For years, one of Africa's biggest business stories was about building factories. Increasingly, it is becoming about building assets that can compete on a global stage.

Abdulsamad Rabiu's acquisition of Africa's first Bombardier Global 8000 jet is another reminder of how quickly some African business empires are expanding beyond their home markets. The aircraft itself may grab headlines, but it also reflects the growing scale and reach of companies operating from the continent.

As more African firms expand across borders, the conversation is shifting from whether they can compete globally to how large they can become.

Nigerian billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu has taken delivery of Africa’s first Bombardier Global 8000 private jet, valued at approximately $81 million. Bombardier confirmed that the ultra-long-range business aircraft is now in active service with Rabiu's Nigeria-based conglomerate, BUA Group.

The flagship jet is designed for intercontinental travel with a top speed of Mach 0.94 and a maximum range of 8,000 nautical miles. This allows non-stop travel from Lagos to global hubs like New York, Tokyo, or Perth without refueling.

Rabiu, whose fortune is estimated at $19 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, holds interests in cement, food, and infrastructure. The acquisition highlights a growing demand among top African executives for premium aviation services to boost global business mobility. Read more…

🇳🇬 Nigeria calls on researchers and business folks to investigate why its food is being rejected

Nigeria has set up a new panel to investigate why many of its agricultural exports are being rejected in international markets.

The group will focus on issues linked to pesticide residues and other food safety standards that have led to losses for farmers, exporters, and agribusinesses. Its first report is expected within two months. Read more…

🌍 Meet the young African geologist who turned consultancy checks into a multi-million-dollar gold business across 3 African countries

Segun Lawson built a gold mining business across Nigeria, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire after starting out as a consultant helping projects raise funding.

His company now operates the Segilola Gold Mine in Nigeria and is expanding across West Africa.

Lawson says disciplined spending, debt-free growth, and strong community relationships remain central to the company’s long-term plans. Read more…

🇮🇱 Israel sparks diplomatic row with broad ebola travel ban on 5 African nations

Israel has introduced new travel restrictions affecting foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, as well as anyone who has visited those countries within the previous 21 days.

Kenya has protested its inclusion, saying it has conducted more than 80,000 Ebola tests and has not recorded a single case of the disease. Read more…

10 African countries with the highest debt to the IMF in June 2026

High reliance on IMF programs offers short-term financial stability but creates long-term fiscal challenges for African economies. Excessive debt restricts budget flexibility by requiring strict austerity measures like spending cuts, tax changes, and subsidy reductions.

Source: IMF

🇳🇪 One of West Africa’s largest uranium deposits moves closer to restart under revised deal with Canadian miner

Niger is advancing high-level talks with Canadian miner GoviEx Uranium Inc. to restructure the fiscal, legal, and operational framework for the long-delayed Madaouela project.

Led by the Minister of Mines, the negotiations over this massive undeveloped deposit form part of a broader resource nationalism drive.

The state is pushing for higher royalty returns, stronger state participation, and tighter oversight of strategic assets. Read more…

🇨🇮 Trillionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink enters its 27th African market in expansion push

Elon Musk's Starlink has secured the necessary licenses to launch satellite internet services in Côte d'Ivoire by July 2026, marking its 27th African market.

The satellite-based network aims to deliver broadband connectivity directly to remote and underserved rural areas, bypassing traditional fiber and tower infrastructure.

It faces competition from established operators like Orange and MTN, which already offer hybrid connectivity solutions. Read more…

Nigeria possesses the largest population in Africa, home to over 250 million people. This massive demographic presence means that roughly one out of every six Africans is Nigerian, and its population is larger than the combined populations of Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya.