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☆ Nigerian Army Hunts for Kidnapped Students, Parents Seek Answers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The source said the army's Kaduna-based One Division was leading the operation and "will soon have the bandits in their sights". "The security agencies and the state government are working tirelessly to ensure the freedom of all the abducted students and pupils. We are making progress," said Muhammad Shehu Lawal, a spokesperson for Kaduna state governor, without giving details. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesThe mass kidnapping last Thursday, the first since July 2021, shattered the dusty town of Kuriga, 90 km from Kaduna state capital, with parents waiting for answers from authorities. According to Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence 4,500 people have been kidnapped throughout Nigeria since Tinubu took office last May.

Persons: Garba Muhammad, Hamza Ibrahim, Muhammad Shehu Lawal, Bola Tinubu, Bala Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Tinubu, Ikemesit Effiong, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, SBM Intelligence, Security Locations: Hamza Ibrahim KADUNA, Nigeria, Kaduna, Nigerian, Kuriga, Chibok, Borno, Niger, Birnin, Lagos

☆ Suspected Militants Kill Four Nigerian Police Officers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least four police officers were killed in Nigeria's northeast Borno state after a gun battle with suspected Islamist insurgents, a police spokesperson said on Saturday. Borno state police spokesperson Nahum Daso Kenneth said the militants had on Friday night attacked Gajiram town in the Nganzai local government area, some 82 kilometres (51 miles) from Maiduguri, the state capital. "Our men engaged them in a gun battle (and) they denied the terrorists access to the town, and repelled the attack. Unfortunately, four policemen have paid a supreme price," Kenneth said, adding that calm had returned to the town. ISWAP fighters are known to operate in Nganzai, where they carry out sporadic attacks against security forces and residents.

Persons: Borno, Haram, Nahum Daso Kenneth, Kenneth, herder, Ahmed Kingimi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters Locations: MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nigeria's, Borno, West Africa Province, Gajiram, Maiduguri, Nganzai

☆ Canada investigates fatal embassy explosion in Nigeria, issues travel alert
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We can confirm there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson said that there were deaths and injuries in a fire on Monday at the High Commission of Canada but did not give any figures. Canada's High Commission in Nigeria, without commenting on the explosion, said on social media that it had "temporarily suspended operations until further notice." The embassy issued a travel advisory, warning against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including capital Abuja, "due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings." Western countries routinely issue warning about travelling to Nigeria, which the Abuja government often dismisses as lacking merit.

Persons: Melanie Joly, " Joly, Bola Tinubu's, Tinubu, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Ismail Shakil, Cynthia Osterman, Sandra Maler Organizations: Ottawa, Washington, Commission, High Commission of, Thomson Locations: LAGOS, Canada, Nigeria, London, West African, High Commission of Canada, Canada's, Abuja, United States, Britain, Nigeria's, Lagos, Ottawa

☆ Suspected Boko Haram kills at least 40 in Nigeria's Yobe state, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov 1 (Reuters) - At least 40 people were killed in Nigeria's Yobe state between Monday and Tuesday after suspected Boko Haram militants shot at villagers and set off a land mine, in the first major attack on the northern eastern state in 18 months, the police said on Wednesday. The attack happened at about 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) on Monday, at Gurokayeya village, Gaidam local government in Yobe State, the state's police spokesperson Abdulkarim Dungus said. He said gunmen opened fire on villagers, killing at least 17 people and that on Tuesday a land mine exploded, killing at least 20 villagers who were returning from burying victims of the previous attack. The last time a bomb exploded in Yobe state was in April 2022. Lawan Ahmed, a resident, told Reuters the militants shot at villagers sporadically from motorbikes, killing about 18 people on Monday.

