Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with six Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja. The Governors who met with the President behind closed doors were those of Jigawa, Umar Namadi; Edo, Monday Okpebholo; Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji; Kogi, Usman Ododo; Sokoto, Aliyu Sokoto; and Kebbi, Dr. Nasir Idris. Details of the meeting were not yet made public as of press time. The closed-door session, which lasted for about two hours, took place against the backdrop of recent security challenges confronting the nation. When journalists sought their comments, the Governors declined to…

The CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, CAF and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have unveiled the Official Mascot for the competition, ‘ASSAD’. CAF dislcosed this in a statement on their website on Monday, December 8. “Inspired by the Atlas lion, one of Morocco’s most iconic national symbols and a unifying and powerful figure across the African continent. “His name, meaning “lion” in Arabic, embodies strength, pride, and cultural authenticity that resonates deeply with fans both in Morocco and throughout Africa. “As an ambassador for the tournament, Assad embodies the joy, passion, and energy that define Africa’s most…

The Federal Government is said to have secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.The development comes two weeks after bandits attacked the school, abducting 315 people, comprising 303 students and 12 teachers. It was gathered that with the release of 100 pupils, 153 pupils and 12 teachers are still held captive.Although details of the release are still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, The Guardian could not independently confirm if ransom was paid or if they were released unconditionally. However, sources…

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he would not be pushed out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by members who joined the party after him. Speaking on Sunday at a factional national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party held at his official residence in Abuja, Wike said Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi; and Seyi Makinde, his Oyo counterpart, joined the PDP long after he did. Last month, the PDP faction backed by Makinde and Mohammed expelled Wike and his allies — Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Oyo; Samuel Anyanwu, former national secretary; Umar Bature, former national organising secretary;…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Friday held an engagement session with youth groups and civil society organisations (CSOs) as part of its renewed drive for awareness creation concerning its functions and activities as well as enabling statute. In a welcome address to representatives of youth groups and CSOs in Bayelsa State at the Harold Dappa-Biriye Hall, Golden Tulip Resort, Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary of he NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe underlined the need to focus its awareness and sensitisation activities on oil and gas industry players and host communities, including contractors and vendors. Citing Section 67 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, which requires the Board to regularly…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out strategic airstrikes on fleeing elements of the recently foiled military coup in the Benin Republic, security sources have confirmed. The operation targeted coup plotters and their equipments attempting to escape Cotonou in armoured vehicles following the swift intervention by loyalist forces in the country. The airstrikes, executed over the past 30 minutes, involved multiple coordinated strikes carried out by Nigerian fighter jets operating within Beninese airspace. “The operation was meticulously planned and executed. Our objectives were clear: neutralize fleeing hostile elements, prevent regrouping, and restore stability in coordination with regional partners,” the…

Benin’s President Patrice Talon is safe, and security forces are restoring order after a faction of soldiers claimed to have removed him from power, the presidency announced on Sunday. In a brief statement, the presidency dismissed the soldiers’ declaration as the actions of a fringe group with limited influence. “This is a small group of individuals who only managed to seize the television station. The regular army is steadily regaining control. Both the city and the entire country remain completely secure,” the statement said. The clarification follows an earlier broadcast by soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation,”…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered on Sunday the deployment of a regional standby force to Benin following a coup attempt. The standby force will include soldiers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana, according to an ECOWAS statement. The statement said the troops would help the Beninese government and army “preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin”. The deployment order follows a previous ECOWAS statement pledging to support Benin in defending its constitution and territorial integrity “in all forms necessary”, including deployment of a regional standby force. A group of…

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday hosted a high-level United States Congressional delegation in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism and regional security. The visit follows earlier engagements between Ribadu and U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., where both sides discussed shared security priorities. The Congressional team on the fact-finding mission comprised Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Riley M. Moore. Also present was the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, underscoring the strategic importance America places on its security partnership with Nigeria. According…

French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday pledged his country’s support for Nigeria in tackling terrorism and other security challenges especially in the country. This was sequel to a telephone discussion President Maron had with his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, on Sunday morning. In a tweet on his verified X handle, @Emmanuel Macron, the French President said he had conveyed France’s solidarity with Nigeria in the face of “various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the north”. Macron, in the tweet, stated inter alia: “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT. “I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of…