Category: Finance - Page 29 - African News Today

Nigerian Government Approves Phased reopening of Schools

4Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, Education, Finance, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Nigerian Government Approves Phased reopening of Schools

Reviews curfew from 12am to 4am Lifts ban on market, cinema and gym Approves reopening of NYSC orientation camp The Nigerian government has ratified the phased reopening of educational institutions across all states of the federation after schools were closed in March as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19. Government tasked state government and stakeholders in the education sector to commence preparations for the full resumption of schools and also approved the extension of curfew from the initial 10 pm to 4 pm to 12 am to 4 am. The extension of the mandate of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF), was extended from September till December 31. Briefing reporters in Abuja, Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the PFT said, “For educational...

Inauguration Speech by Dr Akinwumi Adesina on His Election for a Second 5-Year Tenure

1Sep

By adminNo Comments

Africa, African Development, Agriculture, Finance, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Inauguration Speech by Dr Akinwumi Adesina on His Election for a Second 5-Year Tenure

PROTOCOLS Your Excellency, President Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Your Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Governments Excellencies former Heads of State and Governments Chairperson of the African Union Commission The Former Commonwealth Secretary General Honorable Niale Kaba, the outgoing Chairperson of the Bureau of Governors of the African Development Bank Group and Minister of National Planning of Côte d’Ivoire— Madam “Quiet Force” or “Force tranquille” The new Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors, Honorable Ken Ofori Ata, Minister of Finance of Ghana Governors of the African Development Bank, from 81 capitals around the world ...

Enugu Airport Reopens After 370 Days Closure as South East Leaders Commend Buhari

31Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Finance, News, Nigeria, Transportation

Enugu Airport Reopens After 370 Days Closure as South East Leaders Commend Buhari

The federal government of Nigeria on Sunday commissioned the rehabilitated Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for flight operations. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had closed the airport on August 24, 2019 for rehabilitation after its runway had become deplorable. In his address at the inauguration on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, describes the airport reopening as a “promise kept.” According to Buhari, the airport was important to the aviation industry as well as the people of the South-East because of its revenue base, noting that informed the concerted effort at delivering the airport on time. The minister stated that the Buhari had shown commitment towards the infrastructural...

AfDB Election: Adesina Re-Elected as President

27Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

African Development, Breaking News, Finance, News, Nigeria

AfDB Election: Adesina Re-Elected as President

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina has been re-elected for a second tenure. He was re-elected by the Board of Governors of the Bank at the ongoing AfDB’s virtual annual meeting in Abuja on Thursday. It was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Media, Lauretta Onochie on Twitter. Onochie wrote, “Our very own Akinwumi Akin Adesina has been reaffirmed as the President of the African Development Bank. “Thank you to our supportive President @MBuhari who mobilized support for our own Adesina and why not! Adesina has been proven to be above boards.” Recall that Adesina was recently cleared of misconduct by an Independent Review Committee set up to probe his administration after a complaint by the United States.

Reps Fault Chinese Loan Terms, as FG Confirms Sovereignty Clause

18Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Economy, Finance, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Reps Fault Chinese Loan Terms, as FG Confirms Sovereignty Clause

The House of Representatives has frowned at the sovereignty clause in Nigeria’s loan agreement with China, describing it as dangerous. Nicholas Ossai, Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements stated this at the investigative hearing on external loans and commercial agreements, saying Nigeria’s loan agreement with China was overseen by Chinese laws. He said Nigerian officials have been going against the Executive Order providing guidelines on waiver of sovereign immunity during loan and commercial agreement negotiations which the Federal Government signed in 2014. Ossai in his remarks, noted that the controversial clauses and agreements preceded the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He also said that the inquiry was not about the All Progress...

FEC Approves N8.49bn For Purchase of COVID-19 Testing Kits

12Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Finance, News, Nigeria, Science

FEC Approves N8.49bn For Purchase of COVID-19 Testing Kits

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has today ratified the sum of N8.49bn for the procurement of 12 items for the testing of deadly COVID-19 by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). President Muhammadu Buhari gave the approval during a virtual council meeting on Wednesday. The minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire presented the memo on behalf of the centre at the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja after which it was considered and approved.

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

8Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Economy, Education, Finance, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

Case pending before two courts, letter has not reached me – Nwaoboshi The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hit back at the Nigerian Senate, asking Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger-Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to refund N2.5n for contracts his companies failed to deliver. The commission failed to mention the names of the concerned firms in the letter written to the lawmaker. The commission gave Nwaoboshi a two weeks ultimatum to refund the funds to its account. NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Okoro, dated July 5 asked Nwaoboshi to return to its coffers fund earmarked for the supply of plastic chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017. The letter read, “Instead of supplying the cha...

FG Extends Phase Two Lockdown by Four Weeks, Retains 10pm Curfew

7Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, Education, Finance, News, Nigeria, Transportation, Youths

FG Extends Phase Two Lockdown by Four Weeks, Retains 10pm Curfew

President Muhammadu Buhari has ratified the extension of the phase two lockdown measures in response to COVID-19 by another four weeks. This implies that all guidelines introduced to curb the spread of the virus under the second phase of the relaxed lockdown which took effect on June 1 will remain effective with slight modifications to address the economic, socio-political and health concerns as contained in the latest report by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the PTF who is equally the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, boss Mustapha, at the press briefing of the task force in Abuja on Thursday. Mustapha said state governments and authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be mandated to enforce non-ph...

Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread

6Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, Finance, News, Safety, Science

Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread

Botswana has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places and withdrawn liquor licenses in the country as part of effort to curb the spread of the fatal COVID-19. This was disclosed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi through a gazette notice released on Wednesday by the government. “NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that His Excellency the President, acting in accordance with regulation 30G of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, has with immediate effect suspended all liquor licences issued in terms of the Liquor Act,” the notice read in part. The statement also clarified that “liquor” also included traditional beers, which are brewed by a majority of rural households in Botswana. “The suspension of the sale of alcohol is based on evidence that consumption of alc...

Africa, World Risk ‘Generational Catastrophe’ on Education, UN cautions

4Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, African Development, Covid-19, Economy, Education, Employment, Finance, Interview, Life, News, Press Statement, Safety, Science, United Nations, Youths

Africa, World Risk ‘Generational Catastrophe’ on Education, UN cautions

The United Nations (UN) cautions that Africa and the rest of the world could witness a “generational catastrophe” due to the closure of schools around the world amid the COVID-19 scare. This was disclosed by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a communique. Reports suggest as at mid-July, at least 160 countries had closed their schools keeping more than 1 billion students at home while at least 40 million children have missed out on pre-school. Guterres said ensuring the safe return of students to classroom must be a “top priority”. “Now we face a generational catastrophe that could waste untold human potential, undermine decades of progress, and exacerbate entrenched inequalities,” said Guterres as he launched a U.N. “Save our Future” campaign. He further stated that, “...