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Nigeria’s intra-Africa trade data shows no clue of AfCFTA input

By
Henry Williams
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It has been six months since the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) took off on January 1, but impossible to say how it has contributed to Nigeria’s trade with other African countries, even as official data shows exports that were on the increase now suddenly dropped by half, while imports increased.

The latest news on the AfCFTA secretariat’s website is from April 27, announcing that Wamkele Mene, the secretary-general, had a negative COVID test result on return to Accra from ‘a mission outside the country’, which hosts the secretariat.

Till date, no information has been publicly made available as to if or how the trade agreement is impacting trade on the continent. No data on any activities that may have been executed or progress towards full trade is available.

However, Nigeria’s exports to other African countries has declined for the first time in five years within the first quarter, with data from the National Bureau of Statistics foreign trade report showing a year-on-year decline of 54 percent when compared to the same period of 2020. Conversely, imports from other African countries increased by 51 percent within the same period.

From N393.8 billion worth of exports across Africa in the first quarter of 2017, Nigeria’s exports increased in that same period of every subsequent year, recording N979 billion in 2020, before dipping to N449.8 billion this year’s first quarter. Even though the final tally at the end of 2020 was lower than the previous full year, it is hard to imagine how 2021 would end with the year already starting weak.

On the other hand, imports with an unstable pattern of increasing and decreasing, surged 51 percent in the first quarter of 2021, with Nigeria importing N183.4 billion worth of goods from other African countries, from N121.4 billion in the same period of 2020.

It remains unclear if AfCFTA is contributing to the trade pattern already being seen in Nigeria, even as it appears little is happening, at least publicly. Another poser has been; are the engines of AfCFTA itself being too slow to roar to life?

Insecurity: FG will provide more weapons for military – Buhari

By
Henry Williams
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President Muhammadu Buhari on an official visit to the Armed Forces and other security agencies in Operation Hadin Kai, at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State, assured that the Federal Government will provide more arms and ammunition for the military in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast.

President Buhari at the official visit on Thursday affirmed that the government will sustain its investment in the Armed Forces. He further promised better welfare for the military personnel in the battlefield with the terrorists, including ‘insurance’ cover for families of demised soldiers in the battle.

The President added that the nation will remain indebted to the patriotic commitment of personnel of the Armed Forces and security agencies, to the defence of the fatherland against insurgency and criminality.

He acknowledged all the security personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in ensuring that Nigeria remains one indivisible and secure entity.

President Buhari promised: “This administration will spare no effort or resources to ensure that the widows and children of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme price in defence of our beloved country are well catered for.”

The President noted that several interventions by the federal government have led to the procurement and delivery of large consignments of critical combat enablers, including high calibre weapons and ammunition.

He assured, “Much more equipment will be procured for the Armed Forces to cater for both the short and long term requirements.”

President Buhari encouraged the Armed Forces and other security agencies that there is still a lot of work to be done to completely restore peace to the northeast, stem banditry in the northwest and North Central, as well as deal with other security challenges across the country.

Warner Music Buys French DJ David Guetta’s Music Catalogue

By
Koko Lawrence
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FILE PHOTO: French DJ David Guetta poses in front of the Louvre Pyramid before performing the 'United at Home' fundraising live concert for New Year's Eve, in Paris, France, December 29, 2020. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

Warner Music Group said on Thursday it would buy celebrated French DJ David Guetta’s recorded-music catalogue from the last two decades, and sign a new deal with him for future recordings.

The move will add Guetta’s body of work to the world’s third-largest recording label that is home to artists including Cardi B, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars.

Known for his collaborations with artists such as Akon, Snoop Dogg and Kid Cudi, Guetta has 50 million record sales and more than 14 billion streams to his name to date.

Guetta, best known for revolutionizing the electronic dance music space in the early 2000s, has also worked with Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj, and has won two Grammy Awards.

“I’m super excited about the new music I’m working on … This is the right time to renew my creative partnership with my trusted team at Warner Music,” Guetta said in a statement.

Guetta is currently the eighth-most listened to artist in the world by monthly listeners on audio streaming platform Spotify.

“A lot of people approached us to express interest in David’s catalogue,” Jean-Charles Carré, David Guetta’s business partner and manager, said.

The Financial Times on Thursday reported the deal size was above $100 million, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Warner Music last year cautioned the pandemic had hurt physical revenue streams and delayed the release of new recordings, movies and television programs.

PDP slams Buhari for partisan sympathy in fight against corruption

By
Henry Williams
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for weak prosecution of the anti-corruption war in the country. The opposition PDP berated the President for partisan sympathy, subtly shielding members of his political party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accused of corruption from proper investigation or prosecution.

