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☆ Africa’s richest man says he needs 35 visas to travel in Africa – way more than a European visitor
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The 67-year-old entrepreneur’s visa woes have reignited a fresh firestorm about the frustrations of traveling within Africa for Africans. But many African countries still require visas from other Africans and the experience is fraught with discrimination, hostility and sky-high fees. He has also been detained at airports in Kenya and South Africa because of his Nigerian passport. “There’s a fear in richer African countries that people from poorer nations might be looking for a way to permanently move there,” he explains. His new St Kitts passport allows him to go to more African countries than his Nigerian passport.

Persons: Aliko Dangote, ” Dangote, ”, Patrick, Pouyanné, Tayo Aina, Aina, YouTuber, hasn’t, Marco Longari, Alan Hirsch, “, Sotunde, William Ruto, Tayo Organizations: Rwanda CNN, Forum, CNN, African, African Continental Free Trade, Getty, University of Cape, New, Institute, Travelers, East African Community, Kenyan, REUTERS, Reuters Kenyan, St Kitts Locations: Kigali, Rwanda, Nigerian, Africa, “, Benin, The Gambia, Seychelles, Addis Ababa, London, Kenya, South Africa, Caribbean, St Kitts, Nevis, AFP, University of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Southern, West Africa, Abuja, Nigeria, East

☆ Strong pay growth in UK spreads to public sector, survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Strong pay growth in Britain's private sector will be matched in the public sector in the year ahead, according to a survey which showed no sign of an easing of inflationary heat in the jobs market. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said employers in the private and public sectors both planned 5% pay rises, meaning public workers were on course for their biggest pay rise since CIPD began its surveys in 2012. The CIPD survey showed 51% of public-sector employers reported hard-to-fill vacancies compared to 38% of private-sector employers. "There remains strong demand for people, particularly in the public sector. It’s no surprise therefore that employers are expecting pay increases to match that of the private sector to remain competitive."

Persons: Afolabi, CIPD, Rishi Sunak, Jon Boys, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce Organizations: REUTERS, Chartered Institute, Personnel, Bank of England, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain

☆ Nigeria's naira firms on black market, central bank settles FX forwards
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The naira has hit successive record lows on the black market, where it trades freely, as excess demand on the official market gets funnelled to the unofficial market. The naira crossed the 1,000 naira mark on the black market on Sept. 26, the day newly-appointed central bank governor Olayemi Cardoso appeared before the Nigerian senate for his confirmation hearing. The central bank has not intervened on the official market since October, helping accelerate the naira's slide on the black market. The currency hit a record low of 1,300 naira per dollar on the black market, a month after it crossed the 1,000 naira mark, amid thin trading volumes on the parallel market and dollar shortages on the official market. On the official market, the naira was trading at 884.53 to the dollar at 1200 GMT.

Persons: Afolabi, firmed, Olayemi Cardoso, Cardoso, Wale Edun, Chijioke, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Finance, Thomson Locations: Rights ABUJA, Nigeria

[1/2] The logo of Italian energy company Eni is seen at the booth of Eni during the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja, Nigeria February 10, 2020. Under the revised terms, Eni and Repsol can supply the state company with fuels, potentially helping Venezuela ease an intermittent scarcity that has led to long lines at gasoline stations in recent years. Eni and Repsol were not immediately available to respond to a Reuters request for comment. Crude received by Eni and Repsol under their swap deal has mostly been sent to Repsol's refineries in Spain. The field is run by the Petrosucre joint venture between Eni and PDVSA.

Persons: Afolabi, Repsol, PDVSA, Joe Biden's, Perla, Marianna Parraga, Francesca Landini, Pietro Lombardi, Mircely, Matt Spetalnick, David Holmes Organizations: Eni, Nigeria International Petroleum Summit, REUTERS, Companies, U.S . State Department, Kuwait Petroleum, Repsol, U.S . Treasury, PDVSA, Perla, Washington, Thomson Locations: Nigeria, Abuja, HOUSTON, Venezuela, Europe, Venezuelan, PDVSA's, Italy's Milazzo, Kuwait, U.S, Spain, Chevron, American, Venezuela's Gulf, Colombia, Milan, Madrid, Maracay, Washington

