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☆ Nigeria lawmakers pass 2024-2026 budget framework with naira at 700 to dollar next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Nigeria's lower house of parliament passed the medium-term expenditure framework for 2024-2026 on Tuesday, a set of assumptions that will be used to prepare the country's budget over the next three years. The naira last week briefly slumped to a record low of 1,105 against the dollar on the official market, bringing the official exchange rate within touching distance of the parallel market rate. The fiscal framework must also be passed by the upper chamber of parliament. Tinubu is also due to send the country's 2024 spending plan of 26 trillion naira ($34 billion) to parliament for approval. Below are some of the assumptions in the medium-term expenditure framework:Reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha Editing by Alexander Winning and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, firming, Camillus, Chijioke, Alexander Winning, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Tinubu, Camillus Eboh, Abuja

☆ Nigeria restores 275,000 bpd production at TotalEnergies JV
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of TotalEnergies is seen at an electric vehicle fuelling station in the La Defense business district in Courbevoie near Paris, France, February 8, 2023. "The unions have agreed to suspend ongoing industrial action leading to immediate restoration of 275,000 barrels of oil per day production," NNPC said. NNPC did not disclose the nature of the dispute or the workers' demands, which had not been previously announced. Nigeria's oil production stood at 1.49 million barrels per day in October, according to data from the petroleum regulator, still below the 2023 budget target of 1.69 million bpd. That has led to fears that NNPC may struggle to supply crude to the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery, which has missed several targets to start production.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, NNPC, Camillus, Giles Elgood Organizations: La Defense, REUTERS, Rights, NNPC, Petroleum, Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, Nigerian Union of Petroleum, Natural Gas Workers, Dangote, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Courbevoie, Paris, France, Rights ABUJA, TotalEnergies

☆ Nigeria Opposition's Obi Slams Court Ruling Confirming Tinubu Election Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Supreme Court judgment followed a pattern seen in previous presidential elections that have been challenged in court. Speaking for the first time since the ruling, Obi, a former two-term governor who campaigned as an outsider, told reporters the judgment was a disappointment and contradicted overwhelming evidence of election rigging, false claims of technical glitches, and other irregularities. Obi's supporters, known as the "Obidients", have been vocal in their criticism of the Supreme Court ruling. They have accused the court of being biased and of protecting the interests of the ruling party. Obi's rejection of the Supreme Court ruling is likely to resonate with his supporters, mostly young Nigerians who were attracted by his message of hope and change and see him as a break from the old guard.

Persons: Camillus, Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Obi, Tinubu, Obi's, Camillus Eboh, Elisha Bala, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Reuters, Labour Party Locations: Camillus Eboh ABUJA, Nigeria

☆ Nigerian Supreme Court upholds President Tinubu's election win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld President Bola Tinubu's election win, bringing to an end a legal challenge brought by his two main rivals, who argued that his victory was marred by irregularities. The judgment by seven Supreme Court judges, which is final, follows a pattern seen in previous presidential elections that have been challenged in court. "There is no merit in this appeal, and it is hereby dismissed," said Supreme Court judge John Okoro. The court also rejected Atiku's bid to introduce new evidence that alleged Tinubu had submitted a forged university certificate to the electoral agency.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of, Tinubu's, Tinubu, John Okoro, Camillus Eboh, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Estelle Shirbon, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, People's Democratic Party, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights ABUJA, Africa's

☆ Nigeria Opposition Asks Supreme Court to Overturn President Tinubu's Victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Camillus EbohABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's two main opposition leaders on Monday asked the Supreme Court to quash last month's tribunal ruling upholding President Bola Tinubu's February election victory, in a last bid to reverse results of a vote widely accepted by the international community. No legal challenge to the outcome of a presidential election has succeeded in Nigeria, which returned to democracy in 1999 after three decades of almost uninterrupted military rule and has a history of electoral irregularities. On Sept. 6 the presidential tribunal rejected petitions by Atiku and Obi to cancel the election result over alleged irregularities. The provision has been interpreted differently by the opposition and Tinubu's lawyers. The Supreme Court, which has the final say in presidential election petitions, has 60 days to pass judgment from the day of the presidential tribunal ruling.

