French firm Oberthur Technologies (OT), specialized in the designing and provision of embedded security solutions and services, for payment, telecommunication and identification sectors just won a major contract in Burkina Faso. Indeed, the company was picked by the government of Burkina Faso to operate and manage a system of e-passport issuance and e-archives in the country. The project...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed plans to extend the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) from Ghana to Ivory Coast. This is in line with the Federal Government’s energy integration policy. The Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, NNPC, Saidu Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from Ivory Coast in Abuja. According to him, the...

In Madagascar, the minister in charge of presidential projects, land development and equipment, Narson Rafidimanana (photo), inaugurated last July 31st, a new single land desk, in the centre of the Great Island, the 49th of its kind across the country, and the 4th to be opened this year. “The goal here is to bring Malagasy populations closer to their lands but also land offices to...

In Malawi, the police has issued a warrant to arrest Joyce Banda (photo), the former President. Indeed, the former leader is allegedly involved in the “Cashgate” scandal in which a payment of $33 million was made by public authorities for goods and services which were never delivered. “The evidence gathered raises reasonable suspicion that the former president committed offenses...

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday, announced that a foreign investor has increased its stakes in Dangote Cement with the acquisition of an additional 2.3% interest for N86.1 billion ($236 million). Although the Lagos bourse did not disclose the name of the foreign investor, sources with knowledge of the transaction said the stake was bought by one of the existing investors in the...

A consortium of Nigerian banks has agreed to extend 9mobile’s $1.2 billion loan, till the telecoms operator find new investors, according to FCMB bank. FCMB on Tuesday, said the lenders have postponed taking provisions on the debt. “In terms of provisioning, there is hold on that. What we have agreed is an extension and we have agreed to extend pending the sale to new investors,” the...

In Burkina Faso, the ministry of Power announced that the Zagtouli photovoltaic power plant is 90% complete and that it will start operating “very soon”, Xinhua reports. Situated in Zagtouli, in the suburb of Ouagadougou, the plant will comprise 129,600 panels of 260W, generating a total of 33.7MW to meet 10% of the current demand of the country’s distribution network. It will also be one...

Last Monday, the Mauritian government unveiled an ambitious railway project named "Metro Express" valued at more than $537 million. The project should help connect the nation’s five main cities. Works for the first phase of the project which will be carried out by Indian firm Larsen & Toubro, are set to begin next September. During this phase, Port-Louis, the capital, will be linked to...

In Nigeria, the Lagos State Government has signed an agreement with Bühler AG, for the acquisition of a 32 tonnes per hour rice mill. The agreement was signed on Friday in Zurich, Switzerland. According to Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (photo), the move is in continuance of his vision of enhancing food security and creating employment in the state. He said the partnership would...

The United Africa Company of Nigeria Plc. (UAC), on Monday said it is seeking regulatory approval to raise N15.4 billion ($42.3 million) from existing shareholders. According to the outgoing Chief Executive of UAC, Larry Ettah, the Nigerian conglomerate had the support of shareholder for the share sale, which might be launched in September or October, once approval from the Securities and...