Nigeria Plans Rice And Wheat Self-Sufficiency Within Three Years - Government Document

Osinbajo, Buhari and aides at the Two-Day Retreat for 36 Ministers-Designate held in Abuja tagged: ‘Delivering Change from Precepts to Practice’

Nigeria aims to be self-sufficient in both rice and wheat production within three years, a document by President Muhammadu Buhari's administration seen by Reuters showed on Saturday, a massive undertaking given current production levels.

The policy document was circulated among Buhari's ministers, whose portfolios are yet to be announced, on a two-day retreat. It also proposes overhauling the mining sector, including efforts to "ensure local and foreign investment" in the industry.

However, the five-page document did not provide details of how the administration led by the 72-year-old former military ruler would fund the planned changes in Africa's biggest economy, which has seen a slowdown in growth.

Why APC’s Al-Hassan Was Declared Taraba Governor — Tribunal

Senator Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Taraba on Saturday nullified the election of Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku, of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and a Minister designate, Aisha Alhassan, as the winner of the April 11 governorship election in the state. The three-member tribunal held that Mr. Ishaku was not validly nominated as candidate of the PDP and therefore did not qualify, from start, to contest the governorship election.

Specifically, the tribunal held that the governorship primaries purportedly conducted by the PDP in the state was done in violation of section 78 (b) (1)(2) of the Electoral Act which guides parties nomination to the position of governorship candidate.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Sierra Leone Declared Free Of Disease

Sierra Leone has officially been declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organization (WHO). Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Freetown, at the stroke of midnight - marking 42 days without a single declared case of the disease.

There were further cheers when the WHO local representative made the official announcement later on Saturday.

The outbreak killed almost 4,000 people in Sierra Leone over the past 18 months.

Many gathered around a giant cotton tree in the centre of the city. Some lit candles in memory of the victims, while others danced with joy.

70% Tourism Loss For Egypt If Russian, British Visitors Leave In Aftermath Of Plane Crash – Ministry

© Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

Egypt is concerned over the recent outflow of Russian and British tourists – about 70 percent of its total visitors. If they don’t return, it would seriously harm Egypt’s economy, as the tourist industry generates more than 11 percent of the country’s GDP. The forecast comes from the Adviser to the Minister of Tourism, Mohamed Yousef, who said that losing those tourists would be “a severe blow” to the industry.

“Russian tourists are ranked first with 3 million tourists per year. British – 1 million,” Yousef said according to Al Ahram newspaper. “Their leaving is a severe blow for the industry. The loss will be 70 percent of the tourist influx.”

Sexting Scandal Shocks US High School

The students involved in the sexting ring could face criminal charges ©Roslan Rahman (AFP)

A massive sexting ring is rocking a high school in Colorado, with at least 100 students trading nude pictures and posting them on social media, news reports said. Some of the kids in the photographs were as young as 12, and included eighth graders from the middle school, The New York Times reported.

The students, many of whom are on the football team at Canon City High School, could now face criminal charges, reports said.

The school district announced Wednesday that "a number of our students have engaged in behavior where they take and pass along pictures of themselves that expose private parts of their bodies or their undergarments."

Burundi Fears As Government Readies To Crush Resistance; ICC Prosecutor Warns Against War Crimes While US Slams 'Inflammatory' Government Rhetoric

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza delivers a speech after being sworn-in for a controversial third term in power, at the Congress Palace in Kigobe district, Bujumbura on August 20, 2015 ©Landry Nshimye (AFP)

Inflammatory language and divisive rhetoric: Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's determination to end months of protest and opposition to his rule has sparked deep concern among analysts, diplomats and international powers. With almost daily battles between gunmen and security forces, Nkurunziza this week issued an ultimatum to gunmen to lay down their weapons by Saturday night.

Tensions are rising, partly driven by government speeches loaded with "dangerous" and "war-like" rhetoric with ethnic overtones, said a Burundian academic.

Burundi was slowly getting back on track after its 1993-2006 civil war, which killed 300,000 people. Then, the battlefields were green hills and farmlands where rebels from the majority Hutu people clashed with an army dominated by the minority Tutsi.

Congo Court Confirms Results Of Referendum On Presidential Third Term

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguessou talks to the media after voting on the controversial referendum that will allow him to extend his rule on October 25, 2015 in Brazzaville

Republic of Congo's constitutional court on Friday confirmed the results of a controversial referendum on a constitutional amendment that allows the country's long-serving president to try extend his rule. The court announced that the October 25 referendum passed with a whopping 94.3 percent of voters in favour, after a high 71.2 percent voter turnout.