Persons: Camillus, Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of, Atiku, Obi, Tinubu, Camillus Eboh, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Reuters, Monday, People's Democratic Party, Labour Party, Atiku Locations: Camillus Eboh ABUJA, Nigeria, Abuja

☆ Nigeria's presidential election result challenged at Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Nigeria's two main opposition leaders on Tuesday filed separate appeals at the Supreme Court challenging a tribunal ruling that earlier this month upheld President Bola Tinubu's victory in a disputed February election. Atiku, from the People's Democratic Party who came second in the election, said in a court filing that the tribunal erred in law "when it failed to nullify the presidential election ... on the ground of non compliance" with the electoral law. The two had up to Wednesday to challenge the Sept. 6 tribunal ruling. The Supreme Court, the highest in Nigeria, has 60 days to rule on the appeals. A five-member tribunal had rejected the challenge by Atiku, and Obi, who asked the tribunal to cancel the election, alleging irregularities.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Bola Tinubu's, Peter Obi, Atiku, Obi, Camillus Eboh, MacDonald Dzirutwe, William Maclean, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Nigeria's, REUTERS, Rights, People's Democratic Party, Labour, Reuters, United Nations, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights ABUJA, New York

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu picks banker Cardoso as next central bank governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - President Bola Tinubu has nominated the former head of Citibank in Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, to serve as the country's new central bank governor, days before its next interest rate meeting, a presidential spokesperson said on Friday. The central bank did not respond to a request for comment on whether Emefiele and his deputy governors had resigned. The central bank raised rates by a smaller-than-expected 25 basis points in July, contrary to analysts' expectations, under acting Governor Folashondun Shonubi, one of Emefiele's deputies. The central bank pursued unorthodox policies under Emefiele who kept the currency artificially strong, a policy backed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which supported government borrowings on the international markets. He was a former commissioner for economic planning and budget in Lagos state when Tinubu was governor between 1999-2007.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Olayemi Cardoso, Godwin Emefiele, Tinubu, Cardoso, Ajuri Ngelale, Ngelale, Folashondun Shonubi, Emefiele, Muhammadu Buhari, Camillus Eboh, Chijioke Ohuocha, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Richard Chang, Jane Merriman, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Citibank, Central Bank of Nigeria, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Lagos

☆ At least 26 killed in Nigeria ferry accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - At least 26 people died and several others were missing after a ferry capsized on a reservoir in north central Nigeria on Sunday, local officials said, the second such major accident to hit the region in three months. Bologi Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the governor of Niger state, said the boat was carrying more than 100 people, including women and children, in the Mokwa local government area of the state. The victims were going to their farms across a major dam, said Ibrahim. In July, more than 100 people died when an overloaded boat capsized in a remote part of Niger state, in one of the worst such disasters in recent years. Reporting by Camillus Eboh Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bologi Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Camillus Eboh, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Peter Graff Organizations: Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Niger

☆ Nigeria opposition to appeal verdict upholding Tinubu presidential win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main opposition candidates will appeal a tribunal ruling that affirmed Bola Tinubu's victory in a disputed presidential election in February that they claim was marred by irregularities, their lawyers said. But the Presidential Election Petition Court on Wednesday dismissed their petitions point-by-point in a judgment that lasted more than 11 hours. The ruling followed a pattern in previous election years in Africa's most populous country, where no legal challenge to the outcome of a presidential election has succeeded since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999. "Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which, in the instance, is the Supreme Court." An appeal at the Supreme Court should be filed within 14 days from the date of the tribunal ruling.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Atiku, Obi, Nick Zieminski, Elisha Bala, Richard Chang Organizations: People's Democratic Party, Labour, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Africa's, Nigeria, Anambra

☆ Nigerian Election Tribunal Rejects Challenge to Tinubu's Presidential Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Camillus EbohABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's presidential election tribunal on Wednesday rejected an opposition challenge to Bola Tinubu's win in February's disputed vote, following a pattern seen in previous election years in Africa's most populous country. No legal challenge to the outcome of a presidential election has succeeded in Nigeria, which returned to democracy in 1999 after three decades of almost uninterrupted military rule and has a history of electoral fraud. Judge Haruna Tsammani, reading out a lengthy ruling on behalf of the tribunal's panel of five justices, rejected Obi's petition point-by-point. As the tribunal was giving its ruling, he was in India preparing to take part in the G20 summit there. Atiku and Obi can appeal to the country's Supreme Court to strike down the tribunal's ruling.

