Author: Vardiafrica

The tiny Caribbean nation of Curacao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday as Haiti booked their return to the tournament for the first time in 52 years along with Panama. A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao — with a population of just 156,000 — squeeze into next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston. Haiti, meanwhile, who last appeared in the World Cup in 1974, also completed an improbable qualification campaign with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Ironically, Haiti…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible if it embarks on an indefinite strike over non-completion of the ongoing renegotiation. Coordinator of ASUU Lagos Zone, Prof. Sola Nassir, made the declaration at a briefing at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) to inform Nigerians on progress about the ongoing renegotiation between government and the union. According to him, the ultimatum of four weeks to complete the renegotiation issued by the union is less than 72 hours and ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) will meet to take a decision. In October, the…

Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House black-tie dinner alongside the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night. Speaking ahead of the event, US President Donald Trump said it was an “honour” to host Ronaldo, whose starring role in the Saudi football league has seen him become a face of the country’s modernisation drive. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman wants to reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenues by diversifying into other areas including sports and tourism. A White House official confirmed earlier in the day that Ronaldo would attend, but did not say if he…

President Bola Tinubu has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State on Wednesday to sympathise with the state government and assure parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government will ensure their quick release. President Tinubu also sent his condolences to the military over the death of the gallant soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who paid the ultimate price while on active duty fighting insurgents in Borno state. The President, who the military authorities have fully briefed about the two incidents, expressed sadness over the abduction of the schoolgirls, despite intelligence warnings of a possible…

Rapper Nicki Minaj brought her star power to the United Nations to draw global attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, teamed up with President Donald Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz to speak at an event hosted by the United States Mission to the United Nations that spotlighted religious violence and the killings of Christians in the most populous African nation. The rap mogul said she wanted to speak out against injustice and stand up for people who are persecuted for their beliefs. “In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from…

Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have sealed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja. The closure followed a violent face-off between two factions of the party on Tuesday. Videos on Wednesday showed barbed wire stretched across the main entrance to stop movement in and out of Wadata Plaza. Officers were stationed around the complex to enforce the shutdown, while a group of men mounted barricades around the building with reinforced metal fencing and wire mesh. None of the principal actors from the two feuding blocs was seen near the premises, as only security personnel were on duty. Chaotic…

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify efforts to secure the release of students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. According to a statement on Tuesday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YANMA, Captain David Adewusi, the COAS gave the directive on Monday during an operational tour of Kebbi State. Addressing frontline commanders and troops, Gen. Shaibu charged them to conduct intelligence-driven operations and maintain relentless, day-and-night pursuit of the abductors. “We must find…

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), on Tuesday officially assumed control of the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja. Turaki, accompanied by key party stakeholders including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, regained the secretariat from a faction led by the former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. The takeover followed heightened tensions arising from the party’s National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Turaki was elected Chairman on November 15, 2025. At the convention, the party expelled Anyanwu, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State…

In a new development in the growing call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, 44 serving federal lawmakers from both northern and southern regions of Nigeria have written a two-page letter and resolution to President Bola Tinubu. In the letter, the lawmakers urged the President to invoke his constitutional powers to release Kanu from detention and to convene an all-inclusive political roundtable involving all stakeholders to address the country’s challenges and find a lasting solution through a political process. The lawmakers, under the aegis of “Concerned Federal Lawmakers,” further called on President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, as soon…

A crisis erupted on Tuesday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat, as the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and that of factional acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, clashed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the factional acting chairman, Mohammed, is backed by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike. NAN also reports that the situation degenerated when Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo arrived at the party secretariat. Mohammed and Makinde had arrived at the party secretariat at about 10:45 am, but the main gates of…