By Folasade Akpan/Abujah Racheal
Abuja, Nov. 29, 2021
The African Development Bank (AfDB) group, has postponed indefinitely, the 2021 Africa Investment Forum (AIB) scheduled for Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire until further notice.
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of AfDB, in a statement issued on Monday in Abidjan, said that the postponement was in relation to travel restrictions arising from the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
He said that the postponement of the event followed consultations with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and the Board of Directors of AfDB.
According to him, the AIF is the premier investment marketplace for Africa.
“Several billion dollars of investment projects were scheduled for investment board rooms with project sponsors and investors at this edition of the AIF.
“Unfortunately, with rising global travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 Omicron variant, and heightened concerns for health and safety, it is necessary, regrettably, to postpone the event.
“The health and safety of everyone comes first,” he added.
He said that the bank and the government of Côte d’Ivoire wished to thank previously expected participants and delegations and look forward to hosting the event at a future date.
“We sincerely regret all inconveniences to our esteemed and expected heads of state and government, participants, project sponsors, investors and government delegations.
“We would like to thank all participants, investors and project sponsors for the excellent preparatory work they have done,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, also referred to as ”AIF 2021 Market Days” was to be held in a hybrid format featuring physical and virtual participation.
With the theme: “Accelerating Transformative Investments in Africa”, it reflects the urgent need to attract greater inflows of private capital into business and investment across Africa, a need sharpened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opportunities to be showcased at the event were expected to drive Africa’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A flagship initiative of the AfDB, the forum was launched in 2018 with seven other founding partners.
They are: Africa 50; the Africa Finance Corporation; the African Export-Import Bank; the Development Bank of Southern Africa; the Trade and Development Bank; the European Investment Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 says it is currently monitoring the situation around the world concerning the newly mutated COVID-19 variant known as Omicron.
Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to Federal Government (SGF) and Chairman of the PSC, said in Abuja on Monday that “as the director general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) just stated today, the emergence of the highly-mutated Omicron variant underlines just how perilous and precarious our situation is.
“South Africa and Botswana should be commended for detecting, sequencing and reporting this variant, not penalised.
“Nigerians and residents are therefore urged to get fully vaccinated, frequently tested, and continue to strictly adhere to the non-pharmaceutical intervention measures, including physical distancing, proper wearing of face mask, ensure proper ventilation and hand hygiene.
“However, the PSC is reviewing the situation around the world and putting in place measures to curtail the impact of the variant on the country.”
Mustapha further said that the PSC was aware of some travellers who circumvent travel protocols by providing fake COVID-19 test results, permit to travel certificates or declaring fake vaccination status at points of entry.
He added that “the weight of the law is heavy and will come hard on these people.”
On the Dec. 1 deadline for vaccine mandate for civil servants, the PSC chairman said “the vaccine mandate will come into effect fully on Dec. 1, 2021 and I encourage every Federal Government worker and in essence, all Nigerians and residents to get vaccinated.
“The NPHCDA is ramping up vaccination around the country to ensure that citizens have access to the vaccines wherever they may be. The vaccines are available, so, we need people to go get their jabs.
“With the developments around the world, people will not be able to travel without their verified vaccination cards.”
On the suspension of ban on Emirates Airlines, he said “the PSC will want to inform you that the impasse on the Nigeria – UAE flights have been resolved in the interest of both parties.
“Although this process has taken so long to pull through with its ripple effects, we thank everyone involved in getting this deal. A date for the commencement of flights between the two countries will be announced in due course.”