The government had previously announced 92.3 percent in favour with a 72.4 percent turnout -- a result dismissed by the opposition as fraudulent.

Ex-Provost Found Dead Inside OAU Office

OAU professor dies inside his office

Lecturers and students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, were grief-stricken following the discovery of the lifeless body of a former Provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof Solomon Ogunniyi, inside his office. Reports indicate Ogunniyi was found dead inside his office on Thursday.

Some of the students said Ogunniyi locked himself up in the room and he was found dead by those who forced the door opened after knocking at the door repeatedly without any response.

Boko Haram Attacks Force 12,000 Pupils From Niger Schools: UN

A picture taken on May 23, 2015 in Diffa, southeastern Niger, shows Nigerien children whose families fled Boko Haram attacks ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP)

Some 150 schools with more than 12,000 pupils have been forced to close due to the deadly attacks in Niger's southeast Diffa region, the United Nations said Friday. Most of the affected schools are near Lake Chad and on the banks of the Yobe River, which marks the border between Niger and Nigeria, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

The agency said 151 schools with a total of 12,631 pupils had closed due to "insecurity that has sparked the absence of teachers and panic in the population".

Four Charged By IAAF Amid Corruption Crisis

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack has been accused of accepting money to cover up doping

The IAAF ethics commission has brought disciplinary charges against four men, including the son of former president Lamine Diack and the former head of its anti-doping department, amid the corruption crisis engulfing international athletics. Papa Massata Diack, Valentin Balakhnichev, Alexei Melnikov, and Gabriel Dolle have been charged with various alleged breaches of the IAAF code of ethics.

Papa Massata Diack is a former consultant to the IAAF, Balakhnichev is the former president of the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF), Melnikov is a former chief ARAF coach for long distance walkers and runners, and Dolle is the former director of the IAAF's anti-doping department.

South South, North East Have Nigeria’s Highest Rates Of Abortions – Report

Incidences of induced abortions are more prevalent in the South-South and the North-East regions of Nigeria, a new report says. The study, conducted by US-based Guttmacher Institute, and Ipas, a nongovernmental organization that focuses on female reproductive rights, puts the South-South in the lead, and the South West at the bottom.

The report shows that besides insurgency, the North East region of Nigeria is also plagued by a high rate of abortions – second only to the South-South.

“The proportion of abortions is lowest in South West, at 11 per cent, and highest in the South-South at 17 per cent, and 16 per cent in the North East,” the report says.

It adds that at least 1.2 million induced abortions take place in various parts of Nigeria every year.

Celebrations And Challenges In Sierra Leone As Country Hours Away From Being Declared Ebola Free

How the number of new Ebola cases has dwindled: This graph gives a quick view of how Ebola cases have fallen drastically. It shows the weekly number of cases of Ebola since the outbreak was declared.

Sierra Leone is just hours away from being declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization after six weeks without a new infection. 

Nearly 4,000 Sierra Leoneans died of Ebola during the outbreak which started in 2014 (AFP)

People are getting to celebrate and also to commemorate the 3,955 people who died since the outbreak began in 2014. You can touch and feel, taste and even see the excitement here in the capital, Freetown. It's like a heavy load on the head of a child who wants to put it down.

Famine Looms In South Sudan War Zones As Aid Agencies Blocked

A view of the Protection of Civilians (POC) site near Bentiu, in Unity State, South Sudan, which houses over 40,000 IDPs 25 August 2014 (Photo UN/JC McIlwaine; Image source: Sudan Tribune)

Weeks after UN-backed experts warned that thousands are dying of starvation in South Sudan war zones, aid agencies say they cannot access areas to stave off famine because of "spiralling" violence. Last month, UN agencies said 30,000 people were starving to death in Unity state, with Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) experts warning of a "concrete risk of famine" before the end of the year if fighting continues and aid does not reach the hardest hit areas.

300,000 in need of food aid in Unity State – UN

Despite the warnings and an August peace deal, there has been no let-up in government and rebel battles, with diplomats accusing both sides of blockading life-saving aid.

