Regional News
Sudan: No progress on proposed peace talks as RSF leader agrees to ceasefire. Source: Africa News
Sudanese paramilitary leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo said Thursday he was committed to a cease-fire to end the devastating war that has wrecked his country, even as fighting continues and there has been no progress on proposed peace talks between Dagalo and Sudan military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan.
Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces, said in a statement following a meeting in Pretoria with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that he had briefed Ramaphosa on the “considerable efforts taken to end this war.”
“I emphasized our unwavering commitment to cease hostilities,” Dagalo said, although he didn’t say if or when he would meet with Burhan. The warring generals agreed last month to a face-to-face meeting and to start talks over a possible cease-fire, according to the East African regional bloc IGAD.
Niger military tribunal grants release of deposed president’s son. Source: Africa News
Niger’s military tribunal has granted provisional release to Mohamed Bazoum Salem, the 23-year-old son of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, from house arrest in the capital Niamey. The tribunal made this decision on Monday, as stated in an official release.
Salem had been under detention at the presidential residence along with his parents since the military coup that ousted his father in July. This coup, one of eight in West and Central Africa since 2020, faced widespread condemnation, resulting in sanctions from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS). The international community also called for the release of Bazoum and a return to democratic rule.
Niger: West African court orders Mohamed Bazoum’s “immediate” release. Source: Africa News
The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) on Friday ordered the “immediate” release of Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s president who has been held captive since the coup that overthrew him on July 26, and that of his family.
The Court “orders the defendant (the military authorities in Niamey, editor’s note) to release all the applicants immediately and unconditionally”, said the judge, who deliberated in Abuja.
“The defendant has violated their right not to be arbitrarily detained”, he declared.
The Court also asked that Mohamed Bazoum be reinstated in his position.”It is Mohamed Bazoum who represents the State of Niger”, he “remains President of the Republic”, the judge assured.
Niger: ECOWAS set to rule on complaint over Mohamed Bazoum’s detention. Source: Africa News
The ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is set to issue a decision on a complaint submitted by lawyers of former Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum over his ouster in a July coup. Since his toppling, Bazoum has been held at his residence in the heart of the presidential palace in the Niamey, Niger’s capital.
The complaint with the ECOWAS Court of Justice by Bazoom’s lawyers centers on what they called “sequestration and arbitrary detention”. The court’s decision is expected on Thursday November 30.
On November 1, the public prosecutor at the Niamey Court of Appeal confirmed that there had been an escape attempt by President Mohamed Bazoum on October 18. But gave no details.
Nigerian leader suspends poverty alleviation minister after financial transactions are questioned Source: Africa News
Nigeria’s president on Monday suspended the country’s minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation over the use of a private bank account for ministry financial transactions in the government’s social welfare program.
Betta Edu was suspended with immediate effect while Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency carries out a “thorough investigation” of all ministry financial transactions,” presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement. It said the investigation would extend to the entire framework of Nigeria’s social investment programs.
Peace and Security
Village Head, Son, Others Killed In Fresh Katsina Attack. Source: Daily Trust
Bandits have invaded Kukar Babangida town in Jibia local government area of Katsina state, killing the village head, Magaji Haruna and his son. A resident.
Bandits have invaded Kukar Babangida town in Jibia local government area of Katsina state, killing the village head, Magaji Haruna and his son.
A resident, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told our reporter that eight other people were killed in the attack which began around 10 pm Wednesday.
“Three were killed together with the son of the village, Idris Haruna, in the same house, while two were the watchmen of a company, Tinna Tech. The terrorists slaughtered one of the watchmen and and shot the other with a gun.”
Bodies Of 11 Fulani Arrested By Soldiers Found In Kaduna Forest. Source: Daily Trust
Eleven decomposing corpses of Fulani from Tulde Fulbe, Ladduga Grazing Reserve in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were on Monday discovered in a forest located near an area called “Crossing” within the local government area.
The bodies, Daily Trust gathered, were identified by relatives and community members as those of the Fulani allegedly arrested by soldiers in the area at different times.
Relatives and other members of the community, who could not hold back tears, took the pains of putting their loved ones in sacks after driving for over 30 minutes to get to the location where the bodies were allegedly dumped because they were decomposing.
The victims, namely Safiyanu Adamu, Abdulkadir Idris, Akilu Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abubakar, Magaji Umar, Said Saleh, Abdulaziz Yusuf, Ibrahim Sani, Musa Dan Asabe, Nura Yusuf and Nuru Magaji were said to have been arrested by soldiers.
