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*Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said that while African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, offers limitless opportunities for the industrialization of Africa, authorities across the continent must take the right policy actions to actualize them. He stated that such actions include the protection of local industries and improving value chains. Osinbajo stated this in a message delivered today at a ‘Roundtable on Industrialization in Africa themed “Positioning African Industries for Economic Transformation and Continental Free Trade," organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. According to the Vice President, “for certain, the AfCFTA is indispensable if industrial development is to take off in Africa because it offers wider markets and economies of scale which are essential for manufacturing to be competitive. "We must take policy actions to create an environment in which businesses ca

(Nigeria ) The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has congratulated the President-elect of Zambia,   Hakainde Hichilema on his presidential election victory. The Zambia’s opposition leader, was on Monday declared the winner of last week’s presidential election in the country, defeating the incumbent President Edgar Lungu by over a million votes. CNPP in a statement in Abuja by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu noted that “free, fair and credible election is a basic ingredient to national development.” Urging Nigerians to emulate the Zambians, the CNPP noted that its about time Nigerians realised that Africa is waiting for Nigeria. “Once we get elections right, it will rub off on all African countries as they are waiting for us to take the lead. “As we look forward to the 2023 general elections, the CNPP therefore urge Nigerians to emulate the Zambians by coming out in their numbers to vote for candidates of their choice as voter apathy gives room for riggin

*Federal High Court, Lagos (Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday restrained Mrs Oluwayemisi Ajayi from dealing with or running the affairs of her estranged husband's firm as a sole surviving director/shareholder pending the hearing and determination of the main suit. The firm, First Foundation Medical Engineering Company Ltd, was owned and registered in accordance with the law, by late Dr Tosin Ajayi. The judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim, made the order following an ex-parte application by Dr Ajayi's daughter, Miss Tomisin Ajayi, and his widow, Mrs Helen Prest Ajayi. Their application sought to restrain Oluwayemisi from running the affairs whatsoever of the first respondent, First Foundation Medical Engineering Company Ltd. The other respondents are: Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC,  Mrs Oluwayemisi Ajayi and Mr Patrick Abak, a lawyer. According to the application, Dr Ajayi was a renowned medical doctor, businessman and a philanthr

*Federal High Court, Lagos (Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday, declined to make an order of Status quo ante, prayed by 11 political parties to stop the Saturday's July 24, Local Government Election in Lagos State. The court presided by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, declined stopping the election, after upholding the argument of counsel to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. Further hearing of the suit has been adjourned till November 29, for further proceedings in the suit. The 11 political parties that dragged LASIEC before the court are; Alliance for Social Democrats; All Grand Alliance Party; Change Advocacy Party; Mega Party of Nigeria; Progressive People’s Alliance; Save Nigeria Congress; We The People’s of Nigeria; Young Democratic Party; Advanced Congress of Democrats and Mass Movement of Nigeria. Joined as LASIEC co-respondents in the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/569/21, are: Lagos Attorney-General and Commi

(Nigeria) Eleven political parties have asked a Lagos Federal High Court, to stop the scheduled July 24, 2021, local government election in Lagos State, due to the failure of the Lagos State Independent Election Commission, LASIEC, to register them for the elections. The 11 political parties are: Alliance of Social Democrats; All Grand Alliance Party; Change Advocacy Party; Mega Party of Nigeria; Progressive People's Alliance; Save Nigeria Congress; We The People's Nigeria; Young Democratic Party; Advanced Congress of Democrats and Mass Movement of Nigeria. Joined as defendants/respondents in the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/569/21 are LASIEC; Attorney-General of Lagos State and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The 11 political parties through in their motion Exparte filed before the court, through their counsel, Adesanmi Afolabi, are seeking an order of interim injunction restraining LASIEC from conducting the local government Election of Lagos State, scheduled

*Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate has condemned what it described as the “unlawful” encroachment and arrest of Nigerians by the authorities of the Republic of Benin. Accordingly, the upper chamber directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and States and Local Governments to interface with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Justice and National Border Commission to urgently put in place the necessary mechanism that would provide lasting solutions to this issue. The upper chamber’s decision to intervene was reached amid its resolutions, following a point of order raised by Senator Tolu Odebiyi (APC, Ogun West). Coming under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Odebiyi recalled the numerous reports of alleged encroachments into Nigeria’s territory by authorities of the Republic of Benin, which, according to him, “has become increasingly disturbing.” The lawmaker said, “Recall also that the reports revea

Nnamdi Kanu (Nigeria) The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday, said Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, attempt to exonerate Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, from the  alleged abduction and extradition of its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria, was futile, as it has incontrovertible evidence against Kenyetta's involvement. A statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, entitled "We have incontrovertible evidence of how Uhuru Kenyatta betrayed our leader because of oil money" said: "The attention of the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the lame denial by the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, of Kenya's involvement in the criminal abduction of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. "This denial is another smart but belated attempt to cover up their atrocities but unfortunately for them we already have incontrovertible evidence of

