EU Slams Exclusions Of Iran Nuclear Inspectors

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September 17, 2023

The United Nations says the death toll from devastating floods that hit the Libyan city of Derna earlier this week is at least 11,300.

The figures were given in a report released Sunday, However, Libyan Red Crescent, which was cited in the report, later denied the toll, saying it was shocked to see its name mixed up with these figures.

Estimates of the number of lives lost vary widely and the most recent official death toll, from the health minister of the eastern-based administration, Othman Abdeljalil, is that 3,166 people were killed.

But according to a United Nations report released on Sunday, the toll from Derna alone has risen to 11,300.

Citing the Libyan Red Crescent, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs added that another 10,100 people were still missing in the devastated city.

the OCHA report said the figures were expected to rise in the coming days and weeks as search-and-rescue crews work tirelessly to find survivors,”

However, the Libyan Red Crescent later on Sunday denied that last week’s flooding resulted in 11,300 deaths after the UN offered that toll and cited the rescue group.

Libyan Red Crescent spokesman Tawfik Shoukri told News correspondents that they were shocked to see their name mixed up with these figures, saying they were adding to the confusion and distress of the families of the missing.

Aid is now arriving in the North African country as the world mobilises to help emergency services cope with the aftermath of the deadly flood.

At least 40,000 people have been displaced across northeastern Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration, which cautioned says the actual number is likely higher given the difficulty accessing worst-affected areas.

Thousands Again Take Part In Anti-French Protests In Niger

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September 17, 2023

Thousand people have demonstrated in front of a military base housing French soldiers in Niamey, Niger’s capital to demand the departure of French forces in the country.

The protesters were demanding that France leaves Niger and returns to her own country, vowing not to give them peace until the day they leave.

Rallies to protest the 1,500-strong French military presence have attracted tens of thousands of people to the airbase which hosts part of the former colonial power’s contingent near Niamey’s airport over the past three weeks.

Many of the anti-French protesters came with sleeping bags to stay late into the night with some saying they walked over ten kilometers in order to get there.

Analysts say the vigil offers a space for rare social exchange in a conservative society, meeting people and exchanging idea’s and sharing the pain of recent experiences.

The Nigerien generals who seized power in a July 26 coup have denounced several cooperation accords with France and are demanding Paris withdraw its troops.

However, Paris does not recognise the legitimacy of the military regime and day and night almost without interruption citizen “vigils” camp out at Escadrille roundabout, the centre of the protest movement.

The organisations behind the vigils are making sure they get participants onside, with one local association having promised to serve 1,000 meals a day. It has teams of people busy distributing meals in cardboard boxes.

Issaka Oumarou, who heads one association backing the military regime commended protesters’ determination saying adding that charitable people were preparing food to distribute for free.

President Mohamed Bazoum, a French ally whose election in 2021 had stoked hopes of stability in the troubled country, was detained on 26 July by members of his guard.

Kenya’s President William Ruto Woos US Tech Companies

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September 17, 2023

Kenya’s president William Ruto is wooing American tech companies, promising a business-friendly environment in spite of the fact that his country has raised taxes on businesses.

Ruto made the appeal while speaking with leading U.S. technology companies and investors in San Francisco, where he highlighted investment opportunities in his country.

He said, “For the sake of stability, we have a tax code that is simple to enforce, consistent, fair and predictable, one that won’t change in the next three years.”

He insisted that they eliminated value-added tax on exported services and the tax on stock-based compensation for employees of startups, as well as the domestic equity requirement for ICT companies.

Ruto said his country was positioning itself as “Africa’s business process outsourcing and creative economy hub,” citing internet penetration and a growing workforce.

However Analysts say that his government’s newly imposed and also several proposed taxes will increase the cost of doing business in Kenya, including in the tech sector.

Ruto’s administration in its first budget this year doubled the digital service tax to 3%, targeting foreign tech giants that use the internet to market and sell products.

The government had projected it would rake in billions in the local currency, the Kenyan shilling, from the doubled digital services tax, but critics warned it would discourage tech investors.

Kenya has in the past been accused of not tightening labor laws to prevent the exploitation of employees by tech companies such as Meta who were sued by former employees over poor working conditions and accused of paying low wages to content moderators.

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso Sign Mutual Defence Pact

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September 17, 2023

Ministerial delegations from the three Sahel countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced the signing of a mutual defence agreement, called the Liptako-Gourma Charter.

