Cobalt is an essential mineral used for batteries in electric cars, computers, and cell phones. Demand for cobalt is increasing as more electric cars are sold, particularly in Europe, where governments are encouraging the sales with generous environmental bonuses. According to recent projections by the World Economic Forum’s Global Battery Alliance, the demand for cobalt for use in batteries will grow fourfold in 2030 as a result of this electric vehicle boom. More than 70...
Up to now, radical jihadi activity in West Africa has been centered in Mali—with spillover to adjacent parts of Burkina Faso and Niger—and the Lake Chad Basin. The two locales are now increasingly bridged by jihadi activity in northwest Nigeria, where resurgent struggles over land and water with a cast of ethnically aligned fighters and flourishing criminality provide them with new space. Jihadi movements in all three regions are fractious, subject to bloody internal rivalries, and overlap...
Nigeria former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has expressed her gratitude and humility for being the most acceptable candidate for the seat of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). All has been set for the former Managing Director of World Bank to emerge as the first female and African Director-General of the WTO except for one, the United State. With South Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee on her way and last minute ‘hiccup;...
World number two Simona Halep has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is recovering well from her mild symptoms. “Hi everyone, I wanted to let you know that I tested positive for COVID-19,” the 29-year-old Romanian said on Twitter on Saturday. “I am self-isolating at home and (I) am recovering well from mild symptoms. “I feel good … we will get through this together.” The former world number one did not travel to New...
The Ebonyi State Government has charged fish farmers in the state to embrace modern packaging system to improve the value chain. Mr Moses Nomeh, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources gave the charge on Saturday in Abakaliki during a meeting with the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria. Nomeh explained that Ebonyi rice was being sold worldwide presently due to modern packaging. “So, we want an improvement in the packaging system of fish...
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Uthoko Na Eze Royal Family over the death of Igwe Alex Ezeoba Nwokedi, the Uthoko of Achalla. The message was conveyed by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. Buhari also condoled the people of Achalla community, the Igwe-in-Council of Achalla and the Anambra State government. Nwokedi was the former chairman, Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and former chairman of Nine Eastern States...
The Management of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) on Friday told the Lagos State Judicial Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS and related abuses and Other Matters that the footage of the Oct. 20 shootings of the #EndSARS protesters by the Nigerian Army is available. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Gbolahan Agboluwaje, the Head of the Legal Department of LCC, made the revelation after Mr Abayomi Omomuwa,...
An Abuja-based NGO, Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC), has cautioned Nigerians who threw the COVID-19 protocols to the wind to continue to abide by the rules “as COVID-19 is not just real, but very much around without an enduring cure.” The President of the group, Chief Ugochukwu Nnam, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday. Nnam, who said he had observed that many...
Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Kalu has described the demise of Igbo legendary and philosophical singer, Chief Chukwuemeka Maduka, popularly known as “Morocco” as a big loss to the country. Kalu, who lamented the passing of the music meastro and social crusader, acknowledged the late musician’s contributions to the social, economic and political development of Nigeria. He said that the late Morocco, through his Ekpili music, addressed social and moral issues, adding that...
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says the bid round process for its 57 marginal oilfields in the country is still ongoing. Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the bidding process has not been completed. “The 2020 marginal oilfield bid round process is still ongoing in line with our published timelines on DPR website and bid portal. “Over 600 companies have applied...
