British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that Britain would leave the European Union by Jan. 31 at the latest if his Conservative Party win a majority in the election in two weeks time. “If we can get a working majority then we will come on Jan. 31 at the absolute latest,” Johnson told LBC radio. He also repeated his message that he saw no reason why Britain would need to extend the transition period after Brexit beyond the end of 2020. Asked if he would rather be prime minister or have Britain leave the EU, he replied: “I…
Author: Ekpedeme Umoh
A bronze statue that was looted from what is now Nigeria more than a century ago will be returned, Cambridge University in Britain says. The cockerel was taken in 1897 from the Court of Benin and given to the university several years later. The statue was removed from public view in 2016 after students protested, saying it represented a colonial narrative. Governments and institutions in the West are under growing pressure to return artifacts taken decades or centuries ago, especially from Africa. Some have begun assessing their collections and discussing next steps to take. Last year a report commissioned by…
Nigeria is rich in petroleum resources, but the challenges confronting the country are so enormous as to render the oil earnings insignificant, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. The President spoke Thursday at State House, Abuja, while receiving in farewell audience the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Trejo Sosa, who has been here for five years. President Buhari said he was pleased with relations between Cuba and Nigeria, particularly the hand of fellowship extended in the area of health care and transfer of knowledge, among others. “We have deficit in infrastructure, in education, health care, and many other areas, but Cuba…
President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Friday to participate in the 5th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Apart from the Nigerian leader, the one-day meeting will be attended by leaders of major gas producing nations of the world namely, Algeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Bolivia, Iran, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Kazakhstan and Norway, whose countries account for 70 per cent and 80 per cent of global gas reserves and production respectively. The idea of the GECF was first mooted in 2001 when the First Ministerial Meeting held in Tehran, Iran,…
Forty-seven Nigerian men pleaded innocent on Wednesday to a charge of public displays of affection with members of the same sex, an offence that carries a 10-year jail term. Homosexuality is outlawed in many socially conservative African societies where some religious groups brand it a corrupting Western import. The Nigerian men, who appeared at a court in the commercial capital Lagos, were among 57 arrested in a police raid on a hotel in the impoverished Egbeda district of the city in 2018. Police said they were being “initiated” into a gay club, but the accused said they were attending a…
Leaders from multilateral development banks, financial institutions and the private sector called on peers to dispel myths about women being too “high risk” for financing – and to offer more financial services for women in business to close the gender finance gap. “We know that women are a good bet. We know they pay back. We know they run excellent businesses – and yet they are not getting financed,” said Dr Jennifer Blanke, African Development Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. An important step is for multilateral development banks to offer credit guarantees to commercial banks to…
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday evacuated dozens of their staff working on the Ebola epidemic from the town of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the worsening security situation. Rebels believed to belong to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed eight people in an overnight raid on Sunday. Residents angry at the perceived inaction of both the government and a U.N. peacekeeping mission then set fire to the mayor’s office and several U.N. buildings on Monday. At least two people were killed in clashes with police. WHO spokesman Christian…
Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013. France has a 4,500-strong Barkhane force countering Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region, where violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the sparely-populated area has proliferated in recent years. “The president announces with deep sadness the death of 13 French troops in Mali on the evening of Nov. 25, in an accident between their two helicopters during a…
The Commonwealth has announced a new partnership designed to reduce domestic violence in member countries. Today, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland signed a memorandum of understanding with the NO MORE Foundation which is a global movement of 1,400 allied organisations and 40 international chapters working together to stop and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. The two parties have agreed to work together to implement initiatives that work on the prevention of domestic violence and sexual abuse as part of wider efforts to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals. The Secretary-General said: “We must say NO MORE to violence against women and…
The rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country is urgent and imperative, if it would not constitute a big problem to the country in future, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. The President spoke Monday at State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience the President of the 74th United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria’s Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande. “Most of the displaced children do not know their parents, or where they come from. We have to look at the issue now, properly rehabilitate them, otherwise, we will have a problem on our hands in the future,” President Buhari said. He urged…
