Author: Vardiafrica

US President Donald Trump has launched a gold card programme that offers fast-tracked citizenship to wealthy foreigners who can pay at least $1 million. Trump announced the card’s launch on Wednesday in a Truth Social post alongside a website where interested persons can apply. To apply, an applicant must pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after which a background approval and a subsequent payment of $1 million must be made to receive US residency in “record time”. “Additional small fees to the U.S. Department of State may apply depending on the applicant,” the website noted. A separate…

Two Nigerians, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been named among Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women for 2025, reflecting their influence across global trade, governance and media. The annual ranking, released on Wednesday, profiles women shaping policy, business and culture internationally. Okonjo-Iweala, positioned at 92, is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the first African and first woman to hold the office since March 2021. Forbes highlights her over 30 years of experience in economic development across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. She previously served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and briefly as Foreign…

The leader of the failed coup d’état in the Benin Republic, Lt Col Pascal Tigri, is reportedly hiding in neighbouring Togo, according to a senior government official in Benin. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the Beninese government would formally request Tigri’s extradition, though Togo’s authorities have yet to comment publicly on the claim, according to the BBC. The failed coup was the latest in a string of military coups and coup attempts across West Africa, fuelling growing concerns that democratic governance in the region is under increasing threat. The plot was foiled after Nigeria deployed fighter jets to help…

Lai Mohammed, ex-minister of information, has insisted that there was no massacre at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos during the #EndSARS protests.  In a report on the October 20, 2020 incident, CNN had alleged that soldiers used live bullets on the protesters. However, the army had repeatedly denied deploying live ammunition, saying it fired blank bullets in a bid to disperse the protesters after the government had announced a curfew. At the time, Mohammed, who was minister of information, wrote to Jonathan Hawkins, VP communications at CNN, to say the report “did not just fall short of journalistic standards but reinforces the…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has named Africa’s leading industrialist, Aliko Dangote, as the pioneer Chairperson of its newly created ECOWAS Business Council. ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, announced the appointment at the 95th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers in Abuja, saying the move aims to boost private sector investment, strengthen financial stability, and enhance economic integration across the region. Touray said the council will serve as a platform for dialogue between the private sector, governments, and ECOWAS institutions, adding that the region must rely more on intra-African capital rather than unstable foreign investment. He…

President Bola Tinubu has met with All Progressives Congress leaders and governorship aspirants in Osun state and appealed for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary on December 13. The President met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night. The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it will prohibit air ticket taxes to reduce airfares in all airports across the subregion from January 2026. Chris Appiah, the ECOWAS director of transport and communications, spoke in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the ECOWAS council of ministers’ meeting on Wednesday in Abuja. According to NAN, Appiah said the move was part of a sweeping regional policy that was approved by the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government in December 2024. He said the decision aims to make air travel more affordable and deepen subregional…

The House of Representatives has resolved to summon the Governor of the Central Bank, Olayemi Cardoso, after a rowdy session ensued following a motion seeking to invite Cardoso to explain the non-remittance of identified government revenues and present a concrete plan for immediate payment of all outstanding amounts into designated Federal Government accounts. The resolution was reached following a motion alleging non-remittance of over ₦5 trillion operating surplus and ₦11 trillion government revenue by the CBN. The motion was raised by the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, who informed the house that the CBN governor had ignored several invitations from…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed speculations of a rift between him and federal or state lawmakers from the state, insisting that claims of strained relations are unfounded. Governor Fubara said this on Wednesday at the commissioning of the extended and dualised 28.4-kilometre Ahoada–Omoku Road. The governor said, contrary to insinuations that he was avoiding the lawmakers, arrangements had already been made for a meeting with them. He explained that the plan was for his predecessor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, along with elder statesman Ferdinand Alabraba and other leaders, to convene the session. According to him, anyone alleging…

President Bola Tinubu has established a multi-ministerial committee to address the mounting backlog of unpaid federal contractors, estimated at over ₦1.5tn and involving roughly 2,000 firms. The decision followed the President’s strong dissatisfaction with revelations presented during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja. Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu was “gravely displeased” upon learning the scale of the legacy debts. “He made it very clear he is not happy and wants a one-stop solution,” Onanuga stated. “The DG of the Bureau of Public…