Africa Business Radio

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, have called for uniformity in the minimum standard for the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws operated by both the federal and state governments. Malami commended the Center for Socio-Legal Studies for coming up with a compelling need to lay down workable modes and opened up the avenue to receive inputs from stakeholders including local and international agencies in the evaluation process to get a document that is workable and acceptable to all. The AGF assured stakeholders of his cooperation and support in the realization of the laudable initiative.

The Police Service Commission is expected to this week deliberate on a probe panel report on the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari, submitted to it by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Alkali Usman. The IGP had submitted the probe panel report on the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, to the PSC. A member of the PSC, Mr Braimoh Adogame Austin, says the commission would deliberate on the issue this week. Kyari was alleged to have benefitted from the proceeds of a $1.1 million internet fraud.

The Ijaw National Congress has condemned former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent comment on resource control at an event in Abuja. Obasanjo says resources in any part of the country should be enjoyed by all Nigerians. The President of the INC, Benjamin Okaba, however, condemned the former President for his remark against the National Secretary of the group, He explained that the former President in an ungentlemanly manner tackled Wodu at the event. He added that the ethnic nationality will not be intimidated by the antics of Obasanjo to keep silent on the issues affecting their people and the Niger Delta region at large. Okaba stated that the INC considers Obasanjo’s claims on resource ownership as pernicious, provocative, and wicked as it negates the decades-long derivation principle which was pegged at 100 per cent in 1946.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says that the Abuja-Kaduna train service generates at least three hundred million nairas for the country every month. Amaechi says his ministry is beginning to contribute to the nation’s economic growth. He disclosed that the government is planning to put about 16 trains on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, stressing that this will increase revenue generation from that axis. The minister says the country is capable of meeting its loan requirements.

The Indian government has cleared a proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 as women’s rights activists fear the move could lead to a real disaster. The report says the decision to raise the age was made during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The government is likely to introduce an amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and consequently bring amendments to the Special Marriage Act and personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the proposal, saying the government is constantly concerned about the health of daughters and sisters.

The Biden administration has imposed trade sanctions on several Chinese companies and institutions, citing national security and China’s oppression of its largely Muslim Uighur minority population. The US Commerce Department says that it was blacklisting a number of Chinese technology companies, accusing the government in Beijing of advancing high-tech surveillance on the Uighurs. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo says the scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. The secretary added that unfortunately, the People’s Republic of China is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups.

The United Kingdom and Australia signed a free trade deal projected to eventually boost bilateral trade by more than 10 billion pounds eliminating tariffs, opening up sectors like agriculture and allowing freer movement for service-sector professionals. The elimination of tariffs on Australian wine, and a tariff-free quota for beef will help exporters hit by sanctions in China to pivot to sales in the UK. British cars, whiskey, confectionery and cosmetics will see tariffs phased out in Australia. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Trade Minister Dan Tehan in a joint statement said it is the most comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement that Australia has concluded, other than with New Zealand.

The European Parliament warns against deep polarisation in Slovenia, amid warnings on press freedom and judicial independence in the EU member state. Lawmakers say they were deeply concerned about the level of public debate, the climate of hostility, distrust and deep polarisation in Slovenia, which has eroded trust in public bodies and between them. It said that prominent public figures and politicians, including members of the government, have to lead by example and need to ensure a respectful and civilised public debate, free from intimidation, attacks, slurs and harassment. The resolution called on the government to ensure the funding going forward and to cease all political interference and pressure on the country’s public broadcaster.

The parliamentary speaker in Tunisia, Rached Ghannouchi, says that he categorically rejects President Kais Saied's decision to suspend parliament for another year. Mr Ghannouchi says that the exceptional measures announced by the president must be cancelled immediately. Mr Saied says that parliament would remain suspended until fresh elections in a year's time. He added that before the election, a referendum on the constitution would be held in July.

Malawi’s health minister says the country will make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for key staff, including health workers and journalists, from January as the government tries to boost its vaccination campaign amid a spike in cases. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda says uptake of vaccines has not been high enough towards reaching our goal of vaccinating at least 60% of eligible Malawians by the end of next year. Official statistics show that about 641,000 people are fully vaccinated in Malawi. This amounts to just over 3% of the population.

Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani says the latest Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared over after 42 days without any new infections, The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, says that targeted vaccination and rapid response has made Ebola control more effective. Only five days after the detection of the first case in Beni region, a vaccination campaign was launched and more than 1,800 were jabbed. The WHO says It was also the first time the Everbo Ebola vaccine was used in the country.

The World Bank announced its approval of a $700 million credit from its International Development Association for the Nigeria Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project. The institution says the productivity of major crops in Nigeria had been steadily declining over the past two decades, in part due to climate change, forcing an expansion of the area under agriculture and increased imports to meet the food needs of Nigeria’s growing population. It noted that persistent water shortages continue to exacerbate land degradation, desertification, and habitat loss. World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri noted that Nigeria was faced with water scarcity and droughts which occur every five years, on average, with the potential to increase in frequency due to climate change.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to release withheld salaries of resident doctors for the month of September and October 2021. The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, explained that the wages have been approved by the President to be released to the health workers on compassionate grounds. He further explained that payments were made following a nine-month industrial action embarked upon by the body. He insisted that the persisting altercation is the lack of knowledge by members of the payments and a renegotiation of the 2009 agreement involving conditions of service.

AFCON officials announced that Supporters attending matches at next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon will be required to show proof of vaccination and present a negative Covid-19 test result. A joint statement signed by Cameroon’s ministers for sport and health as well as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) general secretary says despite the additional challenges posed by the pandemic, the Cup of Nations must take place. The opening ceremony for the 24-team competition is due to be held at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde on January 9 ahead of the first game between hosts Cameroon and Burkina Faso

The federal government will next month make public the real owners of oil, gas and mining assets in the country through a National Beneficial Ownership register. The data to be jointly launched by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the Corporate Affairs Commission is expected to further push the country’s preparedness to shine the light on the opacity in the extractive industry. A statement by the Deputy Director/Head Communications and Advocacy of the initiative, Obiageli Onuorah, noted that when ready, the register would be merged with the CAC register of companies in the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says that democracy remains the best system of establishing governments because it guarantees respect for the fundamental rights of individuals to choose their leaders. The VP noted that democracy as a system of government guarantees the accountability of the elected to the electorate. As the electorate determines in every electoral cycle by their free choice whether the mandate given was properly utilized.” Prof. Osinbajo says that man has not yet developed a fairer and more just system of establishing governments than that the government be a government of the people by the people for the people.

Statistics from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control revealed that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria increased to 220,020 with 1,424 additional cases confirmed on Wednesday. The NCDC says that the new infections were recorded from 15 states in the country. The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the country currently stands at 220, 020 cases while 211,292 cases have been discharged and 2,983 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

Ecuador declared force majeure on all oil contracts, including exports and imports, as the threat of soil erosion forced the shutdown of the country’s two pipelines that transport crude across the Andes. A statement by state-owned oil producer Petroecuador says the clause, which is invoked to remove liability from failing to honour contracts in the event of disasters, went into effect on Sunday. It added that the country’s Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System and Heavy Crude Pipeline, as well as the Shushufindi-Quito petroleum products pipeline, had to be shut. Ecuador’s third force majeure on oil contracts aims to overcome years of stagnant production in the former OPEC member and more than double output to near 1 million barrels a day.

The Asian Development Bank has cut its economic growth forecast for developing Asia for this year and next due to the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The Manila-based development bank forecast the region’s emerging economies would grow 7 per cent in 2021 and 5.3 per cent in 2022, down 0.1 per cent from its previous estimate. The bank cited a resurgence of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant as the biggest risk to the region’s recovery, with other dangers including a prolonged slowdown in China’s housing market, rising inflation and global supply chain disruptions. The bank cut India’s growth estimate to 9.7 per cent for 2021, compared with 10 per cent in September, with its 2022 estimate of 7.5 per cent growth remaining unchanged.

Tesla Inc chief Elon Musk says the electric carmaker will accept dogecoin as payment for merchandise on a test basis, sending the meme-based cryptocurrency up over 20%. Dogecoin, popular among retail investors, raced up to $0.20 after the tweet. Chris Kline, co-founder of Bitcoin IRA says Elon Musk has been an advocate for the crypto community for many years. His latest announcement will usher in a new era of commerce and trailblaze a path for altcoins to expand their use case. Musk did not specify what merchandise, whose prices start from $50 and go as high as $1,900, could be bought with dogecoin.