Imam Stabbed To Death In Kano. Source: Daily Trust
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano, on Wednesday, ordered that an 18-year-old, Yusuf Haruna, be remanded in a Correctional Centre for allegedly stabbing an Imam, Sani Mohammed, 45, to death.
The Prosecutor, Mrs Fatima Ado-Ahmad, told the court that Musa Yunusa, of the same address reported the matter at Jakara Police Division Kano on Dec.31, 2023.
She alleged that at about 7.p.m the defendant attacked and stabbed the 45-year-old Imam, with a sharp knife in his back, resulting in his death.
“As a result the victim sustained deep injury and was rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a Doctor.”
Army Reviews Curriculum In Training Schools To End Banditry, Insurgency. Source: Daily Trust
The Nigerian Army has disclosed that its modules of training are presently being reviewed as part of the proactive response doctrine, aimed at bringing to an end the activities of insurgents and bandits as well as other armed groups that have been terrorizing the country.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen T. A. Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Training, Army, Major Gen SG Mohammed made this known at a 5-Day Doctrine and Training Conference, with the theme: Enhancing Operational Effectiveness in a Joint Environment through Tailor-Made Training at the Headquarters of the Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army in Minna, Niger State.
B/Haram Kills 6, Injures 4 In Borno. Source: Daily Trust
At least six residents of Borno State have been killed and four others injured at Bakassi Joint on the outskirts of Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai LGA of Borno State.
The House of Assembly member representing Nganzai onstituency, Hon. Mohammed Ali Gajiram, has confirmed the attack, saying it happened on Sunday night.
He said nine insurgents rounded up the group of pokers who were playing the cards and other local games around 8pm and opened fire on them.
“We received a distress call two days ago that some Boko Haram terrorists took advantage of one of the porous areas of the trenches dug by security agencies and sneaked into Gajiram town.
Army Pledges To Strengthen Security In Enugu. Source: Daily Trust
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has promised that security would be strengthened in flash point areas in Enugu State, including Isi-Uzo Local Government Area.
He spoke on Tuesday during a working visit to the Enugu Government House aimed at assessing operational situations under the jurisdiction of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Eight Motorists ‘Killed’ In Borno Landmine Explosion. Source: Daily Trust
No fewer than eight persons are feared dead and many others sustained varying degrees of injury when two commercial vehicles stepped on landmines along Ngala-Dikwa road in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
Daily Trust learnt that the incident occurred around 10:30 am around Kinewba village in Ngala.
The landmine attack reportedly happened about 115 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the state capital.
A security source disclosed that the two vehicles involved in the incident were damaged beyond repairs.
Humanitarian
Borno Govt, Please Address Waste Disposal Crisis At Customs Bridge. Source: Daily Trust
Piles of garbage line the streets leading up to the Customs Bridge in Borno, creating an eyesore for residents and visitors alike. The waste disposal crisis, which has been ongoing for months, is not only an aesthetic problem but also a health and environmental hazard. The increasing amounts of waste being dumped around the Customs Bridge in Borno have sparked concerns about the health and environmental impact of this situation.
The waste disposal crisis around the Customs Bridge in Maiduguri has not only created unsanitary conditions and a risk of disease, but it has also led to dangerous practices. Some residents have taken to burning the garbage in an attempt to reduce the piles, but this has resulted in toxic fumes and smoke billowing through the air. Beyond the health and safety risks posed by the burning of garbage, it is also contributing to a broader environmental crisis in Borno.
Zulum Boosts Agriculture in Borno, Reactivates South Chad Irrigation Scheme. Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has announced a plan to reactivate the South Chad Irrigation Scheme aimed at providing a livelihood for the resettled communities of people affected by age long Boko Haram insurgency.
The Governor made the announcement on Monday, 8 January, 2024, in Wulgo, a community in Ngala Local Government Area.
He said: “Borno State Government will see how to open up and expand the irrigation activities on the shores of Lake Chad. We will resettle new communities and we shall reactivate the South Chad Irrigation Scheme in order to address food crises in Borno State.”
Stabilization and economic development
We’ll Eliminate Bottlenecks Affecting MSMEs – Shettima. Source: Daily Trust
Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that his principal, President Tinubu, is committed to resolving the bottlenecks affecting the MSME space in Nigeria.
Speaking during the launch of the Expanded National MSME Clinic in Makurdi, Benue State, yesterday, Shettima said the government will persist until identified issues are resolved.