Nnamdi Kanu (Nigeria) Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has warned the Nigerian Government that it should not take any action that will threaten the life of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, if they still want Nigeria to exist. MASSOB in a  statement by its National Director of  Information, Edeson Samuel, said: “We are beckoning on the United Nations, African Union, United States of America, G8 Nations  and international Human Rights Organisations to save the indigenous people of Biafra from political and economic annihilation by sanctioning Nigeria state for her human rights abuses. “We alos noticed that the terrorist activities of Fulani tribe is unrepentantly backed by President Muhamadu Buhari's government. This atrocious acts of Nigeria government  has led to the killings, unlawful arrest, abductions, tortured and detentions of innocent Biafra

*Nigerian Senate (Nigeria)  Senate on Wednesday passed a bill which provides for three years jail term or N3 million fine or both, as  penalties for anyone caught illegally possessing or dealing in firearms in Nigeria.   Titled: Firearms Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the piece of legislation amends Section 35 (2) of the Principal Act which previously provided a fine of just N1000 as penalty.   The amendment to Section 35(2), which is captured in Clause 4 of the bill, provides for stiffer penalties for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition by any individual, organization or corporate entity.   The passage of the amendment bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.    The Senate sequel to receiving the Committee’s report, dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to carry out a clause-by-clause consideration of the Committee’s recommendations on the bill.   The upper chamber inserted a new Section 39 afte

Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate on Tuesday considered a bill that would disrupt the financial flow and funding of criminal enterprise and terrorist financing in Nigeria through the seizure of assets and monies marked as proceeds of crime. Titled: Proceeds of Crime Bill, 2021, the piece of legislation is sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North). Leading debate on the bill, Senator Abdullahi said it seeks to provide for a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the recovery and management of proceeds of crime or benefits derived from unlawful activities. He explained that its passage and assent into law would harmonize and consolidate the legal provisions on the recovery of proceeds of crime in Nigeria. According to the lawmaker, Nigeria had severally attempted to put in place an appropriate Proceeds of Crime legislation since 2007. “Efforts to develop a comprehensive bill have been impeded by agency rivalry since 2011. “The effort

(Nigeria) The Senate on Tuesday received the report of the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream); Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas Resources on the Petroleum Industry Bill, 2021. The report was laid during plenary by Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Sabo Mohammed (APC, Jigawa South-West). President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, after the report was laid, told lawmakers that the report would be considered on Thursday this week. He, therefore, mandated the Joint Committee to provide lawmakers with copies of the bill ahead of its consideration to enable them to study its content. Lawan said: “Let me use the opportunity to thank our Joint Committee for working so hard, selflessly and patriotically to produce the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill. “This report, a copy each, must be made available to each and every Senator today, this afternoon. “I don’t know how the Committee would arrange it, but every Senator must have a copy today. “[And] we would be considering t

*Dame Patience Jonathan (Nigeria) A Lagos Federal High Court on Monday, adjourned till October 7, 2021,   for hearing of an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seeking an   order for final forfeiture of the sum of $5.78 million and N2.4 billion, linked to the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Trial judge, Tijjani Garuba Ringim, adjourned the date after hearing the submissions of the counsel to the parties in the matter. EFCC had filed the application for forfeiture sometimes in 2017 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, now retired. The defendants in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/640/2017, were; Dame Patience Jonathan and a firm, LA Wari Furniture and Bathes. The monies were said to have been warehoused by Skye Bank Plc and Ecobank Plc respectively. Justice Olatoregun on April 26, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the monies, sequel to an ex-parte application filed and moved by the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo. The judge’s order

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia to “issue provisional measures to urgently stop the Nigerian government and National Assembly from supporting and pushing through two bills to gag the media, and impose arbitrary and harsh punishment on journalists, broadcast stations, media houses and media practitioners in Nigeria.” SERAP said: “the Complaint, addressed to the Chairperson of the Commission Mr Solomon Dersso, and Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Ms Jamesina King, is brought pursuant to Articles 55 and 56 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Rule 100 of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission.” The Complaint followed the move to push through two repressive bills to amend the National Broadcasting Act, and to amend the Nigeria Press Council Act. The bills are reportedly sponso