Making the announcement in Mali’s capital Bamako, the country’s junta leader Assimi Goita said the Liptako-Gourma Charter establishes the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Posting to Social Media, Assimi Goita said the Charter’s aim is to establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of our populations.

The charter signed on Saturday binds the signatories to assist one another — including militarily — in the event of an attack on any one of them.

It states that any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracting parties shall be considered as an aggression against the other parties and shall give rise to a duty of assistance… including the use of armed force to restore and ensure security.

It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions.

The Liptako-Gourma region which is where the Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger borders meet has been ravaged by jihadism in recent years and the alliance is meant to be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries.

Mali has, in addition to fighting jihadists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, seen a resumption of hostilities by predominantly Tuareg armed groups over the past week.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily in Niger over the coup but Mali and Burkina Faso quickly responded by saying that any such operation would be deemed a “declaration of war” against them.

The escalation risks testing an already stretched army as well as the junta’s claims that it has successfully turned around a dire security situation.

Nigeria’s Public Debt Stock Increases to N87.38trn

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September 16, 2023

Nigeria’s public debt stock increased from N49.85 trillion (108.30 billion dollars) in the first quarter of 2023 to N87.38 trillion (113.42 billion dollars) in the second quarter of 2023.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said this on Friday in its Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt Report for Q2 2023, released in Abuja.

The report said Nigeria’s public debt stock, which included external and domestic debt, grew by 75.27 percent in Q2 of 2023.

It said that External debt stood at N33.25 trillion (43.16 billion dollars) in Q2 2023, while domestic debt was N54.13 trillion (70.26 billion dollars).

“However, the share of external debt to total public debt stood at 38.05 percent in Q2 2023, while domestic debt was recorded at 61.95 percent.’’

In a breakdown by state, the bureau said that Lagos State recorded the highest domestic debt of N996.44 billion in Q2 2023, followed by Delta at N465.40 billion.

The report showed Jigawa recorded the lowest domestic debt at N43.13 billion, followed by Kebbi at N60.94 billion.

In addition, it stated that Lagos State recorded the highest external debt with 1.26 billion dollars, followed by Kaduna State with 569.38 million dollars.

“Borno recorded the lowest external debt with 18.75 million dollars, followed by Taraba with 21.92 million dollars,” the NBS stated.

Nigeria’s Inflation Jumps to 25.80% in July

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September 16, 2023

Inflation Rate Hits 24.08% in July – NBS

Nigeria’s inflation for the month of July has risen to 25.80 per cent, according to report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday.

This is 1.72 per cent higher than the previous month, which stood at 24.08 per cent amidst rising cost of foodstuff and living in the world’s most populous black nation.

According to the report, in August 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 25.80% relative to the July 2023 headline inflation rate which was 24.08%.

“Looking at the movement, the August 2023 headline inflation rate shows an increase of 1.72% points when compared to the July 2023 headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.27% points higher compared to the rate recorded in August 2022, which was 20.52%.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in August 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., August 2022),” the NBS said.

Similarly, it explained that on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in August 2023 was 3.18%, which was 0.29% points higher than the rate recorded in July 2023 (2.89%).

“This means that in August 2023, on average, the general price level was 0.29% higher relative to July 2023. The percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve-month period ending August 2023 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 22.38%, showing a 5.31% increase compared to 17.07% recorded in August 2022,” NBS said.

On Urban inflation, the Bureau said on a year-on-year basis, in August 2023, the Urban inflation rate was 27.69%, which was 6.73% points higher compared to the 20.95% recorded in August 2022.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 3.29% in August 2023, this was 0.24% points higher compared to July 2023 (3.05%). The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 23.46% in August 2023. This was 5.87% points higher compared to the 17.59% reported in August 2022,” it explained.

For rural inflation, the rate in August 2023 was 24.10% on a year-on-year basis; which was 3.98% points higher compared to the 20.12% recorded in August 2022.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Rural inflation rate in August 2023 was 3.08%, up by 0.34% points compared to July 2023 (2.74%).

“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Rural inflation rate in August 2023 was 21.39%. This was 4.81% points higher compared to the 16.58% recorded in August 2022,” it said.

European Union Ministers Agree On Fiscal Reform

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September 16, 2023

IMF Proposes Fiscal Reforms To Reduce Nigeria’s Food Inflation

European Union flag against European Parliament — European Union flags in front of the blurred European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium

European Union finance ministers have backed a timeline calling for the reform of the bloc’s fiscal rules by the end of the year as they look to balance debt cuts with investing in an individually tailored yet equal way.

