Author: Vardiafrica

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, on Monday, unveiled the official match ball for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations The match ball named ITRI draws inspiration from Morocco’s centuries-old zellij art form. The name also pays tribute to the star featured on the Moroccan flag. ITRI ball, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will make its debut in the opening match of AFCON 2025. Hosts Morocco will take on Comoros in the opening game of the competition. The AFCON 2025 finals will kick-off on Sunday, 21 December

Russia said on Monday it was delusional to think Ukraine could win the war, while Moscow’s army said it had captured three more villages on the sprawling front line. Moscow is trying to press its advantage in manpower and equipment, but territorial gains have been slow and costly. Both sides are heavily entrenched, almost four years after Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine. “The Europeans believe that Ukraine can win the war and secure its interests through military means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “This is the deepest delusion indulged in by the Kyiv regime. The situation on the…

The Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, in partnership with the West African Power Pool (WAPP) Information and Coordination Centre, has successfully completed a major synchronisation test linking Nigeria’s electricity grid with the broader West African power network. This is according to a statement signed by the Chairman of NISO’s Board of Directors, Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abdu Bello Mohammed, on Sunday. NISO said the test was conducted on Saturday, November 8, 2025, between 05:04 a.m. and 09:04 a.m. It explained that the exercise involved synchronising the Nigerian grid, covering Niger Republic as well as parts of…

The Nigerian Government’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises, iDICE, programme has announced plans to launch two additional funds for the technology and creative sectors next year, targeting investments in start-ups across the country. The announcement comes as the Chairman of the iDICE Steering Committee, Vice President Kashim Shettima, described the formal kick-off as an exciting milestone that will leverage the potential of the country’s youth. It featured an anchor investment in a new venture fund by Ventures Platform, a pan-African seed-stage fund. The new funding achieved a $64 million first-round close based on investor commitments last Thursday. Ventures Platform…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Chukwuma Soludo on his re-election as Governor of Anambra State. Soludo was returned for a second term in office after recording a landslide victory, winning all 21 local government areas in the election, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday. The massive victory makes the professor the third governor in Anambra’s political history to win a second term. In a statement personally signed by him, President Tinubu described Soludo’s re-election as a testament to his visionary leadership and the significant progress recorded under his administration. “Governor Soludo, the Solution,…

U.S. President Donald Trump has again proposed paying a $2,000 “dividend” to most Americans using revenue from tariffs collected on imported goods. Trump made the renewed pitch on Sunday via his Truth Social platform, claiming that the U.S. government is “taking in trillions of dollars” through tariffs and could soon begin paying down its “enormous debt” of $37 trillion. He added that the proposed dividend would be distributed to all Americans except high-income earners, describing it as a reward from the country’s trade gains. “We are taking in trillions of dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT,…

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has thanked the people of the state for re-electing him into office for another four years In his speech shortly after being declared the winner of the November 8 governorship election, Soludo said it was time to get back to work. “Now that the people have spoken, let us get back to work,” the governor said on Sunday in his country home in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state. “Even last night, as the collation was going on, I was even making calls. I spoke to the Commissioner for Budget, talking about the…

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised British citizens against traveling to 21 states in Nigeria. “Insecurity is increasing across Nigeria. Kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal violence occur throughout all regions,” the advisory, updated October 21, reads. The FCDO said the advisory remained current as of Sunday. In the north-east, the FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Gombe, citing a risk of retaliatory attacks due to regular ongoing military operations. The office, however, advised British citizens to embark on only essential travels to Bauchi state. “There is a high and increasing threat from…

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike,  has granted defaulters of the land use/purpose clause of properties in Asokoro,  Maitama, Garki and Wuse districts in the Federal Capital City (FCC), a final grace period of 14 days to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change and conversion. According to a statement on Sunday, by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the defaulters now have 14 days, from Tuesday, November 11, 2025, to pay a violation fee of N5 million and other applicable fees for land use…

Chukwuma Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has secured re-election as governor of Anambra State after a decisive victory in the 2025 governorship election. Soludo won all 21 local government areas, polling 422,664 votes and defeating the closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by over 323,000 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results early Sunday at its Awka headquarters. Voting took place peacefully on Saturday across 5,720 polling units, with more than 500,000 voters accredited. Turnout was estimated at 25–30%. Soludo’s campaign centred on economic reforms, infrastructure development, and improving…