Persons: Boko Haram, Abdulkarim Dungus, Bola Tinubu, Lawan Ahmed, Ahmed, Lanre Ola, Ahmed Kingimi, Chijioke Ohuocha, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Franklin Paul, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Yobe, Gurokayeya, Yobe State, Borno

☆ Germany's Scholz says his country willing to invest in Nigerian gas, minerals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Oct 29 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday his country was willing to invest in gas and critical minerals in Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, as he started a two-nation visit to sub-Saharan Africa. "There is a willingness to invest, especially in critical minerals," Scholz told reporters at a joint briefing with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in the capital Abuja. "If we are successful, if there is a better chance of exporting the produced gas ... it is then the question for German companies to do their private business," said Scholz. Tinubu said he had "a very deep discussion" on the issue of gas and encouraged German businesses to invest in pipelines in Nigeria. Without giving details, Scholz said there was also a willingness from German companies to build railways in Nigeria.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Johanna Geron, Scholz, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Felix Onuah, Andreas Rinke, MacDonald Dzirutwe Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, West African, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights ABUJA, Nigeria, Saharan Africa, Berlin, Abuja, Niger, Gabon

☆ Explainer: What is pushing the Nigerian naira to record lows?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Chijioke Ohuocha | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Investors cheered when Tinubu lifted the currency controls, hoping a unified exchange rate would make it easier to access foreign currency, but that is yet to happen. Banks then repaid foreign credit lines with their own funds when the central bank did not pay out. New central bank governor Yemi Cardoso said clearing the backlog was a priority but he gave no timeline for how long it would take. The country's forex reserves fell to $33.5 billion in September from $37 billion in January, central bank data shows. Banks use their open net positions on foreign currency to finance short-term trade lines without resorting to the central bank for bidding.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, corporates, Banks, Yemi Cardoso, Chijioke Ohuocha, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Hugh Lawson Organizations: JPMorgan, FX, National Economic Council, BANK, Thomson Locations: 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's Paramilitary Raids Birthday Party for Gay People, 76 Arrested
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Ahmed KingimiMAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Seventy-six people were arrested for attending a birthday party for gay people in northern Nigeria, the country's paramilitary agency said on Monday, adding that the organiser had also planned to hold a same sex wedding, which is illegal. There are the latest arrests targeting LGBTQ Nigerians after police in August raided a gay wedding in the southern city of Warri in Delta state, and arrested dozens of people. He said 59 men had been arrested, including 21 who confessed to being homosexual, and 17 women. The Gombe NSCDC said in a statement that the organiser of the birthday party had also planned to wed another man, who was still at large, before police raided the event. The case was expected to be heard in the Gombe state High Court on Tuesday, Saad said.

Persons: Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Buhari Saad, Saad, Ahmed Kingimi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Alison Williams Organizations: Reuters, Nigeria Security, Civil Defence Corps Locations: Nigeria, Warri, Delta, Africa, Gombe, Africa's

☆ Nigeria expects $10 bln in forex inflows in weeks - finance minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Chijioke Ohuocha | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Nigeria expects $10 billion in foreign currency inflows in the next few weeks to ease liquidity in a foreign exchange market that has cramped growth in Africa's biggest economy, finance minister Wale Edun said on Monday. The West African country has faced chronic dollar shortages after foreign investors exited local assets during a period of low oil prices. Since then, investors are yet to return and the central bank has not yet settled outstanding demand for dollars from foreign investors seeking to repatriate funds or airlines seeking to send money from ticket sales abroad. Edun said President Bola Tinubu on Thursday signed two executive orders to allow domestic issuance of instruments in foreign currency and also allow all cash outside the banking system to be brought into the banks. He added that liquidity would also come from state-oil firm crude sales and foreign investment firms willing to invest in Nigeria.

Persons: Wale Edun, Edun, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Chijioke, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Bernadette Baum, Mark Potter Organizations: Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, 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