“It may be challenging but the Spanish Presidency is committed to this timeframe and just today we outlined the way to do it, the fiscal ‘Camino’,” European Commission Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis said.

Report says Dombrovskis was referring to the “Camino de Santiago” or Saint James’s way, a famous Catholic pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela the city in north-western Spain where the talks took place.

Meanwhile, EU fiscal rules underpin the value of the euro used by 20 countries and set a limit on budget deficits of 3% of GDP and a public debt limit of 60% of GDP.

However, most EU countries exceed these limits as two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy price crisis have both required massive government spending.

As a result, the Commission and EU governments are discussing changes to the framework that would take into account big differences in debt levels and economic growth among EU countries while guaranteeing equal treatment.

Report says the main clash is between Germany, which wants annual debt reduction benchmarks that are the same for all, and France, which believes individually negotiated debt reduction paths are the way to go and that one-size-fits-all policies do not work.

Adding to the complexity of the talks is the need to provide incentives for governments to invest in the green and digital transition of their economies and the need for large defence spending after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Spanish Finance Minister, Nadia Calvino said that Spain, which holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year, is aiming for an initial agreement at the next finance ministers’ meeting in October, but that more talks could be necessary.

She said 70% of the text of the new rules has been agreed in technical work over the summer.

“Now the time has come to look for a compromise, which will need to strike the right balance between sustainable debt reduction paths and ensuring the necessary fiscal space for investments, as well as incentives for structural reforms,” Calvino said.

Nigeria Commits To Harmonizing Of Identity Cards

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September 16, 2023

77.1M Identity Numbers Issued as NIN-SIM registration Ends

The Nigerian Government has expressed its dedication to the unification of all citizen identity databases using the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Through this initiative, NIMC has introduced a user-friendly mobile application to simplify the National Identity Number (NIN) and digital identification processes nationwide.

During the official launch of the NIMC’s “Self Help” mobile app in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as part of the 5th National Identity Day celebration, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed this commitment.

Tunji-Ojo noted that the Day is set aside to assess the country’s progress on National Identity Management, noting that data management is a prerequisite to implementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

“Think about it: you can’t access bank services and get ATM cards without proving your Identity. You can’t even engage with others on online social media platforms without first verifying your Identity. So, Identity is key in our everyday lives, which is why we commemorate this Day today.

“With a database of over 100 million National Identification Numbers in the National Identity Database, NIDB, NIMC provided essential access to attaining this goal along with other major stakeholders.

“It is fitting then that the theme for today is, Identity as a Catalyst for Nigeria’s development. We are all stakeholders in ensuring the successful implementation of positive policies regarding national Identity as it affects government social safety net and financial inclusion programmes,” he stated.

Speaking to the media after the launch of the Self Help App, he said the Director General of NIMC, came to him to harmonise all identity databases in the country and that she has his support.

“The first day the DG came to my office that was her cardinal point of what she told me she’s to do and I can assure you that we are working on all the modalities to harmonising all identity data; from BVN, Telcos, NIMC, INEC, because NIMC is the statutory body that is given the power to harmonise identity database for the nation,“ he said.

The Acting Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said reliable identity is not only a privilege but a fundamental right for all Nigerians.

Speaking on the APP, she said the agency created the Self Help App to ease the stress Nigerians go through to get enrolled for their National Identity Number (NIN), where they have to spend money and time and may not get instant feedback.

“We are trying to increase the turnaround time of registration. I’ve seen a lot of complaints from the average Nigerian about going to register NIN, enrolling for it takes a long time and it also takes them a long time to get feedback after registration has been completed.

“So what we’re trying to do at NIMC is to ensure that we create an ease of access for you to be able to register from the comfort of your home with digital or technical tools and register. And it will also remove the cost of going to a NIMC centre of office.“

Coker-Odusote added that Nigeria’s journey towards a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is emblematic of its commitment to harnessing the power of digital technology for the betterment of its citizens, especially in providing social services.

World Identity Day holds exceptional importance as it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the pivotal role that identity plays in our lives and its profound impact on society.

It is a day to recognize the transformative power of identity in shaping our destinies, safeguarding our rights, and connecting us as global citizens.

Nigeria, Cuba Partner On Science And Tech

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September 16, 2023