+ offer has become unconditional. “Subject to the Takeover Regulation Panel issuing a compliance certificate in respect of the Canal+ offer in terms of section 121(b) of the Companies Act, which is expected imminently, the settlement process in connection with the offer will now commence,”…