The Nigerian Senate is poised to pass the ₦2.18 trillion 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, which was submitted by President Bola Tinubu and expedited for consideration. Following the bill’s introduction during Senate plenary on Tuesday, the proposed budgetary allocations were debated, passed for a second reading, and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. This committee, chaired by Senator Solomon Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun West, conducted extensive discussions with heads of the seven affected agencies, whose budgetary proposals were included in the supplementary budget. Senator Adeola confirmed that the committee met with these agency heads until late on…
Author: Editor Francis
The family of Dedan Kimathi, who was hanged by the British administration, and relatives of other well-known Kenyan freedom fighters didn’t immediately comment. In the past, they have called for an apology and compensation from Britain, along with any information on the whereabouts of Kimathi’s body. The British High Commission said only that the meeting was an “opportunity for the king to hear firsthand about the violence committed against Kenyans during their struggle for independence.” Attendees included the chair of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association. The issue remains painful for many Kenyans, and police dispersed a couple dozen people…
President Biden has taken action to reinstate the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program benefits for one nation, Mauritania. Simultaneously, he has decided to terminate benefits for four countries, specifically Gabon, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Uganda, effective from January 1, 2024. Mauritania’s eligibility for AGOA benefits will be restored due to the significant progress made since the termination of its benefits in 2019, primarily concerning worker rights concerns. The government’s commitment to cooperating with the United States to make substantial strides in worker rights and eliminating forced labor has been a contributing…
A number of South American nations have lodged diplomatic protests against Israel in response to its latest conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Bolivia’s leftist government went further by fully cutting ties with Israel, accusing it of war crimes and human rights violations. Bolivia’s decision was announced Tuesday by Minister Maria Nela Prada, who condemned the “attacks on Gaza which have claimed thousands of civilian lives.” Hours later, Chile and Colombia recalled their ambassadors from Israel, while Brazil’s president criticized the airstrikes on Gaza. Bolivia previously severed relations with Israel in 2009 after an invasion of Gaza, but resumed ties in…
Pfizer reported Tuesday, a loss following a sharp fall in the sales of its Covid-19 vaccine and therapeutic from pandemic peaks. The drugmaker reported a third-quarter loss of $2.4 billion, compared with $8.6 billion in profits in the year-ago period. Results were dented by a $5.6 billion inventory write-down in Covid-19 therapeutic Paxlovid and vaccine Comirnaty. The results came after Pfizer on October 13 lowered its forecast due to the precipitous drop in company revenues as Covid-19 rates have declined. In the third quarter, revenues fell 42 percent to $13.2 billion. But following solid third-quarter growth in non-Covid products, Pfizer…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes will continue to be accepted as legal tender beyond the previously stated deadline of December 31, 2023. The CBN had earlier said that the old notes would cease circulating by year’s end, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling. This led to severe cash shortages when the redesigned new notes were rolled out inefficiently under former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. Citizens faced major hardship in February as banks rejected the old notes before the January 31 deposit deadline. Widespread protests and some riots targeting…
King Charles III begins the second day of his trip to Kenya on Wednesday after acknowledging there was “no excuse” for colonial-era abuses during Britain’s rule of the East African country. Charles said he wished to “deepen my own understanding of these wrongs” during the four-day state visit with Queen Camilla, but also to bolster “a modern partnership of equals facing today’s challenges”. There have been widespread calls for Charles to formally apologise to the country Britain violently ruled for decades before its hard-fought independence in 1963. On his first day in Kenya, the 74-year-old British head of state said…
The U.S. government is leading an effort to build a new 800 km rail line connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia. Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership on Global Infrastructure Investment, Helaina Matza, made this known during a press briefing. The rail line will run from Chingola, Zambia, to Luau, Angola, crossing through the DRC. It is part of the U.S.-led Global Infrastructure Partnership (GIP) initiative, which aims to mobilise $600 billion in infrastructure investment globally by 2027. The rail project will be developed through a public-private partnership between the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC),…
King Charles of Britain embarked on his first official visit to a Commonwealth nation since his coronation in September 2022. The visit holds special importance as it coincides with Kenya’s celebration of its 60th anniversary of gaining independence from Britain. The British government and monarchy have chosen Kenya for this visit to reiterate the significance they attach to the East African nation. It also serves as a demonstration to other Commonwealth member states that a republic can maintain a positive relationship with Britain, especially at a time when some, like Jamaica, are considering removing the king as head of state.…
In an effort to alleviate the burden of rising fuel costs, Ogun State has launched a new fleet of buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Governor Dapo Abiodun inaugurated the CNG mass transit buses on Monday at an event in Abeokuta. He said the initiative aims to “provide the needed relief to the people” in light of the federal government’s recent removal of fuel subsidies. Abiodun acknowledged that “we are all going through a very trying period” with increased fuel prices. Ogun has already implemented transport and allowance increases for state workers after the subsidy ended. The new CNG…
Speaking before the UN General Assembly today, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel while calling for the immediate release of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. Thomas-Greenfield slammed Hamas for carrying out “barbaric acts of terror” including the gunning down of civilians and the execution of children. She stated there is “no justification for terror” and called on member states to condemn Hamas’ actions. “And we must condemn Hamas’ acts of terror. Hamas’ goals are single-minded, and they’re sickening. They are determined to destroy Israel and kill Jews. And…
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) CEO Alice Albright recently visited The Gambia and Senegal to celebrate the progress of MCC grant programmes and learn more about the ways people in those West African countries are positively impacted by the democracy and poverty reducing power of the MCC partnership. “During this trip, I saw exactly how U.S. government development resources foster global stability.” CEO Albright said “MCC is working with our partners in The Gambia and Senegal to target the biggest barriers to economic growth, help protect fundamental freedoms, ensure accountability, and create opportunities for people to thrive—particularly women, youth, and vulnerable…