Author: Vardiafrica

Goldman Sachs says the naira will appreciate to N1,200 against the dollars in the next twelve months. The financial institution made this known in a recent research note by its analysts, Andrew Matheny and Bojosi Morule. Goldman Sachs said tackling Nigeria’s currency and external liquidity crisis requires positive real interest rates and capital inflows. The monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on February 27, raised the monetary policy rate (MPR), which benchmarks interest rates, from 18.75 percent to 22.75 percent. Due to the central bank’s monetary policy adjustments and bill issuance, Goldman Sachs said both conditions are present in the…

President Bola Tinubu will visit Niger State on Monday, the state government has said. Briefing journalists in Minna on Sunday, the State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Hon. Binta Mamman, said arrangements have been concluded by the government to ensure a smooth visit of the President. The Minna International Airport named after Abubakar Iman will now be renamed after President Tinubu, the commissioner said. She said President Tinubu is to visit the state to commission agricultural equipment worth billions of naira procured by the state government in the state among others in the state According to her, all necessary measures…

Presidential candidates in Senegal kicked off their election campaigns on Saturday, following weeks of violent protests across the African country after the vote was delayed. The 19 approved candidates vying for the top job now have a shorter period to rally supporters ahead of the March 24 election, expected to be the most tightly contested race since Senegal gained independence more than six decades ago. The former mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, who is running for the fourth time, organized a marching caravan through the streets of the capital to begin his campaign. The front-runners will likely be former Prime…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has met with the leaders of the Kuriga community in Kaduna State and the representatives of families of students abducted in the state. Close to 300 students of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were abducted earlier in the week. But at the meeting on Saturday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, Shettima assured of the government’s resolve to ensure the students are rescued. He told them that the president has instructed security agencies to leave no stone unturned until all the kids…

Rwanda’s ruling party on Saturday picked President Paul Kagame as its candidate for the July election, teeing up a contest widely expected to return the longtime leader to office for a fourth seven-year term. The 66-year-old has ruled over the landlocked African nation for decades, winning the presidency in elections in 2003, 2010 and 2017 — with more than 90 percent of the vote. Kagame’s candidacy was unopposed during the Rwandan Patriotic Front congress, which ended Saturday, the party said. Kagame said he had accepted the nomination but urged the ruling party to prepare for transition beyond him. “The burden…

Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi set a new Premier League record on Saturday after scoring a late consolatory goal for Fulham in their 2-1 loss away at the Molineux Stadium. Iwobi halved Wolved deficit deep into stoppage time with a clever improvised finish but there was barely time for the game to restart as Wolves held on after Rayan Ait-Nouri scored early in the second half, converting from Toti Gomes’ pull back after Fulham failed to deal adequately with a free-kick from deep. Nelson Semedo’s deflected shot off Tom Cairney made it 2-0 for Wolves before Iwobi struck late on for…

Bandits have attacked a mosque in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two worshippers in the process. The police authorities in Kaduna state have not confirmed the attack. However, a community leader, Sani Usman, told Channels Television that the bandits invaded the Mosque at Anguwar Makera in Kwasakwasa community in the local government at about 2 p.m. on Friday and opened fire on the worshippers. He said that two people were gunned down by the bandits in the attack According to the source, the Muslim worshippers were observing the second round of the Salat prayers when they…

Francis Ngannou has apologised to his fans following a devastating loss to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Friday night. The Cameroonian fighter was knocked out by the former world heavyweight champion in the second round. Ngannou, a mixed martial artist went into the fight with high expectations following his impressive boxing debut against Tyson Fury last year but fell short against his more experienced Nigerian-British opponent. The 37-year-old second round knockout defeat came after failing to fully recover from a first round knockdown by Joshua. A strong right hand by Joshua forced the referee to stop the fight in…

Two-time world champion Anthony Joshua knocked out mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou in just the second round of their widely-hyped heavyweight clash on Saturday, with his promoter quickly declaring him the division’s “number one” fighter Joshua had his Cameroonian opponent on the canvas in the first round and twice more in the second in a brutal and brief exhibition of punching power. Ngannou, 37, a former UFC heavyweight champion, was taking part in only his second professional boxing match, having lost a split decision to Tyson Fury in an October fight that saw him put the WBC champion on…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned Nigerians against crowded gatherings to avoid potential threats. In an advisory issued on Friday, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, urged Nigerians to be vigilant against public dangers, especially Improvised Explosive Devices. Felicitating the Muslim faithful on the commencement of Ramadan and the Christians for the Lent period, Afunanya called on the citizens to report any strange activities or movements to the security agencies. He also cautioned clerics from both religions, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to refrain from economic exploitation, sabotage, or profiteering during these important obligations, stressing that the service calls for…