☆ Boko Haram frees 49 women kidnapped in Nigeria's Borno state
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Ahmed Kingimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bukar Isa, from the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), shows displaced victims of the Boko Haram insurgence how to identify marked objects of danger on the street, during a safety training at the Gubio camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria May 6, 2022. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Forty-nine women kidnapped by Boko Haram earlier in the week near Maiduguri, in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, regained their freedom early on Friday after a state official paid a ransom for their release, two of the victims and a local leader said. "We were all released at midnight after Boko Haram said our families secured our release after meeting their demands," one of the victims said. Borno commissioner for youth and police spokesman Sani Kamilu Shatambaya didn't immediately respond to calls for comment. ($1 = 770.8400 naira)Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Editing Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bukar Isa, Afolabi, Boko Haram, wasn't, Sani Kamilu Shatambaya didn't, Ahmed Kingimi, Elisha Bala, Gbogbo, Sandra Maler Organizations: Mines Advisory, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Maiduguri, Nigeria, Nigeria's, Borno, Shuwaei Kawuri, Chad, Niger, Cameroon

☆ 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

☆ Explainer: What are West Africa's options to reverse Niger's coup?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Edward Mcallister | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] A member of the ECOWAS regional force is seen at Denton check point in Banjul, Gambia January 22, 2017. GROUND INVASIONECOWAS has sent troops into trouble spots before, but never in Niger and rarely with the region so divided. Coup leaders in Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali have expressed support for Niger's junta, and other countries have their own security challenges. It is not clear how big an ECOWAS force would be or what form it would take. Security analysts and diplomats have also noted apparent divisions among Niger's armed forces, who may not all be united behind the coup.

Persons: Afolabi, Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Djiby Sow, Bazoum, Ikemesit Effiong, Effiong, Peter Pham, Edward McAllister, David Lewis, Emelia Sithole, Alexandra Zavis, Kevin Liffey Organizations: ECOWAS, REUTERS, Economic, West African States, Security, Institute for Security Studies, SPECIAL, SBM Intelligence, Nigerien, Atlantic Council, Thomson Locations: Denton, Banjul, Gambia, DAKAR, Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Dakar, Nigeria, Niamey, U.S

☆ Nigeria turns to natural gas for fuel as petrol prices rise after subsidy removal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Macdonald Dzirutwe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File PhotoLAGOS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria is turning to gas as an alternative fuel after it scrapped a popular but costly subsidy on petrol that has seen pump prices rise sharply, angering motorists and businesses that use petrol to generate their own power. State-oil firm NNPC said late on Thursday it has partnered with NIPCO Gas to speed up the adoption of compressed natural gas for buses, cars and tricycles to lower transportation costs. Under the NNPC-NIPCO deal, 35 compressed natural gas stations will be rolled out in phases to be completed next year and will be able to serve more than 200,000 vehicles daily. NIPCO already operates 14 compressed natural gas stations, NNPC said, and that the local firm has turned more than 7,000 vehicles to gas, it said. Last month, NNPC signed an agreement with UTM Offshore for the local company to construct a 1.5 metric tonnes per annum floating liquefied natural gas plant.

Persons: Afolabi, NNPC, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Chijioke, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, NIPCO Gas, Offshore, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, LAGOS, State, Africa's

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu appoints investigator to probe central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele briefs the media during the MPC meeting in Abuja, Nigeria January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeCompanies Tinubu Square Sa FollowABUJA, July 30 (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has appointed a financial watchdog to investigate the central bank, weeks after he suspended its governor, a copy of a letter from the president showed on Sunday. Tinubu on June 9 suspended Godwin Emefiele, who was then detained by state security agents for allegedly misappropriating funds and a "criminal breach of trust." In a letter dated July 28, Tinubu appointed the chief executive of Nigeria's Financial Reporting Council as special investigator of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other government-owned entities. The investigator was to "provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments."

Persons: Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Godwin Emefiele, Dele Alake, Felix Onuah, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Christina Fincher Organizations: Nigeria's Central Bank Governor, MPC, REUTERS, Nigeria's, Central Bank of Nigeria, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, ABUJA

☆ Nigerian soldiers patrol ahead of election, land borders shut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Internal movements have been restricted to the polling units. There will also be no movement of persons across national borders," the ministry of interior said in a statement. The candidate for Enugu East district and the driver of a campaign minibus belonging to another party were killed in coordinated attacks in Enugu State in the southeast. "Materials already delivered for the senatorial election will remain in the custody of the central bank in the state until the new date for the election," Yakubu told a news conference. Flanked by the head of the police, Yakubu said INEC was on guard against possible attacks on its electronic system.

☆ Nigerian inflation rate climbs for 10th straight month in Nov
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Chijioke Ohuocha | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeABUJA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Annual inflation in Nigeria climbed to 21.47% in November from October's rate of 21.09%, accelerating for the 10th straight month as food prices surged, the statistics bureau said on Thursday. A separate food price index showed inflation at 24.13% in November, compared with 23.72% in October, as Africa's most populous nation continues to struggle with rising prices for staples. "The rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, ... and fish," the NBS said in a report. The government expects inflation to remain in double digits, averaging 17.16% next year. Virag Forizs, emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said November inflation data was stronger than expected, meaning prices could rise further.

