Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu has called for unity of purpose and more collaboration between the federal government, state governors, and members of the National Assembly to achieve national development goals. The President made the appeal while receiving state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly in Lagos on Friday, according to a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale. Led by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, among others Speaking on behalf of the…

In a historic move, Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria. The vaccine and emergency vaccination activities are funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds the global meningitis vaccine stockpile, and supports lower-income countries with routine vaccination against meningitis. Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries of Africa, situated in the area known as the African Meningitis Belt. Last year, there was a 50% jump in annual meningitis cases reported…

The IMF executive board confirmed Friday that it had reappointed Kristalina Georgieva to serve for a second five-year term at the helm of the international financial institution It means that Georgieva, who was the sole candidate in the running to lead the International Monetary Fund, will continue in office when her current term ends on September 30, 2024. The decision was taken by consensus, the IMF said in a statement confirming the board’s decision. “I am deeply grateful for the trust and support of the Fund’s Executive Board, representing our 190 members, and honored to continue to lead the IMF as Managing…

The Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been released after meeting the bail conditions granted him by the Court. Emefiele, who arrived at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja in custody of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, left for his home after the court proceedings. Justice Rahman Oshodi, who ruled on his bail application, admitted him to bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum. Shortly after the court granted him bail, trial started with the EFCC calling its first prosecution witness. The witness, a staff…

Crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky on Friday told the court he identifies as a male after he was found guilty of abusing the Nigerian currency, the Naira A federal judge in Lagos handed Idris Okuneye six months for mutilation of naira notes, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He will serve his six-month jail term at Ikoyi Correctional Centre without the option of a fine. Bobrisky has always stirred controversy as he appears in public functions in female costumes and in 2021, he revealed a new physical appearance to become more feminine after surgery. Before the…

Controversial cross-dresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine for abusing the Nigerian currency – naira.  Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in her sentence, said the judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira. Before the sentence, the judge asked Bobrisky about his sex, and he quickly replied that he is a man. He was subsequently sentenced to serve his jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The judge in her ruling held that the…

Police authorities in Anambra State have recovered three more bodies from a boat accident involving a movie cast. Nollywood star Junior Pope Odonwodo was part of the crew that drowned in the boat mishap two days back. While some crew members were yet to be found following the boat tragedy, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command Tochukwu Ikenga said three more bodies of members of the movie cast have been recovered. “Marine Police of Anambra State Command has recovered bodies of the three remaining victims of the unfortunate boat accident involving a movie cast,” he said in a…

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted bail to a former Central Bank (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele Justice Rahman Oshodi granted him bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum. The court also held that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have three years of tax payment with the Lagos State Government. Justice Oshodi said that the sureties must show proper identification and they must be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System The judge also said that he was satisfied with the bail conditions of N1 million, earlier given to Emefiele’s…

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, with the gains by the naira against the United States dollar in the last few weeks, electricity tariff paid by Nigerians should moderate positively. The minister was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday. “The tariff is flexible and I can tell you that even if naira gains more and the exchange rate comes down below N1,000, it must positively affect the tariff and the tariff even for the Band A will come to down below the N225 kilowatt per hour that we are currently charging,” he said On April 3, 2024, the…

The Zimbabwean government has introduced the revolutionary HIV prevention injection, which lasts two months. The drug, Injectable cabotegravir (CAB_LA), which is now available for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a cutting-edge biomedical intervention which offers a convenient and potent means of preventing HIV transmission among individuals at substantial risk. Unlike the traditional daily regimen of pills required for PrEP, this injection is administered once every two months, providing a more practical and manageable option for those seeking protection against the virus. Commenting on the development, Dr Misheck Ruwende, a renowned figure in the medical community said; “Good news! Zimbabwe had its…