Africa

Ekiti state Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has opted for a low-key celebration of the 55th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria even as the date coincides with the 19th year of creation of the state. Former military ruler, late Gen Sani Abacha announced the creation of Ekiti from the old Ondo state …

World trade will grow by 2.8 percent this year and could be pegged back further by a United States interest rate rise, China’s economic slowdown or Europe’s refugee crisis, the World Trade Organization said, Wednesday. The forecast, revised down from a 3.3 percent forecast made in April, means 2015 will …

The new wave of violence which has left dozens of civilians dead and at least 100 injured highlights the fragility of the reconciliation process and the urgent need for enhanced protection of civilians, disarmament and an end to impunity in Central African Republic, Amnesty International said Monday. Clashes erupted over …

The death toll from last Thursday stampede in Mina, Mecca which claimed the lives of 769 Muslims, including 54 Nigerians, could be higher than earlier thought as Saudi Arabia has released to foreign diplomats over 1,000 photographs of the dead from the mishap. This is just as President Muhammadu Buhari, …

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his determination to fully sanitize Nigeria’s oil industry and make it totally free of corruption and shady deals. Speaking at a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China on the sidelines of the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations on Sunday in New York, …

The Presidency has described as erroneous, mischievous and uncharitable, reports that have given the impression that President Muhammadu Buhari is not concerned about the well-being of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, or the security of the country, because the Nigerian delegation to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly …

Airtel Nigeria has launched the Airtel One Mic Vol.1 album performed by the four students who emerged winners in the Season of Airtel One Mic music talent hunt show. Brand ambassador for the telco, Innocent Idibia popularly known as Tuface also marked his 40th birthday at the occasion which held …

The Grammy Award-winning singers joined Pope Francis, Malala Yousafzai and children from around the world at a special ceremony to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals Shakira and AngéliqueKidjo celebrated Friday’s adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals with powerful performances before an audience at the United Nations General Assembly that included …

Burkina Faso’s interim President Michel Kafando has been formally reinstated a week after the military takeover. The ceremony took place in the capital, Ouagadougou, in the presence of several West African leaders who helped mediate an end to the crisis. The presidential guard carried out the coup. Its leader Gen …

Burkina Faso coup leaders agreed to return to their barracks and said they would restore the deposed president to power, signing a deal with the army that apparently defuses a tense standoff sparked by last week’s putsch. The breakthrough came late Tuesday after marathon talks in Nigeria’s Abuja, where West …

Following the political unrests in the West African country of Burkina Faso, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has moved to cancel the World Tourism Day celeb rations earlier awarded to the country. According to official sources the decision to hold the 2015 official World Tourism Day Celebrations in …

The Burkina Faso Army general who seized power in a coup last week apologized to the nation, last Monday, has now admitted he is ready to hand over control to a civilian transitional government. This is just as the country’s military approaches Ougadougou, following warnings that its forces would converge …

Former Finance minister and also the Supervising Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has announced she will be joining United States investment bank Lazard’s sovereign advice division. She has also been appointed chair-elect of the board of Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates, she told …

President Muhammadu Buhari will host an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, in Abuja. According to a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), the main item on …

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo) hosted a business summit in Aberdeen, September 12, at which over 270 personnel representing Nigerian companies within and outside the country explored opportunities to repatriate skills and experience to the oil and gas industry back home. The forum, christened The …

By this time last year, it looked like Goldman Sachs Group’s selection of emerging market up-and-comers which includes countries like Nigeria, Vietnam, and others, was ready to fill the void left by shrinking investment returns in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs). Share prices in these “Next 11” countries, especially …

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended President Jose Mario Vaz and the people of Guinea-Bissau for the peaceful resolution of the recent political crisis that left the country without a government for 37 days. President Buhari, in a statement, Saturday, by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), …

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned, unreservedly, the ouster and detention of the political leaders of Burkina Faso, pledging to “give the fullest possible support to ongoing efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso …

Burkina Faso’s military took to the airwaves, Thursday to declare it now controls the West African country, confirming that a coup has taken place just weeks before national elections. The announcement aired on national television and radio said the transitional government was dissolved and the interim president no longer in …

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the Federal Government was now formally into negotiations with the Boko Haram sect with a view to primarily securing the release of the over 200 school girls abducted by from Chibok, Borno state over a year ago. Fielding questions from the Nigerian community in …

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s six Regional Commissions have elected new chairs and vice-chairs, as well as the host countries of their forthcoming meetings in 2016.  This is as Zimbabwe will head the African Commission. The decisions were made on the occasion of the just-concluded 1st UNWTO General …

Pan-African magazine, African Business, has announced the nominees for the 2015 African Business Awards. The winners will be presented at the Awards ceremony, which will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York, September 23. The African Business Awards, which are now in their 7th year, will be …

Mercedes-Benz outsold Audi in the eight months through August to become the world’s second-biggest luxury-car maker, as both Audi and BMW struggled to match its sales growth in China. Mercedes delivered 1.19 million vehicles in the period, 10,880 cars more than the 1.18 million at Volkswagen AG’s Audi. The Daimler …

The number of international tourist arrivals grew by 4% in the first half of 2015, according to the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer. This is also as terrorism, oil price crash and health issues negated any gains for sub-Saharan destinations like Nigeria that recorded a …