Persons: Camillus, Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of, Haruna Tsammani, Tinubu, Obi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Estelle Shirbon, Alison Williams Organizations: Reuters, February's, People's Democratic Party, Labour Party Locations: Camillus Eboh ABUJA, Africa's, Nigeria, India

☆ Nigerian election tribunal to decide if Tinubu stays as president
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, arrives for the closing session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit, Friday, June 23, 2023 in Paris, France. Lewis Joly/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Nigeria's presidential election tribunal is due to rule on Wednesday on whether Bola Tinubu should stay as president after two rivals challenged his victory in February's disputed vote. There have been numerous legal challenges to the outcome of previous Nigerian presidential elections but none have succeeded. The tribunal, which will deliver its ruling in the capital Abuja, has the power to cancel an election and order a fresh one, among other remedies. Tinubu, who is in India ahead of a G20 Summit, has defended his victory and says he is focused on reviving the economy.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Lewis Joly, Bola, February's, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Atiku, Obi, Muhammadu Buhari, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Alison Williams Organizations: New Global Financial, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Tinubu's, People's Democratic Party, Labour, Thomson Locations: Nigeria, Paris, France, Rights ABUJA, Abuja, India

☆ Niger orders troops to go on 'maximum alert'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Boureima Balima | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The document, which was shared widely online on Saturday, said the order to be on maximum alert would allow forces to respond adequately in case of any attack and "avoid a general surprise". The main West African bloc ECOWAS has been trying to negotiate with the leaders of the July 26 coup, but has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail. On Friday, the bloc downplayed this threat and said it was "determined to bend backwards to accommodate diplomatic efforts," although an intervention remained one of the options the table. "For the avoidance of doubt, let me state unequivocally that ECOWAS has neither declared war on the people of Niger, nor is there a plan, as it is being purported, to invade the country, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray told reporters. Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Omar Alieu Touray, Camillus, Alessandra Prentice, David Holmes Organizations: West, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Camillus Eboh, Abuja

☆ Nigeria's suspended cenbank governor to face fraud charges on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele briefs the media during the MPC meeting in Abuja, Nigeria January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria's suspended central bank governor Godwin Emefiele will appear in a high court in Abuja on Thursday, when he is expected to enter a plea in a 20-count indictment, a government lawyer said on Wednesday. Government lawyers, on Tuesday, said they had filed additional graft charges against the governor, including allegedly "conferring unlawful advantages" and "unlawful procurement". Local papers said the central bank employee was a director in the private company. Emefiele, suspended by President Bola Tinubu in June, had already pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing a firearm illegally, which were subsequently withdrawn.

Persons: Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, Afolabi, Godwin Emefiele, Emefiele, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Camillus Eboh, Chijioke, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Nigeria's Central Bank Governor, MPC, REUTERS, Rights, Government, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights ABUJA, Lagos, Africa's

It has taken its hardest line yet with Niger, saying it had to show that it "cannot only bark but can bite". One of the demonstrators in Niamey held a placard that said: "Long live Niger, Russia, Mali and Burkina. France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, helping to fight an Islamist insurgency that has spread across the region. INTERVENTION PLANWest African defence chiefs meeting in Nigeria were due to conclude their discussions about possible intervention in Niger, although they have said this would be a last resort. The goal of the two-day meeting was to draw up a plan for an eventual military intervention to restore constitutional order, according to a statement from Ivory Coast's National Security Council.

Persons: General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Ivory, Salifou Mody, Joe Biden, Nigeriens, Camillus Eboh, Thiam Ndiaga, Tiemoko Diallo, Ange Aboa, Alessandra Prentice, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Emelia, Nick Macfie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, West, Economic, West African States, EU, Reuters, Ivory Coast's National Security Council, ECOWAS, juntas, Nigerien, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West, Central Africa, Russia, Burkina, Down, France, Nigeria, Nigerian, West Africa, Guinea, Bissau, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Paris

An aerial view of traffic on a street in the capital Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. In a sign of this resistance to one-time allies, Niger on Thursday suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets France 24 and RFI - drawing condemnation from the French foreign ministry. One of the demonstrators in Niamey held a placard that said: "Long live Niger, Russia, Mali and Burkina. After their coups, Burkina Faso and Mali kicked out French troops, many of whom are now stationed in Niger. In Niger, there are signs that regional sanctions are starting to have an impact: Nigeria has cut power supplies to Niger, while Nigerien truckers have been stranded by border closures.