The PDP in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, emphasized that President Buhari’s fight against corruption in the country is a circus show in which looters are allegedly permitted to go untainted and free after fleecing public funds.

The PDP pointed out the case of a recent indictment of an unnamed female minister who was accused of purchasing a property worth $37.5 million who was not made to account for the alleged impropriety.

The party also challenged the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, “to without delay name the culprit and stop the famous process of easing out corrupt persons in President Buhari’s cabinet.”

The party urged the EFCC to be transparent in its operations.

The PDP further scolded President Buhari for the failure of the federal government to pay the 774,000 youths it recruited across 774 local government areas of the country under the Extended Special Public Works (ESPW).

At last, Tottenham conclude on Gattuso’s decision

By
Henry Williams
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Tottenham Hotspur had on Thursday ended their negotiations with Paulo Fonseca to replace his compatriot Jose Mourinho as manager at White Hart Lane.

It was later reported that the move was necessitated by their plan to hire the services of Napoli former boss Gennaro Gattuso after the Italian’s deal to Fiorentina had broken down just 22 days over a disagreement on players’ summer transfer.

Fiorentina wanted more affordable additions than those proposed by Gattuso’s agent – Jorge Mendes – such as Sergio Oliveira from Porto and Goncalo Guedes from Valencia Ln247 gathered.

However, reports reaching Ln247 reveal that further talks to hire Gattuso have also ended following a fan backlash on social media that included the ‘No to Gattuso’ hashtag

It is understood that Spurs new director of football Fabio Paratici being a huge fan of Gattuso, has seen him as a more appealing option.

But Ln247 can confirm that following a fan backlash on social media on Thursday night, as the “No to Gattuso” hashtag trended, plans for the former Italy World Cup-winner will not go any further and Tottenham’s protracted search for a new head coach goes on.

Policeman killed, more than 80 students abducted in attack on Nigerian school

By
Henry Williams
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Gunmen killed a police officer and kidnapped at least 80 students and five teachers from a school in the Nigerian state of Kebbi, police, residents and a teacher said.

The attack is the third mass kidnapping in three weeks in northwest Nigeria, which have authorities have attributed to armed bandits seeking ransom payments.

Usman Aliyu, a teacher at the school, said the gunmen took more than 80 students, most of them girls.

“They killed one of the (police officers), broke through the gate and went straight to the students’ classes,” he told Reuters.

Kebbi State police spokesman Nafiu Abubakar, said the gunmen killed one officer during an exchange and also shot a student, who was receiving medical treatment.

Police late on Thursday had not released the number of students missing, and a spokesman for the Kebbi state governor said they were conducting a tally of the missing.

The attack took place at a federal government college in the remote town of Birnin Yauri. Abubakar said security forces were searching a nearby forest for the abducted students and teachers.

Atiku Aboki, a resident who went to the school shortly after the gunfire stopped, said he saw a scene of panic and confusion as people searched for their children.

“When we got there we saw students crying, teachers crying, everyone is sympathising with people,” he said by telephone.

“Everyone was confused. Then my brother called me (to say) that his two children have not been seen and (we) don’t know if they are among the kidnapped.”

Bandits seeking ransom have kidnapped more than 800 Nigerian students from their schools since December in a series of raids. Some have been freed while others remain missing.

The raids in the northwestern region are separate from Islamist insurgencies centred on the northeast, where the Boko Haram militant group made global headlines in 2014 when it abducted more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok.

Draft Executive Bill: TETfund Inaugurates Committee On National Research And Development Foundation

By
Precious Obazee
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The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says a new vista is emerging in Nigeria with the inauguration of the committee on National Research and Development Foundation’s (NRDF) draft Executive Bill.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, stated this during the fourth edition of the virtual Global Engagement Series: “The Paradigm Shift, with focused on the Institutionalization of R&D in Nigeria’s Engineering, Technology And Material Sciences Sector.”

According to Bogoro a new vista is emerging in our country that gives hope that we could do something right and we proceed to define the knowledge economy through the institutionalization of R&D.

The lead presenter at the event, Professor Mosto Onouha stressed the imperative of strengthening the curricula in technological entrepreneurship in universities and polytechnics across the country, and the linkages between academia and the industry through the establishment of intellectual property technological transfer offices.

The Chairman of the TETfund Research and Development Standing Committee, Professor Njidda Gadzama cited that countries like the United State are allocating financial sources for science and technology.

U.N. finds no evidence of Islamic State control over Congo militia

By
Henry Williams
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FILE PHOTO: Democratic Republic of Congo military personnel (FARDC) patrol against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) rebels near Beni in North-Kivu province, December 31, 2013. REUTERS/Kenny Katombe

United Nations experts said on Wednesday they had been unable to find evidence of direct support by Islamic State for an Islamist militia in eastern Congo, which was blacklisted in March by Washington as a terrorist group.