☆ Analysis: Time for central bank digital currencies to prove their worth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A milestone move by the European Central Bank toward launching a digital euro within a few years means the time has come for the newest incarnation of money to prove its worth. A few countries have introduced central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), China is trialling a prototype yuan with 200 million users, India is gearing up for a pilot and some 130 countries representing 98% of the global economy are exploring digital cash. Commercial bankers fret about the costs and possible deposit bleeds as customers could move money into central bank accounts, while developing countries worry that an easily accessible digital dollar, euro or yuan could cause havoc in their systems. DEFINING A GLOBAL STANDARDA key unknown is whether the U.S. Federal Reserve or Bank of Japan will launch retail CBDCs. "The current adoption level of eNaira has been reflective of the early stage of CBDC awareness," the country's central bank said in a written response to questions, adding it had been "consistent" with expectations.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Josh Lipsky, Fabio Panetta, couldn't, Lee Braine, Bo Li, Atlantic Council's Lipsky, Lipsky, Marc Jones, MacDonald Dzirutwe, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, European Central Bank, Reuters, Atlantic Council, Facebook, ECB, Barclays, Bank of, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, International Monetary Fund, Atlantic, Thomson Locations: China, India, Western, Nigeria, U.S, Canada, Bahamas, London, Lagos

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu offers wage increase ahead of labour strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) 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. Tinubu scrapped a decades-old subsidy during his inauguration in May and ended foreign exchange restrictions, which has led to soaring cost of living and angered unions. In a national broadcast marking 63 years of independence, Tinubu defended the reforms as necessary to put Africa's biggest economy on the path to recovery. That would take the minimum wage in Nigeria to 55,000 naira ($71) from 30,000 naira. But labour unions want Tinubu to reinstate the fuel subsidy and had previously demanded a minimum wage of 200,000 naira.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Lewis Joly, Tinubu, Tinubu's, Felix Onuah, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Daniel Wallis Organizations: New Global Financial, Rights, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Nigeria, Paris, France, Rights ABUJA

☆ Gunmen Kill 14, Kidnap 60 in Attacks in Northern Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ahmed KingimiMAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -Gunmen in Nigeria killed eight people on Sunday and abducted at least 60 others in two communities of northwest Zamfara state, residents and a local traditional leader said, two days after armed men kidnapped dozens from a university in the state. The attackers set fire to five vehicles and drove off with one truck, the witness said. Residents said gunmen early on Sunday tried to attack a forward army base in a rural Magami community of Zamfara, but were repelled. Zamfara is one of the states worst affected by kidnappings for ransom by armed gangs known locally as bandits. Attacks in the northwest are part of widespread insecurity in Nigeria.

Persons: Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Bola Tinubu, Shuaibu Haruna, Haruna, Isa Mohd, Ahmed Kingimi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Gunmen, Residents, Sunday, Police Locations: Nigeria, Zamfara, Magami, Kabasa, Maiduguri

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu tells UN he seeks to restore democratic order in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. Tinubu is chairman of the main West African bloc ECOWAS, which has been trying to negotiate with the Niger military junta. ECOWAS has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems," Tinubu said. The junta in Niger last month ordered its armed forces to go on highest alert, citing an increased threat of attack.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Tinubu, Felix Onuah, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Howard Goller, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, West, ECOWAS, Niger, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Niger, New York, West Africa, Africa

☆ Nigerian state declares curfew after election tribunal sacks governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nigeria's newly declared winner of 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu speaks at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, March 1, 2023. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKANO, Nigeria, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Nigeria's northern Kano state declared a 24-hour curfew on Wednesday after a tribunal overturned the election of an opposition candidate as governor and declared a member of President Bola Tinubu's party the rightful winner. Ahead of the election tribunal ruling, security forces occupied major roads in the capital of Kano, which shares the same name. The March gubernatorial vote had seen Abba Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, a regional party, defeating ruling All Progressives Congress party candidate Nasiru Gawuna, who alleged fraud. It is not unusual for governorship election results to be overturned in Nigeria, which has 36 states that are presided over by state governments.

Persons: Nigeria's, Bola Tinubu, Esa Alexander, Bola Tinubu's, Wednesday's, Abba Yusuf, Nasiru Gawuna, Yusuf, Hamza Ibrahim, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Police, New Nigerian Peoples Party, Progressives Congress, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights KANO, Kano

☆ Nigeria frees on bail 69 arrested over alleged gay wedding
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Tife Owolabi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Some of the men charged with public displays of affection with members of the same sex are seen gathered outside a court in Lagos, Nigeria October 27, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsYENAGOA, Nigeria, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A court in Nigeria has released on bail 69 people who were arrested last month in connection with an alleged gay wedding, which is illegal in the country, their lawyer said on Tuesday. So, the 69 suspects have been granted bail and I am processing their paperwork," Ohimor said. State prosecutors had opposed bail but the court ruled that the suspects should be released because they were not facing a capital offence, said Ohimor. The anti-gay law in Africa's most populous nation includes a prison term of up to 14 years for those convicted, and bans gay marriage, same-sex relationships, and membership of gay rights groups.

