The Federal Government announced that testing has commenced on the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant ahead of the evaluation of electricity from the facility to the national grid. It also stated that the $1.3bn project had been connected to the national grid, in contrast to claims in some quarters that the plant was not connected to the grid. The Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant provides flood control, irrigation water and fish breeding facilities and its construction partners inc...
Apr 08, 2024•1 min
The Federal Government announced that testing has commenced on the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant ahead of the evaluation of electricity from the facility to the national grid. It also stated that the $1.3bn project had been connected to the national grid, in contrast to claims in some quarters that the plant was not connected to the grid. The Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant provides flood control, irrigation water and fish breeding facilities and its construction partners inc...
Apr 08, 2024•1 min
The Federal Government is to launch three new national identity cards in May this year and has a target of providing them for about 104 million citizens across the country. The three new national identity cards planned by the National Identity Management Commission include a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card. The Technical Adviser, Media, and Communications to the Director-General of NIMC, Ayodele Babalola, says Nig...
Apr 08, 2024•1 min
The Federal Government is to launch three new national identity cards in May this year and has a target of providing them for about 104 million citizens across the country. The three new national identity cards planned by the National Identity Management Commission include a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card. The Technical Adviser, Media, and Communications to the Director-General of NIMC, Ayodele Babalola, says Nig...
Apr 08, 2024•1 min
The Nigerian Customs Service announced a 90-day window for regularising import duties on specific categories of vehicles. The Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, says Customs noted the initiative applies solely to vehicles imported into Nigeria where the requisite customs duty has not been fulfilled or vehicles detained due to undervaluation. The NCS stated that all vehicle owners, Importers/Agents seeking to regularize import duties on their vehicles are required to apply to the Zonal ...
Mar 06, 2024•1 min
Qatar has announced new plans to expand output from the world’s biggest natural gas field, saying it will boost capacity to 142 million tonnes per annum before 2030. The new North Field expansion, named North Field West, will add a further 16 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year to existing expansion plans. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said at a news conference on Sunday. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi says recent studies have shown that the Nort...
Feb 26, 2024•1 min
Qatar has announced new plans to expand output from the world’s biggest natural gas field, saying it will boost capacity to 142 million tonnes per annum before 2030. The new North Field expansion, named North Field West, will add a further 16 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year to existing expansion plans. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said at a news conference on Sunday. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi says recent studies have shown that the Nort...
Feb 26, 2024•1 min
Kenya has exempted passport holders from South Africa and six other countries from paying an unpopular entry fee introduced last month. A memorandum from Kenya's interior ministry and immigration department says the exempted countries had entered visa abolition agreements or signed bilateral visa waiver agreements with the East African state. Only travellers from the East African Community regional bloc were exempt from paying the money. In addition to South Africa, the exemption has been extend...
Feb 26, 2024•1 min
Kenya has exempted passport holders from South Africa and six other countries from paying an unpopular entry fee introduced last month. A memorandum from Kenya's interior ministry and immigration department says the exempted countries had entered visa abolition agreements or signed bilateral visa waiver agreements with the East African state. Only travellers from the East African Community regional bloc were exempt from paying the money. In addition to South Africa, the exemption has been extend...
Feb 26, 2024•1 min
Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially opened The Great Mosque of Algiers, the largest mosque in Africa. It is also the third-largest in the world, after the mosques in Saudi Arabia's Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The mosque was constructed over seven years, costing more than $800m. It is expected to host prayers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins in two weeks. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/africa-business-news--4...
Feb 26, 2024•49 sec
Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially opened The Great Mosque of Algiers, the largest mosque in Africa. It is also the third-largest in the world, after the mosques in Saudi Arabia's Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The mosque was constructed over seven years, costing more than $800m. It is expected to host prayers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins in two weeks. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/africa-business-news--4...
Feb 26, 2024•49 sec
The Central Bank of Nigeria has pegged the duty rates to be paid by importers to the Nigerian Customs Services during goods clearance. The bank instructed the Customs to utilise the FX closing rate on the date of the ‘Form M’ submission by importers for the clearance of goods and import duty assessment. The Director of Trade and Exchange Department, Hassan Mahmud, says this measure aims to tackle the volatility and frequent updates on the customs website concerning the liberalisation of the fore...
Feb 26, 2024•52 sec
The Central Bank of Nigeria has pegged the duty rates to be paid by importers to the Nigerian Customs Services during goods clearance. The bank instructed the Customs to utilise the FX closing rate on the date of the ‘Form M’ submission by importers for the clearance of goods and import duty assessment. The Director of Trade and Exchange Department, Hassan Mahmud, says this measure aims to tackle the volatility and frequent updates on the customs website concerning the liberalisation of the fore...
Feb 26, 2024•52 sec
The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS says the exit of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso would be detrimental to the region’s economy including stalling projects worth over $500 million. It also stated that the authority recognises that the withdrawal will automatically affect the immigration status of the citizens, as they may be required to obtain visas to travel around the region. The Chairman of the Authority, Bola Tinubu, says the issues though daunting, present an opportunity for ECOWAS to rea...
Feb 26, 2024•1 min
The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS says the exit of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso would be detrimental to the region’s economy including stalling projects worth over $500 million. It also stated that the authority recognises that the withdrawal will automatically affect the immigration status of the citizens, as they may be required to obtain visas to travel around the region. The Chairman of the Authority, Bola Tinubu, says the issues though daunting, present an opportunity for ECOWAS to rea...
