Nigerian government on Monday, obtained the board of African Development Bank’s, AfDB, approval for a $210 million loan to co-finance Phase 1 of the country’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Program. The loan is made up of AfDB’s loan of $160 million and an Africa Growing Together Fund’s loan of $50 million. “The program will help to unlock Nigeria’s agriculture sector potential. It will promote industrialization through the development of strategic crops and livestock”, the bank said. Phase 1 of the project will target seven Nigerian states and the country’s Federal Capital Territory, which will support Nigeria’s efforts to raise agricultural…
Author: Newsdesk
Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate allegations of Police complicity in the ongoing banditry in Nigeria. The security agency is alleged to constantly be releasing bandits handed over to them after arrest by communities and other security agencies, thereby frustrating the fight against insecurity in the country. The Deputy House Speaker, Ahmed Wase had severally informed the House that arrested kidnappers and their collaborators who are handed over to the police, were released without being prosecuted. Wase who led the debate on a motion of urgent public importance on the recent attack in a village in his…
As Nigeria’s security situation continues to deteriorate with citizens dying from bandits attack daily, the chairperson of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF and Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi has stressed that the country requires tough leaders to curb insecurity. The governor stated this when he led a delegation of the Forum to condole with the people and government of Sokoto. Recall that bandits, in the penultimate week, set a 32-seater bus aflame and burned to death 23 people on board along Shinkari-Isa road. Within the same week last Friday, in the same axis of the state, they abducted the Chief Imam…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, has advised Nigerians against panic buying of petrol during the Yuletides. This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the corporation, Garba Deen Muhammad made available to newsmen on Tuesday. “The NNPC is once again giving Nigerians strong assurance that we have product sufficiency that will last far beyond the festive period. “Indeed, our stock has risen from a reserve of 1.7 billion litres to over two billion litres within the last one month. “Thus, we once again urge Nigerians not to engage in panic buying but to fully enjoy the…
By Iyema David Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, senator representing Lagos central, has given reasons why neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are thriving in the country. Speaking at a round table event organised by the Nigeria National Task Team on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Abuja on Tuesday , Tinubu said the diseases were preventable if measures were put in place to curb them. The senator said all the states in the country have peculiar needs when it comes to ways of preventing these diseases, adding that private organisations could be involved in curbing them through corporate social responsibility (CSR). “We don’t have…
By Justina Auta The National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Women Representative, Stella Okotete has advocated for mentorship and financial support to improve women’s participation in politics. Okotete, who is also the Executive Director, Business Development of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) made the call when members of the 100 Women Lobby Group (WLG) paid her an advocacy visit in Abuja on Tuesday. According to her, older politicians, particularly women should mentor and groom the younger ones in politics to enable them participate actively, improve gender inclusiveness and address challenges affecting women and girls. “What you do…
Ukraine will get a loan of about $150 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to combat COVID-19, the country’s finance ministry said. The ministry said in a statement that the funds will partly be used to strengthen the public health system and support the urgent response to the COVID-19 pandemic by purchasing COVID-19 vaccines. “The money will also be spent on improving the logistics of COVID-19 vaccines, training medical staff and promoting vaccination, among other measures taken to contain the pandemic. “With a population of around 42 million, Ukraine has recorded more than 3.57 million COVID-19…
Zamfara state governor, Bello Muhammad has sought the corporation of Niger Republic to end banditry in the North West. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Jamilu Birnin-Magaji on Tuesday said Muhammad, who met with Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoun, resolved to explore more areas of support and cooperation. Both leaders discussed the issue of insecurity, especially kidnapping, cattle rustling and banditry in Maradi region and parts of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states. The governor briefed the Nigerien president on the measures taken by the Zamfara government to end all forms of criminal activities in the region. He said the…
British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said on Tuesday that there were 10 people in hospital with Omicron. Earlier, Raab had told Sky News that there were at least 250 people with Omicron in hospital. He then told the BBC that nine people with Omicron were in hospital. “I misheard one of the questions,” Raab told ITV when asked about the range of figures. “The figures are one dead from Omicron, 10 in hospital,” he added. When asked to clarify the figures, a spokesman for the justice ministry told Reuters to call the health ministry. The health ministry did not…
Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has announced plans to manufacture millions of mRNA vaccines domestically by 2024. Morrison on Tuesday revealed plans for a facility capable of manufacturing up to 100 million messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine doses every year. The facility, which will be built in the state of Victoria, is a joint venture between the federal and state governments and pharmaceutical giant Moderna. It will become the first mRNA manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere. Morrison said developing on-shore mRNA technology would be critical in Australia’s response to future health crises. “The new mRNA manufacturing facility in Victoria will…