UPDATE: Death Toll In Pakistan Factory Collapse Set To Rise

Rescuers carry a survivor from the rubble of a collapsed factory on the outskirts of Lahore, on November 4, 2015 ©Arif Ali (AFP)

Rescue crews resumed digging through the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan Friday as officials said they expected to find at least two dozen more bodies, with the death toll standing at 23. More than 100 survivors have already been pulled from the debris of the four-storey Rajput Polyester polythene bag factory near the Punjab provincial capital of Lahore after it came crashing down on Wednesday evening, trapping dozens of people inside.

But hopes were fading for anyone left alive as rescuers scrabbled through the debris.

"We have recovered up to 23 dead bodies and more than 100 injured so far. There are less chances of finding more injured under the rubble but we are looking for dead bodies," Arshad Zia, head of rescue services in Punjab, told AFP.

Nigeria To Face Mali In U-17 World Cup Final

It will be an all-African affair in the FIFA U-17 World Cup final after the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria’s 4-2 victory over Mexico in the semi-final booked them a ticket to face Mali in Sunday’s showpiece.  Mali reached their first-ever U-17 World Cup finals courtesy of a come-from-behind 3-1 victory against Belgium.

The Europeans had taken the lead through Dante Rigo, but Boubacar Traore’s swift equalizer was followed by second-half goals from Sidiki Maiga and Sekou Koita.

FOR THE RECORD: We’ll Be Judged By The Number Of Nigerians Lifted From Poverty, Buhari Tells Ministers

Image source: BBC

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday instructed his new ministers to ensure they run a lean government at all levels, to avoid wastage of public funds. The president charged them to key into the change agenda of government, as they are the vehicle that will administer the change to Nigerians.

He gave the charge when he opened a two-day retreat for the 36 ministers who are yet to be sworn into office yet.

The event held at the old banquet hall of the presidential villa in Abuja.

Mr. Buhari said the administration would be assessed based on the number of Nigerians it is able to lift out of poverty.

Jonathan Failed Because He Ignored Advice – Northern Elders Forum

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

The Deputy National Leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo, said former President Goodluck Jonathan would have taken the credit for ending insurgency in the country if he had listened to the advice of the forum. Unongo said NEF wondered why Jonathan refused to implement the group’s blueprint to end the war against the Boko Haram sect.

In an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, Unongo said the recommendations which Jonathan allegedly ignored were being used by President Muhammadu Buhari.

SHOCKING!!! 'Clitoris Collector' Witness Testifies In Camera

Mr Frederiksen's bail hearing started yesterday (AFP)

The South Africa media was not allowed in court on Thursday for the testimony of a second witness in the bail hearing of a Danish man, Peter Frederiksen, accused of collecting women's clitorises. Prosecutor Amanda Bester requested that the hearing be held in camera in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court and the defence had no objection. The magistrate ordered the media and public out of the gallery.

News24 was told that witnesses received threats before testifying, but this could not immediately be verified.

Two-Day Retreat For 36 Ministers-Designate Flags Off In Abuja; Nigeria's Cabinet On Retreat For Lessons In Ethics

Image Source: BBC

Ministers chosen by Nigeria's President Muhammdu Buhari for his cabinet are on a two-day retreat at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Image source: TheCable

The BBC's Haruna Tangaza says experts are briefing them about what the focus of the government should be and how they will be expected to carry out their jobs.

NEWS FROM ANOTHER ANGLE: African Telecom Giant Battles Nigeria Over US$5.2 Billion Fine

In this Monday April. 22, 2013 file photo, staff of MTN Nigeria work during the launch of mobile number portability in Lagos, Nigeria. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Nigerian authorities have renewed the operating license of the MTN telecommunications group as the company faces a multi-billion dollar fine for failing to comply with regulations in the West African nation. The South African-based MTN Group said on Tuesday Nov. 3, 2015 that the Nigerian Communications Commission extended its operating license to 2021 in Nigeria, its biggest market.

Africa's biggest telecommunications company is locked in a nasty battle with one of the most powerful governments on the continent, with billions of dollars at stake. MTN Nigeria, MTN Group's subsidiary here, was fined US$5.2 billion for failing to meet an August deadline to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered cellphone SIM cards — considered a security threat with Nigeria confronted by an Islamic uprising and rampant kidnappings and armed robberies.

The fine amounts to nearly two years' profits for MTN Nigeria, by far the company's most profitable subsidiary. It also equals nearly a quarter the national budget of Nigeria, which has been hammered by the global plunge in oil prices. Nigeria's is Africa's biggest oil producer and President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected this year, says he inherited depleted coffers as he struggles to create jobs and fulfill other campaign promises.