Feb 26, 2024•1 min
The Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened to shut down its services all over the country if labour members are attacked during its planned two-day protest beginning February 27, 2024. The Labour, in a statement on Sunday, signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, says there is no going back on the planned industrial action. The NLC says the Federal Government must put on its thinking cap and implement its agreement with the Organised Labour as well as address the mounting economic crisis of survival...
Feb 26, 2024•56 sec
The Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened to shut down its services all over the country if labour members are attacked during its planned two-day protest beginning February 27, 2024. The Labour, in a statement on Sunday, signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, says there is no going back on the planned industrial action. The NLC says the Federal Government must put on its thinking cap and implement its agreement with the Organised Labour as well as address the mounting economic crisis of survival...
Feb 26, 2024•56 sec
Parliament in Somalia has approved a major defence agreement with Turkey. Under the ten-year deal, Turkey will arm and train Somali navy forces and deploy its ships in Somali waters. Analysts say it's a major step in enhancing Somalia’s maritime security. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi says the deal eliminates - in his words - fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing and the dumping of toxic waste. It comes as Ethiopia signed a controversial agreement with the self-declared republic of Somaliland,...
Feb 23, 2024•59 sec
Parliament in Somalia has approved a major defence agreement with Turkey. Under the ten-year deal, Turkey will arm and train Somali navy forces and deploy its ships in Somali waters. Analysts say it's a major step in enhancing Somalia’s maritime security. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi says the deal eliminates - in his words - fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing and the dumping of toxic waste. It comes as Ethiopia signed a controversial agreement with the self-declared republic of Somaliland,...
Feb 23, 2024•59 sec
The Biden administration has announced it is cancelling $1.2bn of student debt for 153,000 American borrowers. The Supreme Court had previously blocked President Joe Biden's plan to cancel student debt for over 40 million Americans. This announcement only applies to those enrolled in a specific repayment plan who meet certain requirements. Those affected will be notified and it will be applied automatically. The announcement from the White House only applies to those enrolled in the voluntary Sa...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
The Biden administration has announced it is cancelling $1.2bn of student debt for 153,000 American borrowers. The Supreme Court had previously blocked President Joe Biden's plan to cancel student debt for over 40 million Americans. This announcement only applies to those enrolled in a specific repayment plan who meet certain requirements. Those affected will be notified and it will be applied automatically. The announcement from the White House only applies to those enrolled in the voluntary Sa...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
The South African government has announced that it's tapping into its foreign reserves to try to reduce its enormous debts. The unusual move was announced by the finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, as he gave his budget speech in Cape Town. South Africa's current borrowings are the highest since 1947 and more money is spent servicing the debts than on education and health. The opposition has accused the governing ANC party of trying to sway voters ahead of the general election in May, which coul...
Feb 23, 2024•56 sec
The South African government has announced that it's tapping into its foreign reserves to try to reduce its enormous debts. The unusual move was announced by the finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, as he gave his budget speech in Cape Town. South Africa's current borrowings are the highest since 1947 and more money is spent servicing the debts than on education and health. The opposition has accused the governing ANC party of trying to sway voters ahead of the general election in May, which coul...
Feb 23, 2024•55 sec
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, says that the country’s oil rigs have increased to 30 from 11 in 2011. He linked the increase to NUPRC and other government stakeholders’ efforts to attract confidence and certainty into the oil and gas industry. Komolafe says Nigeria recorded capital expenditure worth billions of dollars within the last two and a half years due to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act. He says that ...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, says that the country’s oil rigs have increased to 30 from 11 in 2011. He linked the increase to NUPRC and other government stakeholders’ efforts to attract confidence and certainty into the oil and gas industry. Komolafe says Nigeria recorded capital expenditure worth billions of dollars within the last two and a half years due to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act. He says that ...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
Nigerian Government says cement manufacturers are not doing enough to stem the rising cost of cement in the country, stating that it will not accept a situation where the price of essential building materials like cement continues to rise uncontrollably. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa expressed displeasure over the steady, recurring, and alarming increase in the prices of cement and other building materials and accused the manufacturers of hiding behind unstabl...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
Nigerian Government says cement manufacturers are not doing enough to stem the rising cost of cement in the country, stating that it will not accept a situation where the price of essential building materials like cement continues to rise uncontrollably. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa expressed displeasure over the steady, recurring, and alarming increase in the prices of cement and other building materials and accused the manufacturers of hiding behind unstabl...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
Nigerian Lawmakers made a resounding plea to the Federal Government, urging it to refrain from eliminating the electricity subsidy, particularly in light of the prevailing hardships experienced across the country. The Senate’s stance emerged following a thorough deliberation, and subsequent endorsement of a motion during its plenary session emphasising the imperativeness of maintaining the electricity subsidy in Nigeria for the foreseeable future. The Senate resolved to call for prudence and cau...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
Nigerian Lawmakers made a resounding plea to the Federal Government, urging it to refrain from eliminating the electricity subsidy, particularly in light of the prevailing hardships experienced across the country. The Senate’s stance emerged following a thorough deliberation, and subsequent endorsement of a motion during its plenary session emphasising the imperativeness of maintaining the electricity subsidy in Nigeria for the foreseeable future. The Senate resolved to call for prudence and cau...
Feb 23, 2024•1 min
Ukrainians who came to the UK following the Russian invasion will be able to apply for 18-month extensions to their visas. New arrivals were granted three years to remain, meaning the first visas were due to expire in March 2025. It means those on the earliest visas can stay until at least September 2026. The government says it would provide people with certainty and stability. The extension will apply to all three visa schemes set up following the invasion: the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Ukr...
Feb 19, 2024•1 min