Persons: General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, crackdowns, Sall, Antony Blinken, it's, Allah, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Moussa Aksar, Camillus Eboh, Thiam, Tiemoko Diallo, Ange Aboa, Alessandra Prentice, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Emelia, Nick Macfie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Niger's, France, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Sunday, EU, National Assembly, Islamic, Niger, Reuters, West, Senegalese, U.S, United Nations, Nigerien, CFA, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, France, West, Central Africa, Russia, Burkina, Down, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Niger ., Nigeria, Senegal, Nigerian, China, Paris

☆ West African bloc sends mission to Niger to negotiate with coup leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nigerien security forces prepare to disperse pro-junta demonstrators gathered outside the French embassy, in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened to authorise the use of force if the coup leaders do not reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum within a week from last Sunday. "There is a need to demonstrate that we cannot only bark but can bite," he told reporters, as regional defence chiefs started a two-day meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja. "The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications," said General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence and Chairman of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Abubakar, Christopher Musa, Abdourahmane Tiani, Bazoum, James, Bola Tinubu, Annalena Baerbock, Charles, Camillus Eboh, Felix Onuah, Christophe Van Der Perre, Ingrid Melander, Nellie Peyton, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Abuja Junta, Islamists, African, ECOWAS, West African States, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Defence, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, British, European Union, Reuters, Islamic, Union, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Abuja, Islamists Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, Nigerian, West Africa, Mali, Guinea, Bissau, Nigeria's, France, Italy, Paris, Rome, United States, Germany, al Qaeda, Islamic State

☆ Niger junta says it will not back down despite 'inhumane' sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

In a televised address, Abdourahamane Tiani said the junta "rejects these sanctions altogether and refuses to give into any threats, wherever they come from. Nigeria cut power supplies to Niger, a Niger state utility document showed on Wednesday, while truckers in Niamey were stranded by border closures - early signs of fallout from the bloc's sweeping sanctions that Tiani described as "illegal, unjust, and inhumane." "The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications," said General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence and Chairman of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs. In a further sign of the mounting pressure on the junta, the World Bank on Wednesday suspended disbursements to Niger until further notice. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Christopher Musa, James, Bola Tinubu, Annalena Baerbock, Camillus Eboh, Felix Onuah, Christophe Van Der Perre, Ingrid Melander, Nellie Peyton, Alessandra Prentice, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Grant McCool Organizations: Islamists, West African, West African States, ECOWAS, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Defence, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, REUTERS, British, World Bank, European Union, Islamic, Union, Thomson Locations: Niger, Abuja Niger, Islamists Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West Africa, Mali, Guinea, Bissau, Nigerian, Abuja, Nigeria, Niamey, Nigeria's, Nigerien, disbursements, States, France, Italy, Paris, Rome, United States, Germany, al Qaeda, Islamic State

☆ Nigeria sets eight-week timeline to agree minimum wage with unions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, June 20 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main labour unions and the government on Monday set an eight-week timeline to finalise an agreement to raise the minimum wage to help cushion the impact of high fuel prices after the removal of a popular but costly petrol subsidy. The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had threatened to strike after fuel prices tripled following President Bola Tinubu's decision to scrap the subsidy. Talks with the unions are one of the first challenges the new administration faces as it pushes forward with a raft of economic reforms. "Everything must be rolled out within that time, (it is) not something that we are going to leave endlessly," he said. Reporting by Camilus Eboh; Writing Elisha Bala-Gbogbo, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, Dele Alake, Festus Osifo, Tinubu, Camilus Eboh, Elisha Bala, Ed Osmond Organizations: Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Thomson Locations: ABUJA

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu removes security chiefs in major reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, June 19 (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu made sweeping changes to the defence forces on Monday, forcing out the security chiefs and the head of police less than a month after taking office. Tinubu, who was sworn in on May 29, has made security one of his major priorities and promised reforms to the sector, including recruitment of more soldiers and police officers, while paying and equipping them better. It is not unusual for a new Nigerian president to send security chiefs into early retirement upon taking office, as Tinubu did on Monday. He picked Nuhu Ribadu, a former senior police officer and ex-head of the country's economic and financial crimes agency, as his National Security Adviser. Reporting by Felix Onuah, additional reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Alison Williams and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Nuhu, Christopher Musa, Lucky Irabor, Musa, Felix Onuah, Camillus Eboh, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Alison Williams, Marguerita Choy Organizations: National Security, Defence Staff, Reuters, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Customs Service, Thomson Locations: ABUJA

