Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has opened a three-day summit in the American capital with five African heads of state, notably excluding Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria. The summit, which began on Wednesday, is being described by the White House as an “incredible commercial opportunity” as Washington intensifies its “trade, not aid” engagement strategy with the continent. The African leaders hosted include:President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, President Boakai Among of Liberia, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal These leaders, while not representing Africa’s largest or…

The U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly warned that he would “bomb the s**t out of Moscow” if Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, according to bombshell audio tapes revealed in a new political book. The tapes—recorded at a series of 2024 private fundraisers in New York and Florida—were aired Tuesday night by CNN and are featured in the upcoming release, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, authored by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf. “With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the sh*t out of Moscow.…

London, UK — Tony Smith, the former director-general of the UK Border Force, has called for a radical overhaul of the asylum system that would require migrants granted refugee status to repay the costs of their accommodation and processing once they are permitted to work. Speaking amid record Channel crossings and spiralling asylum-related expenditure, Mr Smith said the government could recover up to £2.7 billion annually, nearly half of the current £5.4 billion spent each year on supporting asylum seekers. He suggested that migrants who eventually gain the right to work could be required to repay their state-funded housing and…

London, UK – A UK tribunal has blocked the deportation of a Pakistani national with a criminal record after hearing compelling psychological evidence that removal would severely harm the mental health of his eldest son. The Upper Tribunal was informed by expert witnesses that the child—already suffering from heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and stress—would experience significant psychological deterioration if forced to relocate to Pakistan with his family. According to a psychologist’s testimony, the boy’s mental health would likely suffer “profoundly” if he were removed from his established life in the UK. The child reportedly speaks limited Urdu, has no…

Abuja — The World Bank has appointed Dr. Mathew Verghis as its new Country Director for Nigeria, effective July 1, marking a key leadership change in one of the institution’s largest African portfolios. Verghis, an Indian national, succeeds Dr. Ndiame Diop, who has moved to a new role within the organisation. The appointment was confirmed in a statement issued by the World Bank on Friday. With more than 20 years of global experience in economic policy and development, Verghis has held senior positions across Africa, East Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. Most recently, he served as Regional Director for Prosperity…

ABUJA — As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, deepening cracks within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are becoming increasingly visible. Amid internal disarray and a wave of defections, the opposition party has denied involvement in a growing coalition movement aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu, a move that has drawn harsh criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement released Wednesday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, refuted claims that the party had formally endorsed the coalition being led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The clarification comes as multiple media reports suggested the…

ABUJA – Nigeria is mourning the loss of one of its greatest football icons as Peter Rufai, legendary goalkeeper and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion, has passed away at the age of 61. The news of Rufai’s death broke early Thursday, sparking an outpouring of grief from fans, former teammates, and the Nigerian football community. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, confirmed the tragic news in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a…

ABUJA — The gale of defections in the House of Representatives intensified on Thursday as seven federal lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing irreconcilable internal crises within their former parties. During Thursday’s plenary, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, read letters from the defecting lawmakers, marking a significant political realignment in the state’s representation at the national level. Among the defectors, six were elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while one, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, was previously a member of the Young Progressives Party (YPP). The PDP lawmakers…

In a strategic move widely seen as an effort to counter growing Chinese and Russian influence on the African continent, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an unexpected summit with five African heads of state. The meeting, set to take place at the White House on July 9, will bring together leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, a White House official confirmed on Wednesday. According to the official, the summit will focus on “commercial opportunities” and will include a working lunch hosted by the president. “President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both…

The Nigerian naira continued its decline against major global currencies today, Wednesday July 2, 2025, reflecting growing pressure on the local economy and foreign exchange market. According to data from the google finance  the official exchange rates are as follows: £1 (British Pound) = ₦2,101.87 $1 (US Dollar) = ₦1,533.75 €1 (Euro) = ₦1,813.40 ¥1 (Chinese Yuan) = ₦214.13 This marks one of the lowest valuations of the naira in recent years and indicates persistent volatility in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. Why Is the Naira Falling? Several economic challenges are contributing to the naira’s depreciation. Key among them is Nigeria’s…