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved an €83 million loan to finance the second phase of Egypt’s Electricity and Green Growth Support Programme. The funding is part of the Bank’s budget support to the Egyptian government to strengthen its electricity infrastructure, which is expected to bolster the private sector and accelerate recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. The programm seeks to enhance the power sector’s financial sustainability, governance and operations. It will also advance the provision of clean, reliable energy to drive green growth. Egypt’s successful reforms in the sector have led to greater private investment in utility-scale renewable energy projects. “Egypt’s Vision 2030 instills the sustainability ethos across all sectors. Energy and electricity are amongst the top sectors in Egypt’s International Development Cooperation’s portfolio, pushing towards a green reform,” said Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, Rania Al Masha

(Nigeria) Republic of Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Gabriel Lima in a meeting held Tuesday in Malabo announced his ministry’s withdrawal of this Year’s edition of Africa Oil Week, due to be held in Dubai. The minister expressed his disappointment that the organisers of this erstwhile for Africa critical event, London Based Hyve group had decided to move the event away from Africa. Minister Obiang Lima further stated, that he will send a letter to all IOCs and service companies operating in Equatorial Guinea, strongly encouraging them not to go Africa Oil Week in Dubai. He urged fellow ministers and other industry stakeholders to not participate in the Dubai initiative. The minister reminded the meeting about the story of President Obiang hosting the Africa Nation’s Football Cup with two months’ notice when Morocco declined to do so as previously agreed due to fears of the Ebola crisis, rather than let Qatar host the cup. This is not the time to abandon

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare (Nigeria) The National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, remains a tool for national integration which fosters national development and unity for the benefit of Nigerian youth. Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, made the disclosure while inaugurating the new NYSC Board for a three year tenure. According to the Minister, "I wish to use this unique occasion to once again affirm the satisfaction of the Federal Government with the achievements of the present Management of NYSC, which has enhanced the visibility of the Scheme. Accordingly, I commend the Director-General, the Management team, Staff and Corps members whose collective efforts resulted in the successes recorded.   I expect that members of the Board will deploy the political influence at their disposal   to strengthen all levels of engagements aimed at sustaining the legacies of the scheme through continuous engagement with policymakers at various l

(Nigeria) President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said on Tuesday that Nigeria is in support of the calls for an electoral arrangement that will provide direct election for representations at the West African regional parliament otherwise known as ECOWAS Parliament. He said: "We are in support of creating an ECOWAS Parliament that has members that will be directly elected into the parliament so that the ordinary people will have a complete attachment with those that represent them in ECOWAS Parliament," Lawan said. He spoke while playing host to the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Niger, Hon. Seini Oumarou who led some of his Honourable colleagues on a courtesy visit the Senate President. Lawan said the current arrangement, in which parliament from each member-country sends representations, is working but "we hope that there will be an improvement over the arrangement to ensure that the ECOWAS sub-region is in such a manner and form that our Parlia

(Nigeria) The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has thanked Ndi Igbo on the 100 percent compliance with its this year sit-at-home directed observed  in honour of Biafra fallen heroes throughout Biafra land. In a statement on Monday by IPOB's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: "We the global family of IPOB, ably led by our prophet and liberator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, are delighted to note that this year's sit-at-home directive in honour of our fallen heroes recorded 100 percent success throughout Biafra land. ”We, therefore, wish to   warmly commend   Biafrans, South East Governors, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, friends and lovers of Biafra freedom who made the exercise a huge success. "The unprecedented success and total compliance that greeted the exercise has sent panic waves down the spine of our oppressors. Now they understand how prepared we are in our irrevocable resolve to restore Biafra Republic. "We immensely thank the people of Akwa Ibom

(Nigeria) The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, NYIF, has disbursed loans to no fewer than 4,680 beneficiaries amounting to N1.31billion out of the first tranche of N12.5 billion. Director of Press in the Ministry, Mohammed Manga, in a statement on Sunday, said: “Latest report from NYIF partner, NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank, NMFB, showed that the beneficiaries who received the loans as at the end of April 2021 are spread across the country and critical sectors of the economy. “The beneficiaries have commended the Ministry for surmounting the initial challenges to make the disbursements possible. “Furthermore, the Ministry wishes to assure applicants that more disbursements will be achieved in the coming weeks to ensure that the objectives of the programme are achieved.”

LRA leader, Dominic Ongwen in court The International Criminal Court ICC, on Thursday, y imposed a 25-year-sentence on Dominic Ongwen, a former leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The sentence marks an important milestone in the search for justice for victims of the grave international crimes committed by this notorious armed group in northern Uganda. At the sentencing hearing, the court explained that it weighed a number of considerations, including the breadth and gravity of the crimes and Ongwen’s culpability, but also the fact he was abducted as a child,   forced to join the LRA, and lost any opportunity to become a “valuable member of his community.” Ongwen – the first LRA leader to be held accountable – had been found guilty of 61 war crimes and crimes against humanity that included hundreds killed, child victims, and sexual violence. The personal circumstances Ongwen faced led the court to reject a life sentence even though other aspects of the case would have made