Author: Vardiafrica

Italy has launched a programme to suspend debts of African nations and convert them into investments. Giorgia Meloni, the country’s prime minister, spoke on Saturday at the 39th African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The prime minister’s announcement forms part of the ‘Mattei Plan’ — a set of economic and diplomatic projects to strengthen Italy’s presence in Africa through combining investment, cooperation and anti-migration efforts. Speaking during the opening session, Meloni said she believed debt cancellation is crucial for building a “truly free Africa capable of determining its own destiny”. “We wanted to chart a course on this…

The House of Representatives has said that it would reconvene for an emergency sitting on Tuesday to review matters arising from the recent announcement of the 2027 general election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Spokesman of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi in a statement late night on Friday said the decision has been convened to the members of the House. He noted: “The emergency sitting reflects the resolve of the House to respond promptly to issues with far-reaching implications for the nation’s democratic process. “Deliberations will focus on relevant legislative matters connected to the announcement, in…

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday joined other leaders across Africa and beyond at the opening of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This is just as the the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has taken over as the new Chairman of the African Union for 2026, succeeding the outgone Chairman, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola. No fewer than 49 heads of state and government, leaders of global and regional bodies and development partners attended the opening session, including…

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he acts “weak” to preserve peace and stability in the state. Fubara spoke on Friday while receiving the 2025 man of the year award presented to him by New Telegraph in Lagos. Fubara, whose speech centred on the strains of leadership, the toll of political conflict, and the need for reconciliation, dedicated the award to Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “I do not care how you interpret it or misinterpret it. I also dedicate this award to somebody who discovered me, not minding the situation — the honourable…

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has asked Nigeria to spearhead Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status. The UN Chief made the remarks during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Guterres praised the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions despite security challenges. The UN Secretary-General and the Vice President discussed key developments in Nigeria, focusing on strengthening Nigeria–UN…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has addressed concerns over its recently released Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election, particularly regarding the dates fixed for the conduct of the elections. INEC had on Friday announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 20, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly polls will be held on March 6, 2027. The Commission also fixed party primaries between May 22 and June 20, 2026, for the nomination of candidates. However, concerns have arisen from some Nigerians, especially Muslims, over the date of the general election, as…

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that Beijing will scrap tariffs for all but one African country on May 1. According to state media on Saturday, Xi said that the zero-tariff deal “will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for African development”, announcing the date as leaders across the continent gathered in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, for the annual African Union summit. China already has a zero-tariff policy for imports from 33 African countries, but Beijing said last year it would extend the policy to all 53 of its diplomatic partners on the continent. China is Africa’s largest trading partner and a…

The chairman of Heirs Holdings and member of the Presidential Economic Council, Tony Elumelu, has hailed President Bola Tinubu’s reform efforts, which he said ended the era of foreign exchange scarcity.  Elumelu said this on Friday after a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. “We also discussed the country’s monetary policy. What the Central Bank Governor and his team are doing is quite encouraging. We have seen a return to predictability and stability. Speaking not just as a bank chairman, but as an entrepreneur who wears many hats, the ability to predict the direction of the economy…

Nigeria has called for a continental shift towards health security sovereignty in Africa aimed at moving the continent from reliance on foreign aids to self-sufficient, homegrown health systems. This, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima, has become a matter of necessity to ensure the health of Africans is not subjected to the uncertainties of distant supply chains or the shifting priorities of global panic. Senator Shettima made the nation’s position known on Friday during a high-level side event on “Building Africa’s Health Security Sovereignty,” on the margins of the ongoing 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State…

The Confederations of African Football (CAF) has revealed plans to expand the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to 28 participating teams.  Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, announced the planned expansion on Friday at the confederation’s exco meeting press conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. AFCON currently features 24 teams, and the potential expansion will allow four additional countries to participate in every edition. “I had said in Morocco that CAF’s objective is to have AFCON or the equivalent of AFCON every year. Not every two years. And AFCON, as we know it, we want to increase it to 28 countries. As…