Author: Vardiafrica

An aircraft carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following a technical fault while in flight. The incident was confirmed in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu. According to the statement, the aircraft developed a technical problem while airborne within Nigerian airspace, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and request an immediate landing. LASEMA said it received a distress alert via its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines, after which its Lagos Response Team (LRT)…

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term in office on Saturday, January 17, after an election marred by violence and an internet shutdown, with African observers saying arrests and abductions had “instilled fear.” Museveni, 81, won 71.65% of the vote in Thursday’s election, the Electoral Commission said, amid reports of at least 10 deaths and intimidation of the opposition and civil society. His victory allows him to extend his 40-year rule of the East African country. Museveni defeated Bobi Wine, 43, a former singer-turned-politician who won 24.72% and said he was in hiding on Saturday after a raid by security…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President-elect Mamady Doumbouya. The Vice President was received by senior Guinean government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps ahead of the official ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium in Nongo. The inauguration of President Doumbouya follows his victory in the December 2025 general elections, signalling the formal end of a four-year military transition. The Vice President’s attendance at the inauguration affirms Nigeria’s leadership role within the Economic…

Rivers High Court in Oyigbo Local Government Area has intervened in the deepening political crisis in the state by issuing an interim injunction that temporarily halts further action on the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Nma-Odu. In a ruling delivered in Port Harcourt, the court restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside thirty-two others, including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State, from taking steps aimed at advancing the impeachment proceedings. The order specifically barred the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, from receiving, forwarding,…

Last month in Nigeria, Anthony Joshua was injured while two of his closest friends passed away in a fatal car crash. After Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele died, Joshua has now finally shared an update on his life. Still recovering from the aftermath of the crash, Joshua has returned to the gym in a bid to recover from his injuries. The 36-year-old boxer now shared a video on Snapchat, showcasing his road to recovery and journey back. Captured training and working out, Joshua could be seen hitting pads, exercising, and riding a stationary bike. One of the clips also contained the caption, “mental strength therapy.” The…

The United States has approved $413 million to support counter-insurgency and wider security operations in Nigeria and other West African countries for the 2026 fiscal year, following the signing of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) into law in December 2025. The funding, allocated under the budget of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), reflects Washington’s growing concern over deteriorating security conditions across the region. It forms part of a sweeping defence package authorising $901 billion in total military spending and providing a four per cent pay increase for US service members, marking the 65th consecutive annual defence authorisation by…

The supreme court has dismissed an appeal filed by Aminu Sule Lamido, son of Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state. The appeal had challenged the decision of the trial court, which convicted him for failing to declare $40,000 at an airport. Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Aminu on December 11, 2012, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, as he made to board a flight to Cairo in Egypt. The prosecution stated that Aminu declared $10,000 to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), but was found to have an additional $40,000, which was not disclosed…

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd, has warned state governments to steer clear of any proposed peace deal with bandits. Musa issued this warning in an interview with BBC Hausa, saying that the Federal Government has consistently advised all levels of government against negotiating with armed groups. Describing such arrangements as dangerous, counter-productive, and a threat to national security, the minister stressed that bandits cannot be trusted to honour any agreement. According to him, negotiations only embolden criminal networks, weaken military operations, and prolong insecurity. “The Federal Government’s position is clear. There would be no negotiated settlements, no…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea-Conakry. He is also scheduled to attend the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, following his participation in the presidential inauguration in the West African country. The Vice President will represent President Tinubu at the inauguration ceremony of President Doumbouya, following his election victory. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 17 January, at the GLC Stadium, Nongo, Conakry. Vice President Shettima’s attendance at the inauguration of President-elect Mamadi Doumbouya is considered…

The Supreme Court has ordered that the trial of former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, his two sons, and others, over alleged ₦1.35billion fraud, should continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja. A five-member panel of the apex court issued the directive in two unanimous judgments, in the two appeals filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the trial court, which dismissed the no-case submission filed by the Lamidos and held that the defendants had a case to answer. Both appeals were against the July 25, 2023, judgments of the Court…