☆ Nigeria swears in lawmakers, focus shifts to president's cabinet nominees
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, June 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's new lawmakers were sworn in on Tuesday following February elections, setting the stage for President Bola Tinubu to submit cabinet nominees in a process likely to signal how he intends to tackle a struggling economy and growing insecurity. The swearing-in ceremony in the capital Abuja also saw Tinubu's allies elected as Senate President and House Speaker, to mark the official start of legislative duties for newly elected officials. Nigeria's Senate wields significant influence in Nigeria's bicameral legislature, including scrutinizing and confirming the president's cabinet nominees. Tinubu has up to the end of July to name his cabinet but his aides say the president could submit some names as soon as next week. His choice of finance, petroleum and defence ministers as well as national security adviser would be closely watched.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Godwin Emefiele, Elisha Bala, Camillus Eboh, William Maclean Organizations: Senate, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Abuja, Gbogbo

ABUJA, June 4 (Reuters) - Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC Ltd is winding down crude swap contracts with traders and will pay cash for gasoline imports, its chief executive told Reuters, adding that private companies could begin importing petrol as soon as this month. And we now have an arm's-length process where we can pay cash for the imports," Kyari told Reuters in an interview late on Saturday. This is the first time NNPC has said it is terminating crude swap contracts. In its report detailing March crude oil loadings, NNPC also allocated crude to the swap contracts held by the consortiums. Nigeria has struggled to meet its OPEC oil quota of 1.742 million bpd due to grand oil theft and illegal refining.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, Tinubu, NNPC, Kyari, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Camillus Eboh, Julia Payne, Susan Fenton Organizations: NNPC, Reuters, Dangote Refinery, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Ukraine, Dangote, NNPC, Vienna

ABUJA, June 2 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main labour union said on Friday it plans to go on strike from Wednesday to protest against a tripling of fuel prices in what would be the first big test for new President Bola Tinubu after he scrapped a costly fuel subsidy. The price increase has led to a sharp rise in transport fares and Estonian ride-hailing and food delivery startup Bolt said it had hiked its prices in Nigeria, citing increased operating costs due to higher fuel prices. Nigeria's fuel subsidy cost the government billions of dollars annually but was popular as it helped keep prices low in Africa's biggest oil producer, which is still grappling with high poverty rates among residents. But Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) president Joe Ajaero, after an emergency meeting of the union's executive council in Abuja, said the state oil company NNPC should reverse the price hike. On Friday, the president said Nigeria needs to review its minimum wage of 30,000 naira ($65).

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Bolt, Joe Ajaero, Ajaero, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Kirsten Donovan, Angus MacSwan, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Nigerian Bureau, Statistics, World Bank, Labour Congress, Nigeria Labour Congress, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Abuja

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - African countries are lining up to approve a new vaccine for malaria, with 20 million doses available for them to buy this year, the shot’s manufacturer told Reuters. African countries that do not have extensive resources for drug regulation have previously relied on the U.N. agency to initially review new medicines. "We expect many more countries to come through," Mary Hamel, the WHO's malaria vaccine implementation head, told the expert meeting on Tuesday. “We are committed to making the R21 vaccine available to people who need it most,” Poonawalla said. FUNDING DOUBTSThe moves are a further sign that African countries want to exert their own pharmaceutical oversight after COVID-19 exposed inequity in vaccine supply.

☆ Nigeria's junior oil minister Timipre Sylva has resigned -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, March 30 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Timipre Sylva has resigned as the country's minister of state for petroleum to seek a new term as governor of oil-producing Bayelsa State in the southern Niger Delta, ministry and presidency sources told Reuters on Thursday. Sylva handed his resignation letter last week to Buhari, who doubles as petroleum minister, and stopped coming to the office, said two sources who did not want to be identified. They said he would be seeking the ruling All Progressives Congress ticket to run for Bayelsa governor in party primaries scheduled to take place on April 14. Appointed junior oil minister in August 2019, Sylva oversaw major reforms in the oil sector, including the passing of legislation that overhauled the sector's fiscal regime in a bid to spur investment. During his time as minister, Nigeria's oil output fell to its lowest in decades due to crude theft and pipeline vandalism.

☆ Six Nigerian states challenge election in Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ABUJA, March 3 (Reuters) - Six opposition-led Nigerian states have asked the Supreme Court to throw out the result of last weekend's presidential vote, saying the electoral body broke the law and its own rules during the count, court papers showed. Six of Nigeria's 36 states - Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto - said in court papers dated Feb. 28 that the election commission had failed to transmit results through an electronic system meant to show transparency. They sought a court declaration that all presidential election results announced by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) "were invalid, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever". Those materials included ballot papers and voting machines, the order from the appeals court showed. There have been numerous legal challenges to the outcome of past Nigerian presidential elections but none has succeeded.

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