Nigeria/China Coy Earmarks $1bn To Convert Flared Gas Into Energy. Source: Daily Trust
A Chinese company, Beinjing Zhongmin Xin Junlong, a new energy technology company, has signed a one-billion-dollar agreement with a Nigerian Energy company, Nigus International, to provide solutions to gas flaring in the country and utilise it for energy.
Speaking at the weekend in Abuja when both companies signed the partnership papers, Chief Executive, Nigus International, Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim, said 90 per cent of what is produced during crude oil production is flared which shows that we are not utilizing the gas optimally.
Nigerian Stocks Rally, Main Index Crosses 80,000 Points For First Time. Source: Daily Trust
Nigerian stocks extended gains for the fifth session yesterday led by banks to push the main index past a psychological threshold of 80,000 points for the first time ever, NGX data showed.
Stocks have leapt 6.5% in early 2024 trading, extending last year’s gains of 45.90%, as local funds pile back into equities.
The index of Nigeria’s top 10 banks climbed 2.23% on the day to lead the charge on the bourse.
Nigerian equities started to rally at the end of last May, when new President Bola Tinubu launched reforms of the country’s foreign exchange market and scrapped a costly but popular fuel subsidy that had sucked up government finances.
Ramadan: FG Moves To Reduce Sugar Prices. Source: Daily Trust
As part of efforts to reduce the rising prices of sugar, especially in festive periods like the forthcoming Ramadan, the federal government said it is engaging local producers to boost local sugar production in Nigeria.
The federal government said the engagement with major companies under the pioneer status of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) on collaborative terms is targeted at reducing prices through improved local production, a statement by the Minister’s media unit disclosed yesterday.
December Inflation To Set New Record – Report. Source: Daily Trust
The report stated that the figure, which would be a record high on the country’s inflation figure would be correct subject to the margin of error between -0.5 per cent to +0.5 per cent.
“This means that inflation in Nigeria will be at a record high. In view of the fact that global and regional inflation has slowed and, in many cases, falling, Nigeria is fast becoming an outlier.
“More importantly, most analysts are questioning the veracity of the inflation data. The answer to this question is not far-fetched because imported inflation has two components, the first is the nominal prices of commodities in the global markets, and the other is the exchange rate effect on domestic prices.
The naira fell by 38.84 per cent in 2023; according to Bloomberg, it is now the 3rd worst-performing currency in the world.”
2024 Budget: Trade Ministry To Spend N1bn On Roadshows, Furniture. Source: Daily Trust
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is set to spend N1 billion on roadshows, rebranding, furniture and investment promotion, findings by Daily Trust have.
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is set to spend N1 billion on roadshows, rebranding, furniture and investment promotion, findings by Daily Trust have shown.
The ministry in its 2024 budget breakdown says it will spend N500 million on rebranding and investment promotion. Another N500 million will be spent on the purchase of furniture fittings.
EFCC To Spend N1bn On Local Travel, 413m On Vehicles. Source: Daily Trust
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has planned to spend N1,055,633,61 billion on local travels, analysis of the 2024 budget has shown. The commission.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has planned to spend N1,055,633,61 billion on local travels, analysis of the 2024 budget has shown.
The commission also budgeted N113.4m on training for local travels while N389.6m will go to transport for international training and another N173.6m was set aside for “international travel & transport: others”
Further analysis showed the anti-graft agency will spend N413m on new vehicles while N164.3m will be spent to fuel the commission cars.
N273.3 was also budgeted to fuel generators while N156.8m is for electricity charges.
Cameroon: 417 billion F to develop the wheat sector in 5 years. Source: Journal du Cameroun
The Cameroonian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbaïrobe, chaired on January 5, 2024 the validation workshop of the development plan for the wheat sector in Cameroon.
This plan, worth 417 billion CFA francs (approximately 693.9 million US dollars), extends over the period 2024-2028 and aims to reduce imports of this cereal by 35%. Funded by the government and its financial partners, the main objective of the five-year plan is to revive the production and processing of wheat in the country.
Ultimately, this plan led by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Minader) should make it possible to produce nearly 350,000 tonnes of marketable wheat by 2028.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, this program is structured around three major axes. It aims to revitalize research, popularization and sustainable wheat cultivation, improve production and competitiveness of the sector, as well as structure, finance and promote the marketing of Cameroonian wheat.
Zulum signs Borno’s N358.7bn 2024 budget into law. Source: Daily Nigerian
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on Wednesday, signed the state’s N358.7billion 2024 budget into law.
Speaking at the ceremony, Zulum said that the budget was made up N208.4billion capital expenditure and N150.4 billion recurrent expenditures.
He charged heads of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and members of the state executive council to ensure compliance with the budget in all their official engagements.
