JOHANNESBURG – Sub-Saharan Africa’s gross domestic product is expected to shrink by 3.2% this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, more than a previous estimated contraction of 1.6%. In its World Economic Outlook update, the IMF projected that GDP in South Africa, the continent’s most advanced economy, would shrink by 8% in 2020, a bigger contraction than the 5.8% forecast in April. South Africa’s strict...
The President, O’odua Youths, Mr Rotimi Ajanaku, on Wednesday said the only antidote to guarantee global peace was qualitative education and justice for African children. Ajanaku made this prescription in a paper presented to end a weeklong celebration to mark the International Day of the African Child in Ibadan. The paper was presented through his media aide, Mr Adebowale Adeoye, at the event which was organised by the Asiwaju Rotimi Ajanaku Foundation. “You wonder why...
Innocent Idibia, known by his stage name, 2Baba, has been appointed as a regional “Goodwill Ambassador” for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. A statement by the Agency and also on his social media handles said that 2Baba, a musician, producer and philanthropist has been a steadfast supporter of the UNHCR LuQuLuQu campaign. He had done so since its inception in supporting and uplifting the narrative of the African refugee. The UN agency wrote on twitter:...
Nigeria has announced 452 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the cases in the country to 21,371. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gave the figure on Tuesday night through its official Twitter handle. The NCDC said that the new cases were from 14 states. It said that the country recorded seven deaths on June 23. The NCDC said that Lagos State had the highest number of the new cases with...
The 19 Governors of the Northern Nigerian States have met with heads of security agencies on Tuesday. The meeting led by the National Security Adviser (NSA) on how to successfully tackle banditry and insurgency in the region. Also, Service Chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies also met to discuss new strategies that will put an end to incessant killings. The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, whose state has been hit hard by banditry, brief...
Various communities are still shocked about the Nigerian man identified as Femi, who stabbed his wife to death, and thereafter committed suicide in their home in Victory Park estate in Lagos state on Sunday, June 21. Amidst a long thread of comments expressing shock and offering prayers to the diseased, a close friend and Church member who identified herself as Queen Tutu Omoighe used her Facebook handle to tell her story about the tragedy. According...
A group of armed bandits attacked Karare Village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, kidnapping two women and a baby. The group also carted away with some valuables, including cows and food items Saharareporters reported that a resident of the area, Mustapha Ruma, disclosed that the attackers invaded the area on Tuesday with dangerous weapons. He stated that the group numbering close to 20, stormed the village on motorbikes. The bandits attacked many...
The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba on Tuesday presented to the National Assembly a proposed date for the reopening of schools across the country as a post-COVID-19 measure. He made the presentation during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education on the ministry’s plans for pupils who have been forced to stay at home following the outbreak of the COVID – 19 pandemic. While noting that government had...
The Service Chiefs and Heads of Security and Intelligence Agencies met on Tuesday to map out new strategies on tackling the current security situation in the country. Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Enechie said the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, was to re-strategise and enhance existing synergy among security agencies towards addressing the security challenges in...
Mr Isaac Nkole, the National Chairman, Isun Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Umuahia, which facilitates the disbursement of CBN COVID-19 loan in the South-East and South-South, said at least 2,000 persons had so far benefited from the facility. Nkole stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Tuesday. He further stated that the facility had provided succour to benefiting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and households in the...
