Author: Vardiafrica

In a landmark move for public health, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is set to launch the world’s first vaccination programme against gonorrhoea, using the existing meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine to target those most at risk. The roll-out, starting in early August, will focus on gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a previous sexually transmitted infection (STI), as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) at the end of 2023. This recommendation came in response to a record surge in gonorrhoea diagnoses – 85,000 cases in 2023, triple the number recorded…

In a stunning and unprecedented gesture, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni have publicly apologized to the Buganda Kingdom and all Ugandans for mistakes made during their nearly four-decade leadership. Delivered on May 25, 2025, during the Light Up Uganda for Jesus Mission Convention at Kololo Independence Grounds, the joint apology acknowledges governance failures, particularly toward Buganda, and seeks forgiveness as the nation approaches the 2026 elections. Speaking at the spiritual gathering hosted by their daughter, Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, the Musevenis expressed remorse for “laxity, negligence, and lack of diligence” that left many, especially Buganda’s grassroots supporters,…

Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania was today elected President of the African Development Bank Group at the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Tah was elected by the Bank’s Board of Governors, comprising Finance and Economy Ministers or Central Bank Governors of the Bank Group’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries. The board is the highest decision-making authority for the Bank Group. The results were announced by Niale Kaba, Minister of Planning and Development for Côte d’Ivoire, and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Bank Group. The winning candidate is required to obtain at least 50.01%…

The court of appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Edo state governorship petitions tribunal, which affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo as governor of the state. Delivering judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Mohammed Danjuma, who delivered judgment on behalf of the panel, held that the appeal was devoid of merit. Danjuma said both PDP and Ighodalo failed to establish their claim that the tribunal erred in its judgment by affirming Okpebholo’s election. However, the appeal court held…

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, has called for a structured joint document with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, through a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to establish operational standards, strengthen accountability, and check the incidence of corruption in the Commission. Aliyu who made the call when the Executive Management Committee of the NDDC, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, paid him courtesy visit in the office in Abuja, insisted that if there was any Federal Government agency that needed strengthening of its transparency policy it should…

In a historic shift within Africa’s energy landscape, Nigeria long the continent’s largest importer of refined petroleum products has relinquished that title to South Africa. This development signals a critical transformation in regional trade dynamics, driven largely by the operational ramp-up of the Dangote Refinery, now the largest single-train refinery in the world. Located on the outskirts of Lagos and costing an estimated $20 billion, the Dangote Refinery began large-scale production in 2024. With a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the facility is now steadily altering the continent’s crude oil trade by reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuels…

A former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, has approached the Court of Appeal in abuja, praying it to set aside a judgment granting the government full control of a substantial estate in abuja comprising 753 housing units. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier obtained a court order to seize the estate, situated in the Lokogoma district of Abuja. The estate was originally linked and recovered from an unnamed former government official. However, Emefiele, through his legal representative, A.M. Kotoye, filed a motion as an interested party in the suit. He contends that he ought to…

Chelsea roared back to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw on Wednesday, becoming the first club to claim all four major European trophies. Manuel Pellegrini’s enterprising Betis caught the favourites cold in Poland through an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli but Enzo Maresca’s team were a changed side in the second half. Two goals in five minutes changed the complexion of the game, with man-of-the-match Cole Palmer creating both openings for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson. Substitute Jadon Sancho made the game safe in the 83rd minute, finishing from an tight angle and Moises Caicedo…

Nnamdi Kanu is the defendant’s 1st witness in the trial within the trial as ordered by the court. He told the court that the statements he gave at the DSS HQ were under duress, as he was coerced into it. He alleged that coercion started from Lagos when they were transporting him from Lagos to Abuja where a DSS officer struck him. He claimed he was transported in chains, blindfolded. Describing his cell, Kanu said he knew it was underground because they kept telling him to mind the steps as he climbed lower and the lightning there was horrible and…

United States will impose visa bans on foreign nationals it deems to be censoring Americans, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said yesterday, suggesting the new policy could target officials regulating U.S. tech companies. Rubio did not name specific instances of censorship, but U.S. tech companies and the Trump administration have challenged U.S. allies in Europe, alleging censorship of social media platforms, but restricting officials from visiting the U.S. appeared to be an escalation by Washington. Rubio said in a statement that a new visa restriction policy would apply to foreign nationals responsible for censorship of protected expression in the…