Mint leaves are the aromatic herbs which are used fresh as well as dried in many dishes. There are approximately 18 different species of mint that exists on this planet and their colours vary from dark green to pale yellow. This herb can be best grown in moist weather conditions. With unique fragrance, mildly sweet flavour and cool aftertaste, mint leaves are often used in toothpaste, chewing gums, mouthwash and mouth fresheners. This herb is one of those food items which have a very high content of antioxidants, making it ideal for adding to your diet! Loaded with various types…
Broadcaster ESPN claimed a new world record for attendance at a tennis match on Saturday, with more than 42,000 people watching Germany’s Alexander Zverev go down 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 to Roger Federer in an exhibition match in Mexico City. That smashed an almost decade-old record of 35,681 set at an exhibition game between Belgian Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams in Belgium in 2010. ESPN put the exact number of fans in Mexico City’s bullring at 42,517. Even before Saturday’s match, Federer had announced his intention to set a new world record for attendance when he meets Rafael Nadal in an…
Pope Francis paid tribute on Friday to Catholics in Thailand who suffered or were killed for their faith in the past and urged today’s Thais not to consider Christianity a “foreign” religion. The pope was on his last full day of a visit to Thailand, where the dominant culture is closely tied to Buddhism, although the Catholic minority of fewer than 1% were generally treated well in modern times. On Friday, Francis traveled to Wat Roman, a mostly Catholic area on the outskirts of the bustling capital of Bangkok. The pope visited a modern sanctuary built in honor of Nicholas…
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Nigerian entrepreneur, Temi Giwa-Tubosun, inaugural winner of the Africa Business Hero Award, founded by renowned Chinese technology entrepreneur, Jack Ma. The Award, accompanied by a cash prize of $250,000, is only the latest in a series of inspiring wins by Giwa-Tubosun in recent years, and is testament to the vision and doggedness which had helped grow the Startup she founded, LifeBank, into an organisation to reckon with on Nigeria’s and Africa’s healthcare and technology landscapes. The President acknowledges the huge impact LifeBank has made in a relatively short time, by delivering blood, oxygen and other medical products to hospitals…
Nigeria’s ex-attorney general Mohammed Adoke was on Monday arrested in Dubai, over his involvement in one of the oil industry’s biggest corruption scandals. Adoke’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome confirmed the arrest on Wednesday telling Reuters the warrant used to arrest his client was expired. Nigeria’s anti-graft agency secured warrants in April for two former ministers including Adoke and an Eni manager over the $1.3 billion sale of a Nigerian offshore oilfield by Malabu Oil and Gas in 2011. The deal has spawned legal cases spanning several countries, involving Nigerian government officials and senior executives from ENI and Royal Dutch Shell. Shell and Eni,…
A Somali intelligence official says a U.S. drone strike has killed a senior officer with the al-Shabab extremist group. The official says the unidentified officer had maintained links with foreign extremist groups with the aim of coordinating future attacks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. Residents said the officer’s vehicle was struck Tuesday outside the al-Shabab-held town of Kunya Barow in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. The U.S. military in a statement confirms the strike and says the al-Shabab member had direct ties to al-Qaida. The U.S. says the strike…
A scheme for entrepreneurs founded by Prince Andrew has taken down the logos of its corporate sponsors from its website, as firms and charities distance themselves from the British royal over a sex scandal. Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s second son, denies an allegation that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured for him by his friend Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S. prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The scandal has escalated since Andrew’s rambling denials and explanations in a disastrous TV interview aired on Saturday left many viewers incredulous, and his apparent lack…
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on his re-election in the November 16 gubernatorial poll. The President describes the election and emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as “a race well run and a victory well won.” He commends APC supporters for remaining steadfast and resolute even in the face of isolated incidents of violence. President Buhari condoles with families and loved ones of those who lost their lives as a result of regrettable acts of violence by thugs doing the bidding of their political sponsors. According to the President, “All political actors and…
South Africa’s MTN Group (MTNJ.J) has signed an expanded roaming and services agreement with the country’s third-biggest carrier Cell C, MTN said on Monday, pushing shares in rival Telkom (TKGJ.J) down more than 5%. The deal puts a dampener on Telkom’s proposed takeover of Cell C, which is owned by Blue Label Telecoms (BLUJ.J) and is struggling under the weight of hefty debts, which it announced on Friday. It will see an existing agreement between MTN and Cell C, which gives the struggling carrier access to MTN’s network in some areas of the country, expanded nationwide. “This is aligned to…
Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 15 people overnight in eastern Congo, local officials said on Saturday, in the latest massacre since the army launched a major offensive against the rebels last month. Democratic Republic of Congo’s army initiated its latest campaign, with support from U.N. peacekeepers, on Oct. 30 to root out fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) from the dense forests near the Ugandan border. As was the case during previous military operations against the ADF, its fighters have retaliated by attacking civilians, killing more than 40 since last week, according to local civil society activists. Attacks…