Persons: Temilade, Ochuko Ohimor, Ohimor, Tife Owolabi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Jon Boyle, Hugh Lawson, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Lagos, Nigeria, Africa, Warri, Africa's

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Eni to become latest energy giant to exit Nigerian onshore operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Italy's Eni (ENI.MI) signed on Monday an agreement to sell its unit Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Nigerian counterpart Oando (OANDO.LG), the group said in a statement, in the latest move by an energy giant out of the country. Eni's NAOC, which focuses on oil and gas exploration and production, has interests in four onshore blocks and two onshore exploration leases in Nigeria, the group said. Similar approvals have been held back by legal and political issues in Exxon's and Shell's assets sales. After the disposal of NAOC, in line with the firm's 2023-2026 plan, Eni will retain the unit's 5% stake in the Shell Production Development Company (SPDC) joint venture operated by Shell, the group added. Reporting by Alessandro Parodi; additional reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Libby George; editing by Gianluca Semeraro and Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Italy's Eni, Eni's, Jefferies, Alessandro Parodi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Libby George, Gianluca Semeraro, Louise Heavens Organizations: Italy's, Agip Oil Company, Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp, Eni, Shell Production Development, Thomson Locations: Nigeria, Exxon's

☆ Nigerian producer pumps out AI-powered Afrobeats
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Vining Ogu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAGOS, Aug 8 (Reuters) - When artificial intelligence (AI) apps started spreading in Nigeria's music industry, Eclipse Nkasi thought his days as a producer were numbered. It gives people a new experience ... and that's how I believe AI is really going to shake things," Nkasi told Reuters. Nkasi and three friends switched on OpenAI's ChatGPT programme and set it to work helping them create the nine-track album "Infinite Echoes". "There are certain things that will become obsolete" due to AI, Nkasi said. But it should also create opportunities for artists to reinvent themselves and do their work better and quicker, he added.

Persons: Nkasi, Omotolani Alake, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAGOS, Lagos

☆ World Bank to help fund 1,000 mini solar power grids in Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A technician works on solar power panels at the Atlantic Shrimpers farm in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File PhotoABUJA, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The World Bank is aiming to help fund construction of 1,000 mini solar power grids in Africa's biggest economy Nigeria in partnership with the government and private sector, the lender's president Ajay Banga said on Saturday. Mini grids, made up of small-scale electricity generating units, typically range in a size from a few kilowatts to up to 10 MW, enough to power some 200 households. "Now the idea is not for the World Bank to be the only person putting the money. World Bank data shows that in sub-Saharan Africa, 568 million people still lack access to electricity.

Persons: Temilade, Ajay Banga, Banga, Abraham Achirga, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Bank, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria, ABUJA, Abuja, Banga, Saharan Africa, Africa

☆ Nigeria's president says central bank undergoing forensic audit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Friday the central bank was undergoing a comprehensive forensic audit as part of reforms following the suspension of the bank's governor in June. Tinubu has embarked on the country's boldest reforms in years, ending the central bank's currency controls that kept the naira currency artificially strong and scrapping a petrol subsidy that cost the government $10 billion last year. "A comprehensive forensic audit is on-going at the Central Bank (of Nigeria)," a presidency statement quoted Tinubu as telling World Bank head Ajay Banga at a meeting in Abuja. Tinubu, who was sworn into office on May 29, inherited an economy grappling with anaemic growth, record debt, shrinking oil production and widespread insecurity. Reporting by Felix Onuah, writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Ajay Banga, Felix Onuah, MacDonald Dzirutwe, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Central Bank, World Bank, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Abuja

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