☆ Nigeria resumes Abuja-Kaduna train service attacked by gunmen
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/7] A policeman stands next to the door of a train as Abuja-Kaduna train resumes services after an attack on its passengers by bandits in March, in Abuja, Nigeria December 5, 2022. REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeABUJA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Nigeria's state railway company on Monday resumed a popular train service between the capital Abuja and the northern state of Kaduna, suspended since in March after gunmen killed passengers and kidnapped several dozen. The Nigerian military in October secured the release of the remaining 23 hostages from the train attack. President Muhammadu Buhari's government had said the train service would only start once all hostages were freed. Passengers were required to provide national identification numbers, while armed security were on board the train.

☆ West African leaders plan peacekeeping force to counter 'coup belt' reputation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeABUJA, Dec 4 (Reuters) - West African leaders said on Sunday they would establish a regional peacekeeping force to intervene in member states to help restore security and constitutional order in a region that has witnessed several coups in the past two years. West and Central Africa has made strides in the past decade to shed its reputation as a "coup belt", but the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) wants to do more to boost constitutional government in its member states. The ECOWAS leaders also expressed concern over the continued detention of 46 Ivorian soldiers in Mali. They asked Malian authorities to release the soldiers by the end of this month. Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nigerian presidential contender Abubakar calls for flood relief fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar adresses the People's Democratic Party delegates during the Special convention in Abuja, Nigeria May 28, 2022. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File PhotoLAGOS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main opposition presidential contender on Wednesday called on the government to immediately set up a flood disaster fund similar to one created to fight the coronavirus pandemic, to help victims hit by the worst floods in a decade. Atiku Abubakar said after a trip to oil-producing Bayelsa state, one of the worst hit, that the floods were a reminder of the impact of climate change and urged the government to immediately launch a Flood Disaster Relief Fund. "It is a national emergency relief fund, similar in scope to what was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic," Abubakar said, referring to a $1.4 billion fund that the government launched in 2020 at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Critics have accused the federal government of being slow to help flood victims.

☆ Nigeria mulls next steps after court drops charges against separatist leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu is seen at the Federal high court Abuja, Nigeria January 20, 2016 REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File PhotoABUJA, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Nigeria's police minister said the government was considering what steps to take on Friday after a court dropped terrorism charges against separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday, although it did not acquit him. All three judges hearing the case at the Nigeria's Court of Appeal dropped terrorism charges that the government had brought against Kanu, citing that a lower court had no jurisdiction to try the case and that Kanu was abducted and extraordinarily extradited to Nigeria. It is not clear whether Kanu, who was not in the courtroom for the ruling, has been released from custody. Kanu leads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which campaigns for the secession of a part of southeastern Nigeria where the majority belong to the Igbo ethnic group. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by James Macharia Chege and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nigeria hikes rate to highest level to head off inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Macdonald Dzirutwe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

read moreBut with inflation at its highest in 17 years, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele said the Monetary Policy Committee had to continue with an aggressive stance. Tuesday's rate hike, the third in a row, means the central bank has delivered a total 400 basis-point increase this year, its most hawkish in a single cycle, analysts said. 1/2 A view shows Nigeria's Central Bank headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria November 22, 2020. "It also felt that an aggressive rate hike would slow capital outflows and likely attract capital inflows and appreciate the naira currency," Emefiele added. Responding to reporters' questions, Emefiele declined to rule out further rate hikes to fight inflation.

☆ Nigerian ride-hailing app aims to put women at ease
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Abraham Achirga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chichi, a member of HerRyde, a ride-hailing app with exclusively women drivers, smiles as she drives off in her car in Abuja, Nigeria September 4, 2022. Shakir, 31, is among thousands of Nigerians hailing rides using mobile apps, but her car has something unusual: a female driver. She said the trip on HerRyde, a ride-hailing app with exclusively women drivers that launched in August, set her mind at ease. Some male drivers, she said, would chat inappropriately or even made her feel as though they might attack her. "We don't want cases where women have to be on their toes or on the edge when they are using ride-hailing services," she said.

☆ ECB wants banks to review capital plans given downturn, Enria says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Andrea Enria, chairperson of the European Banking Authority, speaks at Reuters Summit interview in London, Britain, September 25, 2017. REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeFRANKFURT, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The euro zone banking sector is robust ahead of a possible recession but the European Central Bank is still asking lenders to review capital projections given what is likely to be a difficult winter, ECB supervisor Andrea Enria said on Monday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"So, we are asking banks to review their capital projections under severe, adverse scenarios and we will engage in a dialogue with them." "Then there is also the issue of exposures to energy derivatives clearing that we've seen as an issue in the recent times," Enria said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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