Stress is a common phenomenon in life and even a newborn baby may experience stress of certain kinds. Stress begins from the womb and follows a person to the tomb. No one can resist stress and the only possible way of resisting it is to undergo it and learn to manage it. Stress in family can get more highlighted than any other stresses, as family is the union of people who are bound to love, and affection. Any kind of stress felt in the family can affect each one of the members and also the entire jovial atmosphere of the…
Pope Francis said on Friday politicians who rage against homosexuals, gypsies and Jews remind him of Hitler. “It is not coincidental that at times there is a resurgence of symbols typical of Nazism,” Francis said in an address to participants of an international conference on criminal law. “And I must confess to you that when I hear a speech (by) someone responsible for order or for a government, I think of speeches by Hitler in 1934, 1936,” he said, departing from his prepared address. “With the persecution of Jews, gypsies, and people with homosexual tendencies, today these actions are typical…
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has said the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo should be eradicated by the end of the year. Tshisekedi said this during a visit to Berlin on Friday. “We can say with satisfaction that it has been eradicated in northern and southern Kivu. There are still a few isolated cases in Ituri (province) but we think that by the end of the year we can completely stop the disease”, he said. The Congolese President allayed fears of people returning from the Ebola epicentre. “Let me end by saying that no one should be afraid…
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies face stiffening competition in 2020, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, adding urgency to the oil producer group’s policy meeting next month. “The OPEC+ countries face a major challenge in 2020 as demand for their crude is expected to fall sharply,” the Paris-based agency said in a monthly report. “Surging non-OPEC supply explains this drop, with growth of 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) next year versus 1.8 million bpd in 2019,” it added, citing production from the United States, Brazil, Norway and Guyana. Demand for crude oil from…
Nigeria, Niger and Benin have agreed to set up a monitoring committee to tackle smuggling after months of border closure. Representatives of the joint anti-smuggling committee, including foreign ministers met in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday to try to resolve the impasse. “The patrol team is to agree on the modality to carry out its operation and recommend a date for the opening of the borders. The delegation of Benin and Niger appealed for the immediate re-opening of the Nigerian borders. In conclusion, the three (3) countries reaffirmed their commitment in enhancing economic integration”, said Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.…
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, requests the people of Bayelsa and Kogi States to take serious interest in the choices they make on Saturday as they cast their votes in the governorship elections in both states.Atiku Abubakar enjoins the electorate to make their choices wisely by electing capable hands to steer the affairs of those two states.He particularly urges members of the Peoples Democratic Party, to use the power of their overwhelming strength in those two states in ensuring that its flag remains standing in the Bayelsa State Government House and that the good people of Kogi State…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Thelo DB on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg. The agreement will give both parties an opportunity to develop, finance and operate railway projects across Africa. Thelo and Afreximbank have agreed to collaborate to modernise the continent’s railways, thereby promoting trade, investment, and economic and skills development. Both see the urgent need for efficient and effective transportation and logistics on the continent, particularly in the freight railway sector. African governments have long been discussing the importance of the regional integration of infrastructure projects as one of the ways…
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a $1.1 billion lending programme to help women entrepreneurs on the continent. EIB Vice President, Ambroise Fayolle, also revealed that the bank has signed three further agreements to boost sustainable development on the continent. But the major deal is what the EIB has dubbed SheInvest. The EIB expects the gender-lending initiative to allow women to play a more active role in economies. “This initiative aims to promote female entrepreneurship,” said Fayolle, noting that female entrepreneurs will also gain business skills from the initiative. He explained that the financing will promote gender investment related…
Visa Inc (V.N) plans to acquire a “significant minority” stake in payments platform Interswitch, the Nigeria-based company said on Tuesday. Interswitch did not provide financial details in its statement but a source confirmed media reports that Visa would buy a 20% stake for $200 million. That would value Interswitch at $1 billion, giving it “unicorn” status – a term for tech companies with a valuation of a billion dollars or more. Visa will join Helios Investment Partners, TA Associates and IFC as the primary shareholders in Interswitch. Andrew Toree, Visa’s regional president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa said…
Lower prices and increasing competition for investment are driving many African states to make it easier and cheaper for overseas companies to keep their oil and gas output flowing. From Ghana to Gabon, governments are adjusting terms to lure picky investors who are also increasingly concerned about long-term demand for fossil fuels as renewable energy gains ground. The shift follows declining oil production in Angola and Cameroon and disappointing bid rounds in Ghana. It also marks an recognition that the era of $100 per barrel oil is over. “Because of increased competition for investment in Africa, we are changing our…