Fed Govt, States Owe Contractors N600b

Solomon Ogunbusola

Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) President Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola yesterday alleged that federal and state governments owed his members over N600 billion. He said the refusal by governments at the two tiers to pay the debts was affecting the construction industry, adding that no payment had been received from the Federal Government since August 2014.

Ogunbusola, who said the Federal Government owed over N300 billion, added that states from the Southeast geopolitical zone were the most indebted. He said the debts were for projects executed and certified by the governments.

Ghana Human Rights Chief Sacked Over Hotel Bills

Lauretta Lamptey

Ghana's president has sacked Lauretta Lamptey, the head of the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), after she was found to have improperly spent thousands of dollars on hotel accommodation. A petition by two private citizens led to President John Mahama instructing the chief justice to set up a committee to investigate.

It recommended her removal for abuse of office.

Tanzania President Sworn In

Mr Magufuli won elections by a landslide (AFP)

John Magufuli has been sworn in as Tanzania's new president in front of about 20,000 people at a stadium in the main city Dar es Salaam.  Nicknamed "The Bulldozer", he appeared to be in a conciliatory mood, saying he saw them as strong competitors who made his work hard for his victory.

He said he looked forward to working with them in future.

Defeated presidential candidate Edward Lowassa and his opposition Ukawa coalition boycotted the ceremony.

MTN Told To 'Obey Laws' After Nigeria Fine

Image source: fin24

South Africa's government appears to have left mobile phone giant MTN to fend for itself as it tries to reduce the US$5.2bn (£3.3bn) fine imposed on it by Nigeria, says South Africa's respected financial publication fin24 on its website. It notes that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the former chairman of the South African-owned company, said he expected MTN to obey the laws of the countries where it does business.

Naira Drops, As BVN Paralyses Forex Market

Activities at the retail segment of the official foreign exchange market were grounded, yesterday, as end users avoided bureaux de change (BDCs), to avoid submitting their Biometric Verification Number (BVN) for foreign exchange transactions. This, however, resulted in sharp increase in demand for dollars at the black market, prompting the naira to depreciate to ₦230 per dollar from ₦225. 

Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made the BVN a criterion for sale and purchase of foreign exchange by banks and bureaux de change (BDCs) effective November 1.

Why Ebola Survivor Was Delivered Of Baby In U.S. — Ohiaeri, First Consultant’s CMD

Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri and FCMC staff

First Consultant Medical Centre (FCMC) Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri has explained why a medical doctor with   the hospital and Ebola survivor Dr. Ada Igonoh was delivered of a baby girl at the Greater El-Monte Community Hospital, California, United States (U.S.).

Ohiaeri, at a news conference in Lagos yesterday, said Igonoh was the first post-Ebola survivor to have gotten pregnant, adding that the hospital could not take chances with her during pregnancy and at the point of child delivery.

“This is because when you survived Ebola, it is difficult to get pregnant, and if you get pregnant, it is difficult to carry the pregnancy, and much difficult to deliver the pregnancy. Ada carried the pregnancy well. She made us proud as a nation,” the hospital’s CMD said.

Senate To Probe SURE-P Spending

Senators yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate all expenditures made by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration under the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The lawmakers specifically urged the President to ensure that every kobo spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes is accounted for. The Senate, however, rejected a proposal that Buhari should immediately begin the payment of ₦5,000 monthly stipend to most vulnerable Nigerians — one of the campaign promises of the ruling All Progresives Congress (APC).

The SURE-P probe resolution followed an additional prayer by Senator Babajide Omoworare (APC Osun East) on a motion for “Urgent need to curb the soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria.”

Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East) sponsored the motion.

FOR THE RECORD: Senate Rejects Proposal To Pay Unemployed Youth ₦5,000 Monthly

The Nigerian Senate

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a motion for the payment of ₦5,000 monthly allowance to unemployed youths in the country. The motion was sponsored by Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) but was greeted with shouts of “no, no” when he tried to explain it. Attempts by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, to second the motion were disrupted by the rowdiness.

Intervening, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, posed the question but the senators responded along party lines.

While Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members yelled ‘’aye’’ in favour of the motion, All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, who were in majority, rejected it.

Deadly Clashes In Mozambique

Veteran Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama has accused the government of two recent attempts on his life

There have been reports of renewed clashes between Mozambican government forces and the main opposition Renamo party. Police say the clashes resulted in several deaths but would not specify the number.

They deny reports in the local media that 200 people have been killed since last week.