Africa Business Radio

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to investigate the N10 billion funds budgeted to the National Assembly said to be missing. SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare asked the leadership of the National Assembly to promptly probe and refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies fresh allegations that N10bn of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated or diverted. They said little can be achieved by the National Assembly in the fight against corruption if the leadership and members do not first confront the spectre of alleged corruption and mismanagement within their ranks.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday expressed optimism that young Nigerian graduates can provide solutions to the biggest challenges confronting the nation. The Vice President says while young Nigerians, particularly the OAU graduands, stood on the shoulders of great men and women before them, the onus is on their generation to “deal with the biggest issues that confront the world, and our nation.

A United States appeals court has rejected an attempt by former President Donald Trump to hold back the release of White House records linked to the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. A three-judge panel of the US Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, DC says that Trump had provided no basis for his request. The judges say both branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committee’s inquiry into an attack on the legislative branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power.

Commissioner Ylva Johansson says a group of 15 European Union member states have agreed to take in 40,000 Afghans for resettlement, after meeting interior ministers of those countries. The document seen by the AFP news agency shows that Germany will accept the bulk of the new arrivals, with 25,000, with the Netherlands accepting 3,159, Spain and France 2,500 each, and other countries in lower numbers. The United Nations high commissioner for refugees had previously urged the bloc to accept 42,500 Afghans over five years, but some of the 27 member countries had resisted.

Nicaragua has broken off diplomatic relations with Taiwan, leaving the self-ruled democratic island with just 14 formal diplomatic allies amid continuing pressure from China, which claims the island as its own. The Central American country made the announcement in a brief statement from its foreign ministry and cited Beijing’s One China policy. The statement says the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. China’s State Council Information Office says the two signed a joint communique on the resumption of diplomatic ties in Tianjin.

Somalia has formed a steering committee of commanders from various security agencies to discuss the imminent takeover of national security from the African Union mission. The AU mission's mandate is set to formally end by 31 December, but the UN Security Council might grant it a temporary extension. Government officials including ministers and security commanders attended the meeting aimed at assessing the security progress. The ministry says the meeting aims to implement the unified national strategic and political vision to ensure the transfer of all security responsibilities from Amisom to the Somali Security Forces.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunimbe Mamora has hinted that the federal government was in talks with relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria was considered as a vaccine manufacturing hub. He also called international partners who donate vaccines to Nigeria to give ample notice before delivery to enable the government to plan its deployment across the country in order to avoid wastage. He explained that at the moment that there is a plan to establish manufacturing hubs in Africa and already there are some countries that are being considered as candidates for such hubs.

The World Health Organization says Ten African countries account for 46% of Omicron cases reported globally. It says the majority of these countries are within southern Africa, where scientists are being extra-vigilant for other cases and are analysing samples to check for changes to the virus. The WHO says hospitalisation rates and severe cases remain low in South Africa, local data shows. The WHO added that no coronavirus deaths have been linked to the Omicron variant and travel bans won't stop the virus from circulating.

Tanzania’s authorities plan to lift bans and suspensions on media organisations that had been barred from operating. Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Amon Mpanju, says the government has been holding talks with media owners and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition. Mr Mpanju in a statement says they were all looking at revising some law provisions to ensure that we set free all banned media outlets. He added that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had ordered the ministry to resolve press freedom challenges in the country.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that preparations towards the Lagos peace walk planned for December 2021 be put on hold. The governor says he is constrained to stand down all preparations for the Walk for Peace so as not to endanger the life of any Lagosian amid the outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. He says the suspension of the Peace Walk was necessary due to an unseen enemy called COVID-19 which began to ravage the world and indeed our nation. He added that as the Incident Commander in the quest to protect the lives of Lagos residents they must subject themselves to the dictates of science.

The United States has announced the donation of 2.5 million Pfizer vaccine doses to Nigeria. The U.S Embassy in a statement says the vaccine doses arrived in Abuja this week and were received by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and taken to cold storage in preparation for distribution. The statement added that the vaccines in the next few weeks will be available across major locations for vaccination in the country. The COVID-19 related health assistance according to the U.S Embassy includes a 40-bed mobile field hospital, ventilators, and related training for 88 hospitals, personal protective equipment, technical assistance for vaccine readiness, risk communication, and demand generation for vaccines.