Experts on Central Africa have been debating whether the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), blamed for increasing violence over the past two years in eastern Congo, has genuine links with the Islamic State group based in the Middle East, sometimes known as ISIS or ISIL.

The ADF has publicly aligned itself with Islamic State, which in turn has claimed responsibility for some of its attacks. The United States referred to the ADF as “ISIS-DRC” when it added it to its terrorism blacklist.

In its latest report, the U.N. Group of Experts on the Congo said the ADF and Islamic State both benefited from making public statements that link them with each other. Such statements were “complementing and amplifying ADF local propaganda, and suggesting increased global reach for ISIL,” the report said.

But it added: “The Group did not however find conclusive evidence of ISIL command and control over ADF operations, nor of ISIL direct support to ADF, either financial, human or material.”

It found the ADF was getting better at making bombs using expertise from fighters recruited from East Africa, but that these bombs were used for “tactical, offensive, defensive and harassment purposes rather than as a terrorist tool”.

The ADF has committed a spate of brutal reprisal attacks on civilians since the army began operations against it in late 2019. The group killed around 850 people last year in Congo’s restive east, according to U.N. figures, and violence has persisted this year with almost weekly attacks.

Botswana unearths world’s third largest diamond

By
Henry Williams
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A 1,098 carat diamond, discovered in Botswana and believed to be the third largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined, is seen in this undated handout picture received June 16, 2021. Debswana Diamond Company/Handout via REUTERS.

A 1,098 carat diamond believed to be the third largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined, has been discovered in Botswana, according to a joint venture between Anglo American’s De Beers and the government.

The stone was presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday by Debswana Diamond Company’s acting managing director Lynette Armstrong. It is the third largest in the world, behind the 3,106 carat Cullinan stone recovered in South Africa in 1905 and the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.

“This is the largest diamond to be recovered by Debswana in its history of over 50 years in operation,” Armstrong said.

“From our preliminary analysis it could be the world’s third largest gem quality stone. We are yet to make a decision on whether to sell it through the De Beers channel or through the state owned Okavango Diamond Company,” Armstrong said.

Minerals minister Lefoko Moagi said the discovery of the yet-to-be named stone, which measures 73mm long, 52mm wide and 27mm thick, could not have come at a better time after the COVID-19 pandemic hit diamond sales in 2020.

  • A 1,098 carat diamond, discovered in Botswana and believed to be the third largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined, is seen in this undated handout picture received June 16, 2021. Debswana Diamond Company/Handout via REUTERS.

The government receives as much as 80% of the income from Debswana’s sales through dividends, royalties and taxes.

Production at Debswana fell 29% in 2020 to 16.6 million carats while sales fell 30% to $2.1 billion as the pandemic impacted both production and demand.

In 2021, Debswana plans to increase output by as much as 38% to pre-pandemic levels of 23 million carats as the global diamond market recovers with the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of jewellers.

Facebook says it removed fake Ethiopia account network ahead of election

By
Henry Williams
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0
A man walks past an election campaign billboard depicting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 14, 2021. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

Facebook Inc said on Wednesday it had removed a network of fake accounts in Ethiopia targeting domestic users ahead of next week’s elections, which it linked to individuals associated with the country’s Information Network Security Agency.

Facebook said the network posted mainly in Amharic about news and current events, including about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party. It said the network posted critical commentary about opposition politicians and groups including the Oromo Liberation Front, Ethiopian Democratic Party, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front among others.

The head of INSA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The agency, which was set up years before Abiy came to power, is responsible for monitoring telecommunications and the internet.

“INSA is under the ministry of peace and an independent institution – you can address your question there,” Billene Seyoum, the prime minister’s spokeswoman, told Reuters when asked about Facebook’s action.

Facebook said the network of accounts, groups and pages on Facebook and Instagram had violated its rules against “coordinated inauthentic behavior” and had accelerated its posting in 2020 and into 2021. It said the network had recently commented on U.S. sanctions on Ethiopia.

The June 21 vote is the first time Abiy will face voters at the ballot box in Africa’s second most populous nation. Just over a fifth of parliamentary constituencies are not voting due to logistical problems, low-level violence or due to the war in the northern region of Tigray.

Facebook said the network’s activity on its platforms was not directly focused on the Tigray region or the ongoing conflict in Tigray.

Facebook said about 1.1 million accounts followed one or more of the network’s pages and about 766,000 accounts joined one or more of the groups. It also said the network had spent about $6,200 in ads on the platforms, paid for in U.S. dollars.

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