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr Niyi Adebayo, says Nigeria’s slip in a ranking of top investment destinations in Africa was due to insecurity. President Muhammadu Buhari had boasted that Nigeria was Africa’s most attractive investment destination. A report by Rand Merchant Bank however placed Nigeria in the 14th position on investment attractive nations in Africa. Mr. Adebayo says the Federal Government is making every effort to resolve the security problems so that they will go back to the position of being the preferred destination.

President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company following a prolonged internal power tussle among the owners of the company which affected the welfare of the staff of the distribution company. Media Aide to the Minister of State, Power, Ofem Uket in a statement announced that a new interim governing board had been appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the electricity distribution company. The statement indicated that the sack of the management team was conveyed by the presidency to the federal ministry of power, stressing that the new development takes immediate effect. It stated that the Minister of Power, Aliyu Abubakar and Agba, had earlier intervened through dialogue with the ministry of labour, Bureau of Public Enterprises, and the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, to resolve and call off the 14 hours strike action.

The Securities and Exchange Commission says that it was engaging relevant stakeholders in a bid to resolve issues of identity management which would assist in solving the rising unclaimed dividends in the capital market as well as other issues. The Director-General of the SEC, Lamido Yuguda, explained that part of the problems of unclaimed dividends had to do with identity management, saying the Commission was engaging the registrars and increasing investors’ education to stem the trend. Yuguda says the Commission has set up an identity management committee to harmonise various databases of investors and facilitate data accuracy in the market.

A US digital infrastructure company, Equinix announced its expansion into Africa through its intended acquisition of MainOne, a leading West African data centre and connectivity solutions provider, with a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. A statement from the company says the acquisition is expected to close in Q1 of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including the requisite regulatory approvals The deal is expected to be worth up to $320m. President and CEO, Equinix, Charles Meyers, says the acquisition of MainOne will represent a critical point of entry for Platform Equinix into the expansive and rapidly growing African market.

The Lagos State Government has raised alarm over the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state with its positivity rate at six per cent. Governor Babajide says the state had begun to experience the beginnings of a fourth wave of the pandemic. He says the current positivity rate is against the positivity rate of 0.1 per cent recorded as of mid-November and analyses revealed that the fourth wave is a result of non-adherence to the laid down protocols. He asked residents to support the government in its effort to manage the fourth wave of the pandemic, especially during the festive season. Governor Sanwo-Olu noted the review of Nigeria’s travel protocol by the Presidential Steering Committee, saying the state government would ensure total enforcement.

Lagos Waste Management Authority has commended some markets and business facilities in the state, for supporting its drive to sustain effective waste management across the state, by ensuring their business transactions were carried out in a hygienic environment.The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, eulogised the markets, particularly, Tejuosho Market, Alaba International Market, Ayangburen Market, Sabo Ikorodu; Agege Main Market, Elemoro Market, Bodije; for setting the standard for other markets to emulate, regarding environmental hygiene around their facilities.Odumboni stated that the task of keeping the city clean was a collective responsibility, where different stakeholders, including markets, were expected to play their parts, by making sure that indiscriminate and reckless disposal of waste, was totally eradicated.The LAWMA boss called on traders at Mushin Main Market, Jakande Market, Ajah; Irepodun Market, Oko Oba; Ayetoro Market, Epe, and Alaba Arago, to redouble their efforts at re

Qatar’s foreign minister has reiterated his country’s position on addressing the situation in Afghanistan, saying Doha will continue to work towards enhancing humanitarian and economic efforts in the war-torn country. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says Qatar will work with ally Turkey and Taliban officials to ensure that Kabul’s international airport, the site of chaotic scenes after the Taliban takeover, continues to function. Turkey’s FM Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey was seeking to work for peace and stability in Afghanistan as he urged the international community to engage in dialogue with the Taliban and called on them to differentiate between the political and humanitarian side of things.

Rohingya refugees have sued the social media giant Facebook for $150bn over claims the social network is failing to stem hate speech on its platform, exacerbating violence against the vulnerable Myanmar minority. The complaint says the algorithms that power the US-based company promote disinformation and extreme thought that translates into real-world violence. The court document says Facebook is like a robot programmed with a singular mission: to grow. It added that the undeniable reality is that Facebook’s growth, fueled by hate, division, and misinformation, has left hundreds of thousands of devastated Rohingya lives in its wake.

The United States announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, citing human rights abuses, in a move that will not stop US athletes from competing. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says the Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. The US government has been trying to find the best way to position itself with regard to the Winter Games, hosted from February 4-20, 2022 by a country it accuses of perpetrating genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, northwest China. Psaki says sending official representation to the Olympics would signal that, despite China’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang the Games were business as usual.